Sermon Notes:

The blessing of salvation will result in a lifestyle of obedience to the God who saved you.

The privilege of salvation comes with the responsibility to…

I. Live with your hope set on future grace. (13)

II. Live in holiness. (14-16)

III. Live with a proper fear of God. (17)

The responsibility of Christian living comes with a need to…

I. Remember you have been ransomed. (18-19)

II. Understand this is a result of God’s eternal plan. (20-21)

Sermon Notes:

We should praise God for giving us a privileged position in history.

I. Our position is privileged compared to the prophets. (10-12a)

a. Where the prophets foresaw, we possess. (10a)

b. Where the prophets searched, we understand. (10b-11)

c. Where the prophets served, we receive. (12a)

II. Our position is privileged compared to the angels. (12b)

a. Where the angels long, we experience. (12b)

Sermon Notes:

We should praise God for giving us a reason to rejoice in trials.

We can rejoice in trials because...

I. ...they are an opportunity to reflect on God’s great mercy. (6a)

II. ...they are temporary compared to our new life. (6b)

III. ...they prove our faith to be genuine. (7a)

IV. ...they provide us with a future reward. (7b)

V. ...they help us fix our eyes on the prize. (8-9)

Sermon Notes:

We should praise God for giving us new life in Christ.

I. Our new life is a result of God acting out of His mercy. (3)

II. Our new life gives us a hope that is alive, because Jesus is alive. (3)

III. Our new life gives us an inheritance that is eternal, because it is kept in heaven. (4)

IV. Our new life will result in salvation, because God is guarding us. (5)

Sermon Notes:

The Who

1. Elect – To be elect means belonging to God in a Father-child relationship as a result of His loving choice.

2. Exiles – To be exiles means being separated by God from the world while remaining in the world.

3. Elect Exiles – To be an elect exile means God has chosen to give me a new citizenship which should define my lifestyle while I temporarily live in my old home land.

The How

1. Elect exiles are chosen by God the Father in accordance with His eternal plan.

2. Elect exiles are set apart from this world by the work of the Holy Spirit.

3. Elect exiles are obedient to the Gospel of Jesus and are purified by the blood of Jesus.

The Blessing

Elect exiles enjoy the blessing of grace and peace.

Sermon Notes:

Worry is sinful, because it is the overflow of a heart centered on self rather than on God.

Worry results from a...

I. ...lack of faith. (22-28).

II. ...misdirected focus. (29-33)

III. ...problem with your heart. (34)

Because worry is a problem of the heart, only Jesus can replace our worry with faith and obedience.

Remedy # 1: Have faith that God…

1. Values you.

2. Knows what you need.

3. Desires to give you the kingdom.

Remedy #2: Focus your life on God’s kingdom by…

1. Living for the glory of God.

2. Living for the good of others.

3. Living for the riches of eternity.

Remedy #3: Ask God to transform your heart though Jesus.

Sermon Notes:

I. Jesus didn’t come to help us gain earthly possessions. (13-14)

II. There is more to life than having earthly possessions. (15)

III. Earthly possessions can give us a false sense of security. (16-19)

IV. Earthly possessions can keep us from preparing for death. (20)

V. Jesus came to make us rich toward God, so embrace Jesus rather than your earthly possessions. (21)

Sermon Notes:

I. Faithfulness to God will be challenged by the world. (2:49-3:7)

II. Faithfulness to God will result in rejection by the world. (8-12)

III. Faithfulness to God requires an unwavering knowledge of His power and character. (13-15)

IV. Faithfulness to God should never be contingent upon the earthly consequences. (16-18)

V. Faithfulness to God provides an opportunity for God to display His saving power. (19-27)

VI. Faithfulness to God results in God receiving glory for His saving power. (28-30)

Sermon Notes:

I. The Claim of Jesus (John 14:6)

II. The Command of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20)

III. The Choice of the Church (Acts 4-5)

IV. The Center of Heaven (Revelation 5)

Sermon Notes:

Obedience to God is the only sure foundation for your life and is impossible apart from a saving relationship with God through Jesus.

I. Live with the Right Perspective (20-26)

Forsake temporary comforts for eternal reward.

II. Live with the Right Love (27-36)

Let true love characterize your life.

III. Live with the Right Self-awareness (37-42)

Live with a greater awareness of your own faults than the faults of others.

IV. Live with the Right Heart (43-45)

Understand that your thoughts, words, and actions expose your heart.

V. Live with the Right Savior (46-49)

Submit to Jesus as Lord, by trusting in Jesus as Savior.