Tabernacle Baptist Church

Be a Bringer | Dr. Zach CrookMark 2:1-12

1. Build RelationshipsA. In the Ancient Near East, people with disabilities were considered second classCitizens1. And yet, they were friends with him anyway!B. Just walk across the room!

2. Go Above and Beyond to be a Bringer!  A. The men had a plan – get their friend to Jesus!B. The men persevered - These four men dug through 3-4 layers of the roof to try to gettheir friend in front of JesusC. They were willing for others to look at them foolishly1. Are we more afraid of man or of God?

3. Be Aware of the Greatest Need  A. The friends were worried about his physical ailment1. Christ was concerned about the condition of his heart!B. The reason we meet physical needs is to open the door to share the gospel!1. Who is someone in your sphere of influence whose greatest need is yet to be met?

Standing Firm | Dr. Zach Crook1 Peter 5:1-14

1. Be an ExampleA. Peter challenges leaders to set an example to others1. Nearly all of us lead someone and are being watchedB. God gives us an incredible promise that we will receive a crown for our faithfulness

2. Trust is KeyA. One aspect of trust is the humility to submit1. We need to embrace the fact that waiting is normal2. We submit to God in every area of our lives and cast our cares on HimB. A second aspect is being sober-minded and alert1. We don’t take Satan lightly

3. Stand Firm in Hope!A. Peter ends his letter by reminding us to embrace grace!1. When we do, God will restore, establish, strengthen, and support us!B. We can worship God and be encouraged no matter what we are walkingthrough because of the truth of the gospel!

1. Our Response to TrialsA. We shouldn’t be surprised by trialsB. Since God is sovereign, we rejoice1. Piper – “In great suffering on earth there is great support from heaven!”C. We are sharing the sufferings of ChristD. When we rejoice in trials, we show that we are future-focused!

2. We Suffer for Christ’s Sake, Not our Own  A. Peter actually says that there are right and wrong ways to suffer!1. There is nothing noble about suffering for our own sinfulness2. It brings glory to God when we suffer as a Christian

3. We Entrust Ourselves to God  A. The judgment Peter talks about in v. 17 isn’t punitive, but purifyingB. Entrust is a banking term – it means to deposit for safe keeping1. We are valuable to God!C. If God calls us to the fire, we will not walk alone!

1. Be In the World, but not of ItA. We don’t need to withdraw from the world, nor be immersed in it- We are like a boat, which is made to be in the water, but not have water in it!B. Worldliness is being consumed by the moment; it’s exchanging God for his giftsC. We live for a different Kingdom!

2. The End is NearA. Peter reminds us of our need for UrgencyB. Do we truly believe that Christ’s return is imminent?C. C. S. Lewis reminds us: “Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth, and you will get neither.”

3.  Have an Active FaithA. Peter then lays out a few things that are indicative of a Christian who is on a mission:1. Pray – alert and sober-minded2. Love – it must be constant3. Be Hospitable4. Use your Gifts – Speak God’s words and serve in His strength!B. We do it all to bring Him glory!

1 Peter 3:8-22 contains instructions on how Christians should live and behave in difficult circumstances. Peter encourages believers to have unity, compassion, and humility towards one another, even when facing persecution or hardship. He also emphasizes the importance of submitting to authority and honoring those in leadership positions.

Peter reminds believers that suffering for doing good is commendable and that they should not be afraid or intimidated by those who oppose them. He encourages them to be prepared to give a defense for their faith and to do so with gentleness and respect.

Peter also points to the example of Christ, who suffered unjustly but did not retaliate or seek revenge. He emphasizes the importance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross as a means of redemption and salvation for all who believe in him.

Peter concludes by highlighting the significance of baptism, which symbolizes the cleansing and renewal that comes through faith in Christ. He emphasizes the importance of living a life that reflects this new identity in Christ and remaining steadfast in the face of trials and persecution.

1. Peter’s Wisdom for WivesA. Men and women are equal but have different roles- Submission is never forced!B. Don’t be defined by what you wear, but by your heart!C. Like Sarah, be willing to walk with your husband as you follow God’s call

2. Peter’s Wisdom for HusbandsA. Seek to understand and serve your wifeB. Honor and serve her!- Weaker? - not in terms of intelligence or capacity for leadership or wisdom- It just means physically weakerC. Co-heirs of grace – again showing equality

3. The Results of Living This WayA. Peter gives us two reasons for having a Christ-centered marriage- So our prayers won’t be hindered- It’s a powerful way to share the gospelB. This extends beyond just marriage – how we conduct ourselves in any relationship shows people what is inside our hearts!

1. Submit as a WitnessA. Peter gives us two reasons why we submit:     - These are institutions ordained by God.     - Our humble submission and civic goodness help silence the foolish.B. This doesn’t mean there isn’t room for civil disobedience, but we obey every law that we can.- Peter was martyred for refusing to stop preaching the gospel, but most of us aren’t in that type of situation.

2. Fearing God Leads us to Honor OthersA. We honor everyone, including those in authority above us.B. Reverence and worship are reserved for God alone!     - We should fear God, not Caesar.

3. Look to Christ’s ExampleA. Jesus was the Lord who submitted to death; the master who became a servant; the rightful ruler who suffered our injustice.     - By submitting to that injustice, Christ redeemed us!B. Like Christ, we need to have faith in God’s judgment and be willing to deal with hardship for God’s glory.

1. Understand Your Need for God’s WordA. Peter gives three qualities to the Word of God:- It’s Imperishable – He quotes Isaiah 40:6-8- It’s Good News – He quotes Psalm 34:8- It’s Alive – Jesus is the Word!

2. Build Your Life on God’s WordA. The cornerstone is the most important part of any building!- Jesus has to be our foundation.B. Peter again quotes Isaiah and Psalms to support his argument.- Peter was following Christ’s example of quoting Scripture.- Of the 1800 verses that record Jesus, words, 180 are quotes from the Bible!C. The only way we can build our lives on God’s Word is to know it and obey it!

3. Share God’s WordA. Peter again uses language from Scripture to remind the church who we are and what we are called to do.- Understanding our identity should lead us to activity.- As we grow in God’s Word, we invite others through God’s mercy into his marvelous light.

1. We are NonconformistsA. Peter shifts from talking about the living hope we have to a challenge of how we should live.- We need to prepare our minds for action.B. We shouldn’t be conformed to this world.- We need to let God’s Word drive our worldview, not popular opinion.

2. We Should be HolyA. A defining mark of our faith should be holiness.B. We should conduct ourselves in reverential fear.C. Our commitment to God should be on a completely different level than our commitment to everything else!

3. Jesus is our Sacrificial LambA. We need to live with an awareness of the preciousness and value of what Christ has done for us.- We have been redeemed.B. Peter again reminds us of Christ’s blood and the atonement.- The gospel is our motivation.

1. Our Hope is CertainA. Peter starts with a song.B. God’s mercy has given us a living hope!C. Peter reminds us that we have an incredible inheritance as sons and daughters of the King.D. We are living on Saturday, but Sunday is coming!

2. Our Hope Gives us Joy in TrialsA. We rejoice even when we are suffering because of our living hope.B. God is refining us in trials.- What if the pain of this life is God’s blessing in disguise?C. A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.D. Remember the goal!

3. Our Hope was Prophesied About and Revealed through ChristA. Peter concludes this section by looking at salvation’s greatness, not through the eyes of the recipient, but the agents who brought it.- The Old Testament prophets proclaimed this message.- The Holy Spirit inspired the message.- The New Testament apostles preached the message.B. The saving power of the gospel is so powerful that angels are in awe!