Trusting God can take us to some very uncomfortable places. But rest assured, God is always faithful and His word is true. Abraham's story is one that teaches us what it means to trust God. To act on the word of God alone, without knowledge of the outcome, can be scary. Especially when it comes to the sacrifice of your only son. Peter reaffirms that trust by getting out of the boat in the midst of a storm. When we act on faith and trust in the Lord, it will serve as an example to those around us that God can be trusted.

No matter your situation, there is hope for your marriage. Peter's instruction to wives serves as encouragement to all marriages that are good, bad, or ugly. Every wife can gain some understanding and hope in her role as wife in marriage. Every husband can grow at a deeper level in his faith in God and understanding of his wife the way God intends. In so doing, marriage can be a beautiful picture of Christ's love for the church. Marriage is to be a picture of the gospel to a broken world around us.

On the heels of a tumultuous election, the Apostle Peter gives us clear instruction on our biblical role and responsibilities when it comes to our government leaders. Along with anyone else who holds authority over our life, we look at the concept of biblical submission. A submissive nature in a free society is not usually valued. However, as we walk in faith, hope, and holiness, we follow the example of Jesus who submitted His life to both His Father and those in earthly authority.

The Apostle Peter continue to reiterate to the church that we need to lay aside anything and everything that inhibits us from the holiness of God. We must fill our lives with the Word of God, as it is our spiritual nutrition to keep us healthy and mature.

With the hope of our salvation fixed upon eternal glory, we are to pursue holiness here and now. The challenge is to prepare our minds for action. We must battle daily to keep our minds pure, so our actions dictate a dependency upon God and Christlike character to the world around us. That is how we are to live in this world.

The Apostle Peter sums up in two words what we are to do in a society that rejects God as sovereign: Stand Firm! This is our call as we navigate through life in a post-Christian nation. Peter supplies us with tremendous encouragement in who we are, how we live, and what our perspective should be in life. But it is up to us to make the choice to live in this way. That no matter what may come our way, we stand firm in the grace of God and the hope He gives us.

After listening to the sermon, take some time and reflect on the following things:

1. Think about your 'spiritual birth', what it means to you, and why God saved you. What did God save you for?

2. Suffering and Glory are promised. We don't set out to deny the reality of our trials. But we take comfort in the fact that God is in control, and that can bring us comfort.

3. How have you responded to your trials? In what ways can you improve and/or refocus to bring glory to God in the midst of your suffering?

Yes!! 2020 is done and gone! However, just because a very bad, no good year is behind us, doesn't mean the enemy isn't still seeking to destroy our minds and our hearts. As we move in to the new year, it is imperative to put on the full armor of God. We need to be prepared to battle from a place of victory in Jesus' name, Amen?!

Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Is it everything you hoped it would be? Did anyone receive their gifts and NOT open them? That would be silly. But we tend to do that with what God has given to us. We accept our gift of salvation, but don't open it to its fullest extent. As we do our best to leave 2020 behind, let's look forward in faith for all that God has for us. Let's live now based on what He promises us in the future!

We love this time of year, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ! As we read through the story of the birth of Jesus, we also take a look at a prophetic message about this child born that was given some 700 years before His miraculous birth. Who this child would become beyond the manger is of utmost importance to us. He is our Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Amen!

December 20, 2020. Christmas Sunday at Refuge City Church, Lake Elsinore, CA. *This is a restream of our 9:00 AM service*

We celebrate Communion today. If you are joining this restream broadcast, please grab some elements (bread/crackers and juice/water) so you can participate with us towards the end of the service.

The birth of Jesus is an amazing thing to celebrate. God with us! This is what allows us to proclaim our joy to the world! Not only for who He is, but what He would eventually do for the world. Merry Christmas!