In this sermon, we see that Peter shows believers how we can actually grow in holiness by craving the Lord, where we find true satisfaction.

It has been said that ‘the fear of the Lord is the soul of godliness’. In this sermon the fear of the Lord in the life of the christian is in focus, from 1 Peter 1:17-21. Questions such as 'What is the fear of the Lord'?, 'Why Should Christians fear the Lord'?, and 'How does a christians grow in the fear of the Lord'?, are answered. The message also explains how walking in the fear of the Lord is to depart from evil and how doing so is the key to deep joy in the christian life.

In our day certain concepts, like holiness or living a holy life are seen negatively; and yet, scripture tells us that without holiness no one will see the Lord. This should cause its to ask, ‘What is holiness about; and how does a person become holy?’ In this sermon, based off of 1 Peter 1:14-16, we learn three great truths from 1 Peter about holiness. We learn that God the father is holy, the He makes people holy and those who are made holy by Him are then empowered to be holy in all their conduct. Each of these truths is explained from scripture and from the text for today and practical directions for applying these truths are also given. Let us be holy in all our conduct, for he who calls us into Christ is Himself holy and makes us holy as well.

As Peter instructs us how to live in a post-Christian world, he instructs, “ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct”. This sermon examines this instruction by asking and answering three questions: 1) What are the passions? 2) How do the passions wage war against christians? 3) How can we as christians win the war against the passions? The sermon contains twelve directions which teach christians to wage a good warfare against the passions - which are defined as the desires of the flesh.

After establishing a theological foundation designed to teach the elect exiles of Asia Minor who they were in Christ and the benefits that come to them from God as a result, Peter then taught them how they should live as Christians in the world; and he does so in 1 Peter by communicating some primary principles for living. This sermon examines the first of these principles. As Christ’s obedient children, Christians are called by Christ to be conforming their lives to God the Father and His desires instead of being conformed to the passions of their former lives and those of the world around them. To do this, Peter encourages us to set our minds on the grace that is to come to us at Christ’s return, to life holy lives in imitation of God and to walk in the fear of the Lord. The key to walking in this way, as the sermon shows, is to be fixated on Jesus Christ and His glory.

Historically, Christians have often found themselves marginalized by society due to their loyalty to Christ and His kingdom, as the recipients of Peter’s letter discovered. The gospel brings hope to the marginalized, however, as they, through Christ, are brought near to God. In this sermon, this idea is developed, giving hope to marginalized Christians while calling the marginalized of our culture to embrace Christ, for of such is Christ’s church and kingdom.

Trials are common to life; and a certain type trial is common to Christians. It is therefore important for a Christian to understand that trials are a reality of life and faith, as well as how God uses trials for the good of his children. In this sermon from 1 Peter 1:6-9, we learn about the nature of tests of faith, the purpose of tests of faith, and the believers path through tests of faith. The sermon will be particularly encouraging to those who are entering or who are in the midst of some serious faith test.

In the same way a wise builder knows the importance of laying a good foundation for buildings to be straight and live, Simon Peter also knew this principle. He therefore taught several truths to the elect christian exiles living in Asia Minor in the first century in order to lay a solid foundation in their lives before he taught them how to live in a pre-christian age. These same truths, explained in this sermon, are important to know and believe if 21st century christians are to live effectively for Christ in our post-christian world. It is when believers understand who God is to them, what He has done for them and what this means for their future that they will then be able to face a world that marginalizes them or causes them to suffer.

When Peter wrote his first letter to the ‘elect exiles’ in Asia Minor, he wrote to a group of Christians, scattered over a large area, who had been displaced - deported - and had resettled in areas bot their own; and this posed multiple problems for these Christians. Peter wrote, therefore, to encourage them in their faith so that they would not loose heart and so they would know how to live as Christians in their area of the world. With encouragement in mind, Peter began his letter by pointing the recipients to their three-fold choosing by God, with a view to emphasize to them that they were not only loved by God at the time, but had been loved by God the Father before time. It is as though Peter was saying to these exiles that though they had been exiled and banished, pushed to the margins of Roman society, they were nevertheless loved by God as members of His new society, and had an unbelievable inheritance from Him. This sermon develops this theme and is applicable for all believers, and especially those facing trials and tribulation.

This is the second message in the series Living as Christians in a post-Christian World. The sermon gives an overview of 1 Peter, laying out seven main ideas Peter shared with the recipients of his letter. The over-arching theme is that first century Christians were citizens of a distinct kingdom which existed within an earthly empire. Their first loyalty, therefore, was to this new kingdom and to the king of the kingdom, Jesus Christ! In addition, Peter also taught these Christians how to live as Christians in a pre-Christian age in the midst of that earthly empire. The letter of Peter is therefore appropriate for we who live in a post-Christian era. . .