West Lynchburg

1) As you come to Him (v4-8)

* He is: Living Stone

* We are: Living Stones

2) As you share and show the gospel (v9-12)

* Share: God’s saving work in us

* Show: God’s saving work through us

Two Ways to Evaluate Your Spiritual Life

1) How am I loving others?

2) How am I longing for God’s Word?

Four Self-Examination Questions

1) How is my love for others currently reflecting God’s love for me?

2) What sinful actions or attitudes must I abandon that hurt my relationships?

3) How am I consistently planting the imperishable seed in my mind and heart?

4) Does my current desire for God’s word reflect God’s worth?

Our Response to Our Salvation is...

1) A Settled Hope (1:13)

* New Focus * New Future

2) A Steadfast Holiness (1:14-16)

* New Relationship

- Abandon your former ignorance

- Embrace your new identity

3) A Sincere Humility (1:17-21)

* New Approach * New Appreciation

Our hope is in the God who…

1) Graciously saves us

2) Guards us

3) Guides us

4) Grips us

5) Guarantees glory for us

Post-Christian Culture Shifts:

1. From the center to the margins

2. From majority to minority

3. From settlers to sojourners

4. From privilege to plurality

5. From control to witness

6. From maintenance to mission

7. From institution to movement

1 Peter teaches believers that our hope is realized through:

• Our Salvation

• Our Submission

• Our Suffering

The 3 imperatives of giving:

1) Return, 2) Bring, 3) Test

The 4 steps of growth in giving:

* Non-giver to Initial Giver (TEST)

* Initial Giver to Consistent Giver (TIMELY)

* Consistent Giver to Proportional Giver (TITHE)

* Proportional Giver to Sacrificial Giver (TRUST)

Take the 4-month giving challenge @ wlbc.life/four

1. We are created to serve

2. We are saved to serve

3. We are gifted to serve

4. We are commanded to serve

5. We need each other's service

6. We serve others as a way of serving God

7. We serve as a way of worship

8. Our service shows we belong to Christ

9. Our service makes life far more meaningful

10. Our service will be rewarded

* Our challenge is not our present circumstances, proficiency, or profits. Our challenge is our perspective and priorities.

* We are not owners but are stewards

* 3 Options with Time, Talent, and Treasure: waste, spend, generously invest

1) We live in the moment!

Your life is your… Loves

Your life contains… Intersections

Your life is blessed with… Fortunes

Your life is part of God’s… Eternity

2) We live for Eternity!

Romans 8:17

*   A highly nuanced question - Who’s asking?

* Among the most profound questions

* What happened in the Two Gardens?

* The magnitude of Adam’s sin

* God’s plan includes suffering

* The Surgeon’s scalpel

* The Designer of redemptive suffering

Four stages God uses to help us:

1) Crisis (v22-25)

2) Commitment (v26)

3) Confession (v27)

4) Cooperation (v28)