Peace Presbyterian Church

Because we still sin, we pray that God would keep us from temptation and to deliver us from evil when that temptation comes. He gives us ordinary means of resisting temptation: watchful prayer, knowing God's word, and other Christians to hold us accountable. If/when we succumb to temptation, we find mercy for our past sins and grace for our future walk at the foot of the cross.

Facing a moral debt that we cannot pay, those of us who are in Christ are forgiven through his death on the cross. In turn, we forgive others as we have been forgiven.

In praying for our daily bread, we are moved to consistent dependence on God to provide our own needs and the needs of our community.

The first three petitions of The Lord's Prayer are all synonymous with "Let Your Kingdom Come." We look forward to the day when God's authority is recognized on earth, but until that day, we bring the kingdom about with our actions.

Simeon and Anna were representatives of Israel who were waiting for God's salvation to come. When Jesus arrived, Simeon could die in peace, even though God's full redemption hadn't yet come.Questions for Reflection and Discussion- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- Why did Mary need to be purified?- How is Jesus God's salvation?- How can we see God's salvation today?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

Why is the birth of a baby 2,000 years ago “good news of great joy for all people”?Note: This sermon has a uniquely somber tone because it was preached hours after a church member died.Questions for Discussion and Reflection- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- Is it possible for any of us to please God on our own?- What's the best news you've ever heard?- To what response is God calling you to this evening?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

Questions for Discussion and Reflection- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- What three things did God promise to Abraham?- What two dangers do we face when trying to reconcile the spiritual and physical aspects of this song? Which danger are you more tempted by?- Who are the true people of God?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

Jesus is the ultimate divine king, the one who is great, the Son of God. In this passage, we see that John the Baptist, Mary, and the kings of the Old Testament are signposts meant to point to Jesus, not the destination themselves.Questions for Reflection and Discussion- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- What Old Testament character(s) does Mary remind you of?- How is Jesus greater than Mary, John the Baptist, and/or David?- How does the kingship of Jesus affect how we view other objects of worship today?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

Just as God answered the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth by providing them a son, God answered the prayers of the people by sending a prophet who would herald the coming Day of the Lord.Discussion Questions- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- How would you react if an angel appeared to you on the biggest day of your life?- Who are counted among God's people on the Day of the Lord?- What is your prayer?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, and/or Generous Service?

Luke introduces his gospel by telling Theophilus how he compiled all his research together. He does this, so we can know the truth about Christ's life, death, and resurrection.Questions for Reflection and DiscussionIs there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?What methods did Luke use to write his gospel?Why can we be sure that the gospels contain the truth about Jesus?What does Christianity claim that you find most difficult to believe?How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

Throughout the book of Ruth, we see God's faithfulness to provide for his people.- There was famine, but God brought abundant food to Bethlehem (the house of bread).- There was childlessness, but God made Ruth's womb fruitful.- Naomi had no one to care for her, but God gave her Ruth and Obed.- Israel was left without a king, but God provided David to unite and lead the nation.- Humanity is sinful, so God provided a king who would save us from our sins.Discussion Questions- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- Why are there so many mentions of grain and the harvest through the book of Ruth?- How did Obed fill the emptiness that Naomi felt at the beginning of this story?- Was David the king that Israel needed? Why or why not?- How does this sermon inform our Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

God, through Boaz, showed incredible favor to Ruth. She did not earn this favor because of her lineage, but because she repented and trusted God. In the same way, we can have God's favor when we repent and trust Christ, despite our sin.Questions for Reflection and Discussion- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- Why does the narrator keep mentioning Moab? Why do they keep talking about the grain harvest?- Was Ruth saved by works or by faith?- Why might it be important to remember our own sinfulness?- How does this sermon affect your Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

In the middle of sin, famine, exile, and death, Naomi allowed the emptiness she felt to turn to bitterness against God. But her faithful God was at work in her life to bring about fullness and redemption.Questions for Reflection and DiscussionIs there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?How else is Bethlehem mentioned in the Bible?Which daughter-in-law made the logical choice? Which daughter-in-law made the right choice?Is there an area where emptiness has turned to bitterness in your heart?How does this sermon affect your Joyful Worship, Humble Growth, Radical Hospitality, or Generous Service?

As we wait for the kingdom of God to come in full, the church does the work of the kingdom in this world. We, as Christ's body in the world today, continue his work as we generously serve widows, orphans, and all those who are so often forced to the fringes of our society.Discussion Questions- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon? - What are the four acts in the story of the Bible? - Why does it matter that the kingdom is coming here instead of being a place that we go to? - What practical way can you Generously Serve your neighborhood and community this week?

The early Christians were a community united around their common faith despite their other differences. They shared their time and money with each other as needs arose. Their neighbors saw this radical Christian community, and God added to them daily those who were being saved.Discussion Questions:- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- What is your favorite sitcom?- Why must the gospel be central to our fellowship?- Is there a need you need met or a need you can meet in our fellowship?- Who in your life is in need of experiencing Radical Hospitality?

For those whom God has justified (legally declared to be in the right), he is also at work sanctifying (making holy) by removing our sin from us and causing us to go on to do good works. In order to sanctify us, God has given us the preaching of the Word (which we experience in Joyful Worship) as well as the church. Christians are members of one body, and we are all responsible for building each other up to Christian maturity.

We experience God's presence in a uniquely special way in Word and Sacrament when the church gathers together. As we seek his face, we are reminded of the day when God will dwell with his people fully. We are filled with joy, and we turn and worship God with joyful hearts.Discussion Questions- Is there a fact you learned, question you had, or truth you were reminded of during today's sermon?- How does God dwell with his people today? How does this change our actions from week to week?- In your own life, how is joy different from happiness?- As we seek to Make Disciples, is there someone you can invite into the presence of God to Joyfully Worship with you?

Peace Presbyterian Church's mission is to Make Disciples who, by faith and by God's power, love God and love their neighbors.

Creation: God created Adam and Eve fully alive, both spiritually and physically.Fall: Adam and Eve rebelled against God, bringing physical and spiritual death on all of humanity.Redemption: God is at work to restore his fallen creation. Those who trust Christ are made spiritually alive, even though we don't experience full physical healing in this life. Christians who have died are fully spiritually alive, but absent from their home in the body.Restoration: Believers look forward to the day when we will be fully alive, spiritually and physically. On that day, death will be defeated and we will live forever in our bodies with all those who are in Christ.

Though Israel was unfaithful to God, his promises to Abraham remained in effect. Through Christ, God circumcises the hearts of those who trust him, fulfilling his promise of giving Abraham a great nation who would bring blessing to the world.

In Deuteronomy 30, the nation of Israel is reminded of God's faithfulness to them and were urged to choose life by loving God and obeying his commands. We face the same choice today.

In order to fulfil God's plan to bless the nations through Abraham's family, the church should reach out to those outside of God's family to bring them in.

Content Advisory: There's nothing lewd or inappropriate in this sermon, but we do talk about sex, so use caution when listening with little ones.The Seventh Commandment summarizes all of God's commands about marriage and sexuality. We often focus on ‘how far is too far' and miss God's intention for sex. God's purpose for humanity is that we be a people who live in relationship with him, and being fruitful and multiplying is central to this vision. The seventh commandment condemns those who deviate from this vision by separating marriage from sex and childbearing.

The sixth commandment is more than a command simply not to murder. It is an acknowledgement that everyone is made in the image of God and is worthy of our respect and blessing. Everyone, including those you may consider your enemies.

The Sabbath is a gift to God's people. It reminds us that God alone redeems and provides for us. It also provides us an opportunity to worship God with his people.

When Jesus calls disciples to follow him, he calls them to pick up their cross - an ancient instrument of torture - every day. Following Jesus is a whole-life commitment. That's why we are commanded to love (or be loyal to) God with all of our ‘very muchness'. And when we truly understand who God is and what he's done for us, devoting our lives to him will be the natural response.

Every day, a ancient Jewish person would recite the Shema, a creed found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that forms the core of Old Testament theology and religion. This week, we look at the first half of this creed, focusing on who God is and what his name means. He is the god who is. At the Exodus and at the cross, God showed that he is above all other gods, yet he is our God.

Is it fair for God to choose Israel as his people and remove other nations from the promised land so his people could live there? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew looks at what it means to be chosen by God and how God is gracious in dealing with unrepentant people.

God's commands in the Pentateuch are not a series of hoops to jump through in order to earn God's favor. They ARE God's favor, but our hearts must be changed by God in order to participate in God's blessing.

Even though Israel disobeyed and failed to trust the God who had saved them from Egypt, he remained faithful to the promise he made to Abraham and still brought Israel to the promised land of blessing.

Scripture is more than a collection of stories and letters. It is one, unified story of how Jesus Christ is redeeming and restoring his fallen creation.

In this conclusion to our Ephesians series, Pastor Andrew gives an overview of the letter and encourages everyone to pick one takeaway from the series.

The church is a foothold in the dominion of Satan that Christ won by the death blow he struck against the forces of evil on the cross. While we wait for Christ's final victory, we are given weapons to hold his territory against the assaults of the wicked one.

In a day that Christians use Scripture to justify white supremacy, how should we handle texts, like Ephesians 6, that seem to justify slavery?

In this Easter Sunday sermon, Pastor Andrew examines common objections to the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection and its implications for our lives today.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowd that greeted him was ready for an all-out, bloody revolt. In this Sunday's sermon, Pastor Andrew looks at the Old Testament expectation of a coming Jewish king and how Jesus is recognized as that king throughout the Gospel of John.

From Ephesians 5:3-20, Pastor Andrew talks through four ways to discern the difference between light and darkness.The sermon Pastor Andrew mentions about how Christians relate to Jewish customs can be found here: https://peacepresflint.com/sermons/2019/2/11/021019-brought-near-by-the-blood-of-christ

This Sunday, Pastor Andrew preaches on Ephesians 4:25-5:2. Because we have been adopted and are being changed by Jesus Christ, we ought to love each other in the way that Christ has loved us. Note: Due to a technical glitch, the second half of this sermon did not record. We determined that it would be better to upload the part that did rather than none at all.

This week, Pastor SJ preaches from Ephesians 4:17-24. Because we are being made new, we should take off sin - like taking off dirty clothes - and put on righteousness.

This Sunday, we learn that Jesus, from his position as head of the church, has gifted each one of his people with what is necessary to build up his body into the maturity of knowledge and love.

Because the church is united in Christ, Paul assumes we are living in close fellowship, and urges us to maintain our unity when sin threatens to break us apart.

What kind of love surpasses knowledge? We can grasp a love where someone gives up their life for a friend, but what about an enemy?

In this sermon, we examine the good news of the mystery that has now been made known to the world as well as Paul's ministry in proclaiming that gospel, even to persecution and death.

The Gentiles were once separated from God's covenant with Israel including the promises and access to God those covenants contained. But, Christ has made peace with God and united Jews and Gentiles together into one people of God.

This Sunday, we learn from Ephesians 2 that we have been brought from death to life in Christ - not because of anything that we have done - but purely by the grace of Christ.

This Sunday, we studied Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in the second half of Ephesians 1. We focused on Paul's desire that his readers would know the great power of God, which was at work in the resurrection and enthronement of Christ, and is now at work in the church.

This Sunday, Pastor Andrew exposited Ephesians 1:3-14, a doxology to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for God's redemptive plan encompassing all of human history.

In this introduction to our upcoming sermon series on Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Pastor Andrew teaches about the city of Ephesus as well as the Apostle Paul and his interactions with the city. He concludes with looking briefly at what it means to be “In Christ,” a phrase which appears 34 times in this letter.Mentioned Resources:https://www.biblegateway.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y71r-T98E2Q&t

What does it mean that God disciplines his children? After all, didn't Jesus bear all of God's wrath on our behalf? Is God unloving? In this sermon, Pastor Andrew guides us through Hebrews 12 in an attempt to answer these questions.

In the latest installment of our Advent: God Has Come sermon series, we take a look at God's relationship with Abraham and its contrast to expanse of sin in Genesis 3-11. God would restore his blessing to humanity through Abraham and his offspring. In the New Testament, we see that the true children of Abraham are not his physical descendants, but his spiritual ones: the ones who have faith.For more on God's relationship with Abraham, read Genesis 12, 15, and 17 as well as Romans 4 and Galatians 3.