Podcasts about apostle peter

At the beginning of his second letter, the Apostle Peter reminded us that God, in His power and love, has graciously given us everything we need to be faithful to the calling of discipleship. This walk of sacrifice is supported by the overwhelming gift of God's precious and magnificent promises. Peter then tells us that because we have such privilege and grace before us to build on our faith. He tells us that as a result of having this gift of faith, it should help us fully develop moral excellence. That moral excellence should in turn drive us towards spiritual knowledge, which feeds our ability to have self-control. Our outward manifestation of self-control should trigger powerful perseverance which in turn nourishes a godly and reverent character. This godly character produces an all-encompassing brotherly kindness which in turn develops the kind of selfless love that our Lord Jesus and our heavenly Father both have. Useless or unfruitful When these qualities are present and increasing, they keep us from becoming “useless or unfruitful” in our knowledge of Christ, but when they are absent, we become spiritually short‑sighted, forgetting the cleansing and new life Jesus provided. Complacency is a danger, and we as believers can drift into blindness or relapse into old habits when we stop climbing the ladder. Peter then re‑energizes us with a call to diligence—bookending the entire process with earnest effort in verses 5 and 10. This diligence is not frantic activity but a sincere, steady commitment to practicing these virtues so that we can keep moving forward even when we stumble. Through vivid examples, warnings and encouragements, the episode emphasizes that spiritual growth is intentional, not automatic, and that God's providence works with our effort to shape a character that reflects Christ. Ultimately, Peter assures us that if we continue developing these qualities, we will walk securely, avoid spiritual collapse and receive an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom. Key Takeaways Peter's “virtue ladder” outlines a clear, ordered path for Christian growth. These qualities must be increasing to keep us from becoming spiritually unfruitful. Forgetting our cleansing leads to spiritual blindness and drift. Peter uses diligence as bookends (verses 5 and 10) to show that growth requires intentional effort. Practicing these virtues helps us recover quickly when we stumble. God's promises supply the power; our diligence supplies the response.

1.  When the Lord asks  A.  But I am tired B.  But that goes against my experience  C.  But my peers will laugh  D. But because you asked  2.   A glimpse of His glory  A.  Experiencing a personal miracle   B.  Seeing God's holiness  C.  Realizing I am a sinner 3.  Don't be afraid  A. A changed sinner is a new creation B. A changed sinner understands a sinner C. A changed sinner gives hope 

We're in Chapter 3 today in the Book of Acts, and following the preaching ministry of the Apostle Peter.

In this message, we explore the Apostle Peter's powerful warning in 2 Peter 2 about false teachers who secretly infiltrate the church and lead people away from the truth. Throughout Scripture, Jesus and the early church leaders repeatedly warned believers to test what they hear and remain grounded in God's Word. This teaching highlights key red flags of false ministers—teachings that minimize Jesus, manipulative tactics around money, and lives marked by hidden sin—while encouraging believers to grow in spiritual discernment rather than suspicion. Most importantly, it reminds us that even when human leaders fail, Jesus remains the Good Shepherd who faithfully loves, protects, and restores His sheep.

We have arrived! This episode explores the final and highest rung of the Apostle Peter's “virtue ladder”- agape, the selfless, God‑shaped love that defines the true purpose of Christian character. We walk through how each previous rung—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self‑control, perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness—builds the capacity to reach this culminating form of love. While Strong's Concordance’s Greek definition of agape may sound simple or even underwhelming, Scripture masterfully fills the word with depth, weight and divine intention. This eight and final rung powerfully reveals the height what our Christian characters aspire to! The love of God Himself Agape is the love God demonstrates in giving His only begotten son. It is the love Jesus lived by laying down his life, and the love the apostles taught as the unmistakable evidence of spiritual maturity. This love is “disinterested” in the classical sense—free from selfish motive, seeking no advantage and offered even when it is not reciprocated. It is critical to remember that while this kind of love grows out of brotherly kindness, it surpasses it by embracing even the hardest expressions of love: loving enemies, blessing those who persecute us and caring for those we don't naturally like. A powerful illustration of this is the story of Maximilian Kolbe, who voluntarily took another man's place in a starvation bunker at Auschwitz—an act that embodied Christlike, sacrificial agape. The first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13, show us how this kind of love must shape what we as Christians say, know and do; without it, eloquence becomes noise, knowledge becomes pride, and even great acts of sacrifice lose their spiritual value. Finally, we observe how the Scriptures remind us that perfect love casts out fear, and that agape matures in us as we continually practice the earlier virtues. When brotherly love is strong and relationships are aligned with God's will, agape becomes the defining purpose of a disciple's life, shining as the highest expression of Christlikeness. Key Takeaways Agape is the highest rung of Christian character, built on the foundation of the previous seven virtues. Strong's definition is insufficient—Scripture reveals agape as God's own selfless, sacrificial love. Jesus models agape through his willingness to lay down his life. Agape includes loving enemies and those we don't naturally like. Without agape, words, knowledge and actions lose spiritual value (1 Corinthians 13). Perfect love casts out fear, revealing maturity and alignment with God's purpose.

March 8, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon This episode examines what it means to listen to Jesus amid the cacophony of modern voices, using the Transfiguration (Mark 9 / Matthew 17) and the Apostle Peter's letter (2 Peter) as the lens. Neal reflects on the Mount of Transfiguration—Peter, James, and John's front-row encounter with Jesus—and shows how that moment shaped Peter's later warnings and instruction about truth, doctrine, and discipleship. Topics covered include eyewitness testimony versus "cleverly devised myths," the contrast between faithful teachers and false teachers, and the fourfold impact of listening to Christ: shaping our message, influencing our character, determining our influence, and deciding our eternal destiny. The episode walks through specific biblical examples Peter uses (the fallen angels, the Flood/Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Balaam) and explains how prior judgment points to future judgment. Practical connections are drawn to today's culture of influencers, marketing, and media noise (with contemporary illustrations mentioned in the talk), and the episode emphasizes how Christians should test teaching by Scripture and by the fruit it produces. Neal urges listeners to guard their ears, pursue true knowledge of Jesus that transforms life, and respond in faith—repentance, baptism, and renewed attention to the Word—so they will be found holy and blameless when the Lord returns. This is a sermon-style episode featuring the preacher's exposition of 2 Peter and Mark 9, intended for listeners who want clear, biblically rooted guidance on discerning truth, cultivating godly character, and living under the authority of Christ's voice.   Handout:  LISTENING TO JESUS (2 Peter) — Neal Pollard    According To 2 Peter....    I. LISTENING TO JESUS AFFECTS OUR ________________________________      A. Is It A __________________-Moved Message?      B. Or Is It _______________ Devised ___________________?    II. LISTENING TO JESUS INFLUENCES OUR __________________________    III. LISTENING TO JESUS IMPACTS OUR _____________________________       A. True Teachers __________________ People __________________________       B. False Teachers __________________ People _________________________    IV. LISTENING TO JESUS DETERMINES OUR ___________________________    Conclusion    A. The Father Didn't Say _____________ Or ___________ Him, But, "_____________ To Him!"    Duration 33:28

What do Melchizedek, Sodom and Gamora, Balaam and Balak, Phinehas, King Eglon, Ruth, King Rehoboam, King Nahash, Sanballat and Tobiah, ancient mythical gods Chemosh, Melchom, and Baal all have in common? One man named Lot. Lot, the nephew of Abraham, seems like a side character in the book of Genesis. His role, however, has great historical significance in the books of the bible.Though being involved in many unfortunate situations and making very bad choices, the story of Lot has theological significance that we may not see at first. Beyond being the father of a few of Israel's enemies and advancing the biblical story in some regards, the Apostle Peter makes a statement that prompts a “lot” of questions. In the book of 2 Peter, the Apostle describes Lot as righteous and a man greatly distressed by evil conduct. Though many may not have thought of Lot in this way, digging into the details will give us the answers as to why Peter says this.In this message, we look over the story of Lot and his relationship to Abraham. We will see his significance to biblical history and answer the questions of why the Apostle Peter calls him righteous.Pastor Forrest Smith

Sometimes – we're just living life the best way we know how, honouring God and Whammo, something so unfair hits us – right out of the blue.  You've been there too, right?   His Way, Not Ours There are times in life when bad things happen to good people. And perhaps you are someone who believes in Jesus and you have been living your life just the best way that you know how; just day after day walking with Him and all of a sudden "Whamo"; something happens. The sky turns dark and all of a sudden you are in one of those dark, black times that we can go through in life. A time of loss or pain or sickness or whatever it is and you kind of look around and think, "What is going on here, God? I mean I know I'm not perfect but every day I just get up and just do my best and I walk with You and now this!" My hunch is that there are a few people who kind of relate to that today. And so I want to deal with that because when bad things happen to good people, it's such a shock – it seems so unfair, especially when we take a look around and we see there is a whole bunch of "good" things happening to some really 'bad' people out there. "What is going on, God?" Well, over these last few weeks on the programme we have been just working our way through Psalm 34 in a series that I've called, "Dark Night, Bright Light". Psalm 34 is a Psalm written by King David and King David was a man who went through more dark times in his life than you or I would ever hope for. And yes, he makes some mistakes but right from the beginning God had him picked as a man after His own heart. And yet David lived through so many dark and difficult times; scary times; on the run for his life from King Saul who wanted to kill him, for years; battles with enemies and it looked like he would lose and yet, God would show up. When you take a look at his life and you weigh David's life on our human scale of justice, well, you come to the conclusion David was definitely one of the good guys. He tried with all his might to honour God and even though some days, he blew it, he was probably the greatest King that Israel ever had. And I'm sure that as David would take a look at his life, he'd probably come to the same conclusion. And yet this man went through so many difficult things – dark and lonely times – times when his people criticised him and times when he was in fear of his life. So God, what's going on? Why is that? How come bad things happen to good people? I'm not sure I can answer all of those things. I mean, God is God and He decides those things but as we continue to walk through Psalm 34, let me share with you David's own wisdom on this, because Psalm 34 is a Psalm where he looks back on all those bad times and he reflects with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Let's pick it up in Psalm 34, verse 15, he writes: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all. Well, David doesn't even bother with the "why" question here, does he? When we hit those dark times the first question we want to know is 'Why me, God? Why is this happening? Right? And the second question is: "How long is this going to go on, God – how long?" Well, David doesn't carry on with any of that. He seems in this Psalm to accept the sovereignty of God and after all that he has been through in his life, he draws this obvious conclusion – Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. In other words, stuff happens – it just does. Jesus put it this way: Your Father in heaven causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and He sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Good stuff and bad stuff happens to good people and bad people – there you go, that's just it. And it seems to be a rule that the more a man or a woman turns their lives to following hard after God, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the more afflictions they suffer. It's such an incredible contradiction because on the one hand, God wants to bless us – He does – all the way through His Word the Bible, He tells us that. But on the other, when we set our hearts like flint to follow Him, it seems like the rest of the world wants to stop us. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. "Many" – gee, there's one of the promises of God! I don't hear many people shouting, "Halleluiah, Amen" to that promise. But the Lord delivers us from them all. His eyes are on His people; His ear is attentive to their cry. We cry out, He hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. You know what I have learned? He doesn't always deliver us in the way that we expect Him to. Sometimes we want Him to do one thing and He does exactly the opposite. Sometimes we cry out to Him and things seem to get worse. Sometimes we want Him to do "A" and He turns around and does "B". And sometimes it seems like His solution; His answer means that we lose and someone else wins. But in the wondrous fabric of His mighty plan for our lives, He is so much more interested in our characters – who we are – and our relationship with Him than He is in our perceptions of what we think we need and our comfort. He is so much more concerned about His glory shining out into this world than He is about some of the things that at the time, well, we think they are important but in the bigger scheme of things, they really aren't. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans chapter 5: Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and this hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And the longer we walk with God the more afflictions we have to suffer, the more we discover the truth of King David's words: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all.   It's not Fair You know when I think when the darkness is the worst? I think when something happens to us that's not fair – someone treads on us or hurts us or stabs us in the back and it's not fair. And when that happens, instead of running to God, we are so tempted to behave badly – to stoop as low as the person that has hurt us. If they stabbed us in the back, well, we have to do the same only ten times worse. Many are the afflictions of the righteous and we will avenge them all, right? No, that's not what God tells us in Psalm 34: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, He says in verse 19, but the Lord delivers us from them all. But boy, oh boy, it is so tempting to carve the other guy's heart out isn't it? I want to take you to one of the most challenging verses in the Bible, for me – I mean, really challenging. It's talking about when things happen that are not fair and it's about a slave and his or her master. It was written a thousand or so years after King David penned Psalm 34, by the Apostle Peter. Come with me almost to the end of the New Testament – to the letter, First Peter – it's a letter to Christians who were being persecuted. They were going through incredibly dark times; it was incredibly unfair, and Peter writes this piece of wisdom. First Peter chapter 2, verse 18 and listen, if you have a Bible, open it up, come with me here to this verse – First Peter chapter 2, verse 18. This is what he writes: Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God but how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. This is what you are called to because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats, instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. He, Himself bore our sins in His body on that tree so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness: by His wounds you have been healed. For you, like sheep, have gone astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and the overseer of your souls. Do you find that challenging? I certainly do. See there's something in our makeup that when injustice happens to us; when we are on the receiving end, we want to rail against it and in the hurt and the pain and the anger – we want revenge, we want justice ... Peter is writing to slaves – I mean, slavery is something in the twenty first century, we just find disgusting and abhorrent and yet here in God's Word, Peter is writing to slaves - one human being, being owned by another human being, to labour without payment – human degradation at its worst. How can one person do that to another? And yet Peter says: "Submit to your masters who are harsh." Slave, submit to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. See, travelling through pain, we want to end that pain in our own strength – it is a natural human instinct. It is so unnatural to honour God in that place. It is so unnatural to wait for Him to deliver us. It is so unnatural for us to do what is commendable in God's eyes but if you suffer for doing good and you endure it this is commendable before God. To this you are called because Christ suffered for you; leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps. It is unnatural to suffer for doing good but it is commendable before God and in that, Christ is our example. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth and yet when they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats instead He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. See – insults and He didn't retaliate! Imagine what the Son of God could have done to those people? When they hurled insults at Him, He bore them like nails in His flesh; when He suffered, He didn't make any threats; He didn't utter any words of revenge. And you might say, "Berni, how can you be preaching this stuff at me? How can you believe this stuff? This is so hurtful." Well, the answer and the solution come in the very next verse. Listen: Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. There it is again – a millennium after Psalm 34 was written, Peter is saying exactly the same thing that David said in Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. So many of the things that happen to us in life aren't fair but in that darkness God's light shines; a certain hope. Look at how Peter finishes off this letter: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore, under God's might hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.   God's Deliverance I just want to finish up today by encouraging you that God is in the deliverance business. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, Peter writes in First Peter chapter 5, beginning at verse 5: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. You know, for me as I have travelled through these incredibly dark times, every now and then, when I have been treated unfairly – what I have learned is that it is not about getting my outcome or my way – it's about humbling myself before God and that is so hard sometimes. It's about being like Christ and saying, "God, not my will but Your will be done." And God somehow always, always comes through and so do I, but as a changed man. A few more of the rough edges knocked off; a little of God's polishing here and there – definitely a work in progress but it changes you, little by little. When we are passed over; when we are being ignored; when someone who is half as good as us is promoted twice as quickly; when people whisper behind our backs, those are painful times. Yet they are precious times when we have a choice to make – to get our own back or to humble ourselves under His mighty hand; to retaliate and threaten or to wait patiently in pain for God to deliver us like He did with Jesus; to be like everyone else in this world or to be Christ like - to be about the devil's business or about God's business. We started off today looking at this wonderful part of Psalm 34, beginning at verse 15: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. You see, God's eyes are on the righteous; He does hear our cries. And God is a righteous God – we are going to look at that next week. God is against those who do evil and ultimately, there will be a price for those people to pay. One day they will stand before God and be judged. When we cry out God hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. When we are broken hearted; when it's so dark and it's so lonely and it's so scary, He is in that place. And even sometimes when we can't see it, He's out there protecting us; keeping us safe; doing things that we can't imagine. Take a look back a page or two at Psalm 31, beginning at verse 20. See, this is one of those times that David is talking about that is so unfair. This is what he writes: In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from the intrigues of men. In Your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord our God, for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight," yet You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help. Love the Lord all His saints. The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud He will pay back in full. Be strong and take heart all you that hope in the Lord. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't it sometimes when we are the subject of the intrigues of men and accusing tongues, it's God who keeps us safe in Him? And when we come through that and we see what's happened and we are changed, we can look back and say, "Praise be to God for He showed His wonderful love to me when I felt like I was in a besieged city." Have you ever felt that? In relationships it's like everyone turns against you and you feel like you are under siege. Praise be to the Lord for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight" yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. So often in those dark places it just kind of feels like there is no one there. It feels like "I'm cut off" – we are afraid and we cry out "I'm cut off" but God is always in that place. Can I just say to you from now on, when you are suffering afflictions; when you are the subject of human plots or accusing tongues; when you are in that incredibly dark place; when you feel cut off like a city under siege; when it's black, I believe that the Holy Spirit is going to shine a light into that dark place. I remember back in my life when it hurt so much and it was so dark, I just quietly sat there in pain and somehow the Holy Spirit turned my heart to humble myself. See, I was so used to lashing out – I was so used to stooping as low as the other people who were inflicting the pain and yet the Holy Spirit did something. And I believe that as we receive His Word today, the Holy Spirit is going to speak His Word, this Word into your heart, one day, just when you need it. Just when you feel like a city under siege; just when you are in that dark place, this beautiful Word that we have looked at in Psalm 34 and Psalm 31 and First Peter chapters 3 and 5, this is the very Word of God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. I don't know about you but some days are really rotten. You know, we go along; we do; we live our lives just the best way we can and something comes out of the blue and it's so unfair and you know, it's so unexpected and it hurts and it's scary. And dark nights – well, they are so dark aren't they? They are so lonely and often so painful but in that dark night there is a bright light and it's a light that shines when we put our trust in Jesus Christ – the same Jesus who suffered a scandalous death on the cross; a death that was unfair; a death that He didn't deserve. When they hurled insults at Him; when they beat Him and when ... He just took it. He just humbled Himself because He knew there was a purpose; He knew that He would have to die for you and me. When we put our faith in that Jesus to deliver us in His time and His way, He will. See, we can have faith in Jesus from a distance; you know, we can believe in Him with our heads from a long way off but that sort of belief is pretty useless when you get to one of those dark nights. Because Jesus never meant for us to have Him at arm's length; He never meant for us to believe in Him just with our heads; He never meant for us to say, "Well, yea, I have an insurance policy", He meant to be part of our lives. And when we believe Him with our lives – do you know what that means? It means in those dark times when people are doing bad things to us, not lashing out in pain. It means saying, "You know, I'm not going to do the thing that comes naturally, which is wrong, I'm going to humble myself; I am going to believe in Jesus' deliverance with my life and just sit here and be like Christ – not like the rest of the world." When we believe like that with our lives; when we put our lives on the line and honour Him in those times of affliction, that's when He shows up. For God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. May He bless you as you receive His Word, today?

The world is in so much need of the Church, the church is in so much need of the Church.  Pastor Brian shares a message on the importance of sharing the Gospel and how He can use all of us, even the Apostle Peter. Join us in person: 22811 S. Cedar Rd., Manhattan, IL 60442 Learn More: encounterthrive.com Give Online: encounterthrive.churchcenter.com/giving

PART 1 What does it really mean to “stand firm in the true grace of God”? In this inspiring and richly biblical study, Brian Johnston takes readers on a journey through the Apostle Peter's first letter—unpacking what Peter himself declared as his purpose in writing: “This is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” (1 Peter 5:12). With warmth and clarity, Brian explores five key facets of God's grace revealed in 1 Peter: Grace in Salvation – God's sovereign mercy in choosing, redeeming, and giving us new life through Christ. Grace in Service – The privilege of being built into God's spiritual house and priesthood. Grace in Sanctification – Living set apart for God amid testing and opposition. Grace in Suffering – Learning to endure trials with faith and hope. Grace in Subjection – Humility and dependence in leadership and daily life. Drawing on Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, he emphasizes that salvation is entirely of God's doing—grace from start to finish. This book will strengthen believers to remain steadfast, worshipful, and grounded in the unchanging grace of God. “After you have suffered a little while… the God of all grace… will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” — 1 Peter 5:10

Obedience to God takes daily, intentional effort. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses recognizing the spiritual authority over our homes and how we can show obedience to God through hospitality. As we can see from the ministry of Apostle Peter, it's not always easy to yield to God, but following His guidance for our lives brings transformation and extends His Kingdom. Pastor Allen also talks about the kitchen table as an expression of spiritual authority over our homes—who or what takes precedence in our households? We must decide for ourselves if we will yield to the daily demands and pressures of this world or if we will choose to obey the God who created us and cares for us. 

In the epistle he wrote shortly before his death, the Apostle Peter strongly emphasized the important things in life they must not forget. We need to remember not to forget them, too. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111

In the epistle he wrote shortly before his death, the Apostle Peter strongly emphasized the important things in life they must not forget. We need to remember not to forget them, too. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29?v=20251111

The blueprint for Christian character development the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 lays out for us a “ladder” that we as disciples of Christ are to climb. Each rung of this ladder is vital to our ability to be able to progress up to the next rung. As we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time in this extended series, we have worked on making the connections between our foundation and how each step makes us more like Jesus. Now comes the seventh rung, and this one really begins to reveal what a truly developed Christian character should look like. The seventh rung is brotherly kindness—philadelphia in Greek and also translated as “brotherly love.” We must realize that faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self‑control, perseverance and godliness form the necessary foundation for this deeply relational virtue. In ancient Greek, this kind of love referred to the instinctive loyalty shared by blood relatives—a devotion that is both expected and not optional. Peter places this rung after godliness because only a character shaped by reverence for God can sustain the sacrificial, loyal, family‑level commitment required to love fellow believers as true siblings. Lots of love To broaden our understanding, it is helpful to compare three Greek categories of love: natural family affection, brotherly love and philanthropia—a benevolent love for all humanity. Brotherly kindness sits at the center of these circles, bridging instinctive affection and universal goodwill. Jesus himself established this family identity when he taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father…,” making all disciples brothers and sisters. Questions to ask ourselves Practical self‑examination is needed to see how well we are living this brotherly kindness: Do we protect others' reputations? Do we step in quietly when someone is overwhelmed? Do we welcome those who sit alone? Brotherly love is not convenient. It is costly, time‑consuming and emotionally demanding. Ultimately, brotherly kindness is the training ground for the final rung—agape love. If Christians can’t love the family of faith with loyalty and tenderness, they cannot hope to love the world with Christlike sacrifice. Key Takeaways Brotherly kindness is loyal, family‑level devotion rooted in godliness. It bridges natural affection and universal benevolence. Jesus established Christians as a true spiritual family. Brotherly love requires patience, protection, presence and emotional investment. It is inconvenient but essential for mature Christian character. Practicing philadelphia prepares us for agape—the highest form of Christlike love.

In this message, Cam Stephens explores 1 Peter 2:4–10, unpacking the Apostle Peter's foundational teaching to the early church about what it truly means to live as followers of Jesus.Peter reveals the powerful image of believers as “living stones,” being built together into God's new temple. This passage highlights that God's presence is no longer centred in a physical building but is now revealed through the community of those who belong to Christ. As a chosen people and royal priesthood, Christians are called to reflect God's glory and proclaim His goodness to the world.This teaching provides essential clarity on Christian identity, purpose, and the communal nature of faith in Christ.Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4–10Speaker: Cam StephensChurch: Grant ChurchTopics Covered:• Living stones and the new temple• Christian identity in Christ• Royal priesthood and holy nation• God's presence among His people• Foundations for Christian livingSubscribe for weekly biblical teaching and sermons from Grant Church, and share this message to encourage others in their walk with Jesus.#1Peter #LivingStones #ChristianIdentity #RoyalPriesthood #BibleTeaching #GrantChurch #NewTestamentWatch the complete service: https://youtube.com/live/lYFq1fNZKKQWe would love to hear from you!Instagram: @grantchurch.caFacebook: grantchurch.caEngage on our website: https://www.grantchurch.ca

Presented by Julie Busteed Do you tend to worry about things in the future that have not even happened yet? I know it's easy for me to fall into that mindset. But Jesus clearly tells us not to go there! Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). This is the final verse in a section where Jesus tells us not to be anxious about our lives—not about what we will eat or what we will wear. And what does worrying accomplish? It doesn't add anything to our lives. In fact, anxiety is harmful. Left unchecked, it creates stress that affects us physically, mentally and emotionally. Now, I'm not talking about the nervousness you might feel before a job interview or a presentation—though we certainly can pray for peace in those moments. I'm talking about chronic anxiety, the kind that takes a toll on your body and mind. Jesus points us to the lilies of the field: And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30 NLT) Why do you and I have so little faith! We serve a great and awesome God, and we can bring any and everything to him in prayer. The Apostle Peter encourages us to cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (I Peter 5:7). Worrying is not only useless but is also evidence of a lack of faith in God. When you feel that anxious thought creep into your thinking, replace it right away with truth from Scripture or with a worship song. Replace it with God's truth. Know that he cares for you and knows your needs; you are worth more to him than anything else.

Send a textTo receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at:Jeremy McCandless | In the latter part of Galatians chapter 2, beginning at verse 11 and continuing through the end of the chapter, Paul recounts a significant second encounter with the Apostle Peter in Antioch. During Peter's visit, he initially ate with Gentile Christians, recognizing that Old Testament dietary laws were no longer binding upon him. However, under pressure from certain individuals, Peter withdrew and began to only associate with these Jewish Christians and reverted to keeping the dietary laws.Recognizing the implications of this behavior, Paul confronted Peter directly, challenging the notion that adherence to the laws of Moses was necessary for salvation. This rebuke underscored the importance of maintaining doctrinal clarity regarding justification by faith alone. And the details of Paul's response to Peter are documented in Galatians chapter 2, providing valuable insight into this pivotal moment in early Christian history….Meet Me in the Word: A Daily DevotionalThoughtful reflections for Jesus-Followers Monday through Friday.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFollow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

The blueprint for Christian character development the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. With this blueprint, Peter lays out for us a ladder of Christian character development. As we examine it, we find that each rung of this ladder is vital to our success in climbing up onto the next rung. In the last five parts of this series, we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time and worked on making the connections between what our foundation is and how each step makes us more like Jesus. Now comes the sixth step, and this one really begins to shape what our outward Christian character should look like! In this episode, we continue our Christian Character Series by examining the sixth rung of Peter's “virtue ladder” in 2 Peter 1:5‑7: godliness. Godliness is not “looking religious,” but a whole‑life orientation toward God, expressed through reverence, devotion, humility and a character that consistently seeks God's will. It is the “allegiance of our character,” the natural outgrowth of perseverance and self‑control working together. Fake godliness Godliness is not something humans possess naturally; it must be developed intentionally through discipline, sound doctrine and a continual turning away from worldly distractions (1 Timothy 4:6‑8). True godliness grows from the inside out and can’t be faked, even though many in the “last days” may display only an appearance of it (2 Timothy 3:1‑5). Real godliness is rooted in Christ's teachings, not tradition, and must never be used as a means of earthly gain (1 Timothy 6:3‑10). Instead, godliness produces contentment, freeing believers from the traps of wealth, status and self‑promotion. Misplaced priorities We also highlight the dangers of misplaced priorities through Jesus' Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:22) and the encounter with the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16‑22). Can we truly be called “men or women of God” (1 Timothy 6:11)? Are we pursuing transformation through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2‑3)? Ultimately, godliness must be visible, shining as a testimony that glorifies God (Matthew 5:16). It is the payoff of perseverance and a foundational step toward authentic discipleship. Key Takeaways Godliness is the allegiance of our character, formed by the previous five virtues. True godliness is internal, genuine and rooted in Scripture, not outward performance. It can’t be used for earthly gain; its true gain is contentment. Godliness requires discipline, perseverance and continual renewal of the mind. It must be visible, shining in a way that glorifies God, not us.

Pastor Eddie Robinson III, February 18, 2026 - Noon Day Bible Study

The blueprint for Christian Character development that the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter chapter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. Based upon God's power and promises, Peter lays out for us the blueprint for a ladder of Christian character development. Peter has taught us that each rung of this ladder is very important to our success in climbing onto the next rung up. In the last four parts of this series, we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time. We worked on making the connections between what our foundation is and how each step makes us more like Jesus. Step 5 on the ladder Christian perseverance is the fifth step following faith, moral excellence, knowledge and self‑control. Perseverance means “cheerful, hopeful endurance”—an active, conscious decision to “stay under” the weight of trials with constancy. It is not drudgery. It is a spiritually energized commitment to keep moving forward. Perseverance is essential because self‑control can’t survive without it. Scripture shows that perseverance grows out of justification, peace with God, and His grace (Romans 5), and is modeled perfectly by Jesus in his endurance of the torturous cross experience (Hebrews 12). Developing endurance Christians develop perseverance through three major arenas: trials, persecution and loyalty testing. Trials cultivate endurance that leads to maturity, as seen in James' teaching and in real-life examples of believers who endure suffering with faith. Persecution requires principled perseverance, following Jesus' example of non-retaliation and trusting God's power when feeling afflicted or targeted. Loyalty testing cultivates perseverance that glorifies God in every circumstance, choosing prayer, spiritual perspective, and Christlike responses over fleshly reactions. Perseverance strengthens what has already been built—faith, moral excellence, knowledge and self‑control—while enabling continued spiritual growth. Ultimately, perseverance is the allegiance of our energy to God's will, empowered by His spirit, inspired by Jesus' sacrifice, and necessary to receive the promised reward. It keeps us from giving up, restores our confidence and helps us “run and not grow weary” as we walk in Christ's footsteps.  Key Takeaways Perseverance = cheerful, hopeful endurance, not mere survival. Self‑control collapses without perseverance; endurance keeps spiritual progress intact. Jesus is the model of joyful endurance, inspiring us not to lose heart. Trials develop maturity, producing endurance that leads to completeness. Persecution requires principled perseverance, following Jesus' example of never retaliating. Loyalty to God is proven through endurance, glorifying Him in every circumstance. 

Apostle Peter on Christian Growth: What You Really Need

We conclude our series, "Chosen by God, Living as Exiles" with a teaching on "A Faith Received: Getting Back to Basics." The Apostle Peter was happy to remind the church of the central realities of our faith (2 Pet 1:12-15): the death and resurrection of Jesus, our new life and ongoing transformation in Christ, remaining faithful to Jesus in the face of suffering and opposition, and living in the hope of his glorious return and the fullness of the kingdom.- Series Description -  In this series we will explore 1 and 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter's two letters to the scattered first-century church in Asia Minor, who, though distant in time and place from ourselves, nonetheless share many of the very challenges that we do. We will consider what it means to be “third-culture people” who are chosen by God and called for his sake to live both fruitfully and prophetically in a land not our own 

Today we're going to see the Lord perform a miracle through the Apostle Peter. Did you know that the Lord has works for you to do as well? But we need to be prepared in order to do them and there is no better way to be prepared than to study the Word of God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29?v=20251111

Watch the Devotion Based on​ 2 Peter 1:16-21 Not a Story—A Sure Word In the military, credibility matters. Eye-witness testimony carries weight. “I was there. I saw this happen.” That matters on after-action reports and sworn statements because they are grounded in reality, not rumor. The Apostle Peter understood that. That's why he begins this section of his letter by saying, “We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power” (2 Peter 1:16). In other words: “This isn't propaganda. This isn't religious spin. This isn't a morale-boosting story someone made up to help people cope. It's not even AI generated.” Peter says, “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). He's talking about the Transfiguration —when he saw Jesus in all his glory, when he heard the Father's voice boom from heaven, and stood on holy ground. Peter wants us to anchor our faith in his witness, “I saw it with my own eyes, and I want you to believe that Jesus is who he says he is. Then Peter adds another anchor for our faith to hold onto, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable” (2 Peter 1:19). All the prophets through whom God spoke for over 1,500 years during the Old Testament period, they all pointed to Jesus. And they were right. More sure than a life-altering experience. More reliable than emotion. More dependable than memory. The Word. For you as service members, this matters. Because life doesn't always come with clarity. Orders can be confusing. Missions change. Trust gets broken. And when pressure is high, feelings are unreliable. God does not ask you to stake your eternal life on how strongly you feel, how clearly you remember, or how impressive someone's story sounds. He gives you something objective, historical, foundational and true: His Word. Peter says this Word is “a light shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). Not a floodlight that answers every question. Not a crystal ball that shows the future. But a flashlight—enough light for the next step, enough truth to keep you from losing your way. And this Word doesn't come from human authority. Peter is clear: “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things” (2 Peter 1:20). Scripture isn't a personal opinion or a flexible guideline. It is God speaking: “Prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). God acts through means. He uses words, written and spoken, to deliver Christ to sinners like you. Through Scripture, God tells you what you could never discover on your own: that Jesus Christ has already fought your deepest battle, already won, and already forgiven you. This Word tells you that your sins are not stronger than Christ's cross. That your failures do not outrank His resurrection. That your future is not defined by deployments, a diagnose, or discharge papers—but by baptism, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. In a world full of noise, the Word of God does not shout. It endures. And it will still be standing when everything else fades. So, stay with the Word. Don't ask ChatGPT to answer your theological questions. Open your bibles. Study your catechisms. Hear the Word. Read the Word. Trust the Word. Because this is not a story, we tell ourselves. It is the sure Word by which God saves you. Prayer: Lord God, in the darkness of this world, keep us anchored to Your holy Word. By Your Spirit, strengthen our faith in Christ, that we may trust Your promises now and stand confident in the life to come, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

Witness the awe-inspiring miracle of Dorcas' resurrection, as Peter, through the power of Jesus, brings life and hope back to a mourning community.In this episode, the Apostle Peter performs a miraculous healing, raising Dorcas from the dead and restoring hope to the grieving believers in Joppa. Her resurrection becomes a powerful testimony of God's love and power, strengthening the faith of those who witnessed it.Today's Bible verse is Deuteronomy 10:21, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The blueprint for Christian character development that the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. As a basis for this needed growth, we have seen how God's promises help us to be ready to systematically take the next step up Peter's “ladder” of Christian character development. So far in our series, we have begun to see how each step up this ladder needs the step before in order to actually bring us towards true daily discipleship. We now continue this character development process by looking into the fourth step up towards Christlikeness. This fourth rung in Peter's “virtue ladder” from 2 Peter 1:5‑7 is self‑control, the “allegiance of our passions.” The first three rungs—faith, moral excellence and knowledge, deal primarily with internal transformation. Self‑control is the pivot point where that inner work begins to show up in real‑world choices. The Greek word for this conveys mastery, inner power and dominion over oneself. For Christians, this begins with preventing harmful or unproductive thoughts from becoming actions, and culminates in actively choosing what is spiritual, wholesome and Christlike. Our discipline requires self‑examination: identifying what naturally pulls us off course so we can learn to make adjustments. The self-control of an athlete running a race Paul's athletic metaphors in 1 Corinthians 9 highlight three components of self-control: intentional focus on the goal, embracing necessary limitations and wholehearted perseverance. Like a trained athlete, we as Christians must make many daily small, disciplined choices that strengthen spiritual “muscle memory.” Self-control also shapes how we view and treat others, enabling us to respond with grace rather than instinctive frustration. It's important to recognize that self-control is not a standalone virtue, and it stabilizes the entire structure of our Christian characters. Without knowledge, self-control becomes directionless; without self-control, perseverance becomes impossible. When rooted in faith, moral excellence, and knowledge, self-control opens the door to genuine spiritual growth and Christlike living. Key Takeaways Self-control is the “allegiance of our passions,” the disciplined governing of our impulses and desires. It is the pivot point where inner transformation becomes outward behavior. True self-control begins with restraint and culminates in choosing what is spiritually beneficial. The Apostle Paul's athletic imagery teaches focus, limitation and perseverance as essential components. Self-control shapes how we respond to others, reflecting Christ rather than our impulses. It stabilizes the entire virtue ladder and enables the next step: perseverance.

Apostle Peter on Christian Growth: the Only Way to Do It

In this message, Pastor Tom Kang unpacks the life of the Apostle Peter as part of our "Falling Short" series. Peter was known for his boldness, yet his desire for control often led to failure. Pastor Tom invites us to examine our own tendency to play the "I am" game with God—trying to force outcomes rather than trusting in His sovereignty.Join us as we explore how Jesus meets our failures not with condemnation, but with restoration, challenging us to put down our swords and rely on His grace.

When God calls people to follow him, he also often calls them to leadership roles within the church. What does it look like to lead and follow well while living as exiles?- Series Description - In this series we will explore 1 and 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter's two letters to the scattered first-century church in Asia Minor, who, though distant in time and place from ourselves, nonetheless share many of the very challenges that we do. We will consider what it means to be “third-culture people” who are chosen by God and called for his sake to live both fruitfully and prophetically in a land not our own 

It is God alone who brings restoration and healing to us, and we can trust in Him for renewal. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses how our ability to receive from the Lord is linked to our willingness to invite Him into our lives. The Lord will not always respond right when we want Him to, but through faith, we can overcome disappointment and trust that God is moving—regardless of how we feel. Pastor Allen shares stories of eye-opening acts of God's power in the lives of people like Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, and even himself. God is inviting us to live out a bolder faith as He moves in new ways. Let's respond with "Yes!"

Reading Acts 2:37-38 where the Apostle Peter tells his hearers at Pentecost to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle Peter laid out a phenomenal blueprint for us to follow regarding the how and why of developing a focused and loyal character that is modeled after Christ. After reminding us of the incomprehensible promises that God brings us through His power and Jesus' sacrifice, he then focuses us on doing our part. Peter gives us a blueprint for building a virtue “ladder” of Christian character development, of which the first rung is our faith. Because we have the firm footing of Christian faith in place, we can then develop “moral excellence,” which in turn gives us the stability to next develop knowledge. As we will continue to see, when followed, the order of developing these attributes of our Christian characters will yield an unbreakable allegiance to daily, living God's will through Christ! Peter's ladder sequence is intentional: faith establishes our direction, moral excellence aligns our heart with God's highest standards, and only then can knowledge become a stable, Christlike attribute rather than a source of pride or harm. By contrasting godly vs. misapplied knowledge, we can see that without moral excellence, it can inflate ego and harm others. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 shows that even correct knowledge can become destructive if it emboldens weaker Christians to violate their conscience. True Christian knowledge must therefore be governed by love, humility and responsibility. How much of the Bible do I have to know? This is not about mastering every prophecy or detail, but about understanding Christlikeness and allowing God's light to shape our intellect. All Scripture – both in the Old and New Testaments – is the essential source of this knowledge, forming a lifelong journey of discernment, filtering out worldly influences, and taking every thought captive to Christ. God's plan is expansive, merciful and awe‑inspiring. Recognizing its depth should cultivate gratitude rather than arrogance. Paul's example in Philippians 3 shows the surpassing value of knowing Christ, which makes all previous accomplishments seem like “rubbish” in comparison. Ultimately, knowledge becomes transformative when it flows from faith, is shaped by moral excellence, and leads us toward deeper loyalty to God's will. Key Takeaways Knowledge must be built on faith and moral excellence to avoid arrogance. Misapplied knowledge can harm others while godly knowledge is always governed by love. All Scripture is the authoritative source of Christian understanding. True knowledge produces humility, responsibility and awe at God's plan.

God calls us to action even when we're in exile. Even in the winter, God still calls us to bloom. How? We receive God's power and God's call. We participate in God's promises over us. We make every effort to confirm such things — for our own lives and the lives of others. This is how we grow — not only for one season of life, but for our whole lives. Lifelong growth is ours if we continue to experience God's power, trust in God's promises, and make every effort to grow even when winter or exile appear.- Series Description - In this series we will explore 1 and 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter's two letters to the scattered first-century church in Asia Minor, who, though distant in time and place from ourselves, nonetheless share many of the very challenges that we do. We will consider what it means to be “third-culture people” who are chosen by God and called for his sake to live both fruitfully and prophetically in a land not our own 

In this episode of This Redeemed Life, we're continuing the Anchored series—built around Marian's Bible study on the life and letters of Apostle Peter—and talking about one of the most practical (and powerful) ways to stay steady in a shaky world: memorizing Scripture.I'm joined by two women I've wanted you to meet from day one—Natalie and Vera from Dwell Differently. Their mission is simple and life-changing: helping women (and families!) get God's Word into their hearts—one verse at a time.In this conversation, we talk about:Why Peter's message in 1 Peter and 2 Peter matters so much in a culture full of competing voicesHow Scripture memory can calm anxiety, renew your mind, and strengthen your discernmentVera's “but God” story—from Olympic dreams and panic to hope anchored in Hebrews 10:23Natalie's story of meeting Jesus through the Bible (and falling in love with God's Word as a “word nerd”)Connect with Dwell Differently:Instagram: @dwelldifferentlyWebsite: dwelldifferently.com.Check out Marian's Bible Study, Anchored: The Life and Letters of Apostle PeterAvailable wherever books are sold.#ScriptureMemorization #BibleStudy #ChristianWomen #Anchored #DwellDifferently #RenewYourMind #AnxietyAndFaith #Discipleship #1Peter #2Peter #SpiritualGrowth #GodsWord

Be sure to get the notes for this teaching!Paul vs. Peter: The Most Important Confrontation in the Early ChurchGalatians 2:11–21In Galatians 2:11–21, the Apostle Paul recounts one of the most significant moments in early church history: his public confrontation with the Apostle Peter in Antioch. This was not a personal dispute, but a theological crisis that struck at the very heart of the gospel itself.Peter had been freely eating and fellowshipping with Gentile believers. However, when certain men from Jerusalem arrived, Peter withdrew out of fear and separated himself. His actions implied that Gentile believers were somehow spiritually inferior unless they adopted Jewish customs and practices. Paul recognized immediately that this behavior contradicted the truth of the gospel and publicly rebuked Peter for it.At the core of Paul's argument is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Both Jews and Gentiles, Paul explains, are sinners and stand equally in need of salvation. No one is declared righteous by works of the law—whether Mosaic law or any system of human effort—but only through faith in Jesus Christ.Paul then moves beyond the confrontation and gives one of the most profound theological statements in all of Scripture:“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NASB 1995)Here, Paul describes what it means to be “in Christ”—a complete union with Christ in which the believer's old identity is replaced by a new life grounded entirely in faith. Salvation is not achieved by human obedience, moral effort, or religious performance, but by participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.Paul concludes with a powerful and emotional declaration:“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:21)If righteousness could be gained by anything we do, then the cross was unnecessary. But because salvation is entirely an act of divine grace, Christ alone is the foundation of our hope.This passage stands as one of the clearest and strongest affirmations in the New Testament that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/lets-talk-scripture/donations

Elder Roy Jarnagin opens a new series on 1 Peter by highlighting the biblical highlights of the man himself. bfc4u.org, facebook.com/bfc4u

The past few weeks in Acts, we have looked at the Gospel breaking out, through God's sovereign initiative, to more and more people. First, to Samaritans (enemies of the Jews), then to an Ethiopian Eunuch from the ends of the earth, and last week to a legalistic Pharisee intent on killing Christians. This morning the Gospel door is opened to the Gentiles through a European soldier, but what will see is that both men, the Apostle Peter and Cornelius, both needed a conversion.

Reading Acts 2:22-32 where at Pentecost, the Apostle Peter gives the first proclamation of the gospel, preaching of Jesus who died, was buried, and is risen. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

In 2 Peter chapter 1, the Apostle Peter is laying out a phenomenal blueprint for us to follow regarding the how and why of developing a focused and loyal character modeled after Christ. He begins by reminding us of the majesty and power of God, along with the loyalty and sacrifice of Jesus. He tells us that because God is as lofty as He is, we are given incomprehensible promises that can bring us to God's own divine nature. He then tells us what's required on our part. Peter explains that because of these promises, we need to apply all diligence, and in our faith, we need to supply – to develop and live – a character that will nurture and grow specific virtues of Christlikeness. As we continue our Christian Character Series, the second “Allegiance Attribute” in Peter's spiritual blueprint is moral excellence. Building on the foundation of faith, we find that that moral excellence is not merely good behavior but wholehearted allegiance of the heart—a life shaped by God's purpose and modeled after His own character. This excellence evokes the idea of something fulfilling its highest purpose, like a horse that runs fast, or land that produces abundantly. For Christians, this moral excellence means living in a way that reflects God's excellence and demonstrates that His purpose truly matters to us. Inward excellence and outward goodness This inward excellence naturally produces outward goodness, the visible conduct others can observe. Drawing from several scriptures, we can observe how moral excellence expresses itself through humility, patience, forgiveness, perseverance, gratitude and Spirit‑led transformation. True Christian virtue is not simply avoiding wrongdoing but actively embodying Christlike character in everyday interactions. The challenge is that God's standard is high, and we will fail repeatedly. Yet Peter reassures us that God has already provided “everything pertaining to life and godliness,” equipping us through His promises to grow into His divine likeness. Moral excellence becomes possible, not because we are strong, but because God is faithful. Ask yourself: Is my moral excellence stronger today than yesterday? Am I becoming the person God intends me to be? Key Takeaways Moral excellence is the allegiance of the heart, reflecting God's character and purpose. Inner excellence produces visible goodness. True virtue requires intentional growth, not just avoiding sin but embodying Christlike qualities. God equips believers with everything needed to develop moral excellence through His promises. Spiritual progress requires perseverance, humility and daily habits that nurture transformation.

The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. In Part I of this series, we covered the first four verses of 2 Peter chapter 1. These verses laid out a broad foundation for the development of our Christian character that is based on who God is, what He promises us and what Jesus has done. The next part of the blueprint for our character development is to not only show us traits we need to have included in our Christlikeness, but HOW we are to include them. This episode reveals how Peter unfolds his spirit-driven, exciting and practical approach to building a true Christlike character. Peter's blueprint continues with a command: “…applying all diligence.” The Greek terms reveal a vivid picture—bringing our effort alongside what God has already supplied, and doing so with eagerness, earnestness and speed. Diligence is the opposite of sluggishness; it reflects a focused loyalty to God's will. As we receive God's promises, we are to simultaneously apply this diligence. The first area where diligence must operate is our faith. Faith is not a wish; rather, it is a conviction grounded in God's reality. It is a gift, and though not earned, it must be tested, strengthened and lived. Trials develop endurance, and endurance matures character. Faith becomes what we call an “Allegiance Attribute”—a foundational internal quality that shapes all the other traits Peter will list. Faith must be active, single‑minded and visible through works. Just as Christ fully supplies the body and Christians supply one another, we are called to fully supply our own character with what it needs to grow. Ultimately, God abundantly supplies entrance into the eternal kingdom, far beyond mere adequacy. Our role is to respond to His overwhelming provision with the diligent and eager faith that fuels the lifelong process of Christlike transformation.  Key Takeaways God's promises form the foundation for Christian character development. “Applying all diligence” means bringing earnest effort alongside God's provision. Faith is the first and foundational Allegiance Attribute. Faith must be active, tested, single‑minded and visible through works. Growth is mutual: God supplies us, we supply our character, and we in turn support others. God's supply is abundant and our response to it must be diligent and wholehearted.

Followers of Jesus, 1 Peter says, rejoice "even if now for a little while [we] have had to suffer various trials" (1:6). It's a teaching shared across the writings of the New Testament: the kingdom of God has come already in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church but has not yet come in its fullness. We are born to a "living hope" as we await "a salvation... to be revealed in the last time" (1:3,5). And while we wait, we suffer-- a word used twenty times in 1 Peter in the NRSV.  Join us as we consider suffering in 1 Peter in the context of the kingdom come and coming and how we might suffer "mindful of God" (2:19) "entrusting [our] souls to a faithful Creator" (4:19)- Series Description -  In this series we will explore 1 and 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter's two letters to the scattered first-century church in Asia Minor, who, though distant in time and place from ourselves, nonetheless share many of the very challenges that we do. We will consider what it means to be “third-culture people” who are chosen by God and called for his sake to live both fruitfully and prophetically in a land not our own 

The story of St Peter's imprisonment and miraculous release by an Angel of God is told in Acts ch. 12. The chains which fell from his hands were collected by Christians and passed down through the generations as precious relics, finally coming to Constantinople and being placed in the Church of St Peter, where they worked many miracles and healings.   There is nothing superstitious about the veneration of clothing and other objects belonging to the Saints; the Acts of the Apostles describes how handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched the Apostle Paul would heal the sick (ch. 19), and that even the shadow of the Apostle Peter healed those on whom it fell (ch. 5). In the twentieth century, a shirt worn by St Nektarios on his death-bed healed a paralyzed man. The sanctity of those united to God extends not only to their bodies but at times to their garments.

A Sunday sermon by Pastor Brett Deal.The Bible's rich with all kinds of words. Some are everyday words: the, and, to speak; but others only show up a handful of times, and their rarity causes them to stand out. One great example is episkiazó. Following Matthew, Luke used episkiazó (meaning to overshadow) describing Jesus' transfiguration.  All three Synoptic Gospels harmonize their use of this word (Matthew 17.5; Mark 9.7; Luke 9.34) where on the mountain, as Jesus' disciples watched in awe, Jesus “was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light,” and “a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”Imagine Luke on a missionary voyage with Paul, with the scroll of Matthew's Gospel rolled out before Him, praying for the best way to share the good news with his friend Theophilus. Then, struck like a divine lightning bolt, Luke's heart was set on fire with the word episkiazó! Luke used overshadow three times. The third time was in Acts 5.15, describing the Apostle Peter—so heavily anointed by the Holy Spirit after Pentecost—people would bring their sick loved ones out to the street where they were healed, overshadowed by the passing Apostle. The second was Christ's transfiguration, but both are imbued with deeper meaning when read them the light of the first. Luke told Theophilus at the beginning when Gabriel the angel announced to Mary about the arrival of the Messiah: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God,” (Luke 1.35). Luke's triple use of episkiazó is illuminating. The Spirit's overshadowing places the emphasis on the actor more than the act. It is the same Spirit overshadowing Mary which magnifies Christ before His disciples. Is it the same Spirit overshadowing Peter which miraculously heals the hurting. Beloved, it is the same Spirit overshadowing you and me today as we draw near to the Father, and say, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” (1.38).

We All Are Filled with Something. The Jesus Follower is Filled with the Holy Spirit! MESSAGE SUMMARY: If you believe that Christianity is just a bunch of rules and laws for you (all of which you cannot keep!), then you really do not know what Christianity is all about. Jesus Followers are filled with the Holy Spirit. All of us are filled with something. With what are you filled? The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 4:5-6, admonishes you to be faithful to the Gospel and to live in the Spirit like God: “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.". Some people are filled with the world or the devil or alcohol or drugs or materialism or their jobs or just themselves. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As you walk with the Holy Spirit, Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:15-17 to make wise use of our limited time on earth and to seek God's will through the Holy Spirit: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.". Come Holy Spirit; fill us with your presence and power. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? If not, why not?   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen.         Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Despair. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Joy. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 5:15-21; Acts 2:1-4; 1 Peter 4:1-6; Psalms 34a: 1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “It's About Time: Part 1 – Rebuilding Emotional Reserves”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. To begin this process, his clear message in the first four verses of Chapter 1 verifies that we have been given EVERYTHING we need to be faithful to our call. Peter directly connects God's promises to our faithfulness. What is it about His promises that has such a powerful influence on the everyday lives of those who are “called according to His purpose”? How can we clearly and definitively apply these promises to each and every day of our lives? This episode explores how God's promises transform the life of a Christian, using 2 Peter 1:1–4 as the foundation. Peter opens his letter by reminding Christians that they have received a “like precious faith”—a faith equal in value to that of the apostles. This faith requires a life of non‑conformity to the world, inner transformation and continual renewal through God's spirit. Such faith is rooted in the righteous acts of Jesus, whose obedience satisfied divine justice and opened the way for believers to become “new creations.” Grace and peace Peter then highlights that God multiplies grace and peace in the lives of those who grow in true knowledge of Him. This knowledge (Greek: epignosis) is not superficial; it is a deep, ever‑advancing understanding gained through study, prayer, discipline and perseverance. God's divine power has already provided everything necessary for life and godliness, regardless of one's circumstances. Christians are fully integrated into God's plan—granted access, citizenship, a spiritual foundation and a place in His household. Only after establishing this foundation does Peter introduce God's “precious and magnificent promises.” These promises are trustworthy because they come from God's unchanging character. They include peace, strength in temptation, instruction, protection, courage, assurance, hope and an ultimate reward of immortality. Importantly, these promises do not remove trials but walk Christians through them, shaping Christlike character. The purpose of these promises is transformative. Through them, we may become “partakers of the divine nature,” escaping the corruption of the world. This extraordinary privilege is granted only to faithful followers of Christ who live in alignment with God's will. Peter's introduction sets the stage for the “ladder of virtues” in 2 Peter 1:5–7, which outlines the step‑by‑step development of Christian character. The promises are tools that empower us to grow into mature disciples whose allegiance is fully centered on God. Key Takeaways God's promises are powerful because of who God is—unchanging, truthful and sovereign. These promises equip, not escape; they strengthen Christians to endure trials. True transformation requires knowledge, discipline and alignment with God's will. The promises ultimately enable faithful followers of Jesus to become partakers of the divine nature.

It's been said the Christian life is like riding a bike. Unless you keep moving, you fall off. The Apostle Peter knew this firsthand. He didn't just stumble; he failed publicly and painfully, yet by God's grace he didn't quit. He got back up and kept going because Peter knew the only way forward was to “grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus” (2 Peter 3:18). As we continue our vision series Gather Grow Go, we'll explore what it really means to Grow by tracing Peter's life. Whether you're new to following Jesus, feeling stuck, or faithfully plodding along, this message is for you!

The author of 1 Peter calls Jesus followers a holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:5). He commands them to be holy as God is holy.If the people of God are already living in exile, it could seem like this is just another hard thing: how can I live as a holy priest in a context of exile, oppression, and suffering? This is daunting unless holiness is not a standard to live up to, but a set apart path laid out for us with a guide who has chosen us to walk with him. The fundamental difference of this path versus any other is an experience of receiving mercy.- - Series Description -In this series we will explore 1 and 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter's two letters to the scattered first-century church in Asia Minor, who, though distant in time and place from ourselves, nonetheless share many of the very challenges that we do. We will consider what it means to be “third-culture people” who are chosen by God and called for his sake to live both fruitfully and prophetically in a land not our own 

We can't possibly realize how wide the gulf was between Jews and Gentiles until Jesus came along. But that wasn't the way it was supposed to be. God had intended Israel to be a light to the nations. In their pride and in their exclusive claims to God, Israel was not a light and had even become a stumbling block. What was left was an unfathomable chasm between Jews and Gentiles. Israel being set aside for holiness had transformed into superior separation. Enter the Apostle Peter who has an epiphany: "I now realize," he says. And just what was it that Peter finally understood, and what made it happen? Join us! The artwork associated with this podcast (viewable on the Epiclesis platform but not in Apple podcast) is titled "St. Peter Penitent" by Guido Reni.

In this episode of Anchored Conversations, Marian Jordan Ellis sits down with women's ministry leader and Bible teacher Tasha Calvert to talk about what it really means to live a life anchored to Jesus—especially in a culture that often celebrates the opposite of holiness.Peter's message to the early church is strikingly timely: believers are “elect exiles” living under pressure, misunderstood, and sometimes mocked—yet called to stand out with lives so compelling that others “see your good deeds and glorify God.” (1 Peter 2)Tasha unpacks holiness with fresh clarity—not as a rigid checklist or religious performance, but as a “sacred otherness that originates from God, is extended to us through His Spirit, manifested in our character, and strengthened in Christian community.”Together, Marian and Tasha talk about:--- What “Be holy, because I am holy” meant to Peter's original audience—and what it means for us now (1 Peter 1)----Why holiness is rooted in the Holy One, not white-knuckled behavior change--- How to live distinctively without becoming defensive, reactive, or losing credibility online--- The role of Scripture, prayer, and community in staying anchored--- The “upside-down economy of God”: how suffering refines faith and clarifies what matters (1 Peter 1)---Why Peter keeps pulling our eyes toward an eternal perspective and an inheritance that can't be stolenIf you've ever felt torn between blending in and standing out—or you're weary from the cultural noise—this conversation will steady your soul and call you back to the Living Hope found in Jesus.➡️ Learn more about Marian's Bible study: Anchored: The Life and Letters of the Apostle Peter (7-week study) https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/anchored-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005850823

Join us this week as Pastor Ben Kaempfer leads us in our new series through The First Letter of the Apostle Peter!Support the show