Podcasts about second peter

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2026 26:01

We're to grow in Christ until we get to heaven and pastor John Randall will encourage us in that direction today on a Daily Walk. We're going through Second Peter chapter one, as part of our thru the Bible journey. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

jesus christ bible keep growing daily walk second peter john randall

First and Second Peter Bible Study. July 13, 2026

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026

July 13, 2026

The Blessings of Knowing Jesus Part 2

god jesus christ blessings jesus part knowing jesus daily walk second peter

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2026 26:01

“But wait there's more!” A sales pitch uttered countless times in advertising. And you might say we could say it today on a Daily Walk! We'll ponder over our personal relationship with God! Being saved and on our way to heaven would be more than enough. But there's more…. Much more. And we'll unpack these fantastic blessings of knowing Jesus now, as we get back into Second Peter. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

First and Second Peter Bible Study June 29, 2026

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026

June 29, 2026

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

First and Second Peter Bible Study June 22, 2026

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2026

June 22, 2026

Sermons - Mill City Church

2 Samuel 19:8b-40

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2026

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. 2 Samuel 19:8b-40 Chet Phillips Download TranscriptGood morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. If you will grab a Bible and go to 2 Samuel chapter 19. We're working our way through the book of 2 Samuel. We have made a shift recently.We would always have the passages that we were on on the screen and we have stopped doing that. Our hope is that as people of the Bible, as people of a book, we would grow in our ability to hold and read a book in a culture that has increasingly lost the ability to hold and read a book. And so we want to be people who we practice that together on Sunday mornings. And our hope is that it'll be helpful. We think it may be a kind of an annoying shift, but we hope that it'll bear fruit and we'll see. So we're not promising we'll never go back to putting it on the screen.We are promising we won't quickly. We're going to try to see if we can learn how to hold and read a book. Bring your Bibles with you. If you don't have a Bible, grab one of the black ones that should be in the seat row and one of those little cages in front of you. If you can't reach one easily, smack someone and do like this till they hand you a Bible. We're going to be on page 309.One of the joys of pastoring is getting to perform weddings. You get to celebrate with people. It's a lot of fun to perform a wedding, to get to be there with people during that time. It can be anxiety ridden because people do remember the things you say at their weddings. And if you mess it up, they're upset by that. But it is fun.And one of the blessings that we have as a church is that we have five pastors. So different ones of our pastors get to participate in performing weddings. There was a time there where I went a long time without getting to perform a wedding. Matt Freeman performed some weddings. Raz Bradley performed some weddings. Isaac Hill performed some weddings.Spencer Cary performed some weddings and I didn't perform any weddings. And that's fine. But my wife and I were discussing this at one point. And she said, yeah, I don't know why people don't ask you to perform their weddings. And I was like, yeah, I don't know either. And then we sat there quietly for a little while.And then she said, I do think people want their pictures to look nice. So I said, hold on a second. So it turns out my beloved wife of many years doesn't think that I always have the most pleasant look on my face. That could tip the balance away from me. But one of the things that's happened is I've sat in other weddings performed by our other pastors.I've heard Spencer say several times in weddings as he goes to have the couple give their vows, declare their vows to one another. He'll say, if you are a married person in the room, I would encourage you at this time to consider your vows. As they take their vows for the first times, I would encourage you to consider your vows that you have made and the promises that you have made and what that looks like in your life right now and have the opportunity to reinvest in your vows. And the reason I bring that up is because that's in some ways how we're going to approach this passage this morning.We are in the middle of David who has had to flee from his son who has rebelled against him. And then they had a battle and Absalom died and everyone ran away and it kind of broke up. And now we're going to see today as David returns back from across the Jordan, back over to Jerusalem. And as we read these individual interactions, we're going to see three individual interactions between David and individuals as he comes back and they have to reckon with the return of their king. We're going to take a moment to consider as a gathered people of God, as Christians who've gathered this morning, that we are in a rebellious kingdom waiting for a returning king.We're in a similar situation. Now, this situation plays out differently than ours is going to play out because David is imperfect and this kingdom that he's coming back to is imperfect, as we'll see in the coming weeks. But we're going to just pause. We're going to read one of these stories, try to understand it, and then we're going to pause and consider for a moment our situation with our better king. And then we're going to kind of work our way through in that manner. So that's what we're going to do today.I'm going to pray for us and then we'll hop in to the story. Lord, we ask that you would help us to consider well the position that we're in, to consider well our hearts, to see our lives well in light of your imminent return. That as people who await the return of a good king to set up a righteous kingdom, that we would wait properly and be ready for that day. Help us to study your word well. In Jesus' name, amen. All right, we're going to pick up in 2 Samuel chapter 19 verse 8b.And the reason b just means the back half of verse 8b. The verses were added later, so sometimes you end up needing to pick up in a different place. So it's just, it says, now Israel had fled every man to his own home. So that's after Absalom's rebellion. Absalom dies. Everybody who was helping him flees.And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel saying, the king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines. And now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. But Absalom, who we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now, therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing the king back? So Israel begins to argue amongst themselves as they've traveled back home as, hey, we, King David was pretty good.He saved us from the Philistines. We held a very unsuccessful rebellion. Why don't we bring the king back? Why aren't we trying to fix this? That's what they start to say. And apparently this word of this makes it to David.David is in Mahanaim. He fled from Jerusalem. So he's crossed over. That's why they're talking about bringing him back because he left. Once he crossed over the Jordan, he's kind of away from the people, even though there are some tribes that would be up here by the Sea of Galilee. And there are some tribes that are over here at Mahanaim.He's kind of out of the main part of the people, the main part of the promised land. They actually had a whole big discussion of whether or not they could settle tribes on that side of the Jordan because the promised land was on the other side of the Jordan. They decided they could, but then they had all this, you know, relational drama over time to try to settle that they're allowed to be over there, but they are still part of Israel. But the main bulk of the land that belongs to them is on the other side of the Jordan. And David is not there. And they're saying, let's bring him back.And most of what we're going to see today is going to happen at the Jordan River. It's going to happen while David is coming back and people are coming up from Jerusalem in that area to meet him at the Jordan. So that's what they're talking about. It says, and King David, this is verse 11. And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests who were their pro David. They were willing to come with him.He says, say to the elders of Judah, why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house when the word of all Israel has come to the king? So the tribe of Judah is around Jerusalem and that's the tribe that David is from, but they're not murmuring about bringing them back. Everybody else is. And so he sends message to him and says, Hey, say, what are y'all doing? What's the holdup? Why are you taking forever?Verse 12? You are my brothers. We're the same tribe. You are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be last to bring back the king and say to Amasa? Okay.Amasa is David's nephew and Amasa joined Absalom and was Absalom's general in the battle they just had. Joab is David's nephew who's over his army. Amasa was the over Absalom's army. He says, say to Amasa, are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab. So I think David's doing two things there.One, Joab just killed Absalom after David specifically asked him not to. So there seems to be some frustration potentially between David and Joab because Joab is dangerous and willing to not do what David asked. And so there's some hurt there, even though the most recent thing we read was David following Joab's call on how he ought to treat his troops. Amasa would have been in David's army for a long time and only once tried to kill him in a rebellion. But Amasa is probably the strongest figure left in and around Judah.He is over the army. If power is going to shift after Absalom dies, it would most likely shift to Amasa. And so he's saying, hey, you come here, you'll replace Joab, you'll be over my army, and we'll go from there. And so he's in some ways removing Joab, but also removing Amasa as a threat and bringing him back over to his side. That's the game plan here. That's why he says that.Verse 14, and he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man. So they sent word to the king, return both you and all your servants. So the king came back to the Jordan and Judah and came to Gilgal and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan. And Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. For the record, when you're reading the Bible, a lot of times people come down from Jerusalem because it is uphill. So they can come down and head north, just so you know, because they are heading down a hill.Down does not mean all south when you're reading your scriptures. So he comes down to meet David, but he's heading northeast. And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin and Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul with his 15 sons and his 20 servants rushed down to the Jordan before the king. And they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. Which got introduced to two people, Shimei and Ziba. Ziba we'll deal with in a second when we talk about Mephibosheth, but he's the one who's related to the situation with Mephibosheth.But let's talk about Shimei for a second. Do y'all remember Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim? If you don't remember Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, when David was fleeing in chapter 16, Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, came out while David was in Bahurim and cursed David. So he's a Benjaminite, meaning he was from the people of Saul. He's not of the tribe of Judah. So when David's fleeing Shimei, the son of Gerah, the Benjaminite from Bahurim comes out and basically says, Oh, in your face, David, you deserve this.Oh, God got you. Now all the things that you've done, you man of blood, you wicked, worthless, sorry son. He says all kinds of things to him and throws rocks at him and says everything that you did to the house of Saul is coming back on you, which is really unfair because David didn't do much of anything to the house of Saul. He actually went out of his way to find people in the house of Saul to be nice to. He just was anointed King. And then he ran from Saul for a really long time.But this guy who had more position and more power of being a Benjaminite in the house of Saul comes out and curses him. And while he's doing this, one of David's soldiers basically says, can we kill him? And David says, no, because maybe God told him to curse me. And then we don't want to oppose God. Or maybe God didn't. And God will hear him cursing me.And God will feel sorry for me and be nice to me because this guy's being mean to me. Either way, don't kill him. Let's go. Well, Shimei hears that David is coming back and seems to think something along the lines of, uh-oh. And he heads to go meet him. It says, this is the back half of verse 18.And Shimei, the son of Gerah, fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan and said to the king, let not my Lord hold me guilty. Or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my Lord, the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart for your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my Lord, the king. Abishai, the son of Zeruiah answered. This is Joab's brother, one of David's military leaders.Shall not Shimei be put to death for this because he cursed the Lord's anointed? Which cursing the king isn't something to to take lightly. Cursing the Lord's anointed is not something to take lightly. Open rebellion against the king that God placed in the position that he's in is not something to take lightly. And Abishai says, shouldn't he be put to death? But David said, what do I have to do with you?You sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me. Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel? And the king said to Shimei, you shall not die. And the king gave him his oath. So Shimei comes and lays down before him and says, don't take it to heart.Don't remember it. Please forgive me. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said the things I said. I shouldn't have done what I should have done. And Abishai standing there with the king says, let's put him to death.And David says, what do I have to do with you? Why are you an adversary to me? This is a day of rejoicing. This is a day of joy. I'm king in Israel. Nobody's being put to death today.And so he spares him. And there's part of me that goes, yeah, but he just said he was sorry because it didn't work out. Get him. There's part of me that doesn't want this to play out the way it does. But when we consider the position that we're in as we await the return of our king, that it plays out like this is wonderful news.And that we have the same hope is wonderful news. Because we're supposed to approach our king in repentance as well. And we also have an adversary that stands there and accuses us before him. And we are also thankful that God in his grace sent someone to pay for our sin, that Jesus Christ died for our sin, that we might have forgiveness, that we might be able to repent. That's the way we're supposed to approach the return of Jesus. And so I think when we read this story about Shimei, we should ask the question, do you see your sin?Do you know that you need forgiveness? Can you see that you're wrong? I don't think Shimei saw it until he reckoned with the return of David. And I think some of you need to reckon with the return of Jesus that one day he will set up his kingdom. I had a guy who used to work for me when I ran a firework store. He was a young guy and we were talking about he had grown up in the church.We were talking about Jesus and he was in college and he just said, yeah, I like I know the stuff I'm doing is wrong. And I'll need to like repent and, you know, ask Jesus to forgive me. He said, I just, I just don't want to. And I've got plenty of time. I'm young. I've got plenty of time.Now, he doesn't know that we don't know that we don't know that he has plenty of time. Personally, we don't know if we have plenty of time before the Lord returns. He says he's going to return at any time when he wants to. And so the idea that we don't consider the return of the Lord and we continue in our sin, I think it's helpful for us to see, you know, we actually are supposed to approach the Lord in repentance. That's what Jesus says. That's his first message.When he comes to earth, he says, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That's the proclamation. The kingdom calls us to repentance or an Acts five. When they're preaching the gospel, they say God exalted him. That's Jesus at his right hand as leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. That's our hope is that there's repentance and forgiveness.Second Peter three, when he's talking about the return of the Lord, he says, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise. That's the promise of him coming back as some count slowness, but it's patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Do you see your sin? We have care nights and community groups. Do you take the time to consider your sin? Do you take the time to understand your need for forgiveness?You show up and go, I'm doing good about the same. I'm fine. One of the signs of faithfully following Jesus is there should be times when you or someone in your group says, Hey, actually I need to talk to you. I need to come. I know it's not a care night, but I don't sin on a schedule. And so I need to repent now.I don't just wait for like the week leading up to care night to get all my sins out so that I can talk about them on that, you know, that nice scheduled Tuesday. We do that on purpose to build the rhythm of repentance, but it's something that we should do something that we should see our need for a savior and the hope that we have that there is forgiveness because we don't save ourselves, but we do get to have repentance and forgiveness. That's our hope. So I think that's what we should consider as we consider, as we see Shimei on his face before the King, we should consider, do we see our sin?Do we know what happens when he returns? The second interaction and Mephibosheth, the son of Saul came down to meet the King. Now he's in the line of Saul. That's what that means. He's Saul's grandson. Mephibosheth, if you remember, is Jonathan's son.He is crippled in his feet is the way the text describes him. And he is the one who David went and searched out and brought specifically to his table. And David found Ziba and said, is there anybody left that we can be, that I can be nice to in the house of Saul? And Ziba said, yes, there's Mephibosheth. He goes and gets Mephibosheth. And then he places Mephibosheth with Ziba under him as Ziba is his servant.When David flees, Ziba shows up with no Mephibosheth. And David says, where's Mephibosheth? And Ziba says, oh, he was so excited that you're fleeing. He actually said, this is great because today I'll become King. So I just left because I'm on your team.And David says, okay, well, everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours. And that's how they leave. When David's returning, Mephibosheth shows up. Verse 24, he had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. Mephibosheth looks rough. David's been gone for a while.He's been gone long enough to make it all the way to Mahanaim, to set up himself there, to fight a battle, to have everyone flee back to their homes, to then have arguments, to hear the whispers, to then send a message to Judah, to then have Judah talk it out, send back and him to make it here. It's been a while. Mephibosheth hasn't taken care of his feet, hadn't shaved his beard, hadn't washed his clothes. I don't know if you've ever bumped into someone at CVS who looks like they died that morning, microwaved themselves and then headed into CVS. And you're just like, oh, hey, and you take a step back because you don't want what they have.That's what Mephibosheth looks like. He's not looking good right now, obviously in a state of distress. It says, So Mephibosheth says, yeah, he tricked me. He saddled up and left. But I'm at your mercy.He slandered me to you, but I'm at your mercy. I was a part of a rebellious enemy house of yours until you brought me in and cared for me. I don't have anything else, any other claims to make. I don't have anything. Just you decide. That's Mephibosheth's approach.And the king said to him, why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided you and Ziba shall divide the land. And Mephibosheth said to the king, oh, let him take it all since my Lord, the king has come home safely. And that's most likely just a nice way of saying thank you. He's going to take half of it. He'll accept the gift.The king wants the king says that, but he just says, that's not what I'm most worried about. I'm thankful you're back. Now, I don't know if David's right in his ruling here. I think David was quick in his original ruling with Ziba. I think he's quick in his ruling here. I don't think that Ziba and Mephibosheth could go back to the same situation they were in.That makes some sense. And Ziba did help David as he fled. So I think he just kind of honors Mephibosheth, honors Ziba, cuts it in half and just moves on. But as we consider our position awaiting our king, and I consider Mephibosheth who went into mourning because of the situation that he was in, who had great upheaval in his life. I just started considering how comfortable are we with the situation that we're in? Do we see the need we have for a good king who brings justice?Do we see the need we have for a king to set things right? Do we see that we're not at home here? Because I think it's so easy if we're well fed, if we're well provided for, if we're prosperous enough, if we're comfortable enough to not really long for the king to return. I think there's a lot of things we might be looking more forward to. We're not in a state of mourning and waiting for him to come and set things right. Sometimes we are.Sometimes there's seasons of life where you feel that acutely. But I think it's very easy for us to be comforted to the ability to be dull. Entertained to where our senses are no longer aware of injustice and need and brokenness and the hope of a returning king who sets things right. So I think we need to ask, do I see my need? Do I long for the return of the king? Do I want Jesus to come fix what's broken here?Or am I just fine? And the things I'm most concerned about are simpler and shorter and closer. Because Mephibosheth needed David to come back to fix things for him. Verse 31, the third interaction. Now Barzillai, the Gileadite, had come down from Rogelim and he went on with the king to the Jordan to escort him over the Jordan.So he actually lived on the other side and met David when he fled and helped feed him and helped care for him. And he's coming towards the Jordan with him, not meeting him. He's not coming to the Jordan. He's coming with David and he's kind of at the Jordan. He's basically escorting him on his way out. That's the way he's coming.Verse 32, Barzillai was a very aged man, 80 years old. I don't know how that hits some of y'all, but I'm just reading what it said. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. And the king said to Barzillai, come over with me and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem. But Barzillai said to the king, how many years have I still to live that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?I am this day 80 years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my Lord, the king? Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king.Why should the king repay me with such a reward? Please let your servant return that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here's your servant, Chimham. Let him go over with my Lord, the king, and you do whatever seems good to you. So David says, you care for us, come with me back to Jerusalem and I'll care for you.You get to eat at the king's table. You get the best of everything. And Barzillai says, no thank you. Mostly what I want is to live where I live, to die among my people, to be buried with my household, and everything good you have to offer is kind of wasted on me. He said, I don't really taste the food I eat anymore. So it doesn't matter who the chef is.I can't hear people sing and dance and enjoy that sort of thing anymore. So it just kind of gets on my nerves. He didn't say that. That's me reading into it. That's the way my grandparents were on some things where they like movies were annoying because of the, you know, you go in and it's like high quality sound and they're like, I can't hear anything. This is obnoxious.I don't want to be there. It'd be like if you were like, hey, we're going to a rave. You want to come? No, I don't. I do not want to participate in anything that is loud and populated. So he says, come to Jerusalem.And he says, no, thank you. But Chimham would probably love that sort of thing. Take him. Chimham. You can taste food. Yeah, cool.You're going to love Jerusalem. That's what he does. And he sends Chimham. Verse 38. Verse 38. And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me and I will do for him whatever seems good to you.And all that you desire for me, I will do for you. Also, I know our church family usually has quite a few pregnant ladies in it. Chimham, baby name. Boy or girl. Kim or Ham for short. There you go.All right. That's not helpful. Verse 39. Then all the people went over the Jordan and the king went over and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. And he returned to his own home. The king went on to Gilgal and Chimham went on with him.And all the people of Judah and also the half the people of Israel brought the king on his way. That's where we're going to stop in our text this morning. And I think in considering Barzillai and his relationship to David, I think one of the things that we need to realize is that when a king comes into his kingdom, he blesses and grants rewards. It's a thing that a king does. And we're told that Jesus does the same thing. Now, it's interesting here because Chimham receives the blessing that he didn't earn.And there's a part of that that's us. That we get the blessing of Christ. We get the righteousness of Christ. We get what Christ has accomplished for us. That that is what actually saves us is the work of Jesus. But also that a king would see those who had served him and bless them and reward them is a thing that the Bible also tells us happens.Jesus tells a parable, the same kind of parable framework over and over where he says there's a master who leaves. And he places people in charge. And when he returns and then he always has this master returning. And sometimes when he returns, they're doing what they're supposed to. And he says, it's great. The master says, well done, good and faithful servant.He says, it's good that the master finds them awake when he returns. No matter when he returns, that they're ready. Sometimes the master returns and they're not ready. They haven't been doing what they're supposed to be doing. And it goes very poorly for them. They're cast out.They're destroyed. Some stories they're torn to pieces. And there's this promise of reward. There's a promise of a returning king who we're supposed to be faithful and at work when he comes back. And it's interesting. If you consider what Barzillai did.Barzillai was wealthy. And he provided for David in the wilderness. He provided for David while he was at Mahanaim. He provided for him while he was in the wilderness. And if you consider your life as a Christian. We've been given gifts.And we're in the wilderness. We're surrounded by people who are in need. Some of that's monetary. Some of that's physical. That we're supposed to be people who care for other people. That all the things that you have aren't meant to terminate on you.But you're supposed to give of your wealth. Of your resources to care and provide for other people. But some of it is like spiritual gifts. Joy. Do you know that you have a wealth of joy that's accessible by you? Because of Christ.That you should share with other people. In a culture where people go yeah they're too hard to deal with. Being around them makes me sad. Well we have a hope that's in Christ. That's not circumstantial. Christians should go into those situations.You should go share some of your joy with somebody. Because you can have yours replenished by Christ. You should go share some of your love with somebody. There are lonely people around you. My family was recently on vacation. And there's other people that came with their child.And were like hey we're going to hang out with y'all. And I had to pray. Because I don't want to hang out with them. I did not come to the beach to make friends with new people and their children. And I had to be like Lord help me. Because maybe I came to the beach to make new friends with people and their children.I need to care for people. And I don't know if I navigated that well. I did have to ask for help. I had to tell my sons hey I know that this isn't what. My son stared at him like. What on earth is happening?I had to be like say hello. That's a human. But they got it from me. Because they just aren't good at acting. I was like hey. And I wanted to just be doing the same thing.Like you've misread the situation. You picked the wrong people. We are not friendly. But I had to ask for help. Because the reality is we can welcome and care and love and give. We should.And we have Barzillai who's faithful. And the king sees it and says I want to reward that. And we have a king who's going to return. And we should be at work when he does. We should be loving and caring and praying and laboring when he does. We should be putting effort towards things that matter when he does.So I think. As we consider. Different individuals who knew that David was coming. And responded in different ways. I think we should ask. Do I see my sin?Do I know I need forgiveness? I think we should ask. Do I see brokenness in the world? Do I know that I'm not at home here? Do I feel too comfortable here? Or do I know I'm a citizen of a future kingdom?And I think we should ask. Am I faithful? Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? I want to finish by considering. Second Peter chapter three. It'll be on the screen.We read a bit of this earlier. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise. As some count slowness. That's his promise to return. But it's patient toward you.Not wishing that any should perish. But that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Meaning we won't be ready for it. Jesus says. If the master of the house had known.When the thief was coming. He'd have been ready. But you don't know when the thief is coming. Then he says. So be ready.Be awake. Be alert. Meaning he could come at any point. He told them that in the first century. He's going to return. At a time they don't expect.And I know. If you get on the internet. There's a whole lot of people telling you. The signs have gotten more signy lately. Okay. But he can come whenever he wants to.And if they're telling you. It's more likely now. It is. Because he didn't come yesterday. So it's more likely today.Every day we move forward. It's more likely. He can return whenever he wants. And we're not waiting for some specific thing. That's got to happen. We're waiting for him.And he returns when he wants. But he's going to come like a thief. It says there'll be people still being. There's still going to be things on the calendar. There's still going to be good plans. That people have to do good things.People are going to be engaged. And waiting to get married. That's going to happen. And he's going to return. There's also going to be evil people. Plotting evil things.And they're not going to get to fulfill it. Because he's going to return. There's going to be all these plans at work. All these negotiations. All these things that are happening. These businesses that are going to merge.And these people who are going to do this. And a trip you're going to take. And then he's going to return. Like a thief. And then the heavens will pass away with a roar. And the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved.And the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Everything will be laid bare. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved. What sort of people ought you to be. In lives of holiness and godliness. He says none of this other stuff is going to make it.But we are. And faithfulness is. Holiness is. Godliness is. What sort of people should we be? Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.God. When was the last time you sat and thought, I hope he hurries? When was the last time you sat and waited for it. Longed for it. Hastened it.Prayed, Lord, come on. When was the last time you said. Lord be patient. I want to see them. Repent.Oh Lord. If you could wait a little while. I'm trying. I'm praying. Lord. Can you save them?Can you rescue them? Are we living our life. Knowing that the master can return whenever he wants. But according to his promise. We are waiting for new heavens. And a new earth.In which righteousness dwells. Our good things are not here. But they are to come. If you belong to Jesus. And if you don't belong to Jesus. The offer of repentance.Is for you. That you might come to know him. But may God grant us to be people. Who wait for. And hasten the day of his return. And are ready.When he gets here. Let's pray. Lord we're thankful. That we have a better king. Than David. Who's going to return.And set everything right. We're thankful. We're thankful. That we have a better judge. We're thankful. That we have a hope.In you. And may we look forward. To our reward. May we see. What is to come. And to treasure it.And to value it. Above what we have. In front of us. Lord may your spirit. Help us. And may we daily.Wait. For you.In Jesus name. Amen.

First and Second Peter Bible Study June 15, 2026

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2026

June 15, 2026

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

First and Second Peter Bible Study June 8, 2026

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2026

June 8, 2026

Woodlands Church with Kerry Shook

Shocking Discovery in Book of Enoch about Rebellious Angels and Last Days

The Lance Wallnau Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2026 28:31

Two hundred fallen angels descended on Mount Hermon thousands of years ago, swore a mutual oath, corrupted the human bloodline, and produced a race of giants the Bible calls the Nephilim. Now — with UFO sightings at an all-time high and AI merging with human biology — some believe the Watchers are back. And the Bible may have predicted exactly this. Is the modern UFO phenomenon the ancient Genesis 6 story — repackaged for a secular age? Lance Wallnau pulls from Genesis 6, First Peter 3, the Book of Enoch, and Second Peter to map the full picture: who the Watchers were, what they did, how God responded, and why Jesus went to the exact mountain where the angels fell to make a face-to-face declaration to the spirit realm. This isn't speculation. The clues are hiding in plain sight across the New Testament. In this episode: * The oath 200 angels swore on Mount Hermon — and why Jesus went back there on purpose * The Nephilim bloodline: why giants had a lust for blood their fathers didn't have * What Jesus proclaimed in the depths of Tartarus (hell's dungeon) after the crucifixion * Why the Tower of Babel's ziggurat wasn't reaching toward God — it was summoning principalities * How today's UFO/UAP phenomenon and the AI-human merger mirror the angel-human hybrid of Genesis 6 * What "as in the days of Noah" actually means for the world right now This is the cosmology behind the Bible most churches skip. Watch to the end. Podcast Episode 2143: Shocking Discovery in Book of Enoch about Rebellious Angels and Last Days | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

Heaven Changes Everything - Part 1

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 49:38

Heaven Changes Everything Part #1 of Series: Heaven Changes Everything Pastor Kerry Shook Heaven Is A Place Of SO MUCH MORE Heaven Is A Place Of NO MORE Heaven Is A Place Of ONE WAY Scriptures: First Corinthians 2:9, Matthew 6:9-13, First Corinthians 2:7-10, Colossians 3:1, Second Corinthians 5:1, First Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:5a, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, First Thessalonians 1:8-9, Second Peter 3:9, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:26 Topics: Heaven, Love, Hope

love revelation ephesians colossians changes everything first corinthians second corinthians first thessalonians second peter

First and Second Peter Bible Study June 1, 2026

Wesley Memorial Church (High Point, NC) Sermons and Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026

June 1, 2026

god discover apostles concluding second peter

Now What?

SERMONS & STORIES

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2026

Concluding our series in Second Peter, this message explores the Apostle's final appeal for believers to remain steadfast against false teachings and the deceptive pull of modern worldviews. Discover how you can build a firm foundation, find true stability in your secure salvation, and actively grow in God's grace through daily scripture and authentic Christian community.

The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

Red Village Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2026 38:40

Audio Transcript Today. And I’m going to be preaching a message from the Bible in order that we would hear God speak to us. So the passage that we’re going to be studying is First Thessalonians. So if you have a Bible, go ahead and open up to the Burke, the book of first Thessalonians. It’s like right in the middle of the New Testament. So there’s Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and there’s first and second Philistines, Thessalonians. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in, around on the chairs. You can grab one of those and open up. Because I’m just going to be reading through this passage verse by verse as I preach through it. So first Thessalonians, chapter 5. I’ll be reading verses 1 through 11. Here’s what the word of the Lord has for us today. Says now, concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. And they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. And we are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet. The hope of salvation for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Please pray with me and we’ll get started. God, thank you that you speak through your word, even through the folly of man like me. God, I pray. Please keep me from error and help. Help me to speak what you have for us this morning. And I pray, Lord, that you would give each person here a heart to receive your word and ears to hear what you are saying. And so God meet with us here as we look at your word and study it together. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. Okay, so before I jump into this passage, on the day of the Lord, I’M going to read to you two different poems that are written in the 1800s concerning the return of Christ. And each of these are from two different perspectives of when Christ returns. So just listen to these poems. This first one is called the Advent by Christina Rossetti. It says, watchmen, what of the night? The stars are dim and the morning is at hand and we must watch for him. Watchman, what of the night? The night is long Wait till the day star arise with shout and song. Where are the lamps? They are trimmed and burning bright. Where is the bridegroom? He cometh in the night. Is there a cry? Yes, there is a sudden cry the bridegroom is at hand, his hour is nigh the bridegroom comes, he comes to claim his own. The winter is quite past and the flowers are blown the time of singing birds is come at last the night is wearing out and the day is past. It’s the first poem. Here’s the second poem. That’s called the Food. Foolish Virgins by Alfred Tennyson. Here’s what it Late, late, so late and dark the night and chill Late, late, so late but we can enter still Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now, no light had we for that we do repent and learning this the pride groom should Surely we’ll relent Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now no light so late and dark and chill the night O let us in, that we may find the light. Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now have we not heard? The bridegroom is so sweet O let us in. Though late to kiss his feet no, no, too late, ye cannot enter now now both of these poems speak of the sobering event that is the day of the Lord. Some will be found awake in the light with their lamps burning bright, but others will be found asleep in the dark. And these poems reflect the somber reality of the parable of the Ten virgins that Jesus. Jesus teaches concerning his coming. And it also reflects what our passage is speaking about today. And when the Son of Man comes, what will he find? Which will you be? When the Lord returns and when we have to give an account for our souls, will you be sober and awake in the light, or will you be drunk and asleep in the dark? My hope is that studying this passage this morning will give you the answer as we study this passage. So that being said, look with me at First Thessalonians, and before I do that, I’m going to give you a little bit of context concerning this passage. So First Thessalonians was written to the new believers in Thessalonica, only a few months after Paul and Timothy had to leave due to persecution. The church at Thessalonica was very young and they were without any leaders. And therefore Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Thessalonian church, to remind them that sanctification in the midst of persecution was God’s will for their lives. And he desired to clear up any confusion about the Lord’s second coming. So about a month ago, I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4, 4 verses 13 through 18, concerning the state of those who die in the Lord, and about Jesus’s second coming, when he will bring his people to himself. The Thessalonian believers at the time were confused about what was happening when a believer died and if they would experience the Lord’s second coming or not. And so in our last passage, Paul affirmed the Thessalonians that, yes, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, and those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep at the coming of Christ. Rather, the Lord himself will descend with a shout and with a sound of the trumpet. The dead in Christ will be raised first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to always be with the Lord. And so, after clearing up this confusion, Paul now has more to say in chapter five concerning the day of the Lord. And so, before I get into this, I’m just going to mention that some Christians view this passage as a separate event from the gathering of God’s people that is talked about in chapter four, which is known as the Rapture. And so those that view this as two separate events, this is called dispensational premillennialism. And other Christians view the gathering of God’s people in chapter four. And then what we’re about to read here in chapter five as the same event. And this view would be called historical premillennialism. Or there’s also other views that take these two events to be the same one. And so all of these views, both of these arguments that are made from historical premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism, they both have reliable theologians that back behind them with strong biblical arguments. I personally tend to think that this is the same event when Christ returns, based on what Paul describes in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. But I also find myself going back and forth at times. So regardless of your eschatological view, your end time view on this, the main point is that Jesus will return on the day of The Lord, which is what our passage is looking at here. So look with me at verses one through two. God’s word says now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, which side note, brothers here is referring to brothers and sisters in Christ at Thessalonica. Brothers and sisters, you have no need to have anything written to you, for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The day of the Lord mentioned here is referring to the great day of God’s judgment upon all mankind. And this will be after the tribulation, when all the earth will be judged and God will melt the elements of the earth in his wrath in order to wipe it clean of all of its evil and make all things new. Second Peter 3:10 says this. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed for the wicked and the ungodly. This will be a terrifying day, for God is holy and he is a consuming fire against all unrighteousness. But for the righteous who have faith in Christ, the day of the Lord will come with rejoicing and praise to God as justice is established on the earth once and forevermore. And so concerning the times and seasons, that our passage begins with the day of the Lord, Paul says he has nothing more to write to these Thessalonians about this. And this is likely because Paul already taught the Thessalonians that no one knows the times or the seasons when the day of the Lord will occur. Not even the Son of God knows. Only the Father knows when Christ will return and when finality will come to the earth. And so Paul had also taught the Thessalonians that when the day of the Lord comes, it would be like a thief in the night. And so these are chilling words meant to wake up everybody who hears them. And so Jesus himself said that he would come like a thief in the night in the Gospels. And so Matthew 24:40,44 says this. Then two men will be in the field, one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on the day that the Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready for The Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. So Jesus compares his second coming to that of a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night. When a person least excited, and this is how the majority of the world will experience the second coming of Christ. It will be sudden and completely unexpected and it will leave each person empty handed before the judgment seat of God. And just as the poem I read to you at the end, there will be a sober reflection that it is too late to now enter in to God’s kingdom with Christ when He comes. And so verse three gives us more insight onto this saying. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape. Here we learn that there will be a false sense of peace and security before the day of the Lord’s coming. And this sense of peace and security, it will not come from the Lord, but it will be found in the world through one’s possessions or through a trust in the government, or trust in a world leader. It will be a misplaced peace and security. And Jesus taught that just as people were eating and drinking and marrying in the days of Noah, on the day when the flood came and swept them away, so will be when the Christ returns on the night the thief arrives. The world’s false sense of peace and security will not be able to keep them from the hour that their souls must give account to the living God. Our passage says sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains. Just as labor is inevitable once labor has begun, so the sudden judgment of God will inevitably come upon the earth and there will be no escape. These words are terrifying to hear. Just as the words in the poem that I read a couple weeks ago. We had a major storm that rolled through in the area with warnings of severe hail and multiple destructive tornadoes that could roll through the area. And at one point as this storm was going over all of Dane county and all throughout the Midwest, in the middle of the dark clouds and the continuous booming thunder which I think many of you here experienced, there was sirens that began to sound in the middle of the storm and echo across the Madison area, warning that a tornado has been sighted and to seek shelter immediately. Immediately. These verses and others like it that we’re reading here, it’s like the sound of tornado sirens. They are warning all who will listen that impending destruction is coming like a thief in the night, and if one is not prepared and ready for his coming, there will be no escape which is Deeply chilling and sober words in this passage. But to take a shift from this heaviness, we get to verse four. In verse four, we get to some very much so needed Good news. Verse 4 says, but you believers in Thessalonica, you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief, for you are all children of the light, children of the day. We’re not of the night or of the darkness. So here Paul brings some much needed clarification. The day of the Lord is not going to surprise believers as it will surprise the rest of the world. And this is because the Thessalonian brothers and sisters are not in darkness, but instead they are children of the light. Now, what exactly is Paul saying here? 2Nd Corinthians 4, 6, I think gives us a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is saying. And here’s what it says. For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, he has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So what Paul is saying is the same God who said, let there be light has now brought light into man through faith in him, and Jesus himself is the light of the world. When a person places their faith in Jesus, the light of Christ is made manifest within them as God gives them a new heart and new desires to follow God’s word. Through faith, God’s people become children of the light that they may walk in good works, that the Holy Spirit enables them to do, works that reflect Christ and bring spiritual light upon the earth. And in contrast, the world is described as living in darkness, and this represents spiritual darkness. As people live in rebellion against God and unable to walk in godliness and unable to understand the truth of God’s word. In the darkness, the world rejects God and seeks pleasure without him by living for their passions of the flesh, which results in sin and death. But children of the light, they do not live this way because they have seen Christ and they have come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Lord. And they devote their lives to following Christ and from putting away darkness and putting away sin. Sin hides itself in the dark, but righteousness shines brightly in the light of day. God’s people are not of the night or of the darkness any longer. They have turned from darkness and now live in Christ’s glorious light. And because God’s people live in the light, they know Christ and they know Jesus is going to return. Therefore, God’s children will not be surprised or caught off guard when Christ arrives. They will be ready with lamps burning in the night, and they’ll be ready to meet their groom and be brought to his side. Those living in darkness, they ignore the warnings and do not expect or desire the day of the Lord to come, which is why it surprises them. But God’s people, they hear the tornado sirens and they turn to Jesus for shelter by the grace of God. So children of the light live in the day where they expect their Savior to return, and their hearts long for his coming to make all things new, where darkness and sin will rule no longer. And so, that being said, my first application from this passage for believers here is, live as children of the light. If you have faith in Christ, the light switch, the spiritual light switch in your life has been flipped on. No longer do you live in darkness where sin is your master, Jesus is your master, Jesus is your guide in this day. His Word is a lamp to your feet that you may walk in a different way from how the world walks and stumbles in darkness. Because you are children of the light, you’re gonna look different. And that is actually okay. Jesus wants us to live differently and to shine our light bright so that others may see our good works and glorify our God who is in heaven. The time for dwelling in darkness is over for the believer, and the time for living for Christ in the light has just now begun. So, so, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, just like the Thessalonians, live as children of the light, for you no longer live in darkness. You are free to walk in the light of Christ and good works that glorify him. Moving on to verse 6, it says so then 6 and 7 says so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and sober. For those who sleep, they sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. And so if anybody here is already starting to fall asleep a little bit, this is to you, go ahead and wake up, be sober. Don’t let my sermon put you to sleep. No. So Paul here, he’s like, further emphasizing the difference between believers who are children of the light and then non believers who are living in darkness. Paul says that those who are living in the dark spend their time sleeping at night and getting drunk at night. What’s important here is that Paul isn’t talking about what physical sleeping and drunkenness does. He’s actually using these as metaphors to communicate that unbelievers are spiritually asleep and drunk. And as they live in darkness, so those living in the darkness without God and without the light of Christ, spend their time spiritually asleep at the wheel. Sleep and drunkenness are both states where reality is distorted and one is not able to fully understand what is going on around them. Unbelievers are oblivious to spiritual truth that is found in God’s word through faith in Christ. They have no awareness of what God’s will is for their lives or any true understanding of that Jesus is going to return and demand an account for their soul. Instead, they live in sin and drown out God’s truth through being intoxicated with what the world has to offer. But Paul, as already pointed out, that’s not who we are referring to. Believers. We are not of the night or spiritually asleep at the wheel. Rather, God’s people are alive and are awake. Therefore, let us not hit snooze on the things of God and sleep spiritually as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Highlight underline Circle this in your Bibles because I think this is the most important application in our passage today. Keep awake and be sober Because God’s people are children of the day and understand the will of God and they understand the will of God and that Jesus is going to demand an account for the way that we live. So we must keep spiritually awake and remain spiritually sober. As I said before, the day of the Lord being related to a thief in the night is meant to sound the alarm in our minds and nudge God’s people to stay awake and to be alert. Time and history is moving towards one end and that is the day of the Lord. Today, if you find yourself distracted by things of the world or just like kind of living on autopilot going from day to day, then hear the word of the Lord to you this morning. Keep awake and be sober. God has work for you to do today to honor him and to point others to Christ so that they may turn from darkness into light. Be aware of God’s will for your life and be ready for Christ to return so that when he does, you may hear him say these good words that are well done, my good and faithful servant. And when I say understand God’s will, I mean his revealed will through His Word applied to each day. So what Christ asks us to do and the ways he calls us to love one another and to love God. If the day of the Lord changes nothing about how you live day by day, you may be spiritually asleep at the wheel and drunk on the world. While I was working at a collegiate ministry in New Mexico called the Christian Challenge, back when I was a young Buck. Shortly after I’d graduated, there was a staff meeting where I was working at this collegiate ministry, and we had to make some big decisions on where we were going to send college students on summer mission trips with our partner missionaries. And one of the partner missionaries actually got kicked out of the country only months before the trips are going to happen. And so, as this happened, there were some other providential opportunities that had presented themselves, but were certainly a large pivot from what the ministry had originally planned for. And so in the middle of our meeting, the director named David, who was sort of a mentor to me, he said something that I will not forget. He said, what is God doing through all this? He didn’t say it out of anger or out of doubt, but he said it in, like, curiosity and in wonder, like, what is it that the Lord is doing among us? In this unforeseen pivot is the Lord closing one door, one partnership, and now opening another to proclaim the Gospel to another nation? And as David asked these questions to all of us in our staff meeting, it kind of just like snapped me out of my narrow focus where I was just thinking, how do we fix this? Where do we send students? But David, he was thinking, what is the will of God in this circumstance? And what is it that God is doing today in my life? What is it the Lord is doing here that we may keep in step with him and his plans so that he would be glorified? Therefore, just as David was awake and sober of the situation, we too should keep awake and be sober and pondering, what is it that the Lord is doing in my life today? For the Lord is among us, and he is preparing to come on that great and mighty day. Do we perceive it or are we asleep? Moving on to verse eight, it says, but since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. Here Paul gives some practical applications for us on how God’s people are to remain sober before the day of the Lord. They do this by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is the hope of salvation. Here Paul attaches these virtues to pieces of armor similar to the armor of God that’s found in the book of Ephesians. And so faith and love are to be central to a believer’s life, like a breastplate and hope of salvation protects one’s mind from fears or doubts, knowing for certain that they are saved in Christ. And so Paul communicates that these pieces of armor keep a believer soberly aware of God’s will and his truth in their lives. These three virtues are mentioned together in other letters as vital virtues that work together in one’s life as they walk with Christ. For one’s faith angers oneself to Christ, bringing salvation and sanctification that results in good works. One’s love grows their affection for God and for their neighbor to fulfill the greatest commandment. And one’s hope of salvation spurs them on towards what lies ahead, knowing salvation is guaranteed through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Each of these virtues are a gift from God, and each of them keep a believer soberly fixed on Christ and on his return. So moving to verses 9 through 10, God’s word gives us an incredible truth to end on. So verse nine look with me in your Bibles it says, for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him. Now, talking about God’s wrath is generally an uncomfortable topic. Therefore, the day of the Lord is not an easy day to process, and this passage is not easy to process. For the day of the Lord is when God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness and wickedness on the earth. But throughout this passage, Paul again and again affirms God’s people that the day of the Lord will be different. For those who have found in Christ, the day of the Lord won’t surprise them like a thief in the night. You are not children of darkness or of the night. You are not asleep or drunk on the world. You are alive, awake and sober. Children of the light. Why? Verse answer gives us why. For God has not destined his children of wrath. Sorry, his children of the light for wrath, but he has destined us for salvation through Jesus Christ who died for us and now is alive. This is such a sweet assurance to hold onto. It is a verse that you could memorize and really meditate on day by day because its promise is so sweet to God’s people. And it is my last application from this passage Christian remember, you are not destined for wrath, but for salvation through your Lord Jesus Christ. Even when life is difficult or you’re enduring something that is really heavy or difficult in your life. Hear God tell you this morning I have not destined you for wrath, but for salvation in Jesus Christ. For God’s people who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, judgment and wrath are not what God has in store. Instead, a beautiful inheritance awaits God’s people, forgiveness of sin, new hearts that beat for God, new lives that are restored and made whole, a new glorified body, joy in the presence of Christ, peace that endures, love that never fails, and eternal life with God and with his people that will never end. That, Christian, is what you are destined for through faith in Christ. Verse 10 also affirms what Paul had previously said in chapter 4, that those who are asleep, which Paul is now no longer talking about, the same sleep as those in darkness, but those who have died with faith in Christ, those who have died and are now asleep as believers, they are also destined for salvation. This means that whether you are awake with faith in Christ or asleep from death with faith in Christ, you will live with Christ in His presence. Death cannot change what God has done for his people. Whether awake or asleep, you are destined to live with Christ in the end when he returns. And if you’re here and you know you are walking in darkness apart from God, then I have some really, really good news for you. All people are born into this world, living in darkness, asleep to the things of God and drunk on the distractions and pleasures of the world. All of us here in this room begin this way. We are separated from God and deserving God’s just wrath that deals with evil, evil that is within us. Yet a light has dawned on the earth in the form of a man. And this man was God himself. He performed many signs and wonders in fulfillment of the scriptures. And he lived a perfect life without sin and with his pure and righteous life. This God man willingly love. He laid down his life for you and for me on the cross. He endured the wrath of God so that all who believe in him by faith could be brought from darkness into light. He bore our sins. He paid our penalties on the cross so that man could be reunited with a holy God and become children of of the light. This God man, this is Jesus the Christ who has died for us. And if anyone, including today, anyone here, turns away from their sin and believes in Jesus as the Lord of their life for the forgiveness of their sins, they will be forgiven and new life will begin in the the light. That’s what happened to the Thessalonian believers when they turned from idols to serve the living God. And it can happen for you if you will believe. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Our passage then ends on verse 11 that says, Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing so. My final encouragement to you from this passage is the exact same thing. Red Village Church Continue to encourage one another here that the day of the Lord is coming near and keep encouraging one another to stay awake and to be sober. Keep building one another up through faith and love and hope that is found in the salvation we have in Christ. Remind one another that God has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation in Christ. Keep sharing the gospel, keep gathering as the family of God at church. Keep reading your Bible and keep praying to the Lord about all things. Live as children of the light together that God’s kindness and love may be put on display so that many who put their faith in him may be ready for the day of the Lord when he returns. That being said, please pray with me, Lord, this passage is sobering and thinking about your coming. And yet there is great hope that is found in Christ through your finished work on the cross, offering forgiveness and a place of shelter from the wrath that we poured out on the great day of the Lord. And so I pray for everyone here. God, help us to be ready to be awake, to be sober. Help us Lord, to continue in doing the things you call us to for your will and for your glory. And God, if any here do not know you, I pray that today would be the day that they would turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus as their only hope of salvation and as a means of new life to walk in your marvelous light. And God, I pray, be glorified with the rest of our time as we gather here this morning. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 appeared first on Red Village Church.

It's Not Too Late — God Hasn't Given Up on You

illuminate Church | Message Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2026 37:13

Most of us have something we've written off — a relationship, a dream, a version of ourselves we stopped believing in. And if we're honest, some of us wonder if God has done the same. The story of Noah isn't really about a boat or a flood. It's about what God does when everything looks like it should be over — and instead of walking away, He starts something new.In this message, we walk through Genesis 6 and discover a pattern that shows up all the way through Scripture: judgment, grace, deliverance. God sees the full weight of the brokenness, and He still chooses to preserve, restore, and begin again. Second Peter 3:9 says God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" — and that patience isn't passive. It's the same patience that built an ark, that waited 370 days, that planted a cross.CONNECT WITH US:→ Request Prayer: https://bit.ly/3zMyf5E→ Request Care: https://bit.ly/3fBTX5G→ Share a Testimony: https://bit.ly/3Jo7Ped→ Find Events and More: https://bit.ly/3TcrkcR→ Leave us a Review on Google: https://bit.ly/47925jP→ Plan a Visit in Person: https://bit.ly/3sfQdg7FOLLOW US:→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminatec...→ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@illuminate_ch...→ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illuminatech...WE HELP PEOPLE FIND ABUNDANT LIFE IN JESUS!

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Grace and Peace Multiplied

SERMONS & STORIES

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2026

In this study of Second Peter, we learn that a believer's identity is rooted entirely in the gift of Christ's righteousness rather than personal performance or merit. By deepening our relational knowledge of Jesus as both God and Savior, we experience the exponential multiplication of grace and peace in our daily lives.

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Wednesday April 8, 2026

In Spirit & Truth

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 26:00

As Pastor JD is teaching through the second chapter of Second Peter, we are learning that there are definite signs of deception… evidence in the lives of those who are deceived. You’ll learn today that the number one way you can combat deception is by immersing yourself in the holy Word of God.

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Wednesday April 8, 2026 - Audio

In Spirit & Truth

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 26:00

god second peter kaneohe

First and Second Peter - Steadfast to the End

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 42:11

Every number has a name, every name has a story and every story matters to God. This message challenges us to step into our mission, recognizing that God's patience means salvation and our role is to reach one more. // NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.church PRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/care GIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give // Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! // WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tv FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurch INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

The Day of the Lord Part 1

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 26:01

Jesus is coming again! If you believe that it should be seen in how you live. But not everybody believes. In fact some will mock and ridicule the idea of Jesus returning and of a coming judgment. Today on a Daily Walk we pay a visit to Second Peter chapter three… one of many places in Scripture that speaks of the second coming of Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

The Characteristics of False Teachers Part 2

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 26:01

God accomplishes His will and work by the truth. The devil, on the other hand, does so by lies. Satan spreads his lies primarily though false teachers, so we must be on our guard! Today on a Daily Walk we'll learn the truth about false teachers, and Second Peter chapter two gives it to us. We place the spotlight on verses twelve through twenty-two today and uncover the characteristics of false teachers, the deception of false teachers and then the destruction that will ultimately come to them. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

Beware of False Teachers Part 2

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 26:01

We're making our way through the New Testament, and today's stop is Second Peter chapter two, and verses one through three. If we're familiar with the truth of God's Word, we'll be able to spot a false teaching that comes our way. Today pastor John shows us how to use our Bibles to evaluate every message we hear. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

Beware of False Teachers Part 1

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 26:01

Our point of reference today is Second Peter chapter two and verses one through three. It sends out the call to, “Beware of False Teachers.” In Matthew chapter seven Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Today pastor John points out that these false teachers are very much around today, even in the so-called Progressive Movement. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

First and Second Peter - Truth Over Trends

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2026 50:39

In a world filled with shifting truth and competing voices, this message from 2 Peter 1:12-2 calls believers to remain grounded in God's unchanging Word, warning that the greatest danger is not outside pressure but internal deception. // NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.church PRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/care GIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give // Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! // WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tv FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurch INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

A Good Reminder Part 2

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 26:01

Today on a Daily Walk pastor John Randall encourages us to base our faith on God's unchanging and very reliable Word. Our faith is reasonable, and we can be thankful that God went to great lengths to prove His Word can be trusted. We'll be finishing up Second Peter chapter one. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

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A Good Reminder Part 1

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 26:01

From birthdays, to medical or dental appointments, names of people we haven't seen in a while, or phone numbers… the list is a mile long of things we tend to forget. Pastor John Randall has a study in Second Peter chapter one prepared for us today, and among other things we'll discuss the importance of reminders and repetition. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

second peter

First and Second Peter - Grace to Grow

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2026 44:36

In a world where complacency can quietly weaken faith, this message from 2 Peter 1:1-11 reminds us that God's grace gives us everything we need to grow. Discover how knowing and applying God's truth leads to spiritual maturity and a life that truly reflects Jesus. // NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.church PRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/care GIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give // Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! // WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tv FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurch INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

The Blessings of Knowing Jesus Part 1

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 26:00

Some may wonder, what is the benefit of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If that thought has ever crossed your mind, keep listening! We've got a great study in Second Peter lined up for you today on a Daily Walk. We'll be considering the blessings of knowing Jesus, that include a faith that is precious and a righteousness that is divine! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

The Holy Spirit in Revival | Revival Can Happen Again

A New Beginning with Greg Laurie

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 27:45

“God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” You can find those reassuring words in Second Peter chapter 3. And when a culture seems intent on its own destruction, sometimes God’s hand moves in miraculous ways. It’s happened before in the history of our country, and today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie says it can happen again. But we play a part in bringing it to pass. Glad you’re along for a fascinating series that launches today. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Holy Spirit in Revival | Revival Can Happen Again

Harvest: Greg Laurie Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 27:45

god jesus christ holy spirit explore revival new beginning second peter pastor greg laurie

First and Second Peter - Faith Under Fire

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 40:17

1 Peter 2:4–10 reminds us that our lives are built on Jesus, the living Stone. This message shows how belonging to Him and to His Church strengthens our faith, shapes our identity, and equips us to stand firm in a world that often rejects Him. // NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.church PRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/care GIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give // Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! // WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tv FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurch INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

God's Plan: 2 Peter 1:3-4- David Jackson

Highland Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 23:33

In this message, Highland Elder, David Jackson walks through the big story of the Bible to help us see God's plan for humanity. Starting in Second Peter 1:3–4, we're reminded that God has already given us everything we need for a godly life and invites us to share in His divine nature. The sermon traces God's original design in creation, how sin disrupted that design in Genesis 3, and how God is restoring His purpose through Christ. Even in a broken world filled with suffering and uncertainty, God's intention has always been to transform us into the image of His Son. Listen or watch this message to be reminded that God's plan for your life is bigger, deeper, and more hopeful than you might realize.

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2 Peter 1:1-4 "All Things Provided"

CrossLife Fort Smith

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 48:45

From Sunday, 2/22, lead pastor Ricky Massengale teaches his first message in our study through Second Peter. Peter begins his letter telling believers that God has already granted us everything we need for life and godliness. So what should we do now?

god 2 peter 1 second peter

2 Peter "An Introduction and Reading of the Letter"

CrossLife Fort Smith

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 38:03

From Sunday, 2/15, CrossLife elder Andy DeBoer gives us an introduction to our next sermon series through the second letter of Peter. Last fall, CrossLife studied through First Peter and now, after a brief hiatus, we turn to Second Peter. Listen as Andy gives an overview and highlights topics we'll study throughout Peter's second letter.

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First and Second Peter - Honor in a Hostile World

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2026 43:48

In a culture marked by division and hostility, this message from 1 Peter 2–4 calls believers to live honorably for God's glory by turning from sin, submitting to authority, and responding to suffering with Christlike humility and hope. // NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.church PRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/care GIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give // Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! // WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tv FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurch INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

First and Second Peter - Built to Belong

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2026 40:59

First and Second Peter - Holy as He

god jesus christ ohio holy columbus next steps second peter

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2026 40:00

In a world of pressure and opposition, believers are called to stand firm. This message from 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 challenges us to renew our minds with God's Word, to embrace the process of becoming like Christ, and to represent Jesus faithfully through the way we live and love.//NEXT STEPS: http://rockcity.churchPRAYER REQUESTS: https://rockcitychurch.tv/careGIVE: https://rockcitychurch.tv/give// Rock City Church has multiple locations throughout Columbus, Ohio. Whether you're spiritually restless, new at discovering who God is or you are a veteran of the faith, you are welcome here! //WEBSITE: https://rockcitychurch.tvFACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/rockcitychurchINSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/rockcitychurch

First and Second Peter - A Living Hope