Sermon Video

Sunday, May 27, 2012

A People of Purity

A People of Purity
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1 Peter 2:11-17
27/05/2012

In a world where wealth & comfort are most people's highest priorities, the challenge for Christ's followers is to disprove that idea and to make the message of the Gospel attractive through our conduct. How do we make that which seems good (prosperity) taste bad and make what seems unpalatable (the Gospel) taste good? The answer is in our purity, our humility and our honesty.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

A People of Praise



Studies in the Letter of 1 Peter pt 14:
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1 Peter 2:4-10



What does it mean to be a people of praise?  

If you ask someone what good 'worship' looks like, what sort of responses are you likely to get?

In this passage the Apostle Peter describes Christians collectively in language that is meant to bring to mind the worship of Israel at the temple in Jerusalem.  It is meant to remind us of the mantle that we have inherited of being God's representatives to the world, and why it is that we have inherited that role.  

The forms of worship at the temple continued in full swing as Peter wrote this letter.  The impressive stones still stood.  The physical grandeur of the temple and it's surroundings was still awe-inspiring - in fact the grand improvements by Herod were in their final stages.  The priests were still offering sacrifices, the choirs and orchestras still singing and playing, the massive crowds still attending and participating.

But God had rejected all of it.

Why?

Because they had rejected Him.  Christ had come and had been rejected by those who should have recognised Him.  The One they should have worshipped was instead handed over to be crucified.

The solemn reminder for us is that it is very easy to continue in the forms of worship and think that we are truly worshipping.  It is easy to be a people of music, or of liturgy, or of preaching, or of good works, yet to fail to live up to the calling of being a people of praise, a chosen people and a royal priesthood.

The only way to live up to that calling is for us to keep Christ at the center of who we are and what we do.  When we do that, genuine praise overflows in many different forms that all testify to the majesty and grace of our God to His glory, our enjoyment and the salvation of those who believe.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Crave the Word

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1 Peter 2:1-3
As we celebrate Mother's Day we are reminded of what the powerful image that God has built into Motherhood as an illustration of how His Children should relate Him. Just as a newborn baby craves his or her mother's milk, so we - as people who have been given new life through the Word - also by nature crave the pure milk of God's Word to sustain and grow that new life. Just as a mother loves to satisfy the cravings of her children so God loves to satisfy the craving of our souls through the intimate connection He shares with us through His Spirit.