Shepherds of God's Flock

Shepherds of God's Flock
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As Peter writes to believers to encourage them to stand firm in their faith despite persecution, he turns to give specific attention to the Elders of these congregations. He knows that people need shepherds, especially when they are suffering. This message examines the concise but powerful guidance Peter gives to Elders, advice which is helpful to anyone in spiritual leadership.

The Tackle

 
The Tackle

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1 Peter 4:12-19

The closer someone follows Jesus, the more at odds they are with the values of the rest of the world. Because the world is corrupted & imperfect, because most people follow their own desires, the clash of values between the world & the disciple can cause pain & suffering. It’s true that sometimes God allows pain for our own correction, but often a disciple will be attacked for living righteously. This proves that you’re doing the right thing, and that you’re being noticed for it.

In sport, they only tackle the guy with the ball.

Taking Hold of God's Best for Your Life
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We follow up from last week's message which showed us that instead of pursuing elusive personal goals that revolve around the stuff of this life, real contentment and real life is found in Jesus and pursuing closeness with Him. Godliness with contentment is great gain. This week we reaffirm that truth and talk about the role of the Church in helping people move toward godliness. We also discuss the secret to godliness, which is not to try become more like God in our own strength (an impossible task) but to draw close to the One who is able to transform us as we offer our lives to Him.