In the stunning conclusion to the Epistle of First Peter, the Apostle lays out for us what produces a healthy Church. Both leaders and followers are exhorted to dress themselves in humility, and be prepared for the attacks of the devil who seeks to steal our security in Christ. What affords the [...]
Peter tells suffering Christians not to think it strange or unusual when suffering comes their way, because it is God Himself that is orchestrating all things to flourish their souls for all of eternity. If you are going to try and SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF EVIL by saying that God has no [...]
With the return of Christ imminent, Peter gives his readers a crash course on the kind of Christian living that leads to the fulness of joy and the glory of God in times of difficulty. What the Apostle would like his readers to know, is that responsiveness and readiness in the Christian [...]
As the seasoned saint knows, there is not an authentic believer that doesn’t live in the constant battle between the appetites of the unredeemed flesh and the desires of the indwelling Spirit of God. If we are to win the fight to delight in Christ for our own souls, and for our [...]
With the waters of judgment from Noah’s day on the brain, Peter wraps up Chapter 3 with an incredible illustration of baptism. The Apostle connects how God takes us through the waters of judgment today, the very same way he took Noah and his family through the waters of the flood. Even [...]
Peter pulls back the curtain on the astonishing activity taking place in the spiritual realm around the cross of Christ, in no doubt the most difficult passage in all of the New Testament to interpret; according to the consensus of scholars. When you teach the Bible verse by verse, you don’t drive [...]
Without a proper theology of suffering, believers are likely to make a shipwreck of their faith when the going gets tough, where and when they fail to buy into God’s ultimate purposes for allowing difficulty into their lives. In a fascinating and provocative passage, Peter tells us this week of the high [...]
In addressing the five qualities that are necessary for people to love one another well in the Church, Peter paints a beautiful picture of the hand of God upon the believer’s life, and reveals the remarkable blessings God is making available to His children - not only in the future, but right [...]
When a loved one is near death, we tend to elevate with particular emphasis the significance of their final thoughts and words. How much more then, ought we to do the same with the last words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? This Easter at VXV, pastor John will be taking [...]
