2/12/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 4

1 & 2 Peter

Choosing Christ

The basis of the troubles and persecution these churches are facing is now address by Peter. As most minorities across the spectrum of history have found; being different is an excuse to berate and belittle until conformity with the majority is attained. They were suffering troubles because they lived with eternity in mind and not the pleasures of sin for a season. Today’s church seems to want to surrender to what is PC or easy, all we are doing is swapping eternity out for what is temporary…

2/5/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 3

1 & 2 Peter

The Provisions of Christ in Our Sufferings

The substitutionary death of Jesus serves as a reminder that God can use tragedy to effect His purposes. What often looks like defeat, God can turn into fulfillment of His plans. Peter uses the trials of Jesus to remind his audience that what seems to them like unfair trials is part of God’s purposeful plan for them…

1/29/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 3

1 & 2 Peter

The Blessing of Suffering Persecution

Peter’s emphasis upon submitting to government, work, home and each other is because we live in a world that is opposed to those who would be followers of Jesus. We are called to make a positive impact, but the truth is that impact will not always be appreciated nor understood. Troubles will come because of our obedience to Christ. It may be organized and sanctioned from above or it may be a friend who doesn’t like our new positions, but troubles will come…

1/22/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 3

1 & 2 Peter

Submission To One Another

If it was not already hard to submit to government authority, work and in the home; now we are expected to generally submit to everyone! The spirit of submission is hard in the best of times, but the expectation to submit when you are facing persecution from every side is hard to imagine. The expectation is put out there though, will we live in a spirit of submission to each other?

1/15/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 3

1 & 2 Peter

Submission and the Home

Submission and the home are touchy subjects and have been abused for the last 100 years and more. Husbands who don’t love their wives properly but want them to obey unquestionably; wives who don’t want to submit to anyone but themselves; all wonder why the state of marriage is in ruins today. The truth is that sin has corrupted every unit of civilization from large (government) through smaller units (work) to the basest and perhaps most important—the family…

1/8/2017

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 2

1 & 2 Peter

Submission and the Workplace

The house rules continue the expectation for believers to submit, this time in the work arena. Submission is an opportunity to make an impact in our world. We chose not to submit, mostly because of pride, arrogance and a haughty spirit. We don’t want anyone to be our boss, we don’t like to do more than we are asked and we would prefer that someone else do it. The subject of work and submission impacts all of us…

12/18/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 2

1 & 2 Peter

Submission to Governing Authorities

Peter includes a section in this little book that are the “house rules” that he expects a believer to live by. These “house rules” lists have been used by the Greeks since Aristotle and are helpful to apply theological truths in a practical way. Broken into everyday relationships—government, work, marriage and friends—they are meant to help us answer the question: I am saved, so what now?

12/11/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 2

1 & 2 Peter

Reflecting the Glory of God

 We are called to be more than simply “saved”. He wants more than converts, He wants people who will show His glory and majesty to a world that has sold itself for a cheap imitation. When the world looks at you, what does it see? Does it see a changed life or a hypocrite? It is not to late to change first impressions…

12/4/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 2

1 & 2 Peter

Growing in our Salvation

Peter is not interested in converts, he is looking for disciples. Men and women who will have their lives radically changed and will lead lives of service to God. We marvel in our salvation, but it must change us. If we are not changed, we are not truly His…

11/27/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 1

1 & 2 Peter

Living out our Salvation

Peter turns to the implications of salvation—we are saved so what! These introductory truths form the foundation of how we are to live in a place that is increasingly becoming hostile to the things of God and His people. While we can’t control others actions, we can control our reactions and learn to live out the great salvation we have received!

11/20/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 1

1 & 2 Peter

Living godly in an ungodly society

We celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation this Thursday, but Peter begins his letter filled with Thanksgiving to God for His great salvation. These believers were facing tough times and persecution, yet Peter wanted to remind them of the incredible blessing they have in Christ. We too need to be reminded of all that we have in Jesus. We are to be the most thankful of all people, not for freedom or turkey or our soldiers; but for the blessings found in Jesus, no matter what our circumstances are!

11/13/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

1Peter 1

1 & 2 Peter

Living godly in an ungodly society

We begin a new series of messages today on the writings of Peter. His first book is written to encourage believers living in the face of persecution and pressure from a society that did not want them or their message from God. In many ways, the churches Peter was writing to were living in times like ours and this message is one that we need today. If our election and the uproar rising from its results is any indication; we are living in deeply divided times and need to know how we should live.

11/6/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

Communion

Communion Service

We remember the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in song, word and by partaking of the communion elements together.

10/30/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

Surviving a bad leader

No matter who is selected as our next President, they will be a deeply flawed and damaged leader. There are always threats of moving to another country if my person is not elected (of course only the rich and famous could do that, the ones least effected by bad leadership). There certainly will be hand-wringing and angst on both sides of the spectrum and the hopes and dreams of millions will be crushed. So how will we survive? What should be our disposition heading into November 8th?

10/23/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

Character versus Policy

How do you choose between 2 bad choices? What does God say about leadership? What kind of policies are more important than others? These are many of the questions we struggle with since we have been presented with the candidates for our nation’s highest office. We can draw some principles and look at some examples of both good, effective and bad leadership and then correlate that to our present situation…

10/16/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

Confessing National Sins

It is so easy to point out the flaws in both of these candidates. It seems like both sides are trying to see their candidate as less flawed as the other side as a way to justify a choice they would rather not have to make. We can sit in our living room and moan and complain about these choices, but I believe we need to take a closer look at the heart of the nation that would give us these 2 as choices. These 2 candidates are a reflection of and indictment against the electorate that would narrow it down to them.

10/9/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

Being Respectful when it is Undeserved

Well in politics they say, "Wait for the October surprise." Round 1 struck this week and there are still 4 weeks left before the ballots are counted! It is hard to be respectful towards these candidates, but one of them will lead this nation. How do we deal with politicans who are arrogant and loud mouthed reprobates who should be both behind bars probably? It once again comes back to the sovereignty of God and our trust in Him...

10/2/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

The Source of Earthly Authority—God

Last week we explored the foundational truth of the sovereignty of God who is the absolute and final authority in our lives; so how are we to respond to earthly authority like parents, employers, governors and presidents? If God is our boss (and judge), do I really have to listen to what they have to tell me? The short answer is yes, our text in Romans 13 explains the why—they are sanctioned as authorities over us by God Himself…

9/25/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

The Believer’s Guide to Politics

The Sovereignty of God

Election time often fills us with anxiety. We seem to be left with a lesser of 2 evils choice; Most Americans would like to vote “none of the above”. Voter apathy is at an all-time high and the truth of the matter is that whomever is selected will probably have the lowest percentage of eligible voters’ votes. How do we as followers of Jesus select whom to vote for? We will look at some of the issues and try to establish a biblical theology for Christians and voting over the next weeks…

9/18/2016

Pastor Phil Perry

Virtuous Equilibrium

Patience

The last virtue in our summer series is patience. You have certainly heard the phrase and may even say it, “Patience is a virtue”. This is usually flippantly said when someone is about to explode in anger at a person or situation that is annoying. The use of this phrase is not usually very comforting as we know its expected of us; but life is filled with too many unmet expectations. Patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit and is also an important character trait of God…