5 Follows (Part 5) Sermon Audio, Video, & Questions

On Sunday, August 30, 2020 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 1 Peter 4:10-11. This message was part 5 in the “5 Follows” sermon series and focused on following Jesus into ministry. Below you will find questions related to this message for reflection or group discussion. Also, you will find audio and video from the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

Pray
Read 1 Peter 4:10-11
When was the last time you got a gift, but did not open it? Why do we always tend to open gifts given to us?
Our all wise God chose to give us a special gift of His grace to impact the world we are living in. Have you ever thought of this concept before? How does it make you think about the circumstances of our current day and our response to them?
How are you currently using the gifts and opportunities given to you to serve others in Jesus name?
Visit wildwoodchurch.org/serve and express interest in any serving opportunities through Wildwood this year.
Do you tend to think of your “gifts” more as speaking/words or serving/works? What are some examples of times you felt as though God was using you?
How do you think God can be glorified through your service? Does 1 Peter 4:11 give you any ideas?
What stands out to you most from this passage? Any particular takeaway?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

To listen to the sermon offline, click the link to download:

5 Follows #5 8.30.20

To listen online, use the media player below:

To watch the stream of the service, use YouTube online:

“5 Follows” (part 5) Sermon Preview

In 1954, Leonard W. Sprinkle (along with his son) ventured into Luray Caverns near Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. After a bit of exploring the younger Sprinkle knocked his head on a stalactite rock formation … and a beautiful sound was made. The melody was NOT the thud of head hitting rock, but a musical note, similar to when a hammer hits a string on piano, or a pipe receives wind on an organ. This sound gave Sprinkle an idea. He spent time over the next 3 years mapping out different stalactites throughout the acres of cave complex until he found enough different sized rocks, perfectly shaped to produce ALL the sounds of an organ! Sprinkle (with help from a nearby organ maker) actually made a “StalacPIPE” Organ, that can still be listened to today!

Through a moment of pain, a man found a symphony of music!

A few decades after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, His Church found itself persecuted and abused by the world in which it lived. This certainly did not surprise them (after all their Lord was crucified by this same world), but the thud of their rejection stung nonetheless. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, one of Jesus’ best friends … a man who had been beaten, flogged, imprisoned (and would eventually be martyred) for his faith in Jesus took up a pen and wrote to a beleaguered and persecuted church to encourage them to keep going. This letter (written by the Apostle Peter) is known to us as the letter of 1 Peter found in the New Testament. Peter writes to this church and lets them know that the pain of banging their head against the stone hearts of this world will hurt, but will also create an opportunity to make a beautiful symphony of God’s grace.

“You have been grieved by various trials (1 Peter 1:6) … serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace (1 Peter 4:10).”

Because we live in a world with many rocks, God has given many gifts of His grace to minister to us as we clamor through this dark cavern … and God has given each of us a role, as stewards of that grace, to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering.

As Edmund Clowney says (comparing Sprinkle’s organ with 1 Peter 4), “If such melodic variety may be found in calcium deposits, what varied tones has God’s Spirit given to the heirs of Christ’s glory?”

This week (as so many week’s have been in 2020) we are reminded again of the stone hearts in this world that work against justice, grace, and mercy. Our hearts grieve as we wonder what God might do about such pain and suffering. Well, His response is to use us to deliver His grace. He has equipped us for this task. All who follow Jesus, will ultimately follow Him into ministry, serving others for His glory, according to His will, and in His strength.

While we may not be able to do something about all the world’s problems, Jesus wants to use YOU to minister to the needs of those right around you in your life today. He has outfitted you for this task. It is your mission … hopefully you will choose to accept it. After all, we were made for this – serving others in Jesus name.

Jesus wants to use you to be a key instrument of His grace in this world.

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in our 9:00, 10:15, and 11:30 services (inside and with programming running for children/students/adults and college), 8 AM (outside chapel service), or 10:15 online (wildwoodchurch.org/live) we will be continuing our “5 Follows” series by looking at 1 Peter 4:10-11, as we see how we can follow Jesus into ministry. Hope to see you Sunday … and bring your friends!

True Grace (week 10) Sermon Audio/Video

This past Sunday, on August 9, 2015 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a message based out of 1 Peter 5:6-11. This message was part 10 in the “True Grace” sermon series. The audio and video of this message are posted below.

To download this message to listen to it later, click on the link below:

True Grace #10
To listen to the message below, use the online media player below:

To watch the sermon video, use the Vimeo video posted below:

To access the entire “True Grace” study, click here.

True Grace (week 10) Sermon Discussion Questions

On Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 1 Peter 5:6-11. This message was part 10 in the “True Grace” series. Below are a set of questions related to the message for personal or group reflection.
Questions:

Read 1 Peter 5:6-11
What evidence is there that God truly cares for His people?
How does remembering that God cares for us help us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand?
What are the things in your life currently that are giving you anxiety? What would it look like for you to “cast your anxieties upon Him?”
The devil here is described as our adversary who tries to slander and deceive us with the hope of devouring our faith. Have you ever gone through a trial in life where your faith in God (or belief that He cared for you) wavered?
Peter lists a series of things in 5:8-9 that a Christian can do to fend off the Devil’s attacks. Which of these commands most stands out to you? Why? What is one thing you could do this week to put into practice the admonitions of these verses?
God, in His grace, gives us eternal glory that follows temporary suffering (5:10). What are some of the temporary sufferings you are dealing with that feel “eternal” today? How does meditating on future blessing allow you to deal with temporary pain today?
What are some of the things that most stood out to you from this entire study of 1 Peter (“True Grace” series)?

To access the entire True Grace Study, click here.

Roundup the Cracks (True Grace wk 10 Devo)

I have a problem with my driveway. It wants to grow grass. All spring and summer, I can plant seeds, water, and fertilize my yard . . . and see no new grass grow. However, zipping back and forth across my driveway are shoots of green reaching for the sky.

To be fair, however, I must note that grass does not grow everywhere on my driveway, only in the cracks. This makes sense, doesn’t it? The concrete is too dense to allow anything up or down in most spots. Only where pressure and weakness have created a fissure can the unwanted grass make its way up. Only a squirt of Roundup can destroy these saplings.

I was thinking about that as I read 1 Peter 5:8-11. In these verses Peter warns Christians about Satan who is roaring about like a lion seeking to devour his prey. At first glance this section seems like a random conclusion to the letter. However, a second read reveals that the inclusion of these verses is very strategic and relevant to Peter’s argument.

As we have seen, the book of 1 Peter is about the grace God gives to Christians, allowing them to stand firm while they are living in the hostile environment of this world. Indeed, Christians were being persecuted and maligned for their faith, along with a number of other fiery trials. Life was hard. As Peter concluded his letter, he wanted Christians to realize that Satan wants to take advantage of these hard times to try to make Christians waver in their faith.

In a sense, Satan knows that in good times, our faith may remain as strong as concrete. However, Satan is waiting for the pressures of this life, persecution, and our own weaknesses to create fissures where his lies and temptations can take root and tear us down. Like grass peaking through my driveway, Satan wants his misery to overcome our firm foundation.

Have you ever seen this to be true in your life? I have felt it in mine. When things are good, we easily say God is good, but when life falls apart, we wonder if God cares at all. Too often we fail to call these doubts what they are: Satanic attacks. The devil is prowling around, waiting for life to wear us down, then he wants to pounce on our depression.

To combat this, Peter gives several exhortations to Roundup Satan’s lies:

“Be sober-minded”: Do not get drunk on your emotions and allow them to destroy what you know is true about God.
“Be watchful”: Know the triggers in your life of times/seasons where you are tempted to doubt God. Satan wants to trick you in these times. Be on guard in your times of weakness.
“Resist him”: No offensive attack is necessary here . . . Jesus has already won the battle. Simply stand firm in the victory Jesus has already won. Don’t give in to his lies.
“Firm in your faith”: Maintain strong conviction in truths of Scripture.
“Knowing that the same kind of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world”: Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can play the “poor me” game. When difficulty comes we quickly think we have it worse than others. Though the particulars of our suffering are unique, difficulty is as universal as the sun. We don’t have to hide our struggles, they allow us to be a part of the “club” called Christianity.
“As you have suffered for a little while”: Remember that the trials we go through are for a short time compared to eternity.
“The God of all grace . . . will restore”: Our hope against Satan is found in our God who will give us the grace to stand now and will glorify us in the future!
“To Him be the dominion forever and ever”: We are living in Jesus’ Kingdom. We know he has overcome Satan and we can share in His victory.

As we live out our life in Christ, let us not allow Satan to exploit the cracks in our concrete to sprout forth his lies. Follow the exhortation of Peter and allow Jesus to round up the devil’s darts before they take root.

Join us this Sunday, August 9, 2015 at Wildwood Community Church in our 9:30 or 10:50 worship services as I preach a message based on 1 Peter 5:6-11.

To access the entire “True Grace” Study, click here.

1 Peter 5:12-14 Questions (True Grace Study)

Take a moment to pray. Praise God for His Word and ask Him to teach you its truth, just as the psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:12-16, “Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
Read 1 Peter 5:12-14
STUDY NOTE: Silvanus is the Roman form of the name “Silas.” This Silas could have been the Silas who was Paul’s companion in the book of Acts or another Christian by the same name. While it is possible that Silvanus served as the secretary who wrote down Peter’s words for this letter, it is also even more probable that Silvanus helped deliver this letter to the Christians of Asia Minor. In a day before UPS, the Postal Service, or FedEx, letters were hand delivered.
Peter wrote this letter to share the “true grace of God” that they would “stand firm in it.” In what ways does 1 Peter reveal the grace of God to Christians who are suffering or experiencing various trials?
How does the true grace of God (as Peter describes it) allow Christians to stand firm in the face of persecution and trials?
STUDY NOTE: In 5:13, Peter sends personal greetings from two others: “she who is at Babylon” and “Mark.” Mark is a reference to Peter’s longtime friend and ministry colleague John Mark, who also wrote the Gospel of Mark. However, scholars differ in their understanding of who “she” is. Some have seen this as Peter’s wife. However, it is altogether possible that “she” is a reference to the church that Peter was fellowshipping with when he wrote this letter. Tradition puts Peter in Rome as he wrote this letter, and Babylon (with its Pagan tendencies) was a common idiom for Rome among early Jew and Christian followers in the first century. It is totally possible (even probable) that Peter lets the battered believers in Asia Minor a hint that there is a thriving church in the Roman capital, right under the nose of the Emperor who had set as his mission to devour the church! Our God will not be defeated!
Peter ends his letter in 5:14 by reminding his readers to be loving (the kiss was a common way of publicly showing affection between family members in the first century) and have peace. As Warren Wiersbe says of this conclusion, “What a wonderful way to end a letter that announced the coming of a fiery trial!” In what ways is 5:14 a fitting conclusion to this letter?
What is one major takeaway you have from your study of 1 Peter?

To access the entire “True Grace” Study, click here.

1 Peter 5:10-11 Questions (True Grace Study)

As you prepare your heart for study, know that God desires to reveal Himself to you, and He has given you His Holy Spirit to guide you into truth. Before you open in prayer, consider Jeremiah 9:23-24. “This is what the Lord declares: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Pray for this understanding and knowledge of God with the Holy Spirit as your guide.
Read 1 Peter 5:10-11
Though Christians suffer, their suffering will not last forever. Peter here says that our suffering will last for only a “little while.” However, all of us can think of people whose suffering has lasted for what seems like a long time. In what way is it true that Christians only suffer for a “little while”?
The hope Christians have in the midst of suffering is not just for a short duration of trouble, but also for their God who will come to their defense. In 5:10, Peter calls Him the “God of all grace.” What stands out to you most about this description?
Peter uses a variety of phrases in 5:10 that all make the same point: our gracious God will take care of us. Think of the last time you had a significant time of suffering/struggle in your life. How does this verse encourage you in your time of trouble?
After talking about all that God has done (and will do) for us, Peter breaks into a short doxology (time of praise) in 5:11. Take a moment and write your own doxology expressing your thankfulness to God for what He has shown you in your study of 1 Peter.

To access the entire “True Grace” Study, click here.

1 Peter 5:6-9 Questions (True Grace Study)

As you pray for your study today, ask God to use His Word in your life as the writer of Hebrews prayed in Hebrews 13:20-21: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Read 1 Peter 5:6-9
Not only are Christians to be humble with one another (5:5), but they are ultimately to be humble under the “mighty hand of God” (5:6). The idea of the “mighty hand of God” is an Old Testament idiom that can be used of both God’s judgment and His deliverance. In context here, it seems that Peter wanted to remind Christians that the circumstances of their lives (good and bad) were overseen by their God. Does God’s sovereign authority over your life provide encouragement for you? Why or why not?
In 5:6-7, Peter gives a few reasons why we should trust God with our lives. What are some of the reasons Peter lists here?
What are some of the things that produce anxiety in your life? What does it look like to “cast” those anxieties on God?
Being “sober-minded” is similar to being self-controlled or disciplined. Peter encourages believers to be disciplined and watchful for what reason in 5:8-9?
If you were to summarize Peter’s command to Christians regarding Satan in 5:8-9, what would you say?
Given the context of the entire letter of 1 Peter, why do you think Peter turns to talking about Satan and his strategies at the end of this letter?
In what way can Christians be “devoured” by Satan?
How can you apply the principles this passage teaches about resisting Satan in your life today?

To access the entire “True Grace” Study click here.

True Grace (week 9) Sermon Audio/Video

On Sunday, August 2, 2015, I preached a message at Wildwood Community Church based out of 1 Peter 5:1-5. This message was part 9 in the “True Grace” sermon series. The audio and video of the message are posted below for you to listen to, watch, or share.

To listen to the sermon online, use the media player below:

To download the sermon to listen to offline, click on the link below:

True Grace #9

To watch the sermon, use the Vimeo video below:

To access the entire “True Grace” study, click here.

True Grace (week 9) Sermon Discussion Questions

On Sunday, August 2, 2015 I preached a message at Wildwood Community Church that was based on 1 Peter 5:1-5. This message was part 9 in the “True Grace” series. Below are a set of questions for personal reflection or group discussion related to this sermon.

Questions:

Read 1 Peter 5:1-5
I opened this message by saying that good leadership is especially important when times are tough. Can you think of any examples from history or from your life where this principle holds true?
In a world where Christians are being persecuted, part of the grace Jesus gives to His church is through humble human leaders. In what way have you seen humble leaders be a blessing to churches you have been a part of ?
In 5:1-4, we see several things about elders in local churches. One thing we see is that there is a plurality of elders (i.e. the church is not led simply by one person). What is the value of a multiplicity of leaders who are “among” the people they lead?
The main job of an elder is to shepherd (or Pastor) through providing oversight. What do you think this practically means?
Peter also gives a set of admonishments of what leaders are to do and not do. Specifically, he warns Elders from being reluctant, greedy, lazy, or domineering. Any leadership in a church that looks this way is NOT what Jesus prescribed. If you are in leadership in any ministry, how can you apply these verses to your life today?
Jesus is also shown as the rewarder of the Elders of the church . . . ultimately at His second coming. John Calvin rightly said, “To prevent the faithful servant of Christ from being cast down, there is this one and only remedy, to turn his eyes to the coming of Christ.” In what way does waiting on Jesus to reward you free you up to serve today (regardless of circumstances)?
Humility is not just something for church leaders, but something that both leaders and members must aspire to. I made the statement in this message that the best test of humility is shown NOT when you act like a servant, but when you are treated like one. In what way do you think humility shows forth when you are mistreated or under-appreciated?
What are the main takeaways you had from today’s message?

To access the entire “True Grace” study, click here.