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Church Notes - 9/6 @ Faith Promise

Pastor Chris Stephens

  • The Conspiracy of the Cross - new series

  • WWII - the ghost army. Their entire job was deception.

  • What if God works the same way?? What if he’s always working, but we just don’t see it, or recognize what’s going on.

  • Sounds like this series is all about Peter maybe. Or maybe it’s just today’s message, not sure yet, but he’s talking only about Peter right now.

  • Seems to be focusing on the book of 1st Peter.

  • 1 Peter 1:1-2

  • alien, exiles - this is important, Peter calls this out specifically and intentionally

  • by the sanctifying work of the spirit - our standing with God, our placement before him, is based on the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

  • We can’t obey Jesus, produce fruit, without the work of the Spirit in our lives.

  • Small groups - there’s examples of them all throughout scripture. We were made for community.

  • Spiritual growth is rarely convenient. It takes work, self-discipline, sacrifice.

  • Colossians 1:28-29

  • 1 Peter - it’s about Jesus holistically. The living Jesus, his death and the empty tomb, and our resurrected savior.

  • 1 Peter 1:3-4

  • 1 Peter 1:5 - we are protected by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • 1 Peter 1:6-7 - we will experience pain, struggle, suffering. This is a good thing.

  • The sanctifying work of the Spirit happens in the midst of these trials. This is where we learn, and grow, and are purified.

  • 1 Peter 1:8-11

  • 1 Peter 1:12 - the mystery. The scriptures we have, the mystery of seeking Jesus, learning about him … it’s such a privilege for us to be able to seek Him and find Him.

  • God’s plan for humanity, for us, has always been Jesus … right there in front of us. It’s what the Bible is all about. It all points to Him.

  • Psalm 119:105 - God only ever gives us enough light for our next few steps. We have only to trust Him, and continue to follow Him through the limited light that He gives us.