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Christians in a Hostile Society

 Christians in a Hostile Society 1 Peter 3:8-12 The Grove, June 11, 2026 Hearers of the Word First-century Christians lived under growing pressure and false accusations in a pagan culture. Today, we face a similar reality: a society that increasingly views Christians as narrow-minded, judgmental, and problematic. We are called to live faithfully in this hostile environment. Peter wrote to believers facing trials, reminding them of their secure hope: they are born again into an imperishable inheritance kept by God’s power (1 Peter 1:3-5). In chapter 2, he urged them to live honorably among the Gentiles through good works, submit to authorities (except when they contradict God), and show respect even to harsh masters, unbelieving spouses, and difficult relationships. In 1 Peter 3:8-12, Peter summarizes how Christians should respond: I. Christian Relations with One Another (v. 8) Harmonious / Like-minded: Share unity in biblical truth (soteriology, Christology, orthodoxy, and orthopra...
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Rest from the Storm

Rest from the Storm Galatians 6:1-10 The Grove; June 7, 2026 Hearers of the Word Theme: Let Us Not Grow Weary: Finding Rest and Renewal in God While Doing Good Key Verse: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 I. The Reality of Weariness II. The Call: Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good Statement of Truth: There is a crucial difference between resting from good works and resting in order to do good works.  III. The Promise: You Will Reap a Harvest Two Anchors: 1. “At the proper time”  2. “If we do not give up”  Finding Rest in God: • View Physical Rest as Stewardship • Seek Mental and Emotional Rest • Spiritual Rest is Abiding in Christ • Learn to Lean on Community Rest Doers of the Word: •   Where are you most weary right now—physically, mentally, or spiritually? • Is there a “good work” God has called you to that you are tempted to quit because you are tired? •  ...
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Eyes on Jesus in the Storm

 Eyes on Jesus in the Storm Matthew 14:22-33 Big Idea / Thesis: Storms are not always punishment or accidents—sometimes Jesus sends us straight into them. The difference between sinking and standing is where we fix our eyes. Three Points of Application  1. Jesus Sometimes Sends Us Into the Storm (Obedience Precedes Peace) • Text: “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side” (v. 22). • Application: Obeying Jesus does not guarantee calm seas. Sometimes the next step of obedience is directly into difficulty (a tough calling, a season of waiting, conflict, loss, etc.). • Series Tie-in: This is the “storm” we’re sent into, not the one we choose. • Challenge: Where is Jesus telling you to “get in the boat” right now even though the wind is already rising? • Illustration: The disciples left a miraculous high (5,000 fed) only to row into exhaustion. 2. Faith Starts Strong but Must Stay Fixed on Jesus (The Danger of Looking at the Wave...
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Facing the Storm

Facing the Storm     Mark 4:35-41 HEARERS OF THE WORD Theme : It is important for the follower of Jesus Christ to know what to do in the midst of the storm. Main Idea Storms are inevitable in life, but followers of Jesus can endure them by remembering three key truths about Christ: His Promises, His Presence, and His Power. These truths strengthen faith when the enemy tries to shake it. Introduction & Personal Context openly share how major storms shook my own faith: • His father-in-law’s sudden death in 2005. • The sudden death of a church member on a mission trip in Peru 2008. These experiences left him not wanting to pray, read the Bible, or even go to church. He emphasizes that everyone — regardless of age, profession, or spiritual maturity — will face storms (divorce, death, rejection, financial trouble, etc.). The Biblical Text Jesus and the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a fierce storm arises. Jesus is asleep on a cushion. The terrified disc...
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The Greatest Advice A Mother Can Give

Title: The Greatest Advice A Mother Can Give Text: John 2:1-11 Date: May 10, 2026 AM (Mother’s Day) Overview: Today's Mother’s Day sermon from John 2:1-11 celebrates Mary’s simple yet powerful words at the wedding in Cana—“Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5)—as the greatest advice any mother can give. John paints the scene of a first-century wedding crisis (running out of wine meant public shame) and shows how Mary, instead of panicking, turned to Jesus and then directed the servants to obey Him completely. Today we will learn two clear lessons: (1) Mary’s advice models the most important thing mothers (and all believers) can teach—obey Jesus above every cultural pressure or expectation; and (2) the servants’ radical obedience, even when it looked foolish (filling purification jars with water and serving it), opened the door for Jesus’ first miracle. The water-to-wine sign is not merely a party trick; it pictures Jesus replacing the “dirty water” of the law with the sweet w...
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Choosing Harmony

Choosing Harmony 1 Peter 3:1-7 Hearers of the Word Theme:  Because we are chosen by God and called into His light, we are called to live differently — by living in harmony with God’s wise design, but you must make a choice. Introduction   In our ongoing study of 1 Peter, we have seen how believers are called to live as “elect exiles” by submitting to God’s orderly design in every sphere of life—for the Lord’s sake and the sake of our witness. This week’s message, “Choosing Harmony” from 1 Peter 3:1-7, brings that same principle close to home into our home.  Peter shows that true harmony in marriage flows not from demanding our rights but from inner beauty, mutual honor, and Christ-centered love. Wives are urged to win even unbelieving husbands through faithful conduct and a gentle, quiet spirit, while husbands are commanded to dwell with their wives with understanding, honoring them as co-heirs of God’s grace, entering their world and serving them as Christ served the chu...
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Hope in Harmony

 Hope in Harmony 1 Peter 2:13-25 Hearers of the Word: Theme:  Because we are chosen by God and called into His light, we are called to live differently — by living in harmony with God’s wise design. Review – Our New Identity (1 Peter 2:9-12) • A chosen people,  A royal priesthood, A holy nation, and God’s special possession  Purpose: Declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Transitional Theme: Harmony (1 Peter 2:13- chapter 3) Two Foundations for True Harmony 1. Reverence God as Lord of all (Vertical relationship first) 2. Respect God’s design for an orderly arrangement (we are relating to our horizontal relationships– Greek idea is  “to arrange under”) Question to Consider: How do we achieve that harmony? 1. Harmony Produces Hope in the World 2. Harmony Produces Hope in the Workplace To be continued... Doers of the Word: 1.  Peter says if we forget who we are in Christ, we will live like we used to. In ...
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