1 Peter 2:11 says “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” The word “war”, in the Greek language, implies an ongoing engagement, not a single battle. The fleshly lusts will maintain an ongoing war inside of your mind, emotions and will that no one can see. It is invisible, but significant.We come to church and smile at one another. Someone asks, "How's it going?" We say, “Great!” ...  Read More

1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” “Sojourners” and “pilgrims” enforces the idea that Christians are to be different from the people of this world. This world is not a Christian’s permanent home. It is temporary, and our true citizenship is in heaven. “Fleshly lusts” points to the fact that this world, empowere...  Read More

In God’s church, one’s ministry is discovered through one’s identity. 1 Peter 2:9 explains that identity in four ways: “a chosen generation,” “a royal priesthood,” “a holy nation,” and “His own special people.” This is how Jesus describes His followers.1 Peter 2:9 says, “you are a chosen generation.” The word “generation” literally means “the elect offspring.” It is describing when life begins cre...  Read More

Perhaps you do not feel as though you are significant. However, God has a special place for you in His church. Martin Luther once said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.“[1] Positively speaking, when I understand that I, too, am nothing, perhaps God can make something out of me. We need to realize that God wants to make something speci...  Read More

1 Peter 2:4–5 says, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” In John 6:51, Jesus refers to Himself as the “living bread.” In John 4:13-14 and John 7:37-39, Jesus says He is the Source of “l...  Read More

"one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:6If you are tuning a row of old pianos, you don't tune the first one and then tune the second to the first and the third to the second, right on down the line. If you test the last piano against the first, they are going to be off. The way to tune them all is to have one measuring standard. You tune every...  Read More

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16No matter what background you come from, whether you grew up non-denominational, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, or something else, if you've lived long enough, you've probably noticed some of the strengths found in each of those...  Read More

"There is ...one Spirit" ... "one Lord" ... "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:4–6 (NKJV)Paul says there is "one Spirit", "one Lord" (Jesus), and "one Father" in Ephesians 4:4-6. Notice that in these three simple verses he gives you the whole Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Paul is intentional about giving you al...  Read More

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." - Ephesians 4:4-5For years now, social media has been making us a promise. The promise is that technology will bring us closer together than ever before and help us build deeper, more lasting relationships. That promise has not been fulfilled. All you have to do is scroll for ...  Read More

Jesus, as this cornerstone, was rejected by men. After saying Jesus is a chief cornerstone, Peter says in 1 Peter 2:6-8, “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appo...  Read More

In 1501, world-renowned artist Michelangelo was going back from Rome to his home of Florence for three different reasons. First, he was a little homesick. Second, his family needed him. In the third place, there was a giant slab of flawless, white Carrara marble which was more than 18-feet high that was being given to him. Agostino di Duccio in 1464 tried to work with it, but ultimately rejected i...  Read More

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) - "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." In verse 3, Peter says, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” That word “if”, in the Greek, can be translated “since,” and that’s what is i...  Read More