The psalmist describes both his deliverance from a dramatic, near-death experience and his grateful response. His heart yearns to express its adoration for the Lord in the house of the Lord. Consequently, he resolves to call on the name of the Lord for the rest of his days.
Read Psalm 116
This sermon is all about the crucial importance of endurance in the marathon of faith. What we need most of all in life is not nicer home, a bigger salary, a healthier body, etc, but endurance; to persevere in following our Lord Jesus until the end. The consequences of falling away are unspeakably grim. But the glorious promise for those who have loved Him till the end, is absolutely sure, and closer every day... for yet a little while and "He who is coming will come, and not tarry".
Read Hebrews 10:19-39
At the conclusion of Peter's letter to the suffering Christians he reminds them to stand fast in the true grace of God, to love the Church, both local and universal, and to be in Christ because only in him is there peace.
Read 1 Peter 5:12-14
God's first words to Adam and Eve were words of blessing. With the fall into sin all humanity comes under the curse of God. God in his mercy sent Jesus Christ to bring blessing to his people. Christ brings blessing by taking his Father's curse upon himself.
Read Galatians 3:1-14
Every local church is a work in progress and can be faced with false teaching about the gospel of Jesus. The answer is given by Paul: a godly ministry. If a church is going to grow in her love for Jesus, she needs godly elders and pastors; and its the same with the issue of false teaching. Elders and pastors who pray, know the Word and love the sheep in Jesus name will bring blessing to the church.
Read Titus 1:5-16
The book of Hosea has a joyful message. The message is that of the compassion and love of God. Here we learn that God cannot give up on his people. Even though Israel practiced idolatry, and committed great whoredom against the Lord by forsaking him for false gods, he would not finally let them go. Here we see where sin abounds, grace super abounds. And we see that through a symbol in the book; the symbol of family.
Jairus trusted Christ to heal his daughter. When Jesus is interrupted en route to Jairus' home his faith is tested. However, because his faith was a well founded faith in Jesus who took the curse of sin and rose from the dead, his faith was rewarded and his daughter was restored to health.
Peter encourages his readers to humble themselves before God by transferring all their concerns and burdens to the Lord. The fact that God has a mighty hand and that he cares us us is all the encouragement we need to rest in his wise providence. The fact that Satan is looking to destroy us should be all the encouragement we need to resist his advances. Peter ends this section by reminding us that the God of all grace will equip and preserve us and bring us to his eternal glory.
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11
Jesus' response to James and John's request to sit in positions of prominence when Jesus returns in glory highlights three important aspects of Christian discipleship. First, Christ's disciples will join him in glory when he returns. Second, in the meantime we are called to a life of suffering and, third, a life of service for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.
Read Mark 10:32-45
Peter calls us to humility, both as leaders in the Church and as members. The leaders are to imitate Jesus the Chief Shepherd by shepherding the flock of God with self-denying service. Members of the congregation are to submit to their leaders in the Lord and to clothe themselves with humility as they serve one another.
Read 1 Peter 5:1-5
