Calvary Bible Church, Neligh, NE: Recent Episodes
Calvary Bible Church
There are a few conversations that I love having. I love talking with someone about Jesus and their need for him. I love having someone approach me and ask how they can become a follower of Jesus. I love having followers of Jesus come up to me and ask how they can grow in their faith. And I love having…
Long time ago, before we had GPS systems that talked annoyingly to us. We had maps. Very useful things. Other times, we had friends and family who knew the better way. So, we dropped the map and we caravanned where we needed to go. Sometimes that was through the big city, and we knew the only way we…
Have you ever driven bumper cars? They are so much fun. Everything that you are not supposed to do in a regular car, you get to do in bumper cars. You are constantly bumping off of each other. What is ironic about bumper cars is that you don’t have to actually pay someone to bump off of people. We spend…
When I was in high school, I went to a political activism camp just outside of Washington, D.C. I loved it. I learned about how to influence politicians. I learned about the legislative process. I also learned how to bring down the house in a talent show. I cannot believe that I am sharing this story.…
It is said that the nine most important words in a marriage are: “I was wrong. I am sorry. Please forgive me.” These are also some of the hardest words to say. They take humility. And no one really truly desires humility. Merriam-Webster defines humility as the freedom from pride or arrogance. It comes…
One of the interesting portions of sitting at the booth at the County Fair is watching people. Seeing how people approach booths. How people walk around booths. I would sit behind our booth and call out to whoever came by: Everything at this table is free! Some people would come and look. Others would…
When I was a kid, I really enjoyed watching animal judging, especially showmanship. I was fascinated by the intentional movements and actions of the kids, the way they were supposed to dress, the movements they made, the way they intentionally handled the animals and held the lead ropes. I never showed…
So, I went to Pensacola Christian College for my bachelor’s degree. Many of you have heard of this school, but many haven’t. I went there because it was a cheap Christian college. When I started, they charged $5000/yr for room, board, and tuition. When I left, they had increased it to about $6500, I…
Most months, I am able to meet with a group of pastors in the surrounding area, good, solid Bible-preaching pastors, and talk about life and ministry. Most of the time there is laughter. Sometimes, there is tears. I think each one of us has cried sometime during those meetings. Sometimes there is energy.…
Have you ever gotten up the guts to share with someone about Jesus and the door has been shut firmly in your face? Preacher school has lots of odd assignments. One of them was for evanglism class. We were to share the Gospel with 5 people over the course of the week. Well, I didn’t get around much. So,…
I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July. We got to celebrate the independence that we have, the ways that God has blessed us as a nation, and hopefully, we spent some time in prayer for our nation, that revival would come and that we would place our hope back in the God who created us, instead of…
I don’t think that I am odd in this. Maggie and I have been in knockout draw out fights. And when we are in the middle of of the conflict, one of us realizes that the only reason we are having this discussion is that we had a misunderstanding. Perhaps I said some that she didn’t understand. Or perhaps…
I’m about to spend two weeks at Camp Assurance, coming back on the weekend between for the church service and congregational meeting. I enjoy camp ministry. However, as I look ahead, I am faced with the fact that I am going to be really tired. And what am I going to do for rest. One of the top idols…
Mother’s Day is the hardest sermon in the year for me to prepare. It is my one chance to give a shot in the arm for mom’s everywhere that they get can get through another year. It is my one shot to urge them specifically to be godly. It is my one change to put my foot in my mouth and alienate over 50%…
I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the Small Town Pastor’s conference in Morton, IL. Every time I attend, I came away refreshed and exhausted. This was our 9th conference. And because of that, while the content was great, the best part was the community. Being with fellow men in the rural ministry…
He is risen! The celebration of Easter is a great time. Life has a few monumental times, where one goes through it and your life completely changes. Marriage. The birth of a child. Death of a parent, a spouse, a child. There a few times where life completely changes and you are never the same again.…
Social Media is a weird thing. For those of you who are not familiar with Social media, be grateful. For those of you who live on social media, I’m sorry. Maggie and I have begun removing ourselves from social media platforms, because we just can’t stomach it anymore. There is an interesting term used…
Two questions plagued the Jews when Jesus had his earthly ministry: Who is this man and who did he come for? Of course, these are the same questions that people wrestle with today. The Jews thought that Jesus was just a good teacher, if that. Perhaps he was just a misguided carpenter from Nazareth that…
Robert Frost wrote an amazing poem in 1916: the Road Not Taken. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps…
It’s one of the most famous concepts in the Bible. Though it’s fame is getting less and less as generation Z and Alpha are not being raised in a moral society. Most people have heard of the 10 commandments, though they may not be able to say one of the 10 commandments. Most people have heard of the cross,…
When I was about 7, my folks gave me a woodworking kit. I loved this. I made my mom a wooden planter, I made my sister a bench for her dolls, and I made myself a treasure box that had an actual lock on it. And for the next 11 years, I put my most prized possessions into this box, and I hid this box far…
People spend a significant portion of time thinking about others. Different psychologists created studies on this, finding out that 50% of the time we are thinking about someone else. Sometimes we are thinking about what that person thinks about us. Some of us are more concerned about this than others.…
A verse that keeps coming back to me throughout my life is 1 Sam 16:7 . Samuel has come to Jesse’s house to anoint the new king of Israel. Samuel thinks that Jesse’s older sons would make perfect kings. But God told Samuel: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for…
Back when I was with CFA, I was in charge of hiring and firing for my shift. Thankfully, I only had to fire one person. Unfortunately, I really think I fired the wrong person. But, that’s another story. The person I should have fired quit soon after. I was able to hire some amazing workers, and shape…
We talked about politics a little bit last week. So, might as well talk about it this week as well. Right? It’s amazing how we can start seeing how strong people are in their faith, in their desire to follow Jesus in a holy life, by how they interact with people around an election, around a new inauguration.…
This is no secret. I really enjoy politics. Election season is like ice cream for me. So much fun. Seeing the candidates, analyzing why they campaign the way that they do, why they go where they go, what they say, what they don’t say. It’s so much fun. The art of presenting an idea. Other’s might term…
We know the story. We could borrow the phrase from Beauty and the Beast: Tale as old as time. Eve is standing in the Garden, looking at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the serpent speaks to her. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said…
Have you ever been through an experience and felt incredibly alone? Wishing that someone would be there with you? It’s the little kid reaching up and grabbing his dad’s hand, and his dad squeezes it, saying “It’s okay, I’m here.” And all of a sudden, the situation isn’t as bad as it seemed. Then adulthood…
I do a lot of traveling. It’s in my DNA. Growing up, after breakfast, my mom would look at us and say: Do you want to go visit your great-grandma today? Who happened to live 6 hours away. My mom would call my dad and say that we were driving to St. Paul. We’d drive up, spend the night, and come back…
Do you ever walk through the grocery store and just look at people. Not in a creepy way. But, people-watch. It’s fascinating. Until you realize that only about 25% of the people you see in the grocery store have placed there faith in Jesus Christ. And that people-watching becomes really sad. There are…
The Sample family has a lot of traditions around Christmas. Most fall under the heading of waiting. We would wake up Christmas morning and we couldn’t open our stockings until all the kids were awake. Which required some waiting. Because some of the us kids liked to sleep in. Then, once the parents woke…
How many of you, in order to truly enjoy a book or a movie, you need to know the end of it? I will try not to hold a grudge against ya’ll. Some people try to tell me what is going to happen, and I don’t want to know. I take that back. There are somethings that I do want to know before hand. Like, the…
There’s an Andy Griffith episode. Barney once to invest and so he tries to jump into the record making company. An agent for a record company comes into town to make a record of North Carolina blue grass music. Barney keeps floating the term diversify, so that he wants to put his money in many different…
Technically, I should probably have preached this sermon last week, but I had to finish up the previous passage. It’s now a week and a half since the election. Half of the nation is happy. The other half is not. When I was preparing this sermon, I had no idea what the result would be. I just knew that…
Solomon is discussing wisdom and folly in this passage. We gave the first part of this sermon two weeks ago, and basically covered the main point of the whole thing. We find our joy not in our circumstances and how we can manipulate them, but in the God who loves us. Solomon continues discussing wisdom…
Tuesday is election day. I’m not going to stand up here and tell you who to vote for. But, if you want my opinion, I’ve got strong opinions that I’ll tell you about if you ask. Especially for the election for school board in the Neligh-Oakdale district. But, I’m not going there right now. Election day…
Solomon was a prolific author. If he lived today, he would be on the New York Times best seller list, multiple times. People would be lining up to read his next book. His songs would be on the top of the charts, just because of the amount of things he wrote. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs…
The first funeral I remember was for my mother’s mom. I was five years old. My grandfather chartered a bus so that we that the family could ride together from Illinois to the funeral and burial in Minnesota. I knew that she had died, but I didn’t fully know what it meant until a few years later, when…
Have you ever read quotes of people’s last words? It’s fascinating. Some are funny. Actress Joan Crawford yelled at her housekeeper who was praying as Crawford died. She said: Don’t you dare ask God to help me!” When Wilson Mizner was on his deathbed, a priest said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.”…
The biggest problem that people bring up about the existence of God is what is called the problem of evil. Why do bad happen to good people? If God were truly good, he wouldn’t allow bad things to happen to good people. Well, we could take that apart in so many ways. In chapter 4, Solomon pointed to…
Solomon has been discussing all the things in life which are meaningless. Which is pretty much everything. Through the discussion, he begs his readers to turn to God to find satisfaction, peace, joy. But, to turn to God, we need to know him. Jesus himself said, while praying to the Father: Now this is…
It is said that good news doesn’t sell. Only bad news does. Which is why if you turn on the tv or pick up a newspaper, most of the news you will see, a great majority is bad news, about injustice, oppression, turmoil. It’s amazing what happens when you follow the money. But, that’s not the whole story.…
Have you ever met someone famous? I remember the first time that I got to meet a president. Well, technically, I didn’t meet him, but I got really close to him! George W. Bush came to a rally about 45 miles from where we lived. So, we pack up our lunches and got to the rally location several hours before…
Can you imagine having everything that you could ever want at your fingertips? Growing up, I distinctly remember wishing that I could have things, and then my older siblings would remind me that I was not supposed to be jealous. One Christmas, I was probably around 7 or 8 years old. My oldest sister,…
Have you ever been depressed? Like don’t want to get up out of bed depressed? I have. I remember laying in bed wondering why I should get up. What use are my tasks for the day. What use is what I have been dedicating myself to for the past several years. Those situations are not easy. And there are many…
Congratulations! You have almost survived this series on Song of Solomon. Maggie can tell you that I really enjoyed studying this book. My faith has grown through it and my understanding of God’s love for me. I can totally agree with Jonathan Edwards: “The whole book of Canticles [i.e., Song of Solomon]…
Well, next week is our last week in Song of Solomon! I have really enjoyed studying this book and pray that it has come alive for you. But, we have two chapters left and two more chances to make Brook squirm and blush. We have seen the whole relationship of the beloved and King Solomon. We first saw…
When I sit down with a couple for premarital counseling, I cover a lot of topics, coming back to the concepts of oneness, communication, and expectations a lot. Through the conversations, invariably, we circle around to their family of origin. Probably because I ask them about it. I can be evil like…
50% of all first marriages end in divorce. That’s a sobering statistic. 60% of second marriages, and 73% of third marriages. For those of you who like statistics. The years with the highest risk of divorce is the first two years. You’ve been madly in love. You marry your soul-mate, and then you realize…
Ah, Father’s Day! The day of the year that Fathers are celebrated. Right smack between planting and haying. In fact, some might still be planting and some might have started haying, depending on where one lives and what the rains have been doing. Father’s day is hard because in today’s culture few people…
Congratulations! After this week, we are halfway done with our study of Song of Solomon. It’s amazing how fast this book goes! Though Brook Curtiss wishes that it would go faster. We have seen the beloved deeply in love with King Solomon, because of his character, yearning to consummate her love with…
I have officiated ten weddings. In the grand scheme of things, that’s really not many. But, I have enjoyed officiating each one of them. Each one of them was different. Each one had challenges. Each one had a lot of joys. Each one was filled with anticipation of what was next. Weddings are a lot of fun.…
Have you ever heard a Memorial Day message on Song of Solomon? I haven’t either. So this isn’t a Memorial Day message. Just to say this: I am grateful for those who have sacrificed themselves for our nation, for my freedom. They saw a need, they saw something worth protecting, and they responded in a…
I don’t know if I am supposed to be so excited about preaching through Song of Solomon. However, as I have been studying this book, I have found out that what Jonathan Edwards wrote about this poem is so true: “The whole book of Canticles [i.e., Song of Solomon] used to be pleasant to me, and I used…
Well, this has been quite a year so far, hasn’t it? We spent twelve sermons, studying addiction and recovery. We took breaks for the Resurrection season. I was gone for a few weeks and then shared about what I learned at the conference. Now, if the start of the year wasn’t disruptive enough, we are going…
It’s good to be back! Travels are nice, but coming home is nicer. My family and I got to attend RHMA’s small town pastors conference in Morton IL. This conference is always good. We reconnect with old friends, experience encouraging conversations, and hopefully learn things that will help in our ministries.…
I assume that everyone here has been around little kids at Christmas time. I know, we just went through easter, so we really shouldn’t be talking about Christmas. However, it fits, just go with me. All those presents are under the Christmas tree. The kids have been itching to open them. Finally, the…
He is risen! Our entire faith rests on the fact that Jesus is alive. If he never came back to life, our faith is worthless, because there is no hope. We know that Jesus is who he said he is because he came back to life. Each of the Gospels records the amazing story of Jesus’ resurrection, well at least…
As you know, I completed my requirements for my doctor of ministry degree this week. I’m feeling pretty good. The last thing I had to do was an exit interview with my primary reader and the head of the doctoral department of Dallas Theological Seminary. This exit interview was conducted over Zoom. Now,…
Maggie and I travel differently, especially when it comes to GPS. We both plug the address into our phones, so that we have the map and the directions in front of us. We have a phone holder that attaches to the vent in the dash so that the phone is held up for us. But, here is where the difference lies.…
He was a man who had sold out his nation. Not only did he use his position of power to support the party that was tearing his nation apart, he used his position of power to rob his countrymen, building a comfortable life on the skeletons of his family and his friends. He loved money more than his country.…
Matt Switzell had just completed a 24 hour shift as firefighter and EMT. During that time, he had less than 30 minutes of sleep. 4 miles from home, he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the vehicle of June Fitzgerald. June was pregnant and had an 18 month old daughter in the back seat. Faith,…
We’re going to start off a little differently today. I need at least 4 volunteers. Did you ever play follow the leader? I’m the leader and you will follow me. Great fun! I enjoy making people do things that they probably would not do on their own initiative. What is the basic rule of Follow the Leader?…
We are surviving birthday season at our house. Jan 30th was Grace’s birthday. This past Monday was David’s birthday. This week is Valentine’s Day. The following week is my birthday. Crazy season. It’s a time of celebrating what God has done in each person’s life and remembering the journey to this point.…
I was 21 years old. I was working in the receiving department for my college’s dining services. Part of my job was to drive a golf cart to deliver food between the warehouse, our cafeterias, and the day care that was on the campus. I loved to drive that golf cart. It was a electric and they were miserably…
Mirrors are interesting things. There is a saying that “mirrors don’t lie.” What one sees in a mirror is what actually is. I can look in a mirror and say: what lovely blond hair I have. However, that would be me disregarding what the mirror was showing me. The mirror is actually showing me that I am…
I am so glad to live in America. We are blessed in this country. We have the ability to vote for the people we want to vote for. We have the ability to run for office ourselves. We can go to work, earn money, keep a lot of it, and make a life for ourselves. We are truly blessed. We stand on the shoulders…
Last week we discussed the truth that we are all addicted to something. And we need to admit that we are powerless, that in our own power our lives are unmanageable. Until we admit this, we will keep living broken, miserable lives. As Paul wrote: For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that…
I stand before you today as someone who is addicted. I’m addicted to a lot of things. You all know about my ice cream addiction. We joke and laugh about that. But, we could talk about my desire to please people. We could talk about my past with pornography. I actually had to go through an addiction recovery…
Merry Christmas, everyone! We told the Christmas narrative last week. We saw how Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, and the Wise men all experienced the Presence of God through the coming of Emmanuel, God with Us. Now, let’s read what happened after Jesus was born, about forty days. When the time came for…
Kelly Clarkson came out with a song in 2021 called: Christmas come early. It goes like this: Candles burning out at both ends I don't miss the crowd, just my friends Seems like everybody needs a little bit of cheer Christmas, won't you please come early this year? I don't need the snow, I'm already cold…
I have talked before about my time at Chick-fil-A. Those of you who have been around for the past almost eight years are probably tired of my discussions of Chick-fil-A. I have worked for several food service companies, but CFA was hands down, by far, the best at training workers. They had processes…
Last week, I explained what I am doing. This is the second of two weeks of Thanksgiving. Last week, I talked about how I am thankful that the church is a family. We talked about what it means and how we should live because of it. If you were not able to be here, I encourage you to go back and watch or…
Growing up, we had three big holidays. Resurrection Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We did some things for Memorial Day and Fourth of July. But the big three were the big three. Each different. Each distinct. I’ve departed from my family by squishing them all together, but that is beside the point.…
Do you know what happens when you give a kid some sugar? Some kids have a worse reaction than others. I know some kids that are related to Dean and Nancy who are very susceptible to sugar. In fact, after a period of the grandparents continually feeding them sugar, the parents were very tempted to feed…
Have you ever laid in your bed, either at night or in the morning, and wondered about your purpose for life? If you haven’t don’t worry about it. With our stage of life, I normally fall asleep right away and then wake up running. However, some people take time to think about their purpose for life. Many…
It has been over two months since we last spent time in 1 Corinthians. That’s a long time! You have heard a lot of sermons from many different people on many different topics. Some of the sermons were delivered by people just starting in the sermonizing realm. One was given by someone just leaving this…
Have you ever wanted to just give up? I think about a teacher. The day has not been going well. Those troublemakers are just not listening to reason and the rest of the class are beginning to follow. I can imagine that a point is reached where the teacher just wants to give up. What’s the use? Let’s…
When I was a kid, I had to plant a seed for some sort of VBS craft. Every kid got a styrofoam cup, some dirt, and a seed. I have no idea what the overall purpose was for the craft. But, hey, I was excited to plant that seed. I took the styrofoam cup home. Proudly placed it on our front stoop. And promptly…
My favorite movie of all time is “Amazing Grace.” It tells the story, in the distorted way that Hollywood does, about William Wilberforce the British statesmen, who spent his life trying to end the slavery in the British Empire. While the movie does major on Wilberforce’s solid faith in Jesus Christ,…
Have you ever wondered what to give someone for Father’s Day? If you think about Mother’s Day, the classic gifts are: flowers, fancy tea, a card, or a framed piece of kid art. You know, Mother’s Day gifts make sense. Except when someone completely throws convention to the wind and gives a tent peg. What…
We truly worship in a beautiful building. We are blessed. I appreciate all the work that Judy puts in to decorate for each of the seasons. I appreciate all the signs that she hangs to remind us of important spiritual truths. I appreciate all the things that have been donated to push our eyes up to the…
So, this sermon is the sermon that I was not going to preach on Mother’s Day. Beware any pastor who preaches this passage on Mother’s Day. Of all passages of Scripture, this is one that I might have recieved the most questions about. This is also one of a few passages which make liberal Christians squirm.…
I want to do an experiment. Brook, would you play a song on your guitar? As you play your song, I am going to play another song. And then, Roxie, could you sing a third? Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. What did…
Mother’s Day is the hardest sermon in the year for me to prepare. It is my one chance to give a shot in the arm for mom’s everywhere that they get can get through another year. It is my one shot to urge them specifically to be godly. It is my one change to put my foot in my mouth and alienate over 50%…
So, I was getting to know a pastor once. We had lunch, talked about life and ministry. Then I invited him to jump in my car and drive around his town to pray for his ministry and for people’s hearts to change, for revival and repentance in the community. I started the car, started driving down the main…
Appreciate the time at the conference. Had sessions about culture change in a rural area, about pulpit ministry in the public square, brushed up on some preaching concepts, and got a whole bunch of encouragement from people that I only see once or twice a year. The Sunday after conference, I like to…
He is risen! He is risen indeed! I love that greeting that has been passed down through the centuries. It shows the longevity of our faith. We are not just following a belief system that was invented a few years ago by religious quack. No, we have a faith that has stayed the same for two thousand years.…
I appreciate the music that our worship leaders pick up, purposefully leading us to look away from the craziness of this world and look to God. We are blessed to have musicians who take this responsibility seriously. Some churches have leaders who just throw a few songs together. Some churches don’t…
When I was in high school, we lived on two acres in the middle of the woods in Northern Indiana. Now, I say “woods” very loosely. It is true that the land around us was wooded. However, across the street was a swamp. So, we didn’t go there. And the majority of our two acres was what we termed a “waste…
We are talking about love. Last week, we discussed that love should be the basis of everything a Christian does. But, what truly is love? Paul wrote that without love, we are nothing. But, what is love? Let’s read what Paul wrote: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I…
How would you define love? There was a movie made by Disney over 14 years ago, with a song called: How does she know that you love her. How does someone show love? I realize that I am late to the ball game for this sermon. Every September or October, I set aside a week to prepare my preaching calendar…
Have you ever visited a really weird exhibit? You walk in, look at everything, and wonder why in the world you are there. The weirdest exhibit that I have ever been to was one on the human body. It was at a science museum in Dallas. For some reason, some scientist had decided to freeze two bodies, male…
We are just finishing up our birthday season. We have Christmas, then Nancy and Grace’s birthdays are in January, and David’s and mine are in February. That makes for a lot of gifts being given in two months. The kids have been thrilled. I am looking at the house, wondering what we are going to do with…
Why do we come to church? Some of us come because it socially accepted to come to church. Others come because they feel guilty if they don’t come to church. Still others come because they gain something by coming. Still others come because they want to share something. I come to church because you pay…
Have you ever lost focus on a project, and everything got messed up? It seems that every week, I struggle with my focus during sermons. Maggie and I had a heart to heart a few weeks ago, trying to understand the pressures that each other face. And I told Maggie that many times writing sermons is like…
I really enjoy fellowship dinners. Which is probably because I like to eat. You can probably guess what my favorite part of fellowship dinners are.... If I were super spiritual, I would say the fellowship. But, it is the desserts. I’ve got a huge sweet tooth. But, I do like the fellowship. God designed…
Merry Christmas! Christmas morning services are always a little weird. Some of us were together yesterday. And so, we have seen each other two days in a row. The service is squished between different Christmas breakfast and Christmas lunch. If anyone hasn’t opened presents, they are squirming in their…
One of the funnest stages of toddler growth and development is the “why” stage. It can also be the most annoying if certain mental blocks are not put up. Whenever anything happens, the child says: ‘Why’. Then, the game commences. We have a choice how to respond. We could say truly why. Or, we could say…
Our daily testimony should be inline with our salvation. What we confess with our mouth should be daily lived out within our families, within the community, at the grocery store, at the courthouse, at the library. Everywhere, we should be asking the question: what does it mean to live as a follower of…
Do you remember when you finished school? Whenever it was, whichever level it was. Do you remember the last day you were in high school? I do. But, it wasn’t that long ago. The world was at my fingertips. I had finally conquered education. I knew all that there was to know. I could go and make my way…
It is interesting how every small town has a different culture. Neligh is different than Oakdale, Clearwater, Elgin, or Plainview. Each one is different than the other. We could spend some time and tear apart each culture, explaining how different aspects of those cultures are good or bad. But we won’t,…
You know, the past several months, I have really stepped on toes. I’ve talked about what married couples do in bed. I’ve talked about divorce. I’ve talked about singleness. I’ve talked about a bunch of smaller issues that many people make into bigger issues, such as alcohol, gambling, and modesty. I’ve…
I am not much of a gardener. We are almost halfway through October. Normally, pastors do not talk about gardening in the Fall. But, here we are... I am not much of a gardener. I know a lot of the theories of gardening, but I naturally kill things that are under my care. The kids have been pestering us…
Have you ever sat at a table with that person who you always avoid. They have an opinion about everything. They always seem to be right. And, then, when you hit that certain topic, you want to run, because they get heated. Too heated. Like the cops-might-be-called heated. And then, your other friend…
If you have followed my sermons since January, you have probably noticed, maybe sub-consciously, a theme that I have returned to several times. Our identity. Who are we? Are we Americans? Are we Nebraskans? Are we products of our parents and grandparents, bearing their last name and passing it on to…
Pastor answered some great questions. If anyone has some follow-up questions, please let him know!
The Pastor answers submitted questions from the congregation on Theology, Bible study, and practical living
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 5:12-14 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
1 Peter 5:1-4 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 Peter 5:1-4 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1 Peter 4:12-16 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1f you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8-9 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
1 Peter 4:1-6 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
1 Peter 4:1-6 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits- to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
1 Peter 3:13-17 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." But in your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her LORD. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her LORD. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
1 Peter 2:18-25 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:18-25 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the LORD's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the LORD's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:7-10 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message-which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the LORD is good.
1 Peter 1:22-25 (NIV) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:17-21 Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:6-9 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:4-5 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3a: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth..."
1 Peter 1:1 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen."