Colossians | Getting Heaven Into the Home | May 28

Sermon by Jake Blair on May 28, 2023.

Last week we discussed how to get Heaven into us. This week we look at Colossians 3:18-21 and ask, “How can we get Heaven into our families?” Paul does this by explicitly addressing the family breakdowns in Rome. So what are the family breakdowns in our time and place, and how can we push back against them?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 7

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Parenting Resources from Midtown Fellowship There are a million voices and blogs telling you what to do and not do as a parent. So we created and pooled together some of the best parenting content to help!

“Marriage: Forgiving and Forbearing” from Desiring God (53 minutes) Colossians speaks to the importance of marriage. Ephesians 5 is also a great text in the New Testament, further unpacking that. In this sermon, John Piper speaks to how marriage is a pointer to the work of Jesus.

LISTEN

“How do I Not Provoke My Children?” from Desiring God (12 minutes) Colossians 3:21 warns against fathers provoking children. But what could that look like?

”Family of God” from The Bible Project A podcast series on the biblical theme of family from Dr. Tim Mackie and Jon Collins. Enjoy!

The Family of God sermon series from Midtown Fellowship How we love our neighbor reflects our love for God and how we love God manifests itself in how we love our neighbor. And the reality is, while our “neighbor” encompasses everyone, it most immediately applies to who we share a home with and see daily. Check out our sermons from 2021 as we unpack this more.

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Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley “Discover simple habits and easy-to-implement daily rhythms that will help you find meaning beyond the chaos of family life as you create a home where kids and parents alike practice how to love God and each other.”

Family Worship by Donald Whitney “Gathering together for worship is an indispensable part of your family’s spiritual life. It is a means for God to reveal himself to you and your loved ones in a powerful way.”

Colossians | Getting Heaven Into Us | May 21

Sermon by Jake Blair on May 21, 2023.

Last week we talked about the mortification of sin. This week in Colossians 3:12-17, Paul talks about vivification, learning to become people of forgiveness, love, and gratitude. This sounds like a great idea, but what does it look like to become these people in the day-to-day trenches of life?

Here is a corrected version of the graph shown in the sermon video.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 6

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“What Jesus Meant by Eternal Life” by The Bible Project (6 minutes) The call to “put on” Christ is a call to step more and more into the abundant life Jesus makes us available to us now. The Bible Project unpacks this more.

“What Happens When We Sing?” by Desiring God (1 hour) In Colossians 3, one way in which we let the “word of Christ dwell in us richly” is through singing together. In this sermon, John Piper presses into this idea and why singing is a crucial practice in our formation to Jesus.

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“Gloria Furman on Eternal Outlook for Everyday Life” by The Gospel Coalition (49 minutes) ”Whatever you feel defines you, look at this in light of what you read in Colossians—that this life is not all there is. You know that. We all know that. God has put eternity in man’s heart. But we have to do the hard work of remembering that our life is hidden with Christ in God.”

“Matt Chandler on Worship” by The Gospel Coalition (48 minutes) In this sermon given to an audience of worship pastors, Matt Chandler speaks on the importance of worship in our lives.

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Following Jesus Together - We created a website on spiritual practices to help us further “put on” Christ. Here you’ll find blogs and videos on how to abide with Jesus, confess sin, fast, and more.

“Living Together When Christ is All” by Desiring God (26 minutes)

Colossians | Put Off | May 14

Sermon by Tim Olson on May 14, 2023.

Last week we discussed the cultural pressures facing the church. In Colossians 3:1-11, Paul instructs them to “put off” their old way of life, to “kill sin before it kills them.” So what sin lingers in our lives so we can put it to death and walk in the light?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 5

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“The Glory of Christ and Racial Unity” from Desiring God (45 minutes) What does Jesus’ death and resurrection have to do with racial unity? A lot actually. Here, John Piper unpacks how because of Jesus’ work, He is drawing all people to Himself.

LISTEN

“Saved From God’s Wrath” from The Bible Project (56 minutes) The Bible Project not only is the top-tier video resource, their podcasts are also pretty solid too. In this one, the gang covers how to think about the atonement.

“The Light Beyond the Light” from Desiring God (4 minutes) I love that title! In this quick podcast, John Piper unpacks what it means to be seated with Christ.

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“The Incomparable Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (20 minutes) Once again, Dr. Ligon Duncan, president of RTS, teaches through the book of Colossians.

BONUS VIDEO

A couple of years ago, most of us learned to be pros at Zoom. The key phrase here is, “most of us.”

Colossians | Hold Fast to Christ, the Head | May 7

Sermon by Adam Gibson on May 7, 2023.

In Colossians 2:8-23, we learn of some cultural pressures facing the church and threatening to distort and destroy their faith. So as a church, some 2,000 years removed from the church in Colossae, what cultural pressures do we face?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 4

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“Spiritual Beings series” from The Bible Project (about 5 minutes per video) When Paul mentions “elemental spirits” in Colossians 2:20, he doesn’t really believe evil spirits exist…right? In this video series, The Bible Project brings up an important concept that serves as a helpful biblical backdrop.

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“What is Baptism and How Important Is it?” from Desiring God (45 minutes) Baptism is a central part of Paul’s argument in this passage - so how are we to think about baptism biblically? John Piper got you.

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“How Do Baptism and Circumcision Correspond?” from Desiring God (46 minutes) Also central to Paul’s argument in the passage is the connection between circumcision and baptism. So….what’s that about? Once again, John Piper on the mic!

The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser If that Bible Project video series whet your appetite, then check out the book that inspired it (outside the Bible, of course). This book teeters on the intellectual side, so Heiser also released a non-academic version of the book too called Supernatural. Either book is well worth your time.

Colossians | Mature in Christ | April 30

Sermon by Michael Bailey on April 30, 2023.

Last week we discussed the vision of Heaven and Earth meeting in Jesus and the Church. In Colossians 1:24-2:7, Paul pivots into what this means for our maturity. How do we grow into being these sorts of people who look like Jesus?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 3

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“What Happens When We Die According to the Bible?” from The Bible Project (55 minutes) Last week’s text/idea was a big one, so to unpack a bit more on this concept, here’s more from Dr. Tim Mackie.

Kids Bible Devotional - Rooted in God | Colossians 2:6-7 from YoungHearts Ministries (5 minutes) Ok this is a little cheesy, but a great little video to teach kids about being “rooted in Christ.”

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“Guard Yourself with Gratitude” from Desiring God (35 minutes) This is a sermon of John Piper’s from 1985. So yeah, this is a throwback.

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Colossians and Philemon For You by Mark Meynell For those interested in Bible commentaries, the “For You” series is an accessible, concise set of commentaries that digs into different books of the Bible.

“The Incomparable Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (15 minutes) Dr. Ligon Duncan works through this passage in Colossians expositionally with his seminary students.

Colossians | All Things for All Time | April 23

Sermon by Jake Blair on April 23, 2023.

Last week we discussed the dangers facing the church in Colossae from being Jesus-centered. This week we look at Colossians 1:15-23, where Paul offers one of the most prominent theological snapshots of Jesus in the Bible. So what does this mean for us as we learn to be Jesus-centered?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 2

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“Heaven and Earth” from The Bible Project (7 minutes) Like we mentioned in the sermon, Heaven is more than just a place you go to when you die. As the video explains, the emphasis of the Bible is that Heaven is a reality you can experience through Jesus now.

“Understanding God’s Identity in the Bible” from The Bible Project (8 minutes) Arguably one of the densest pieces of theology in the Bible, The Bible Project explains the concept of the Trinity.

LISTEN

“How Did God Reconcile All Things to Himself?” from Desiring God (14 minutes) John Piper dives more into Colossians 1:20 on his popular Ask Pastor John podcast series.

“The Son of God: Dr. Iron’s Trinitarian View of Jesus” from Trinities (50 minutes) This is a deep one - one of the premier Trinitarian theologians discusses the biblical view of the Trinity on a podcast devoted to talking solely about the Trinity. Meta.

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“He Holds All Things Together” from Desiring God (30 minutes) Both a sermon and a manuscript unpacking Colossians 1:15-20 from David Mathis, the executive editor at desiringGod.com.

“The Preeminence of Christ” from Reformed Theological Seminary (22 minutes) A seminary chapel message to an audience of mostly seminarians, Dr. Dusenbury unpacks Colossians 1:15-20.

Colossians | TexMex & Christianity | April 16

Sermon by Jake Blair on April 16, 2023.

A growing church. A bustling city. Cultural pressures threaten the way of Jesus - from religion to philosophy, to mysticism and politics. It’s here, around 60AD, that the apostle Paul, in prison, writes to this church. He offers a panoramic view of Jesus and how this bigger view changes how you view your life and reality itself.

As we study this book as we ask - what does the church in Colossae have to say to our church? What are the cultural pressures we face? And how does a bigger view of Jesus change how we view everything else?

RESOURCE ROUNDUP | WEEK 1

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“Book of Colossians Summary” from The Bible Project (9 minutes) For almost ten years, The Bible Project has released short explainer videos of every book of the Bible. This video provides a visual overview of what Colossians is all about.

“How to Read the New Testament Letters” from The Bible Project (6 minutes) Another one. Along with Bible book overviews, The Bible Project also has a series on how to read different genres of the Bible. This one centers around how to read New Testament Letters.

“Letter to the Colossians” by N.T. Wright (14 minutes) If you don’t know the name, N.T. Wright might be the GOAT in New Testament studies. Combining both the academic and pastoral, Wright provides the cultural landscape of Colossae, situated within the Roman Empire.

LISTEN

“Strength to Wait with Patience” from Desiring God (3 minutes) A devotional written by John Piper on Colossians 1:11 - is available both as an article and as a podcast episode.

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“Knowing the Bible: Colossians and Philemon” from The Gospel Coalition (over an hour) TGC released a free 12-week class on this book. Talk about a deep dive.

Stand-Alone | Easter 2023 | April 9

Sermon by Adam Gibson on April 9.

Our church family spent Easter Sunday together celebrating our Risen Savior! Baptism videos from the Easter Gathering and this weeks LifeGroup Guide can be found below.

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Baptism Stories

Wait Till I Get My Money Right | Can’t Buy Me Love | April 2

Sermon by Jake Blair on April 2, 2023.

As we finish this series, we look at the biblical concept of generosity. After all, it's through Jesus generously giving His life away that we're redeemed and brought into the family of God. Now, as recipients of His generosity, how can we, through our generosity, help bring in God's Kingdom, push back the darkness in our city, and make Columbia look a little more like Heaven?

WEEK 5 HOMEWORK

As an initial step for ongoing accountability, set aside time each month to assess where your money went for the month, tweak your budget as needed, and lock this time in as a monthly event on your calendar.

As you do an ongoing assessment, if you are spending more than you budgeting for in a specific area, what needs to change? For example, if you budget $100 for eating at restaurants and are spending $200, what do you need to stay on budget?

Here are some additional ideas for ongoing accountability and maintenance:

• Once a month (or more frequently if needed), use the assessment tool you went through in week 3 to determine where your money went for the month.

• If you need help staying on track during the month, consider pulling out cash at the beginning of the month for expenses that are the hardest for you to stay on track with. For example, if your restaurant budget is $100, get that out in cash at the beginning of the month. Once you have spent that money, you have no more money to eat at restaurants for that month.

• Another option is to make a note on your phone of your restaurant budget for that month. Decrease the amount each time you eat at a restaurant as a way to track as you go. This method can help you stay on budget for more variable expenses such as eating out, groceries, and gas.

• For additional accountability, ask for help from someone you love and trust. If you're spending money on unnecessary Amazon shopping and getting a package at your doorstep daily, ask someone for accountability. Accountability can look like asking a friend if they will check in on you monthly to see if you're spending more than you're planning to in a particular area. This step is significant for your good and the good of the person you're sharing with. Walk in the light with your finances and ask for help if you need it.

• Revisit your financial goals that you set in your week two homework as part of your monthly review. Are you making progress toward your goals? Have you accomplished any of them? As you accomplish goals, make adjustments and start new goals as needed.

Wait Till I Get My Money Right | Working 9-5 (What a Way to Make a Living) | March 26

Sermon by Adam Gibson on March 26, 2023.

Last week we learned about the biblical vision behind our resources. Now, how does this help us shape our view of work? What are God’s purposes for you in your job? What does Jesus have to say in your 9-5, even when your job is less than ideal?

WEEK 4 HOMEWORK

This week you will be working on creating a budget. We have created a spreadsheet for you to create your budget. To access the spreadsheet:

1. Click the link below.

2. Once you open the link, click ‘File’ and ‘Make a Copy’ in the top left corner of the spreadsheet to create your copy.

3. If you already use a different tool for budgeting, feel free to use that during this time.

Step 1: Enter your monthly income

First, you will enter your monthly income. You only need to input numbers into the green cells in the file. As a reminder, if you have irregular income each month, you will need to figure out what your average monthly income is.

Step 2: Enter your monthly expenses

Below the income section, you will enter all your monthly expenses in the appropriate green cells. The cells in black will show you how much of your income you are putting towards a specific expense type. Feel free to change the names for the particular expense categories as it suits you.

As you budget, here are a few things to keep in mind. The Net number at the top of the spreadsheet must equal zero. If not, you are not finished. The goal is to allocate every dollar you are planning to receive for the coming month.

Next, always start with generosity. Scripture calls us to give our first fruits and our best to God. Start your budget with generosity and flow out from there. Finally, plan to meet your five basic needs first. Those are housing, utilities, food, transportation, and clothing.

Step 3: Budget using your financial goals

Once you have planned for these in your budget, use your financial goals from week 2 to help guide you. Do you need to save your first $1,000 or fully fund your emergency savings? Make that a priority. In the budget, there are lines for savings goals. Input what you can save each month to reach your goal. Even though you won’t be spending this money now, remember you are allocating every dollar in your budget to get your net to zero.

If you have emergency savings, are you trying to pay off any non-mortgage debt? After you meet your basic needs and have saved for an emergency, figure out how much you can put toward paying off your debts. Can you pay more than your minimum payments to get out of debt quicker? Is there spending happening beyond your basic needs that you can cut or trim down to help you achieve your financial goals?

Wait Till I Get My Money Right | It’s All About the Benjamins | March 19

Sermon by Jake Blair on March 19, 2023.

So far, in Luke 12, Jesus warns us to be on guard against greed and worry when it comes to possessions. That said, what is the purpose of our material resources? Why does God give us money and things? How do we be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us?

WEEK 3 HOMEWORK

To assess your monthly spending, we have created a spreadsheet for you to enter all your expenses from the previous month. To access the spreadsheet, click the link below. Once you open the link, click ‘File’ and ‘Make a Copy’ in the top left corner of the spreadsheet.

Step 1: Enter your income

Your first step for using this spreadsheet will be to enter your income for the month in the very top left of the spreadsheet. Enter your total income for the month in the green cell. Only enter your total income. Not your total expenses. You will enter each individual expense in the next step, and it will be totaled automatically. If you have irregular income, your total income should be what you estimate your monthly income to be based on previous averages. It’s okay if it is more or less than what actually came in.

Step 2: Enter your expenses

Next, you will enter each expense you had for the month in the columns below. You will enter the date, who you paid, and the amount. You also need to select the type of expense that it was using the drop-down for each row. This will categorize all of your expenses in the pie chart to the right to help you see where your money went for the month.

If you did not spend all of your income and don’t allocate it to a savings account, add an expense line to categorize this as general savings. If you do allocate some of your money to a savings account, make sure to enter that as an expense even though you are not actually spending that money. That will help you see what percentage of your income you set aside for savings.

Step 3: Assess your spending

Once you have entered all your monthly spending and the total income and expense numbers match, look at the pie chart to the right. This chart shows you where your money went for the past month. Where is your money going most? Are you spending more than you make? How do these numbers line up with your financial goals that you set last week? Is there anything that needs to change? Are you spending more in certain areas than you would like to? Does your spending reveal how you look for satisfaction in temporary things rather than eternal things?

We encourage you to do this as an ongoing practice. The goal is to assess and reevaluate monthly. Next week for homework, you will take your financial goals from week two and the assessment from this week and work on creating or tweaking your budget as needed.

Wait Till I Get My Money Right | Mo' Money Mo' Problems | March 12

Sermon by Jake Blair on March 12, 2023.

In Luke 12, Jesus is aware that money can be a trap for us. Even if we’re not overtly pursuing wealth and possessions, money can quickly become a source of worry and frustration. So how do we think about money biblically and leverage what we have for the kingdom of God?

WEEK 2 HOMEWORK

Here are some goals for you to consider for your homework this week. You may have additional financial goals you want to set as well. If you are currently not practicing any or some of these goals, we encourage you to use them as a starting point.

Goal 1 - Start giving

Generosity is a step in trusting that God will provide for all you need as you seek to advance his kingdom first. Scripture calls us to start with generosity to God and then meet our basic needs. What our Midtown members commit to in our membership covenant is giving 10% of their income to Midtown as a baseline. If you are not currently tithing, start there as a first step in following Jesus with your finances. Then, give to other ministries and missionaries as you sense the Lord leading you. The goal is to start somewhere. Aim to increase your generosity from year to year.

Goal 2 - Save for an emergency fund

Financial emergencies happen to all of us. An initial great savings goal is to save $1,000 as a starter emergency fund. If you have $1,000 saved, the next goal would be to save three to six months of your basic living expenses. If you haven’t experienced an emergency yet, it will happen to you at some point. Your car might break down, and you have to replace it. You may have an unexpected hospital visit. You may lose your job or have a reduction in income. If emergencies are going to happen, you would be wise to save for them. Having money set aside for emergencies will help you avoid having to go into debt. 

Goal 3 - Make a budget

The next financial goal is to create and follow a budget. Proverbs 27:23 says, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.” The practical implications for you are to make a plan for your regular income, have a budget, and tell your money where to go. Know what’s coming in and know what’s going out. If you don’t, you will only wonder where it went. As managers of what is God’s, we want to tell money where to go rather than be mastered by it. In the coming week, we will have some homework time for you to put a budget in place if you don’t already have one or make tweaks as needed if you do.

Goal 4 - Make a plan to pay off all debt(s) you have (except your home mortgage)

If you currently have bad financial debt, a great goal would be to create a plan to get out of debt as quickly as possible. This plan should only be done after you have at least $1,000 for an emergency starter fund. Bad debt would be credit card debt or debt on an asset depreciating. A home mortgage would not fall in this category as you are investing in an asset generally appreciating in value. If you’re unsure about what is meant here, ask someone in your Lifegroup that you know and trust regarding personal finances for their insight and wisdom.

Goal 5 - Save for future expenses

If you have money saved for emergencies, a working budget you stick with, and living debt-free, you will need to consider other goals. Plan ways to save for upcoming expenses such as retirement, a car, a college fund for your kid, or a vacation. That way, instead of going into debt later, you can save now to pay for future expenses. 

Goal 6 - Build up the church

Some of you are great examples and models for our church family in stewardship and generosity. You are exemplary in what you do, which is part of your giftedness. Consider ways to invest your wisdom and giftedness into your LifeGroup. How might you be a resource to others in your group that are just beginning to learn how to manage their finances? In addition, are there areas you can trim down to be even more generous? Consider ways Jesus invites you to live with less to invest even more courageously towards seeing his kingdom advance.

Wait Till I Get My Money Right | Cash Rules Everything Around Me (C.R.E.A.M.) | March 5

Sermon by Adam Gibson on March 5, 2023.

The Bible, and Jesus in particular, have an awful lot to say about money and resources. One commentator says there are over 2,000 references to material wealth in Scripture. Jesus spoke more about money than he did about faith and prayer combined. In fact, Jesus goes so far as to say that our approach to money is a primary indicator of the health of our hearts.

So how do we think and live well with our money? How can we learn from Scripture to get our financial house in order and, in the process, help our hearts to flourish in the Kingdom of God?

WEEK 1 HOMEWORK

Spend some time reflecting and journaling through the questions below. If you are married, then discuss these questions with your spouse.

• What is your financial story? How does your family treat money?

• Where have you experienced seasons of financial strength or hardship?

• What is your overall perspective and attitude towards money (Do you want more of it? Does it make you scared or nervous? Do you stress out because of it? Etc.)? 

• What purchases do you make to fill a perceived need in your life? Where are you tempted to overspend?

• Read Luke 12:15-21. What do you think it looks like to be rich toward God? If someone looked at your bank account, would they naturally conclude that you are rich toward God? Why or why not? 

• Read Luke 12:32-34. What does it mean to provide yourself with treasures in heaven? Where are you sacrificing potential treasures here on earth in order to send your treasure forward to heaven? How might you grow in generosity through this series?

• Are there any beliefs, attitudes, or actions you currently have regarding money that you know are unhealthy or sinful? Where do you hope to see your life grow in light of this series?

• This week, regularly ask God to remind you that your identity is found in him, with true security and significance

Upon This Rock | Forever and Ever, Amen | February 26

Sermon by Jake Blair on February 26, 2023.

Scripture does not tell us how Peter’s life ended, but we are told in John 21 by Jesus the kind of death Peter would die. Somebody would stretch out his arms, and he would be crucified just like his Lord for preaching the gospel. In the end, Peter lived what he told us in 1 Peter 5. His last act was an act of humbling himself before the Lord. As he suffered and died, he cast his anxieties on the one he knew cared for him. He knew that crucifixion was the way Jesus conquered Satan, so he was okay with facing the same fate and even facing execution through a wooden cross. He knew he wasn’t the only one. Other friends, disciples, and, most importantly, his Lord had already walked that path. What a beautiful example for us to follow. What a solid foundation for us to build our lives.

Upon This Rock | The Bad Won’t Last Forever | February 19

Sermon by Jake Blair on February 19, 2023.

In light of 1 Peter 5:10, suffering does not have the final word. Nothing bad lasts forever if you are in Christ. So what does it look like to remember this and rehearse our hopes?

Upon This Rock | Know You Are Not Alone | February 12

Sermon by Adam Gibson on February 12, 2023.

The second half of 1 Peter 5:9 reminds us we are not alone in our suffering. While the devil wants to isolate us in our pain, the good news is we belong to a vast family of Christians throughout the world who have faced the same struggles and more.

Upon This Rock | Resist Him, Firm in Your Faith | February 5

Sermon by Adam Gibson on February 5, 2023.

In 1 Peter 5:9, the call for us to resist Satan and stand firm means that, in Christ, we are not helpless against Satan, addiction, long-term sin patterns, or against anything. So what does that look like practically?

Upon This Rock | Watch Out for the Lion | January 29

Sermon by Adam Gibson on January 29, 2023.

In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re given some sobering news: a powerful, spiritual enemy seeks to destroy you. If we knew just how deceptive this enemy was, how would we live differently than we are now?

Upon This Rock | Cast All Your Anxieties on Him | January 22

Sermon by Jake Blair on January 22, 2023.

The second command Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is to “cast your anxieties on Him.” The invitation here is to put all of our cares into perspective, to hand them off to someone capable of sustaining you, even when the cares feel overwhelming.

Upon This Rock | Humble Yourselves | January 15

Sermon by Adam Gibson on January 15, 2023.

Peter's first command in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is "humble yourselves." Humility is the posture of not seeking to sinfully elevate yourself over others. This passage says that if you go in the direction of humility, that's the path of blessing, flourishing, and wholeness.