Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

062. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 6: Resilience that Exceeds Words

1 Peter 1:6-9
 
“The Christian's joy is bound up with love to Jesus: its ground is faith; it is not therefore neither self-seeking or self-sufficient" [STEIGER]. Our salvation carries us through our suffering. So often how we come to know what is real is by going through these times of heaviness and hardship. That is when our faith is refined, being much more precious than gold that perishes. Our security must be found in Christ and not in our relationships, career, accomplishments, possessions, or anything else. None of that is lasting. We must rather look to things above and fix our gaze on our steadfast hope in God.

061. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 5: Assurance of Salvation Retake

1 Peter 1:5-7
 
As I have thought about last episode, I have come to change my definition of assurance of salvation, and I want to clarify how I think assurance is defined throughout Scripture. I hope this episode gives us a better understanding of assurance before we continue looking at our position in Christ. My hope is that this also challenges you to think deeply about these things. There is nothing more worthy of our meditation than the topic of salvation.

060. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 4: Assurance of Salvation

1 Peter 1:5-7
 
Caveat: some of my opinions and thoughts expressed in this episode change in the next episode.
 
There is an important difference between eternal security and assurance of salvation. Our eternal security is objective and rooted in God’s unchanging promises, but assurance of Salvation is subjective, depending on our feelings, and prone to change just as our emotions change. Even when we do not feel like it, God is keeping us, and He is ready to reveal us in glory for eternity. So even when we go through times of heaviness and intense trials, God is still in control and He is refining our faith in Him. That is how we can have joy. The key is to continue to have faith in God that He will keep us through the trial and into eternity. That ultimately is our hope.

059. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 3: Thank You, Jesus!

1 Peter 1:1-5
 
Peter starts out this magnificent book with a celebration of salvation from God “for you” (vs 4). This opening section is almost like a personal thank you note to the Lord for the abundant mercy whereby He has begotten us again. This is what our hope lies in, it is what our inheritance lies in, this is our salvation!

058. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 2: The Book of Peter

Introduction
 
We will cover a few more introductory facts before jumping into the first passage of this book next week. You won’t want to miss this background material to this fascinating general epistle! The three main goals of the author are (1) to inspire hope in the people of God, (2) to impart spiritual wisdom to God’s people, and (3) to instruct us in our daily lives. Starting into 1 Peter proper next week! Thanks for listening!

057. Our Living Hope | Studies in 1 Peter Part 1: The Biography of Peter

Introduction
 
Welcome to our new study in the general epistle of 1 Peter! Today we will begin by talking all things Peter and drawing some key lessons from his life as an apostle, contribution to the Scripture, and message to us. I’m so glad you are here, and I hope you make it a point to join us each week as we embark on this pursuit to understand the book of 1 Peter. I know you will be encouraged by what this book has to say!

056. The Most High Ruleth | Studies in Daniel Part 54: The Saved Shall Understand

Daniel 12:5-13
 
Season 1 Finale! Our study of Daniel concludes with a great encouragement about our future. We may not understand God’s plan in this life, but we will understand finally. There is coming a day ultimately when there will be no more mystery to the people of God, but we will know God and know His ways. Until then we study and seek after God and ask for wisdom, but on that day we shall know even as also we are known. What a glorious day that will be!
 
Tune in next week as we begin our next study in the book of 1 Peter! 

055. The Most High Ruleth | Studies in Daniel Part 53: The Tribulation and After

Daniel 12:1-4
 
As we close this final prophecy, we get a brief description of the coming tribulation when God puts the focus back on Israel. This passage also shows the eternal contrast between those who have eternal life and those who will suffer eternal judgment. These are vastly different futures. We need to awake to the realities of what is coming before it is too late.