Crossway Christian Church

Calling Christian leaders "pastor" or "shepherd" has a long and rich biblical tradition. In calling our leaders shepherds, we both unite them with the Lord Jesus Christ and indicate the nature of their ministry. Shepherds are to serve the flock of God, both by feeding them in the word and tending to their well-being. When pastors fulfill their calling, they both model the goodness of the Lord and embody the redemption afforded in Christ.

Though we are tempted to flee in the face of earthly trials, we seek refuge and find our confidence in the Lord.

Today we conclude our study in the scriptural writings of the Apostle Peter. It has been evident Peter has a great love for his fellow believers. He is a contender for the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and he has sounded a loud and sure warning to believers to be on guard for false prophets and teachers. So, what does Peter do with his final words? Just say goodbye and say “see you soon!” No, he continues to equip the saints. He makes four points, I believe, as he closes. They are: Remember, Consider, Avoid and Pursue.

According to God's timing, Jesus Christ will return to judge the world. Therefore as His people, live godly lives.

Sermon Audio from Crossway Christian Church

This is how Paul ends what might be the greatest work of theology ever written. He shows us deep, rich theology is centered on Christ and is for the edification of his people. Specifically, his people gathered together as the Church. And it happens all to the glory of God.

Teaching matters.

Peter contends for the faith, a gospel message that is all the work of Jesus Christ and has backed up that truth with eyewitness accounts and the infallible Word of God.

Paul ends his teaching on the Christian life and begins sharing about his own ambitions for the gospel of Christ. What binds together these two sections of Romans 15 is the common concern they show for the partnership of God's people.

Peter continues to herald the truth of the glory of Christ in personal witness and prophetic word. This is a declaration of the certain truth and divine origin of the gospel of Christ.

God's sovereign calling and election of His people unto eternal life necessarily leads to lives of personal holiness and brotherly love.

In Christ, we have great freedom in many areas of our life. But that freedom should not be fought for at all costs. What we should see is this great truth: Christian fellowship is more important than Christian freedom.

As Christians, we have certain responsibilities that direct our lives. Rather than live aimlessly or selfishly, we are called to be God's people in the world. That entails certain duties and obligations in how we go about living our lives, not just in the church with one another but also in the world.

Here we see how to live out the Christian life in devotion. The kind of devotion that God's people should display. How to live out their faith before God.

We are reminded that Christians are exiles in this world. Here we look at a very important character quality required for the Christian life. It reminds us of our calling to honor Christ and to understand God's unending grace that is shown to us in every aspect of the Christian life.

Here we see the remnant of Israel, the Gentiles grafted in and the mystery of Israel's salvation.

God, in his wisdom and grace, has given the church servant leaders to shepherd his people, and has called the church to humbly submit to God-given authority.

This sermon is about a man who died and came back to life. Not just any man, but the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is not just an idea. Nor do we merely follow his teachings. It is essential for the Christian faith that Jesus was a real person who walked the earth. He had a public ministry and a public execution. But after that, he had a public resurrection. The entirety of the New Testament is written either by those who saw him alive after being crucified, or those who came to faith by their eyewitness testimony. Christianity is a religion rooted in history yet we also want to see that Christianity is a religion driven by preaching.

We look at Jesus' last day on earth as it leads Him to the cross and brings good news by faith alone.

From the first spread of the Gospel, there has been hostility, even violent opposition in many places brought about by: unbelieving Jews, local officials, whether by political purposes, or, because of false accusations from Gentiles whose profits from sin were threatened. Even if Peter did not have recent news of actual persecution currently being endured by Churches and Christians in a spread-out area, the Apostle would write as though some form of formal or informal persecution were possible.