We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 40.
This is in the Scottish Psalter, page 259, Psalm 40, on the tune is Earshire.
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear.
We'll sing down to the end of the double, verse 5, to God's praise.
I waited for the Lord my God and patiently did bear.
At length to me he did incline my voice and cry to hear.
He took me from a fearful pit and from the mighty clay.
And on a rock he set my feet, establishing my way.
He put a new song in my mouth, our God to magnify.
Many shall see it and shall fear and on the Lord rely.
O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies.
O Lord my God, so many are.
The wonders Thou hast done.
Thy gracious thoughts to us were far above.
All thoughts are gone.
And no one can reckon them to thee if them declare.
And speak of them I would.
They more than can be numbered are.
Amen.
I will bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we do thank you that as we sing your praise,
it reminds us of all the many blessings and privileges that are ours.
Even as the psalmist says there that they are so many,
that they are so difficult even to number.
there are many beyond our comprehension
beyond all that we can imagine at times
the different ways and through the different means
that you bless us
we thank you for your word above all
for it is a word that gives us life
and tells us of the hope that there is in Christ Jesus
we thank you for your day
a blessing to us in the week where
we can be so many busy with so many other different things
but we thank you that there is this day
where we can come aside and come and worship you
and we thank you that even as we come in here today
it is that great desire that you put in our hearts
to meet with your people
but above all to meet with you
as our Lord and as our God
and so we pray your blessing on all that we do
that in the service here
and also in the creche and the tweenies
and the Sunday school
that you will be with us in all things
that you will help us to learn more of you
and to have a great hunger for you
to long for you to be Lord and God of all our lives
and to rule over us Lord as our King
and as one who knows all people so well
knowing every circumstance
knowing every trial and difficulty
knowing every reason for rejoicing that we all have
you know the great variety in our lives
you know us each by name
and we thank you Lord
for your great care and compassion towards us
and so we ask Lord that you will bless us
and be with us throughout this day
and each and every day
that we would know that Jesus is a great friend
who stays close to us
so Lord guide us in all we do
and pardon us for all we do are wrong as well
the many faults we have
and the many mistakes we make
we thank you that there is great forgiveness with you
and so we ask all things
in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
for his sake and glory
Amen
it's good to see many young ones here again today
and just want to say a few words to you
before you go out to the creche on the Sunday school
and the tweenies
what's the biggest or maybe the stupidest thing
you've ever done
has any of you made any mistakes
no
that's great
see if you were to ask me
if I have made any mistakes
or done any stupid things
it's not a question of
have I
but almost how many
mistakes and stupid things I've done
because I'm constantly doing
silly things
stupid things
and afterwards you think to yourself
why on earth did I do that
maybe it's something you've said
or maybe it's something you've done
and you just feel so stupid afterwards
and whoa
come on
why did I do that
and then if it stays with you
sometimes you can start to think
how am I going to make things right
how am I going to do things differently
what can I do
to change myself
or to make things right
sometimes it means
going to somebody
and apologizing for doing something
sometimes it means
trying to
mend the mistakes
that you've made
maybe you've broken something
you've done something
you shouldn't
you've stolen something
something like that
and you've got to try and make up for it
in different ways
but the reality is
every one of us does stupid things
every one of us makes mistakes
and today we're going to be starting a study
in a book of the Bible called
1 Peter
and if you know anything about Peter
or if you learn anything about Peter
you learn that he was someone
who made mistakes
mistakes
just like every one of us
even though he was a disciple of Jesus
someone who was very close to Jesus
he still made mistakes
and so often he regretted
these mistakes
but the great thing that he knew
was that there was someone
to make right
the mistakes that he had made
he didn't have to make up for it himself
he looked to Jesus
who was able to right
all his wrongs
and that's what we are reminded of
as we go through
the book of Peter
there are times
when we will make mistakes
but there is someone
who will make up
for all of our mistakes
so how can you fix mistakes
well
got a little tool here
now you won't all be able to see it
it's a tiny little tool
now after the service is finished
when I go back through
to the hall
maybe if you're still in the Sunday school
or creche
ask me to see this tool
and I'll show you what it is
it's a little tool
that helps me fix
some of the mistakes I made
because it's got lots of little gadgets on it
and I love
I always take this when I'm fishing
because when I'm fishing
things often go wrong
line gets in a tangle
something breaks
and this little tool
comes in so handy
it's got a pair of pliers
it's got a little screwdriver
it's got a knife
all in this tiny little tool
that fits neatly
in your pocket
so it's easy to carry around
you can fix
so many mistakes
with this thing
so ask me
when I go through to the hall
to see this
and I'll show you more about it
but what it reminds us of
is that we have someone
we can take with us
anywhere too
just like I can take that tool
with me anywhere
and it helps me fix mistakes
we have someone
who we can take with us always
and that is Jesus
and no matter what mistake
we've got done
or what fault we've got
Jesus is able to fix it for us
and as we put our trust in him
as Peter put his trust in him
he knew that he was with him always
and there to help him
through every mistake
that he made
so we can take Jesus with us everywhere
every day of our lives
and he is the one
who is able to mend
all our faults
and all our mistakes
all the stupid things
that we do
day by day
he is able
to fix them
so may we come
and put our trust
in him
we're going to share
the Lord's prayer together
now
we'll say the Lord's prayer
our Father
which art in heaven
hallowed be thy name
thy kingdom come
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven
give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
for thine is the kingdom
the power and the glory
forever
Amen
well we again sing
to God's praise
this time in Psalm 77
let's sing Psalm's version
we're singing at verse 6
Psalm 77 at verse 6
to the tune Glencairn
throughout the watches of the night
my songs I call to mind
I ponder deeply
while my heart
an answer tried to find
we'll sing from verse 6
down to the verse 14
to God's praise
throughout the watches
of the night
my songs I call to mind
I ponder deeply
while my heart
an answer tried to find
forever will the Lord reject
and never show his grace
as he withdrawn
steadfast love
and turn from me
his face
for all time
has his promise
failed
his God
no longer
kind
has he
in his
great wrath
dismissed
compassion
from his
mind
then to my heart
there
care
this thought
on this
I will rely
rely
the years
of the
right
and of
hope
of him
is
most high
I will recall
the Lord's
great deeds
your words
of long ago
I'll meditate
on all your acts
your mighty days
I'll show
O God
most holy
are your ways
what God
comforts
within
you are the God
of miracles
who's power
the
God
of miracles
who's power
the
ancients
do
well can we turn together now and read in God's word in the New Testament the first letter of Peter 1st Peter reading in chapter 1 and we're going to read the whole of this chapter
chapter 1st Peter chapter 1 Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and for the sprinkling for sprinkling for sprinkling with his
his blood
may grace and peace be multiplied to you
blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great mercy he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power and are being guarded through
faith
though you have not seen him
you love him though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls
concerning the salvation the salvation the prophets who prophesied about the great about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully inquiring what person or time the spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories
it was revealed to him
it was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things into which angels longed to look
therefore preparing your minds for action and being sober minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
as obedient children
as obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance
but as he who was caught who has who called you is holy you also be holy in all your conduct
since it is written you shall be holy for I am holy and if you call on him as father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds conduct yourselves with fear through the
throughout the time of your exile knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot he has foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake who through him are
believers in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love love one another earnestly from a pure heart since you have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and abiding word of God for
all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass the grass withers and the flower falls but the word of the Lord remains forever and this word is the good news that was preached to you
amen amen and may God bless his word to us
well again call upon God in prayer let's bow our heads in the word of prayer
as we continue to worship you as our Lord and as our God this day as we have read in your word we thank you for your word
and how it stands and how it stands and remains forever a word that is good news a word that is preached a word that is proclaimed even here today and
proclaimed throughout the world today and every day there is this word of hope that goes out to so many
and yet as the Bible reminds us in the parable of the sower and the seed we recognize too how there are other things that distract us or snatch this word away from us
we pray today Lord that you will prepare our hearts to receive your word that it will be the good ground that the parable speaks of
that we would receive it with great joy and that it would bear much fruit in us and even in many around us and throughout the world
that there will be great rejoicing over sinners being saved that there will be great rejoicing over your church being built up
that there will be great rejoicing that throughout this world that you have made and the people that you have formed
that there will be people who will be responding in faith and receiving your word with gladness
so we thank you that that power and that salvation is not of ourselves it belongs to you
and we pray that we will be able to rejoice in that that we can call upon you as our God and Father in heaven
the one who is able to do so much more than we even ask or imagine
and so we pray that our confidence and our hope that will be placed in you today and always
that no matter the discouragements we see around us no matter the trials that we go through
that we would see that we are more precious to you than even gold that is tied in the fire
we thank you that we are of great value to you that we are precious in your sight
so precious Lord that you gave your own son who came to give his life
to give it as a ransom for many
that through his shed blood we can know the forgiveness of our sins
that all our faults all our mistakes can be wiped away and cleansed anew
as we come in through repentance and faith to you
we thank you Lord that you teach us
that you instruct us and that you guide us
we pray that we will know Lord you're leading your guiding day by day
that we will know Lord what it is to have prayers answered according to your own will
and you know as we sang before that we'll be able to wait with patience upon you
so often we may become frustrated with our prayers
when we see them not answered in the way that we want them to be
we'd be praying for ourselves or praying for others
or praying for many situations we see around us in this world
and in our own land
we know the many difficulties and trials that people are going through
little health
those who are growing old and weary in this world
those who are suffering in many different ways
those who are experiencing times of tragedy and loss and grief
those who we see in different parts of the world
those who are experiencing war
famine
natural disasters
we know that our trials are many
that we pray Lord that you will give us the strength
to go on
the strength to look to Jesus
and to put our hope and our trust in him
and so we ask that your word will be blessed to us
that it will help us
even today and as we go on in this week
to encourage ourselves together
to discuss and to talk about the wonders of the good news
and the blessings that are ours in Christ
may you help us to fix our eyes on him
we pray for our communities
we pray for all around us
we pray for our schools and our young people
we ask your protection over them Lord
that you will instruct them in your ways
in their young years
we pray Lord for your spirit
to move among us
we pray for a day of revival in our midst
we pray to see Lord
your hand upon us for good
as a people
and as a nation
may you turn us back to yourself
that we will be able to rejoice in you
that we would see your goodness to us Lord
that as we
are commanded in your word
to return to you
and we have that great promise
that you will return to us
may we see churches flourishing
may we see your word
bearing much fruit
may we see a people
flocking to hear
the good news of Jesus Christ
and be blessed
by those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
we pray for our leaders
and all who rule over us
and we pray for them to have wisdom
to have guidance
to have a concern
not just for themselves
but for all our people
for all our lands
throughout the world
that we would see a day of great turning
a day of great peace
a day of great blessing
something that seems so far from our eyes
at this time
but yet we look to you
as the one who is able
so Lord may you guard us
today and always
may you keep us
in the hollow of your hands
may you uphold us
and strengthen us
in every situation we are
and may we know
your blessing upon us
we ask it all
with the forgiveness
of our sins
the many faults
that we have
we thank you
that you are able
to cleanse
and so we come before you
humbly
bowing our neem
bowing our heads
and pleading with you
to have mercy upon us
and to do us good
for all we ask
we ask in the name of Jesus
our Lord and Saviour
for his sake and glory
Amen
We're going to sing again
to God's praise
in Psalm 138
in the Scottish Psalter
page 431
of the Psalm book
Psalm 138
We sing from verse 1
to verse 5
in the tune
of Winchester
Thee will I praise
with all my heart
I will sing praise
to Thee
before the gods
and worship will
toward Thy sanctuary
We'll sing from verse 1
to 5
to God's praise
Amen
We will I praise
with all my heart
I will sing praise
to Thee
before the gods
and worship will
toward Thy sanctuary
I will praise
Thy name
for Thy truth
and kindness
of Thy love
for Thou
Thy word
has magnified
all Thy
great name
above
Thy
didst me
answer
in the day
when I
to Thee
did cry
and
Thy
my
fainting
soul
with strength
did strengthen
inwardly
all kings
upon
the earth
shall
give
praise
O Lord
when
as
they
from
Thy
mouth
shall
hear
thy
true
and
faithful
word
yea
in
the
righteous
ways
of
God
with
gladness
they
shall
sing
for
great
the
glory
of
the
Lord
who
doth
forever
reign
so we're
going to
begin a
study in
this letter
of Peter
first Peter
today
and in
going through
it I would
encourage you
to take your
own time to
read through
this letter
to see what
it has to
say to you
personally
I would
encourage you
to talk
about it
with others
around you
as well
because it
does raise
many issues
that we
face
today
many issues
of our
heart
many issues
about faith
many issues
about the
things that
go on
around us
in the
world
so it's
worth
pondering
and spending
time in
your own
study
reading it
through and
seeing what
it has to
say but
there may
be many
questions
that it
raises in
your heart
as well
many answers
that you're
searching for
and you
maybe don't
understand
exactly what
it's saying
so it's
good for
us to
talk about
it with
one another
and especially
if you have
any particular
questions you'd
like to ask
of me
there may be
questions that
and the things
I raise
or the things
that we're
looking at
that you
might have
well please
do ask
if you have
any questions
that we may
arise through
our study
in this
letter
we're going
to begin
today with
just an
introduction
to the
letter
setting the
scene
if you like
and our
focus is going
to be on
the first
couple of
verses
of this
the opening
verses of
this letter
verse 1
and 2
we can just
read that
again
1 Peter
chapter 1
at verse 1
Peter
an apostle
of Jesus
Christ
to those
who are
elect
exiles
of the
dispersion
in Pontus
Galatia
Cappadocia
Asia
Bithynia
according
to the
foreknowledge
of God
the Father
in the
sanctification
of the
spirit
for obedience
to Jesus
Christ
and for
sprinkling
with his
blood
may grace
and peace
be multiplied
to you
from the
outset of
this letter
there is
something we
have to
remember
that this
is a
very
personal
letter
a handwritten
letter
that Peter
spent time
through
God's
spirit
preparing
to send
to a
people
who as
we see
have been
scattered
around
many
different
parts
he has
taken
his time
to
prepare
this
letter
to make
sure
it gets
sent
to them
and that
there is
so much
in it
that he is
praying
over
that will
encourage
and build
them up
letters
are indeed
very
personal
things
especially
when they
are handwritten
there is
always
something
behind
them
there is
almost
always
something
that will
make you
consider it
more deeply
when someone
has taken
the time
to write
some words
to you
in many
different
kinds
of
situations
I am
sure
you have
all
experienced
receiving
cards
and letters
maybe
in times
of
difficulty
times
of
grief
times
of
sorrow
but also
in times
of
great
joy
maybe
a birth
or a
wedding
it may
be
a sadness
in the
family
and people
have taken
time
to write
kind
words
to you
and they
mean
so much
I still
have kept
many
letters
I used
to receive
when I
was working
away
at sea
people
taking
their
time
to let
me
know
what was
happening
in their
lives
or back
home
and just
taking
that time
to send
some news
to me
and they
meant so
much
and still
do
even when
I go
back
and read
them again
we also
have
letters
in our
family
that were
written
many years
ago
we have
letters
that my
great uncle
wrote to
my grandfather
during the
second world
war
my great
uncle
was lost
during that
war
and therefore
these letters
have so much
more meaning
behind them
the stories
that he was
telling
the things
that he
was saying
they're very
moving to
read these
kinds of
letters
and you
imagine to
yourself
the people
who Peter
was writing
to
and as we're
going to see
the situation
that they were
in the
experiences
and the
trials that
they were
going through
and to
receive this
letter
written by
Peter
with these
wonderful
words to
them
how precious
this letter
was to
them
that they
were remembered
in their
trials
not just
by Peter
but more
so by
God
this was
big news
to them
this was
precious
to them
and to
ourselves
today
it should
be precious
too
that this
is a word
of God
to us
a word
that still
speaks
into our
circumstances
today
letters
from the
past
can often
be put
on display
when they
have a
great meaning
behind them
and some
of them
can have
great value
and I'm not
sure if you
knew but
once there
was a
letter that
was sold
at auction
that reached
fetched a
price of
nearly four
million
pounds
it was a
letter that
was sold
back in
2013
and it
had been
written by
a man
called
Francis
Crick
back in
the year
1953
he had
written to
his son
Michael
and Francis
Crick had
been one
of the ones
involved
in the
discovery
of the
structure
and the
function
of DNA
it was a
momentous
time
a momentous
discovery
in the
history of
mankind
and he'd
written this
letter
seven pages
that he
said contained
the secret
of life
and Francis
Crick
described this
discovery
as something
beautiful
and this
letter fetched
four million
pounds
well before
us today
we have access
to a letter
of far more
worth
access to a
letter that's
priceless
even
and does
indeed contain
the real
secret
to life
not
DNA
but what
life is
through
the Lord
Jesus Christ
and what
he has
done
for us
the abundance
of life
that is
found in
him
and so as
we go
through this
letter we
want to
see just
how precious
this is
it is the
word of
God
to us
and today
as we set
the scene
for this
letter I
want us to
think of
three things
noting how
personal this
letter is
first of all
we're going to
think of the
one who wrote
the pastor
Peter
then we're going
to think of the
people that he's
writing to
and then thirdly
we're just going
to touch on the
purpose of it
and all of these
things will expand
on more as we go
through this
letter
the first thing
we want to see
is the pastor
behind the letter
Peter
look at the
opening verses
in this letter
Peter
an apostle
of Jesus
Christ
Peter
an apostle
of Jesus
Christ
now to
understand how
remarkable
these words
are we have to
remember
what Peter
himself
has come
through
Peter it says
here
an apostle
of Jesus
Christ
here Peter
is older
in his years
now
the impulsive
Peter
the Peter
who made
so many
mistakes
in the past
he has learned
through all his
experiences
he has learned
through many
trials himself
and here he is
writing
later on in his
life to encourage
people that no
matter what
circumstances
they are in
no matter what
mistakes
they have made
that there is
still hope
to be found
in Christ
Jesus
he has been
through the
highs and
lows
in life
but here he
is able to
speak of the
wonder of a
saviour who
is Jesus
Christ
and the
wonder that
he is able
to be a
servant
of his
saviour
Peter
is an
ordinary
man
who has
known
amazing
grace in
his life
from an
extraordinary
God
and that
is indeed
what everyone
who comes
to know
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
experiences
and that's
the hope
that every
one of us
has
that no
matter even
how far
we may be
away from
God
no matter
how much
we may
have forgotten
of him
no matter
how much
we may
feel we're
undeserving
of any
of his
mercy
that he
is able
to help
us
in our
time of
need
there is
so much
we could
see of
Peter's
past
that just
helps us
to understand
what he
is writing
here and
the reasons
that he
is writing
what he
says
but there
are three
things
I want to
highlight about
Peter as
we go into
this letter
three things
from his
past that
highlight to
us how we
know more
of him and
more of his
experiences
and how that
helps us to
understand
our own
situation
the first
thing we
know about
Peter is
that he
was far
from
perfect
he had
many faults
he made
many mistakes
he was
rash
and impulsive
so often
he was
saying things
he would
then regret
soon after
and who
of us
doesn't
do that
we all
make mistakes
for example
Peter
when Jesus
had just
told them
the disciples
that he was
going to
suffer and
die
Peter
it says
in Matthew
16
verse 22
he took
Jesus aside
and began
to rebuke
him saying
far be it
from you
Lord
this shall
never happen
to you
but he
turned
that's
Jesus
turned
and said
to Peter
get behind
me Satan
you are a
hindrance to
me
for you are
not setting
your mind
on the
things of
God
but the
things of
man
he was
impulsive
he said
the wrong
things
and Jesus
rebuked
him
and again
we've been
there
we've been
there
we've said
the wrong
things
Peter also
perhaps as
hard as time
was when
the Lord
was crucified
and when he
heard the
cock crow
and he
knew he
had denied
the Lord
how difficult
an experience
that was
for him
and you
read of it
in all
the Gospels
it's interesting
that Matthew
Mark
Luke and
John
all record
this incident
not everything
is always
recorded in
the four
Gospels
but this
is
and in
Luke's
account of
it in
chapter 22
verse 60
it says
immediately
while he
was still
speaking
that was
Peter still
speaking
the rooster
crowed
and the
Lord turned
and looked
at Peter
and Peter
remembered the
saying of the
Lord
how he had
said to him
before the
rooster crows
you will deny
me three
times
he denied
the Lord
three times
and imagine
how he felt
in that
moment
look at
what it
says
the Lord
turned
and looked
at Peter
the feeling
of
disappointment
the feeling
of letting
the Lord
down
isn't an
experience we
all go
through at
times
and just
think of
Peter
in that
situation
this is a
Peter
who is
writing
with such
a pastor's
heart
to a
people
who have
been
scattered
and who
are
suffering
but perhaps
the third
thing we
note about
Peter
that helps
us
to understand
what he's
why he is
writing with
such passion
is this
that he
knew the
restoration
of Christ
after the
resurrection
you have
the wonder
of and
beauty of
Jesus
restoring
Peter
and you
read about
it in
John 21
verse 17
and the
verses around
it when
Jesus asks
Peter three
times
do you
love me
and the
third time
he asks
him
it says
this
in John
21
verse 17
Jesus
said to
him the
third time
Simon
that's
Peter
son of
John
do you
love me
Peter
was
grieved
because he
said to
him the
third
time
do you
love me
and he
said to
him
Lord
you know
everything
you know
that I
love you
Jesus
said to
him
feed
my
sheep
Jesus
restored
him
despite
all his
mistakes
despite
all the
ways he
let the
Lord
down
Jesus
restored
him
and where
do we
find
Peter
now
in his
old age
he is
feeding
the
sheep
he is
feeding
the
lambs
he is
as it
says
here
Peter
an
apostle
of
Jesus
Christ
a
servant
of
Jesus
Christ
and that's
the wonder
of God's
grace
someone once
said
the way up
comes
by going
down
restoration
comes
after
trials
and Peter
could certainly
testify to
this
and in our
own lives
how many
experiences
we have
to go
through
and how
many
experiences
perhaps
is the
Lord
using
even
just
now
to help
us to
realize
to help
us to
see
our need
of him
and to
see the
wonder of
his grace
his restoring
gracious
love
for us
the Lord
uses
so many
different
ways to
remind us
that we
need him
there was a
man called
Oswald
Smith
back in
the year
1920
his great
ambition
was to
be a
missionary
for the
Lord
to be
sent into
the fields
of mission
throughout
the world
that was
his burning
desire
it had been
his prayer
for a long
time
and on this
day in 1920
he was standing
before the
board of a
mission
organization
they were
interviewing him
and asking
him questions
and finding
out more
about him
as to
the reasons
why he
would be
suitable
to be a
missionary
he went
through
that experience
he went
through that
day of
answering
and trying
to show
himself as
worthy
to be a
missionary
for the
Lord
but the
Lord had
other plans
and the
mission board
didn't accept
him
and he said
to the
Lord
afterwards
Lord
you know
I want
to be
a missionary
for you
will you
not open
a door
of service
to me
that door
had closed
but the
Lord laid
on his heart
something
different
he took
him in a
different
direction
he took
him on
a detour
and what
he ended
up doing
was Oswald
Smith
he prayed
to God
and God
gave him
another idea
another way
of serving
him
instead of
being a
missionary
he came
to form
a church
that would
become a
church
that would
send out
missionaries
and the
church that
he formed
in Canada
sent out
more
missionaries
than any
other
during that
period
God had
other plans
for him
and our
plans
they don't
always
work out
just like
Peter's
plans
Peter's
ideas
they didn't
always work
out the way
he wanted
to
but God
had a
greater
purpose
and God
used him
to his
glory
in serving
him
Peter
is an
apostle
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
a servant
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
a servant
who loved
the Lord
now the
question for
us as we
come to
this is
do you
love the
Lord
and do
you have
that openness
to be used
by God
to serve
God
in whatever
way that
he may
have planned
for you
to give
your whole
heart
to him
we will
not be an
apostle
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
but we
can all
be servants
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
we all
have our
faults
we all
have our
mistakes
in the
past
we all
have things
we've done
that we
may regret
but we
can all
know that
amazing
love of
God
that restores
us in
a right
relationship
with him
Jesus
asks us
always
do you
love me
just like
he'll ask
Peter
and if we
love him
we are to
do as he
commands
and we
may not
write letters
like this
that will be
recounted
throughout
churches
all over
the world
but we
can have
our own
ministry
our own
service
to God
here's
Peter
encouraging
a people
we can
all be
like that
to be
encouragers
so let's
learn about
Peter
and all
his faults
and see
that God
can use
each of
us
the second
thing we
see here
then
is the
people
that Peter
is writing
to
and you
note here
Peter's
ministry
Peter's
vision
of
ministry
is
towards
the
people
and there's
a powerful
lesson in
that to
ourselves
that our
ministry
and our
vision for
our church
should always
be for
a people
to serve
God with
a heart
for people
people within
these walls
but also
people out
with these
walls
people who
have been
scattered
far and
wide
people have
been
gone away
from God
in different
directions
but to
have a
vision to
gather
people to
hear the
good news
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ
what do we
see of the
people that
Peter is
writing to
here
three things
we see just
briefly about
them
first of all
we see
that they
are a
scattered
people
here he
speaks to
those who
are elect
exiles
of the
dispersion in
Pontus
Galatia
Cappadocia
Asia
Bithynia
they've been
scattered all
over the
place
and again
it takes
us to
Peter's
past
again as
well
Jesus
said to
him back
in the
gospel of
Matthew
chapter 26
verse 31
he said
Jesus said
to them
to the
disciples
you will
all fall
away
because of
me this
night
the night
of his
crucifixion
for it
is written
I will
strike the
shepherd
and the
sheep
of the
flock
will be
scattered
there was
a great
dispersion
of people
a great
scattering
of people
after
the
crucifixion
people were
scattered
far and
wide
as a
reminder
to ourselves
that to
this day
there are
people
scattered
throughout
our land
scattered
throughout
the world
and a
people who
need to
still hear
of the
wonder
of God's
grace
by
ourselves
we have
no desire
for God
we're on
the run
from God
so often
we run
in all
kinds of
different
directions
but the
wonder of it
is God
knows where
to find
us
and God
still speaks
to us
and here
as Peter
is writing
he is writing
to a people
who are
scattered
and a
people who
are to
know
that God
knows
and that's
what he's
saying to
us today
as well
we have
been
scattered
we have
been
flung
to all
corners
of the
world
and yet
God
knows
where we
are
and God
knows
what we
need
the second
thing we see
about the
people as we
see going
through this
letter is that
they were a
persecuted
people
the reason
that they
were scattered
was because
a great
persecution
arose
after the
crucifixion
of Jesus
they were
forced to
leave their
homeland
and found
themselves
scattered
because of
their belief
because of
their faith
in the
Lord Jesus
and continually
they were
subjected
to persecutions
and sufferings
things that
you and I
cannot imagine
and yet
things that
to this day
that people
suffer in
this world
people are
persecuted
for their
faith in
many places
throughout
this world
unimaginable
suffering
but we
will all
suffer in
different ways
for our
faith
we will
all have
battles
that we
have to
fight
we will
all have
valleys
that we
have to
go through
we will
all have
dark nights
we have
to endure
but in
the midst
of it
all as
Peter is
writing
here
we are
not to
lose
our
perspective
he is
writing
to our
people
to encourage
them
to look
to Jesus
and to
trust in
him and to
know that
he is with
us through
it all
that he
will never
leave us
that he
will never
forsake
us
and the
third thing
that we see
of the people
reminds us of
just how
precious
we are
to God
he's
writing to
our people
who are
a chosen
people
a people
chosen
by God
and something
we're going
to look at
more as we
go through
this letter
but it
says here
to those
who are
elect
exiles
of the
dispersion
through
according to
the foreknowledge
of God
the Father
they are a
people chosen
by God
they are a
people known
by God
so in the
midst of all
their trials
they are still
able to
rejoice
they are still
able to
rejoice
because he's
reminding them
that you are
God's chosen
people
that no matter
how much
you suffer
in this
world
you have
greater
to come
and the
word there
that reminds
us of
this is
that they
are
exiles
they are
exiles
of the
dispersion
and what
does that
word mean
it means
those who
are travelling
through
a strange
land
those who
are travelling
through a
place that
is not
their permanent
home
and that's
what Peter
is reminding
them of
here
he is reminding
them that
they're not
home yet
this world
is not
their home
there's a song
that says
this world
is not
my home
I'm just
a passing
through
and that's
the story
of the
Christian
we are
all
exiles
this is
not our
permanent
home
this is
not the
place
we will
remain
forever
one day
our journey
will end
and then
we will be
home
with the
Lord
if we
are putting
our trust
in him
he brings
us through
many different
directions
and paths
but he's
bringing us
on a journey
a journey
that he
is with
us
and a
journey
that
although
we suffer
and have
many other
different
things
it is still
a journey
of hope
a journey
where we are
learning more
of the grace
of the Lord
Jesus Christ
and that's
more of what
we want to
learn as we
go through
this letter
a man in his
old age
once said
this
contrary to
what might
be expected
I look back
on experiences
that at the
time seemed
especially hard
and painful
but I look
back on them
with a
particular
satisfaction
indeed he
says I
can say
with complete
truthfulness
that everything
I have learned
in my 75
years in
this world
everything that
has truly
enhanced and
enlightened my
experience has
been through
affliction
and not through
happiness
we learn
so much
more
through
affliction
but the
greatest thing
we want to
learn in
our affliction
is the hope
that there is
in Christ
the hope
that even
though we
are in
this world
it is not
our home
we are just
passing through
and passing
through to
a better
place
and so what
he says to
them here is
God knows
according to
the foreknowledge
of God
and yet he
says you
are a chosen
people
you are God's
people
and that's the
people we
want to belong
to and to be
part of
part of God's
elect
God's chosen
people and
that's what this
letter this good
news shows us
the way to be
part of God's
people that's
the third and
final thing we
want to take
from this the
purpose for
which Peter
is writing
when we receive
a handwritten
letter there's
always a reason
behind it
when you open
a card or a
letter you see
there that
someone has
taken time
to encourage
to give you a
word of
comfort
and it's no
different here
with Peter
there's purpose
behind writing
this letter
and there are
two main
purposes we
see as we
go through
it
one is
encouragement
the people
to be
encouraged
and the
second is
to be built
up in the
faith
to be
encouraged
and to be
built up
in the
faith
it's
wonderful
to be
remembered
by friends
and family
it's
wonderful
to receive
a word
that just
means that
someone has
taken the
time to
remember you
in your
time of
need
but how
precious it
is to
receive a
word from
God in
our time
of need
to be
remembered
by God
that God
has a word
for us
and that's
what we
have in
this letter
God is
speaking to
us
if a letter
written by
Francis Crick
on the
secret of
life found
in DNA
can be worth
four million
then how much
more is this
letter worth
a letter
that shows
his life
in Christ
it is
priceless
it reminds
us
of God's
love
towards
us
Jim
Packer
in his
book
the father
loves you
says this
grace
is God
drawing
sinners
closer
and closer
to him
how does
God
and grace
prosecute
this purpose
not by
shielding us
from assault
by the work
the flesh
and the devil
nor by
protecting us
from burdensome
and frustrating
circumstance
not by
shielding us
from troubles
created by
our own
temperament
and psychology
but rather
by exposing
us to all
these things
so as to
overwhelm us
with a sense
of our own
inadequacy
and to
drive us
to cling
more closely
to him
this is the
ultimate reason
from our
standpoint
why God
fills our
lives with
troubles
and perplexities
of one
sort
and another
it is to
ensure
that we
will all
learn
to hold
fast
to him
that is
why Peter
writes this
letter
that we
may learn
how to
hold fast
to him
in all
of our
experiences
and so as
we begin
to go into
this letter
may we go
into it
remembering
it is God's
word to
us today
God's word
from his
hand
a very
personal word
of encouragement
and a building
in faith
and may he
bless us
as we go
into his
word day
by day
as we take
from it
the great
encouragements
that are ours
the great
challenges
that are ours
but above all
the great
mercy and
grace
that is ours
through Christ
as he says
here
at the end
of verse 2
may grace
and peace
be multiplied
to you
well as we
go into
this letter
may grace
and peace
be multiplied
to us all
to know
a loving
God
who has
a gracious
word
for us
an ordinary
people
just like
Peter was
with all
his mistakes
but a new
great restoration
through the
love of
Christ
may we
know that
powerful
love
more and
more
for ourselves
let us
pray
our
father in
heaven
we do
thank you
that your
word
speaks
speaks so
personally
to us
for as a
word from
your own
hand
it's a
word
written
to each
of us
by name
for you
know us
in all
our
different
situations
just as
Peter
was known
to you
so
preciously
so are
we known
to you
we thank
you Lord
that you
speak
and ask
us
do we
love you
as we
should
we pray
Lord
that as we
see your
love for
us
that our
love for
you will
grow
and increase
all the
more
teach us
Lord
to live
by faith
in the
midst of
everything
that goes
on in
our
lives
to look
to you
and to
hold fast
to you
we ask
it all
in Jesus
name
Amen
we're going
to conclude
by singing
to God's
praise in
Psalm 138
once again
in the
Scottish
Psalter
page
432
Psalm
138
at verse
6
Though God
be high
yet he
respects
all those
that lowly
be
whereas
the proud
and lofty
ones
afar off
knoweth
he
the tune
is Warwick
and we'll
sing these
three verses
to God's
praise
O God
be high
yet he
respects
all those
that lowly
be
whereas
the proud
and lofty
ones
afar off
knoweth
he
though
I
in
midst
of
trouble
long
I
life
from
thee
shall
have
yet
my
foe's
wrath
thou
stretch
thine
hand
thy
right
hand
shall
be
saved
surely
that
which
concern
me
the
Lord
will
perfect
make
Lord
still
thy
mercy
last
do
not
thine
own
hands
are
forsake
after
the
benediction
I'll
go to
the
main
door
and
close
with
the
benediction
now may
grace
mercy
and peace
from
God
Father
Son
and
Holy
Spirit
rest
upon
and
abide
with
you
all
now
and
forever
more
amen
No
nothing
nor
glory
is
a
God
a
speaker
of