Archives for February 2017

A few weeks ago, we had the privilege of hearing a testimony from Brian Yang. Brian has been a member of our church since 2015 and had previously served as an undergroud church minister in South China for 14 years. What a joy to hear about the abundant grace that God has poured out on Brian's life. We are so grateful that he is a member at SGCL! Brian Yang Testimony fro...

This post is based on Jeff Purswell's sermon, What Hath God Wrought, given on February 19, 2017. The recipients of Peter's letter were suffering. Many had lost their homes and friends and were forced to live in poverty in a foreign land. What a difficult time for these Christians! Peter begins his book by calling these suffering saints to remember what God has wrought, ...

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon, Meet the Readers, given on February 12, 2017. As we prepare to study 1 Peter, CJ took this Sunday to introduce us to the original readers of the letter. The recipients were "elect exiles." When they came to know Christ, they became citizens of a different world. As such they were rejected and even persecuted by the citizens of ...

"In Greco-Roman eyes this person (a Gentile who had become a follower of Jesus) was rejecting the gods of the community and undermining the welfare of the city, and he had become antisocial ('a hater of humanity') and atheistic. The person was sometimes tolerated but also was often treated according to the local perception of their having become antisocial and thus a threa...

This post is based on CJ Mahaney's sermon, Meet the Author, given on Februrary 5, 2017. As we prepare to be ministered to by the apostle Peter, CJ began our series by introducing us to the author of the book. Getting to know the author peaks our interest and whets our appetite for what God is going to teach us through his words. Let's spend a few moments considering the...

Last week I had the privilege of revisiting some great books on prayer as I prepared for my message on Luke 11.1-13. Reading on this topic is a joyful reminder of the unspeakable privilege we have as the redeemed to call God, "Father." For me, reading on prayer is a necessary habit, as I tend to so quickly move away from an appropriate mindset of dependence upon God. Thes...

This post is based on Brian Chesemore's sermon, Praying the Word, given on January 29, 2017. In these amazing verses Jesus is asked to teach His disciples how to pray. His response is not just a prayer that we should recite word for word, but a model, teaching us the fundamentals of prayer. Through Jesus words, we learn that we should pray prayers sound in their biblical ...