Rev. Paul J. Miller

Holy? Who, Me?

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – March 8, 2026

“’Holy’, Who, Me?” – 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

What does “holy” mean?

Sacred, hallowed, set apart, wholeness

To be “holy” is not moral content, but positional intent.

What “holy” means

I am intentionally and purposefully setting myself apart from the ways, systems, and patterns of this world and following the way of Jesus.

HOLY IS THE PATH TO WHOLENESS

1)WHOLENESS BEGINS BY WAKING UP (v13-16)

- Ephesians 5:13-14

2) WHOLENESS RESPECTS THE BLOOD (v17-19)

• 1 John 1:7

3)WHOLENESS CONNECTS TO GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN (v20-21)

• Matthew 13:35 - Matthew 25:34             John 17:24       
• Romans 8:19-22 - Ephesians 1:4-5             Revelation 13:8
• Revelation 17:8

4)WHOLENESS PURIFIES THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE RULE OF LOVE (v22)

• Matthew 22:37-40

5)WHOLENESS BIRTHS US INTO THE ENDURING WORD (v23-25)

• John 3:3

What a Great Salvation!

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Notes – March 1, 2026

“What a Great Salvation!” - 1 Peter 1:1-12

BY HIS GRACE, WE ARE AT PEACE (v1-2)

• “God’s elect”? – The “elect” is the church worldwide
• “foreknowledge”? – God “chose” to rescue humanity

- Ephesians 1:4-6

• “sprinkled with his blood” – Exodus 24:8
• “Grace and peace” – Paul uses same greeting

BY HIS RESURRECTION, WE INHERIT SALVATION(v3-5)

• “great mercy” – Psalm 25:6
• “new birth” – John 3:3
• “living hope” – Romans 5:5
• “inheritance” – Colossians 3:23-24
• “shielded by God’s power” – Psalm 7:10

BY TRIAL, WE ARE REFINED(v6-7)

• “grief” and “trials” - James 1:2-3
• Trials are our refining fire - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

BY FAITH, WE ARE SAVED(v8-9)

• “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” – do you know this joy? - John 15:11,16:24, Acts 13:52, Phil. 2:1-2

BY THE SPIRIT, THE WORD COMES TO LIFE(v10-12)

• The prophets had “the Spirit of Christ” - Romans 8:9
• The OT prophets were serving US!
• “preached to you by the Holy Spirit” – Romans 10:8-10

Peter - Passion, Failure, & Faith

Peter is one of the most well-known figures of the New Testament. Leader to the core, his passionate impulses led to both his best and worst moments. Jesus groomed him so he'd be ready to lead the church at Pentecost. His personality traits are not uncommon to all leaders. What's important is that we submit to Christ's rebukes and guidance so we can lead more effectively. 

Renewal in Christ Requires Sincere Love

"Love must be sincere." If it's not, is it truly love? Renewal is a desire that we all have.  We want to change where change is needed. We want to reclaim the good we have lost or wandered away from. We want to recover and discover how best to live in this world. How to spread hope and to live at peace with others. None of this can happen without "sincere love". 

Chosen to Lay Down Their Treasures

The Magi from the east who came with gifts for the Christ child are mysterious as to their origin and purpose. Apparently, these learned "wise men" from a distant land discerned from the stars what the religious leaders in Jerusalem had no clue about. The long-awaited Messiah has finally come, and they were so moved by this news that they invested no small amount of time and expense to worship the Son of God. The treasures that we cherish should also be laid at the feet of Jesus. Come, let us adore Him! 

The Night Shepherds Became Angels

God could have chosen any person or persons on the planet to announce the coming of Christ into our world. He didn't choose the rich, the powerful, the advantaged, or the best educated. He chose humble shepherds. That night began as just like any another night; outside with the sheep doing what had done for countless generations. By morning, the lives of these shepherds would never be the same; and nor would the lives of all humanity..... 

Chosen to Carry Christ

The mother of Jesus didn’t ask for or seek out this incredible blessing. She was chosen by God for this, and she willingly submitted to His will. This surely upended whatever plans and dreams she had for her own life. It also had to be a great burden as she tried to explain her pregnancy to her own family and friends. (even Jospeh didn’t believe her, at first) The call of God in our lives is always good, but it’s never easy. We will always get some level of rejection or trial for carrying Christ within us.

The god of Othering

The vision of the judgement seat of God taught by Jesus in Matthew 25 reveals the need of acting upon what we claim to believe in. Faith that fails to transcend from thought to action is not faith at all. But when both are present, we can experience "life", eternal life. Eternity is both now and forever.  

The Idol of Convenience

Our tech-obsessed world wants everything as quickly and as easily as possible. Make it more convenient and it will sell. But there are no short-cuts to what matters most. The narrow path is the way to life - true life, the best life. That path always includes risk, sacrifice, and time. Convenience itself isn't wrong, but the way to life is not convenient. 

The god of Information

Information is more available than ever before. But what do we do with it? What is it doing to us? How do we discern what is good and what is true? Let's look to the scriptures and learn from the measureless God how best to discern our way through endless information.