Rev. Paul J. Miller

The Tactics of Fear - 2 Peter 1:3-11 

Love and Prayer

Our Deepest Yearning

Joshua 2:1-24 & 6:15:25

1 Peter 5

God's will is “good, pleasing, and perfect” (Romans 12:2) Suffering will test you, but the “tests” don’t come from God (or from the will of God). Life will supply many tests and trials. It is God’s will that you respond to our suffering “according to His will.”

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

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 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. 

"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".