Pastoral Thoughts on Election

A week ago we finished our study of the practical implications of the doctrine of election for those who suffer. Here is an excellent sermon by Pastor John about additional applications of the doctrine of election.

Sentence Diagram of 1 Peter 1:3-5

For those of you who enjoy parsing the Bible into sentence diagrams, here is my diagram of 1 Peter 1:3-5 (in Adobe format).

Or visit the Resources page for other diagrams.

How Does Election Help You in Suffering?

Here’s a video testimony of the preciousness of God’s sovereignty (and electing power) in the midst of suffering. I mentioned this to some of you after class.

What Kind of Free Will is Worth Having?

Here’s a link to the book chapter that I recommended this past week during our discussion of 1 Peter 1:3.  The chapter that is most helpful regarding “what is free will?” and “what kind does the Bible say we have?” is Chapter 3, written by Mark R. Talbot.

Missions Week

As part of missions-focus week, we have invited two missionaries to come and share their experiences with us for 10-15 minutes during our next two classes, October 14th and 21st.  We look foward to welcoming and hearing from them!

The Benefits of New Birth

This week at SixSixteen (10/7) we will look at 1 Peter 1:3-5. Though this passage is two sentences in the ESV, in Greek the sentence begins in verse 3 and continues for several more verses.

Here are a few questions I hope we will address:

Does “blessed” in verse 3 mean “happy” or “praise-worthy”?

What reason does Peter give for the Father causing us to be born again?

What is the difference between a “hope” and a “living hope”?

Did the Father cause us to be born again through the resurrection of Jesus or is the living hope empowered by the resurrection?

What is this inheritance that Peter says is kept for us?

Peter says that we are being guarded by faith.  Is this “guarding” to keep things out (like a fence to keep your neighbors out of your yard) or to keep things in (like a fence to keep your dog in your yard)?

If our salvation is “ready”, why must it wait “to be revealed”?