Psalm 80 is a Psalm of lament. Many of the Psalms are. They teach us that we should be honest with our feelings. Even though we lament, we can still have hope that God is working. We can still have hope even in the midst of our grief.

There is this image within the Biblical text of Revelation that we should catch onto but because society changes, culture changes we probably don’t catch on to as much as we should. It is the image of this wedding banquet.

We are thinking about the idea of sitting around the table and the importance of that. Next week we will touch on what the Biblical text tells us about the big wedding feast we are all invited to but today we are going to look at a different important dinner.

This Psalm of lament and then a Psalm of reminder that God is our comfort and our provider and then Psalm 24 is a Psalm of praise. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty- he is the King of glory.

These upcoming weeks we are going to be looking at the significance of sharing a meal. We are going to look at the significance of the table and bread. As we look back through the Old Testament we read about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. As they wander in the desert they are given Manna. Later on in as God gives Moses instructions for the building of the Tabernacle he mentions this table that is to be built.

Peter facing execution wrote another letter emphasizing a few things and one of the first things he emphasizes is the Holy life we are called to live. He reminds them we have been given these building blocks, or starter kit, we should use it.

Peter is reminding the Christians in these Roman providences that they are a chosen people. They might seem like they are out of place. They might be facing persecution but no matter where they are, no matter what is going on around them they are still God’s chosen people and they still need to act like it.

In first Peter Peter reminds us of the verse from Leviticus “be Holy because I Am Holy”. But what is Holiness? What does it look like? Perfected Love.

In the midst of the story of Peter we run across this scene where an angel leads Peter out of prison. At the beginning of the chapter we read about the execution of James. Why was James martyred and Peter had a miracle? We don’t know. But we know God was with both of them and used both situations to His glory.

God moves in mysterious ways. Peter’s story about his vision and visit to Cornelius’ house showed that God wanted to break down barriers. God will move where God wants to move and no one will stop Him.

In Acts 5 the apostles were brought before the religious council once again and Peter again said you need to rethink what is going on. The angel had told them to speak to others about this New Life that they were called to live. The religious council felt threatened by what Peter was saying. Peter was calling them to live this life of worship and witness through the power of the Spirit.

Peter makes a passionate speech after Pentecost that lays out who Jesus was and why he was resurrected. He also points out even though we have this Spirit it isn’t just for us we are called to overflow this hope and restoration into our community. So even though this message was for the Israelites it is still for us today. We are still called to show hope, love, and that restoration is possible.

Peter makes a passionate speech after Pentecost that lays out who Jesus was and why he was resurrected. He also points out even though we have this Spirit it isn’t just for us we are called to overflow this hope and restoration into our community. So even though this message was for the Israelites it is still for us today. We are still called to show hope, love, and that restoration is possible.

After having his feet washed by Jesus, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times. When he sees what he has done he weeps bitterly. But the good news is that even after that Jesus shows his resurrected self to Peter and calls him to take care of the flock. No matter where we have come from or been if we repent God can and will still use us. There is no place that is too far for the grace of God.

Forgiveness is hard but we are called to forgive. It is a high cost of discipleship but Jesus makes it clear we are called to forgive.

Today we explore several key similarities between Daniel and Jesus.

Forgiveness is hard but we are called to forgive. It is a high cost of discipleship but Jesus makes it clear we are called to forgive.

The cost of discipleship is high. It costs our lives, our aspirations, we give our dreams, our lives to God for Him to use however He wants. There is no half in, half out!

As we’ve been following through the life of Peter in the Biblical text, we come across this scripture in Matthew 16 wherein Jesus declares Peter is the rock with which He will build His Church. The keys to the Kingdom is the Gospel message which Jesus charges the disciples to share. We must share that same Gospel message with our lives, a message of hope! And that’s the gospel truth!

In Matthew chapter 16 Jesus asks his disciples “who do you say I am?” Peter responds back you are the Messiah the son of the living God. That title carried a lot of weight and implications. The Jewish were questioning if maybe Jesus could be the Messiah but He didn’t look the way they thought He would. We are faced with the same question in our lives, who is Jesus to us? Eventually we have to answer that question.