The Enduring Word

The Enduring Word
1 Peter 1:22–2:3
September 29, 2024

This morning we have heard the rest of the story about the translation of the Feni Bible.  We are aware of multiple other missions events in our church (Lebanon, Joyners, etc.).  Why do churches invest tens of thousands of dollars to send missionaries to people they don’t know?

• Why do people like the Joyners quit their job, pay a large amount of money to go to a year-long training across a border, and plan to spend their lives with people in a third-world country?
• Why do people like the Gibsons give up a career, take their family to PNG, and when after almost 10 years their work is rejected by those people, go back to another part of the country and invest two more decades in translating the Bible, again at the sacrifice of job, finances, and relationships?

Churches and people make those investments because of the compelling call of Christ on their lives, the power of the Gospel, and the hope and life that is found in the Scriptures. 

As we have recognized the dedication of the Feni Bible today and as we will come to the communion table, I want to draw your attention to one of the many passages of Scripture that exalts the Word of God as the revelation of God and the power and hope of the cross:  1 Peter 1:22ff.  This is a section to pray for the Feni people as you think about them, and for yourself as you read your Bible day-by-day.  We might summarize this passage by saying —

The Word of God is God’s perpetual message of hope and life.

It is by the Word of God that we understand the truth of Christ and His finished work on the cross.  And without this Word, we not only have no message, but we are hopeless.  In this passage, notice two truths about the Word of God (what it is and what it does) and three ways to respond to the Word of God.  

1. The Character of God’s Word — It’s Living! (1:23-24)
2. The Work of God’s Word — It Gives Life! (1:23a)
3. The Response to God’s Word (1:22; 2:1-3)

• Live Purely (1:22a; 2:1)
• Live Lovingly (1:22b)
• Live Longingly (2:2-3)

Download the rest of this sermon on 1 Peter 1:22–2:3.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.