1. “To My Fellow Resident Aliens” • 1st Peter 1:1-2
In this openign message for 1st Peter, Elder Bryce gives background information about the life and discipleship of Peter. This mixed life of faith and doubt serves as an encouragement to us when we wrestle with the same doubts and fears. We are strangers in this world but more importantly, we have been loved by God from all eternity and He cares for His elect.
This message was preached on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
2. “Doxology” • 1st Peter 1:3-5
Peter’s purpose in this letter is to encourage Christians to keep walking by faith even though they are suffering heavy persecution. Peter does this by reminding them of the foundation of their faith — the finished work of Jesus Christ. In this portion, Peter offers praises to God for the specific blessing of the new birth and the resulting hope from that regeneration. We can now earnestly look forward to the perfect inheritance reserved for us in heaven. And, in the meantime, we can remember that we are kept by the power of God and nothing will take us away from Him.
This message was preached on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
3. “Already, but Not Yet” • 1st Peter 1:6-9
The purpose of Peter’s letter is to encourage children of God to continue to walk by faith even though they live in a world that is constantly against them. The key to that stedfast walk is a proper perspective on suffering and trial. Rather than thinking that God has abandoned us, we need to realize that our Good Father is showing us there is more “self” that needs to be removed from our lives so that we are more like His Son, Jesus. If we are truly looking forward to the return of Jesus and our resurrection, then we can understand that the Father, through various trials, is preparing us to more perfectly praise the Son on His return.
This message was preached on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
4. “The Mystery Revealed” • 1st Peter 1:10-12
For over 4,000 years God hid all of the details of how salvation is accomplished. In types and shadows, God gave clues and hints how He saved, but never fully showed how it is done. Yet during all of that time, His elect were eternally saved just like His elect after the cross. This shows us that our understanding of the gospel is not the key to eternal salvation. But it does show what a precious gift we have been given in the gospel of the finished work of Jesus Christ. We can now know how God saves and have a more full assurance and hope of glory. What wonderful comfort this is for those who are strangers in this sin-cursed earth!
This message was preached on Sunday, December 14, 2025.