International Church of Bishkek
  • Home
  • Resources
    • Sermon Blog
    • ICB on YouTube
  • ICB Staff
  • Visit Us
  • Contact Us

September 30th, 2014

30/9/2014

0 Comments

 
In response to the news of our Great Salvation in the first 12 verses of this letter, Peter now turns to describe the only appropriate response to such Good News.  The overarching imperative in verse 13 is: 'set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming'.  Underneath this banner, Peter goes on to speak of 3 ways in which this hope is lived out in the life of one who truly believes - 1) Be Holy, because God is Holy; 2) Live in reverent fear, because of the very high cost of your salvation - the precious blood of Jesus; 3) Love each other deeply and incessantly, because of the enduring Word of God.  May we have ears to hear and hearts that are ready to respond to these challenges from Peter!
Listen below or right click here to download the file
0 Comments

"Understanding, Valuing and Celebrating our Great Salvation!" - 1 Peter 1:1-12

23/9/2014

0 Comments

 
The first order of business in Peter's desire to help us learn to live well as 'foreigners' in this world is a clear, unambiguous description of the great salvation that God has given to us as a gift.  The first 2 verses of the letter concisely affirms that we are 'chosen 1) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father; 2) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit; 3) to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood'.  In response to this 'Good News', Peter jumps into the body of the letter with a rousing song of praise - verses 3-12.  The key words for each section are: hope (3-5), joy (6-9) and revelation (10-12).  May we, in response to hearing this text understand our salvation more clearly, value it more highly, and celebrate it more fully!
Listen below or right click here to download the file
0 Comments

Beginning a New Study! "Living Well as Foreigners" - an overview of the letter of 1 Peter

16/9/2014

1 Comment

 
We are an International Church!  On a normal Sunday morning we have people from every continent in the world (excepting Antarctica!) joining us for worship.  How appropriate for us to carefully read this letter called '1 Peter' which is specifically addressed to a group of 'exiles' or 'foreigners' - people who are living in a land that is not their own.  Peter uses this language both literally and metaphorically - he is writing to people who were actually expatriates, but he also clearly uses that language to call ALL followers of Jesus to live in this world AS IF you are foreigners and strangers who are awaiting their final home.  Much of Peter's language then is to help us a) understand and celebrate our salvation and b) learn how to live well in this world as temporary citizens.  May our hearts be open to hear and respond to these very practical words from Peter!
Listen below or right click here to download the file
1 Comment

On Being a Gospel Community - 1 Thess. 5:12-28

9/9/2014

0 Comments

 
In drawing this letter to conclusion, Paul's primary concern is to issue a number of specific injunctions that will help the believers in Thessalonica to understand how they can live out their faith in Community so that they will become known as a Community that reflects that values of the Gospel.  We identify 3 sections: 1) Love and Respect your Leaders; 2) Live out your Faith Together - including 5 pastoral injunctions, 3 'all the time' practices and 5 instructions about being a Spirit-led community; and 3) Let God do His Work in You.  The strong reminder at the end of this letter is that we do not become pure and blameless in this world by trying harder; instead we become more like Jesus as we grow to love and honor Him more and more and allow Him to do the work of making us holy!  May this be our experience together!
Listen below or right click here to download the file
0 Comments

Live Fully by Living Expectantly - 1 Thess. 4:9-5:11

2/9/2014

0 Comments

 
In our text today Paul draws our attention forward to the physical return of Jesus to this earth.  He reminds us that is is an event which is absolutely certain and one which ought to dramatically affect they way in which we live now.   From the 3 sections of our text we draw 3 lessons:
  • Living expectantly means living responsibly in Community (4:9-12)
  • Living expectantly means learning to grieve well - with certain hope (4:13-18)
  • Living expectantly means being awake and sober - putting on faith and love as a breastplate and hope as a helmet (5:1-11)
Listen below or right click here to download the file
0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2023
    September 2022
    May 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    1 Peter
    1 Thessalonians
    Acts Ch. 13 To 28
    Acts Ch. 1 To 12
    Advent 2013
    Announcements
    Easter 2014
    Ephesians
    Fruit Of The Spirit
    Habits Of Prayer Jan2016
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Isaiah Series
    John
    John Part2
    Jonah
    Malachi
    Micah
    Psalms Of Ascents
    Psalms Summer 2016
    Psalms - Summer 2016
    Revelation
    SALUTATION
    Second Look
    Spiritual Disciplines
    Study Helps

    RSS Feed

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).
  • Home
  • Resources
    • Sermon Blog
    • ICB on YouTube
  • ICB Staff
  • Visit Us
  • Contact Us