Desert Breeze Community Church

Who are we as a church? What is our purpose? These questions have never been more important to the church than now. In todays passage, Peter is going to clear these questions up for us, knowing that out of being comes doing. Our Identity gives direction. Peter gives the church several titles of honor that are used for Old Testament Israel.

What you believe about Christ and yourself settles right here. Are you hungry for God’s word and truth today?

Maturity isn’t age, appearance, achievement or academics. Maturity is an attitude like Christ (Phil2:5).

1John gives us three tests for genuine Christianity: Doctrinal test (1Jn5:1), Moral test (1Jn3:9) & Social test (1Jn4:7). It is possible to have both doctrinal accuracy & moral integrity and not be a loving person.

The basis for the process of finding wholeness in a broken world is being born again. When you are born again you…see the invisible…hear the inaudible…expect the impossible & experience joy inexpressible because you are finally alive to the empowering presence of the living God.

To the degree I am captivated by God’s holiness (He has no rivals or imperfections & is of infinite & eternal worth & value) is to the degree I’ll be holy (wholly God’s).

To the degree I am captivated by God’s holiness (He has no rivals or imperfections) is to the degree I’ll be holy (wholly God’s). Holiness is giving your life wholly to God…mind (head), emotions (heart) & will (hands).

God is holy means that He has no rivals or imperfections in all of His attributes. Holiness is giving your life wholly to God…mind (head), emotions (heart) & will (hands). To the degree I am captivated by God’s holiness is to the degree I’ll be wholly God’s.

In 1:1-12 Peter describes our great salvation. Wholeness is given to us as a gift, purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1:13-21 Peter tells us what the response to this great salvation should be.

It is one thing to know the gospel in your head & be able to articulate it accurately but it is altogether another when the truth of the gospel captivates your heart. The Gospel isn’t the ABC’s of the Christian faith but the A to Z of the Christian faith. Growth in Christ is never going beyond the gospel, but going deeper into the gospel

Because this world was made by a triune God, relationships of love are what life is really all about. The essence of Christianity isn’t rules, rituals or routines but about relationships.

Holiness (wholeness) and hardship are inextricably connected. Fiery trials don't have to make you bitter but can make you better. It's not what happens TO you but IN you that matters most. It’s your Biblical world view or lack thereof that makes you or breaks you.

Holiness and hardship are inextricably connected. Americans are the least prepared for hardship. Christians should be the most prepared. (Daniel 3:16-18)

We are here to celebrate that through the Crucifixion & Resurrection of our Savior we can have a changed life, a fullness of life, a life that most people only dream about. This brand new life is the foundation to finding wholeness in a broken world. How does this life change happen?

Those who know God never grow bored! Because there is always more of God to know, more adventure to be pursued, greater pleasure to be experienced!

James tells us that Elijah was a man with emotions like ours (James 5:17). Elijah had just experienced God in a powerful way but now finds himself disoriented and dry. The flame was flickering and he was not hearing God. Have you been there? Are you there now?

What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ? Full devotion = Fullness of life This audio includes the message as well as the baptism audio for all three weekend gatherings.

Jesus suffered not that we wouldn't suffer but that when we suffered we would suffer well!

There is a major difference between wrestling against God and wrestling with God. Wrestling against God wants nothing to do with God except for maybe as a means to an end. Wrestling with God is struggling to more fully embrace God and what He has for us. Progress in the Christian life always involves struggle & pain. No struggle & pain is too great if it brings us a greater capacity for the beauty and glory of Christ

A faith that has not been challenged by doubts is a naive faith that will be defenseless against tragedy & sneering skeptics. A dose of doubt can either strengthen or weaken your faith. The Bible neither condones nor condemns, but challenges our doubts.