~~~~~~~ No 27 in the series - The Epistles of Peter. ~~~~~~~ **Considering 2 Peter 1:16-21** For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, .....We have also a more sure word of prophecy; .....holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. *1/ Peter and the Apostles made known the power the coming of our Lord. 2/ They were NOT following cunningly devised fables. 3/ They WERE eye witnesses. 4/ They point to a word more sure than visions.* **Sermon Summary:** The sermon establishes the absolute authority and reliability of Scripture by contrasting it with human fables and subjective visions. Drawing on 2 Peter 1, the message emphasizes that the apostles were eyewitnesses to Christ's majesty, particularly at the Transfiguration, rather than promoters of invented stories. It argues that while spiritual experiences like Paul's visions are significant, the written Word remains a more sure foundation for faith and doctrine. The preacher urges believers to treat the Bible as a divine light that exposes the darkness of the human heart and reveals Christ clearly. Ultimately, the text affirms that Scripture is God-breathed, historically verified, and sufficient for guiding the church without reliance on private interpretation or extra-biblical revelations.

What happened between the Testaments? Empires Rise and Fall. Alexander. Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabees. Hanukkah. Herod. Septuagint. Apocrypha. Synagogs. Dispersion. Pharisees. Sadducees. Scribes. Nature of "Testament". God's choosing of Israel is central.

FINAL OLD TESTAMENT AUDIO (Begun February-2025) Malachi's question and answer technique is classic! And Elijah (has come, is coming, both) ! NEXT TIME: Between the Testaments, 400 years of prophetic silence.

Zechariah: Nations will come against Jerusalem, and God will come against all nations! Jesus will be King over all the earth! Earth citizens will visit Him year-round. Malachi: Jacob and Esau compared.

Zechariah prophesies prosperity for Israel. He speaks of the triumphal entry and the Jerusalem reign all in one breath. And, he portrays a false shepherd, the fulfillment of whom is Judas and perhaps also antichrist.

He Knew This message and teaching centers on this truth: Jesus knows exactly what He is doing. John introduces us to the Christ, who is eternal God, the source of life, the giver of eternal life, the Light that darkness cannot overcome, and the Lamb who perfectly accomplished the Father's purpose. Because He is sovereign, sufficient, and faithful, we can trust Him even with the parts of life that seem unpleasant, thorny, confusing, or "undrinkable." The water turned to wine in John 2 becomes a beautiful picture of Christ's transforming power. Jesus took ordinary water from purification vessels and produced something unexpectedly excellent. In the same way, He can take the hard-to-swallow experiences of our lives—trouble, disappointment, weakness, failure, loss, and pain—and redeem them for His purposes. We may never call the painful circumstance itself good, but we can eventually testify, "God was good to me in it." He can turn trouble into testimony, scars into compassion, messes into messages, and weaknesses into platforms for His strength. Three questions help us recognize God's work in every season: Is He glorifying Himself through this? Is He conforming me to Jesus through this? Is He preparing what He is doing in me to benefit someone else? Romans 8 reminds us that the ultimate "good" God is working toward is conformity to the image of His Son. What He teaches us through suffering often becomes grace we can later share with another person walking through seasons of troubles and trials. John 1 then establishes who this Jesus really is. "In the beginning was the Word." Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. He is the eternal Word, God's perfect self-revelation, Creator

The Lord's Supper is not merely a church tradition or religious ritual. It is an act of worship instituted by Christ Himself to direct our attention to who He is, what He has accomplished, and what He has promised. In 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Paul explains why believers come to the Lord's Table. We come in obedience to Christ's command and to remember His sacrifice—the body He gave and the blood He shed for our salvation. Through His death, Christ satisfied God's wrath against our sin, justified us by His blood, cleanses us from sin, and ratified the new covenant, securing His people in an unbreakable relationship with God. At the Table, we also proclaim the Lord's death, declaring the gospel to believers and unbelievers alike, while anticipating Christ's return and the coming marriage supper of the Lamb. The Lord's Supper calls us to look back at Christ's work on the cross, recognize His work in us today, and look forward with hope to the day we will see Him face to face. The focus of the Table is entirely on Christ—what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised to do.

The sermon explains that the genealogy of Noah's sons is not merely a list of ancient names but a historical map showing the development of the nations and the unfolding of God's plan to bring salvation to the whole world. Through Japheth, Ham, and Shem, humanity spreads across the earth following Babel, with Japheth representing the Gentile nations, Ham's line producing many of Israel's idolatrous enemies, and Shem carrying forward the promised seed that eventually leads to Abraham and ultimately Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes that God's redemptive purpose was never confined to ethnic Israel; Israel served as the chosen means through which the Messiah and His blessing would come to all nations, culminating in Christ's Great Commission to disciple them. In contrast, Nimrod represents mankind's recurring attempt to establish greatness apart from God—building kingdoms, seeking a name for himself, and pursuing worldly power—while Scripture teaches that true significance is found in knowing Christ and making His name known. The sermon concludes by showing how the seventy nations of Genesis 10 ultimately anticipate a people made new in Christ: as Jesus sends out the seventy to proclaim His kingdom, the scattered nations begin to be gathered into one redeemed people, eventually becoming the innumerable multitude from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Dr. Curt D. Daniel

Theo Van Blerk - Jeremiah

Brandon Bernard