The text for Pastor John's sermon this morning is First Peter,

Chapter 1, verses 1 through 5.

You can find that in a Pugh Bible on page 1438, 1st Peter, Chapter 1, 1st 1, 1st 1 through 5.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to those who reside as aliens scattered throughout Panches, Galatia,

Capidocia, Asia, and Bethinia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God

the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit,

that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood, may grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through

the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not

fade away reserved in heaven for you who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be

revealed in the last time.

May the Lord bless to us the preaching and reading of his word.

The goal of this sermon is set for us for me and for you here in the first phrase of verse three

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ

That's Peter's response now to what he said, what he's about to say. He's about

to say that God caused you to be born again. That God gave you a living hope. That God raised

Jesus from the dead, that God's keeping a great inheritance for you in heaven,

and he releases His heart response, Blessed, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of this message is that from

your hearts and my heart will leap out a blessing to God. In other words, worship is the goal of this message. Just as worship

was the goal of Peter's own exposition. He's about to talk about these great things that God has done for him and for those believers,

and he doesn't have to begin this way.

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