But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6
Give us ears to hear
God calls us to live holy lives
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11
War is an ugly thing, and we continually live in the midst of a spiritual war until we die.
morning sermon, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 30, 2023
God calls us to live knowing He sees us
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:16-17
When I went to college, everyone wanted to know, “What is the will of God for my life?” as if God had hidden it, and you had to decipher it . . . . Wonder no more. Peter lays out God’s will for our lives right here, that you submit to authority, that you do what is right . . .
morning sermon, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 30, 2023
God calls us to live like Christ
When they hurled their insults at Jesus, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:23-25
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:30-32
Christ suffered for us . . . . We are not innocent victims. We have blood on our hands. . . . The injustice that Jesus experienced brought us life, brought us hope, brought us renewal in our relationship with God. Now we have a shepherd. We have a guardian of our souls. We have security . . . . When we suffer unjustly, we must never think we are above having to go through this. . . . . Jesus suffered injustice for you and for me.
morning sermon, Rev. Tim Rackley, July 30, 2023
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom