We have two groups of people and neither are at peace, because they are either living in a sense of self-reliance, or a place of being constantly bombarded with a wave of despair. We as believers say we have the answer that will address both groups but in all honesty, we have failed at getting this answer to the world. The church is fractured and compromised. We have been so focused on ourselves and separating ourselves from the world and even those other believers who don’t align themselves to our way of doing things or our distinctives. We have become so determined to remain safely within our own group that we have forgotten our primary objective.

This now leads us to the leadership of the church. We have the exhortation for the body, but in order for the body to move forward in this charge, the leadership has to lead. This is where we pick up in 1 Peter chapter 5.

He didn’t tell us that when you get your life together, I will come for you, He came knowing that we are broken and cannot fix ourselves. So when we come together to celebrate, it’s not just tradition, but it is a joyful time of remembrance, when God came down to us to give us the only gift that matters. The gift of life for all who would believe. If you don’t know Jesus, I encourage you this evening to consider this wonderful gift that is presented to you. It’s yours for the taking if you receive it by faith. This is not an intellectual choice. This is a spiritual choice because God is Spirit and truth.