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This Week's Messages

The Precious Promises of Peter — Part 3

September 6, 2026 · Pastor Brian Charles

MESSAGE SUMMARY

Continuing the "Precious Promises of Peter" series, Pastor Brian Charles goes deeper into the precious blood of Christ from 1 Peter 1:18-20 — believers aren't redeemed by silver, gold, tradition, or works, but by the blood of a spotless Lamb foreordained before the foundation of the world. He walks through specific places the blood was shed and what each purchased: in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat great drops of blood under the weight of mental and emotional pressure, so believers could apply that blood to their minds and take authority over intruding thoughts rather than let the enemy — pictured as the "Lord of the Flies" — torment them the way flies burrow into an unshepherded sheep's ears. Under the crown of thorns, Jesus redeemed believers from the curse on the ground (Genesis 3:17) and made them kings and priests (Revelation 1:5-6, 1 Peter 2:9) — a kingly anointing to exercise authority over darkness, and a priestly anointing to minister before God.

He shares personal testimonies of walking in that authority — demons recognizing him in an elevator and in a Tim Hortons parking lot after time spent "prayed up" — and reminds the church that identity isn't based on feelings but on what God says: "I am what God says I am, regardless of how I feel." Pastor Charles closes by pointing to Psalm 23 as a picture of present relationship with the Good Shepherd who restores the soul, then leads communion, tying 1 Corinthians 10:16 to the blood that unites believers to Christ and to one another, before an altar call inviting anyone watching to come to the Father the only way there is — through Jesus.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED

1 Peter 1:18-20 redeemed not by silver or gold but by the precious blood of Christ, foreordained before the foundation of the world
Revelation 12:11 the church overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony
Romans 8:6 to be carnally minded is death, but spiritually minded is life and peace
Psalm 23 the Lord as shepherd, present relationship, he restores the soul
Genesis 3:17 the ground cursed because of Adam's sin
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us
Revelation 1:5-6 Jesus washed us from our sins in his own blood and made us kings and priests unto God
1 Peter 2:9 a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people
1 Corinthians 6:17 he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit
Hebrews 10:21 having a high priest over the house of God
Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
Colossians 2:10 ye are complete in him
1 Corinthians 10:16 the cup of blessing and the bread as communion/participation in the blood and body of Christ
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 the Lord's Supper instituted "in remembrance of me"
John 14:2-3 in my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me

Last Week's Messages

The Precious Promises of Peter — Part 1

August 30, 2026 · Pastor Brian Charles

MESSAGE SUMMARY

Pastor Brian Charles opened a new series on 1 and 2 Peter, framed around the theme of God's "precious promises." He began by reading 1 Peter 1:1-5, explaining that believers are "the elect" — chosen by God, just as Israel was chosen, with the door of salvation for "the fullness of the Gentiles" still open today. He then gave extensive historical background on the world Peter wrote into: Roman persecution under Nero, especially after the fire of Rome in AD 64, when Christians were falsely blamed, tortured, dressed in animal skins to be killed by dogs, crucified, and burned alive as party entertainment. He drew a direct parallel to today, where he said the culture likewise calls good evil and evil good, and Christians face real, escalating hostility and even martyrdom worldwide. He explained that 1 Peter addresses suffering and social pressure from outside the church, while 2 Peter (written near Peter's own crucifixion) addresses false teaching and corruption from within.

The message then turned to Peter's own life and character — his boldness, his impulsiveness, and his three-fold denial of Christ. Using Matthew 16:13-20, he showed how Jesus built the church on the revelation of who Christ is, giving Peter "the keys of the kingdom." He recounted Peter's restoration after the resurrection (jumping out of the boat to reach Jesus on the shore) as proof that God pursues and restores those who fail, and that "your faith will keep you" even after a mistake. Weaving in personal stories, humor, and calls to unity (Psalm 133, 1 Corinthians 6:17), he closed by emphasizing that believers belong to Christ's kingdom above any earthly government, and ended with a salvation invitation through John 14:6.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED

1 Peter 1:1-5 read in full to open the series; establishes believers as "elect" with an incorruptible inheritance kept by God's power
2 Timothy 3:16-17 quoted to affirm that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, correction, and instruction
1 Peter 2:17 quoted ("fear God and honor the king") to explain how believers relate to earthly authority under persecution
Matthew 16:13-20 read in full; Peter's confession of Christ and Jesus' promise to build His church on that revelation, giving him the keys of the kingdom
Luke 22:31-32 paraphrased (Satan desiring to "sift" Peter like wheat; Jesus praying his faith would not fail); reference not stated by pastor
Romans 8:6 cited by reference ("to be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life") describing the mind's enmity with God
John 6:63 cited by reference ("the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life")
Psalm 133 read in full; the "precious ointment" of anointing and God commanding the blessing where believers dwell in unity
1 Corinthians 6:17 cited by reference ("he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit")
1 John 3:8 quoted ("for this purpose was the Son of God made manifest, that he might destroy the works of the devil"); reference not stated by pastor
The just shall live by faith quoted; reference not stated by pastor (Habakkuk 2:4 / Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11 / Hebrews 10:38)
Matthew 6:20 alluded to ("store up for yourself treasure in heaven"); reference not stated by pastor
Psalm 23:1 quoted near the close ("the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"); reference not stated by pastor
John 14:6 cited by reference in the closing invitation ("I am the way, the truth... no man comes to the Father but by me")

The Precious Promises of Peter — Part 2

September 2, 2026 · Pastor Brian Charles

MESSAGE SUMMARY

Continuing the "Precious Promises of Peter" series, Pastor Brian Charles picks up where Part 1 left off, developing Peter's character before turning to the first "precious" thing in 1 and 2 Peter: the precious blood of Christ. He revisits Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16), the giving of the keys of the kingdom and authority to bind and loose, and the believer's position of spiritual authority seated with Christ. He then traces Peter's collapse and restoration — Jesus' warning that Satan desired to sift him, Peter's three denials, and Jesus' threefold restoration and commission to "feed my sheep" — as the backdrop for Peter's own transformation after Pentecost, walking through his bold preaching in Acts 2 and the conversion of 3,000 souls.

From there the message moves into its central text, 1 Peter 1:18-20: believers were redeemed not with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious, foreordained blood of Christ. He unpacks why the blood becomes "precious" only once a person recognizes their lostness, and works through several specific things the blood accomplishes — it cannot be replaced by religious tradition, organizational membership, money, or good works; it purges the conscience of dead works (Hebrews 9:14); it breaks the power of sin and strongholds; and it silences the devil's accusations, since a pardoned person cannot be truthfully accused. He weaves in Peter's own restoration as proof that God works redemptively even through failure, tells a personal story about a Mexican pastor who chose forgiveness over retaliation after a church split, and closes with an extended personal illustration about angelic protection before an evangelistic appeal: salvation cannot be earned by status, education, looks, or works — only received through the blood of Jesus — followed by an invitation to pray, request prayer online, or come forward for prayer at the close of the service.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED

Matthew 16:13-19 Peter's confession of Christ, "upon this rock I will build my church," and the keys of the kingdom (retold, not cited by chapter/verse)
Psalm 100 God's truth "goes from generation to generation"
Ephesians 4:26-27 "neither give place to the devil" (pastor unsure of exact verse)
James 4:7 "submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you"
Acts 20 believers as "the blood-bought church of God" (chapter only)
Luke 22:31-34 Satan's desire to sift Peter, Jesus' intercession, Peter's boast, and the prediction of his denial
Acts 2:14-16 Peter's Pentecost sermon opening, tongues as fulfillment of Joel's prophecy
Acts 2:36 God made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ
Acts 2:37 the crowd "pricked in their heart," asking Peter what they should do
Acts 2:38 repent and be baptized for remission of sins, receive the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:41 about 3,000 souls saved and added to the church that day
Acts 2:42-43 the early church's devotion to doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer
1 Peter 1:18-20 central text; redeemed not by silver or gold but by the precious, foreordained blood of Christ
Revelation 12:11 believers overcoming Satan "by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony" (exact verse not stated)
Revelation 21 the devil ultimately cast into the fire
Hebrews 9:14 the blood of Christ purges the conscience of dead works
Galatians 4:4 "when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son"
Genesis 3:15 first messianic prophecy, said to run "all the way to Malachi"
Psalm 51:5 David: "I was brought forth in sin... did my mother conceive me" (verse not stated by pastor)
John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world" (verse not stated)
John 8:32 "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (verse not stated)
John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth... no man comes to the Father but by me" (verse not stated)
Hebrews 1:14 ministering spirits sent to minister to heirs of salvation, re: angels (verse not stated)