JESUS: THE CHOSEN & HONORED CORNERSTONE
06.20.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel, Cornerstone
1 Peter 2:6-8 •• [6] For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame. [7] So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected — this One has become the cornerstone, [8] and a stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
YOU ARE HOLY LIVING STONES OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES
06.13.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Living Stones, Holiness
1 Peter 2:1-5 •• [1] Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. [2] Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, [3] if you have tasted that the Lord is good. [4] As you come to Him, a living stone — rejected by people but chosen and honored by God — [5] you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER FERVENTLY
06.06.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Love
1 Peter 1:22-25 •• [22] Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, [23] because you have been born again — not of perishable seed but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God. [24] For "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, [25] but the word of the Lord endures forever." And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
A LIVING HOPE: JOY AND REJOICING IN THE MIDST OF GREAT AND VARIOUS TRIALS
05.16.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Living Hope, Various Trials
1 Peter 1:6-9 •• [6] You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials [7] so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
A LIVING HOPE: GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND OUR INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN
05.09.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Living Hope, Inheritance
1 Peter 1:3-5 •• [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead [4] and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. [5] You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER
05.02.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Identity
1 Peter 1:1-2 •• [1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen [2] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
GOSPEL ASSURANCE OF HIS EVERLASTING GOODNESS
04.18.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Victory
Romans 8:32 •• He did not even spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all. How will he not also with Him grant us everything?
IF GOD IS FOR US
04.11.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Victory
Romans 8:31 •• What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
JESUS SEEKS AND SAVES THE LOST
04.04.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel of Grace, Gospel Culture, Easter
Luke 19:1-10 •• [1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. [3] He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. [4] So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. [5] When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for Me to stay at your house.” [6] So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. [7] All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” [8] But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” [9] “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
AN UNLIKELY RESPONSE
03.21.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Persecution, Gospel Culture
Romans 12:14-21 •• [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. [16] Live in harmony with one another.Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. [18] If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. [20] But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. [21] Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
THE LOCAL CHURCH SHAPES MY CHRISTIANITY
03.07.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Church Membership, Discipleship
1 Corinthians 5
GIVING IS A MINISTRY OF GRACE
02.21.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, Sacrificial Giving
2 Corinthians 8:1-6 •• [1] We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: [2] During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. [3] I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, [4] they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, [5] and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. [6] So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.
THE HUMILITY OF JESUS
02.14.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, Humility
Philippians 2:5-11 •• [5] Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. [7] Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. [9] For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
THE REAL JESUS: TANGIBLE AND MAGNETIC
01.31.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, Light, Fellowship, Sin,
1 John 1:1-10 •• [1] What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — [2] that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — [3] what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. [4] We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. [5] This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. [6] If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. [7] If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
COURAGEOUSLY PERSISST IN PRAYER
01.24.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, Prayer
Colossians 4:2-6 •• [2] Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. [3] At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, [4] so that I may make it known as I should. [5] Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. [6] Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
FIND REST
01.17.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, The Church
Matthew 11:25-30 •• [25] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. [26] Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. [27] All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him. [28] “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
THE GOSPEL AND CULTURAL ELITISM
01.10.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, The Church
Galatians 2:11-21 •• [11] But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. [12] For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. [13] Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. [14] But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” [15] We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” [16] and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. [17] But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! [18] If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. [19] For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. [20] I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [21] I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
A HOPE FOR RESTORATION
01.03.2021 // Linus Nguyen
Topic: Gospel Culture, The Church
Psalm 85 •• [1] Lord, You showed favor to your land; You restored the fortunes of Jacob. [2] You forgave Your people’s guilt; You covered all their sin. Selah. [3] You withdrew all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger. [4] Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon Your displeasure with us. [5] Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong your anger for all generations? [6] Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You? [7] Show us Your faithful love, Lord, and give us Your salvation. [8] I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to His people, His faithful ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways. [9] His salvation is very near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land. [10] Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. [11] Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. [12] Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. [13] Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.