For the week of January 4, 2026
MONDAY
Day One: The Author and His Audience
Sermon Focus: Stand firm in God’s grace and peace…no matter what.
Truth: 1 Peter 1:1-2 says, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Point: For Peter, being an Apostle of Jesus is central to his identity. He was a chosen eyewitness to the Person, words, and works of Jesus, both before and after the resurrection, commissioned to spread the Gospel message. He’s writing to those who are elect – chosen by God to obtain salvation through Christ. God is always the first mover; salvation is by grace through faith alone, both of which are gifts we receive. Not only are the recipients of Peter’s letter elect, but they are also exiles who live throughout what is now modern-day Turkey. Ultimately, all of God’s children are exiles because they are actually citizens of heaven. So, no matter where they may be sojourning in this world, they are simply passing through as they make their way to the Celestial City of God in heaven.
Sermon Reflection: How might thinking of yourself as an elect exile – a pilgrim just passing through this foreign land enroute to your inheritance in the Kingdom of God that awaits – change the way you live your everyday, ordinary life?
Application: Sometime this week, drive to a local cemetery and take a 10-minute walk. As you do, think about your own identity and how you will be remembered – how is that dash between the dates of your birth and death being lived out? Be reminded that this world is not our home; we’re just passing through. Who can you encourage today to make the most of the time that they’ve been given?
Kingdom Prayer Focus: We are moving the FM Kingdom Prayers into our Sticky Notes in 2026. So, in addition to your personal prayers of praise, gratitude, repentance, and petition, please also spend time in prayer over the following and any other main points that hit you in the Sticky Note today.
1. Thank God that He is the first mover in your life, that He chose you as one of His beloved children before the foundation of the world. Thank Him for assigning you to Four Mile, so that you can serve Him as part of His body.
2. Ask God to move mightily in the Tri-State Region and Beyond as His Holy Spirit works through the body of believers at Four Mile empowering us to Go Make Disciples of all nations, baptizing in the NAME of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching all that Jesus commanded. May we do so in the knowledge that Jesus is with us, even to the end of the age.
TUESDAY
Day Two: Foreknowledge
Sermon Focus: Stand firm in God’s grace and peace…no matter what.
Truth: 1 Peter 1:1-2 says, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Point: The elect exiles received their identity according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. In other words, it was according to the forethought of intention of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Think about that. Before He spoke creation into existence, God had already chosen to give the gift of salvation to His beloved children. Paul affirms the same thing in Ephesians 1: God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. So, it is God’s will, His forethought, to set aside a group of people for His own – the elect. Not by anything they did, but simply out of the abundance of His mercy and grace.
Sermon Reflection: Do you bristle at the doctrine of election? Or are you filled with humble gratitude?
Application: Today, choose someone to bless in a tangible way – could be someone you don’t even know (maybe paying the groceries of the person in line behind you) or it could be someone you know needs to extra encouragement. Whatever you do, let it be a reminder that God chooses His beloved children to bless with grace upon grace in Christ!
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
1. Pray that the identity of believers at FM (and across the invisible church) would become more and more deeply rooted in the Truth of what God’s Word teaches us – and that our lives would reflect that.
2. Praise God for His foreknowledge and pray that our gratitude and love for Him would abound as we come to understand just how abundant His mercy and grace to us in Christ is.
WEDNESDAY
Day Three: Sanctification of the Holy Spirit and For Obedience
Sermon Focus: Stand firm in God’s grace and peace…no matter what.
Truth: 1 Peter 1:1-2 says, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Point: The Holy Spirit of God is not a force or some mystical power. He is a person – the third person of the Trinty – and He indwells the elect. When people are born again, they receive the Holy Spirit who walks them hand-in-hand down that narrow well-lighted path that leads to and is a part of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit uses this pilgrimage through life to sanctify God’s beloved children, making them more Christ-like as He comforts, convicts, and counsels them to be obedient to Jesus. There it is again – obedience, the importance of our behavior. All throughout Scripture, we see the same thing repeated: the life of faith unfolds through both belief in Jesus and behavior that’s in step with His Word of Truth. How could we respond any differently to God’s abundant grace than with a life of humble obedience to Him?
Sermon Reflection: When you seek to obey God’s Word, is it more out of a sense of dutiful obligation or humble gratitude?
Application: There is no more important mission on the planet – we have been called and commanded to go and make disciples. Today, be obedient for the glory of God! Here’s a reminder of our pillars and just a few of the expressions we may choose to engage in:
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
1. Praise God for the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit who sanctifies and strengthens us to obey, always for our good and God’s glory.
2. Spend some time in repentance for the ways you have been disobedient to God’s Word and pray that God would grant you a deeper desire in 2026 to live a life of holiness and obedience.
THURSDAY
Day Four: Sprinkling With Christ’s Blood
Sermon Focus: Stand firm in God’s grace and peace…no matter what.
Truth: 1 Peter 1:1-2 says, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Point: As the writer of Hebrews tells us: there’s never been the forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. It’s why Jesus came – so that by dying in our place on that cross, we could be sprinkled by His blood, which washes away the sin of all those who place their faith in Him. It’s the only way we can be reconciled to the Father. It’s called being ‘justified’ or ‘made right’ before Almighty God. Not by anything we have done or could ever do, but by grace alone – by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf so that we could be sprinkled by His blood as an atonement for our sin.
Sermon Reflection: In what ways are you (still) trying to earn God’s forgiveness and justification? What lies at the root of any struggle you may have resting in the sufficiency of Christ’s blood alone?
Application: As you put on the armor of God today (Eph 6: 10-20), focus in on the breastplate of righteousness. Set an alarm 2 times today to remind yourself that you stand righteous before the Lord ONLY because you have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood, and not because of your own righteousness. Thank Him each time.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
1. For deep repentance (personally and corporately) over our arrogance, pride, and self-sufficiency.
2. For gratitude and humility to abound (personally and corporately) as we see more clearly how inexplicably wonderful and life-changing the blood of Christ has been, is, and will continue to be in our lives.
FRIDAY
Day Five: Grace and Peace
Sermon Focus: Stand firm in God’s grace and peace…no matter what.
Truth: 1 Peter 1:1-2 says, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Point: The saving power of the Triune God is on full display in Peter’s introduction. He’s writing to those who have been granted salvation. They have been saved – justified through the sprinkling of Christ’s blood. They are being saved – sanctified by the Spirit. And they will one day be saved – glorified in the presence of the Father who chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world. Peter’s desire is to see grace and peace multiplied to them. Grace – unmerited favor that leads to joy like no other. And peace – a oneness that leads to salvation because we know that no matter what challenges we may face in this life, we will one day enjoy eternal peaceful rest. “May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
Sermon Reflection: What are the tangible ways God’s grace and peace were multiplied to you in 2025? Do you believe that His grace and peace will continue to be multiplied to you in 2026, no matter what you may face?
Application: As you think back over all we’ve learned in the first two verses of 1 Peter this week, adore and praise our amazing God with this song today (King of Kings) and share it with someone else, as well!
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
1. Pray that FM (and all believers everywhere) would be strengthened to stand fast in God’s grace and peace, no matter what.
2. Pray specifically for those people you know who are facing particularly challenging circumstances – that as God’s grace and peace is multiplied to them that they would be sanctified for God’s glory.