The Great Question | Pastor Kevin Taylor

In “True Worship,” based on 1 Peter 2:4–10, the central message is that understanding who Jesus is and who we are in Him should shape how we live our lives. Jesus is the cornerstone and sure foundation of our faith; those who trust in Him receive salvation, while those who reject Him stumble over Him. Through Christ, believers become living stones built into a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, a chosen people, and a holy nation, called to declare the goodness of God who brought them out of darkness and into His light. Because of this new identity and the mercy we have received, true worship is more than attending church, singing, or praying—it means offering our entire lives to God as living sacrifices. Our worship should be evident in everyday life through how we treat our families, serve others, work, build relationships, show humility, and respond to challenges. Ultimately, wherever we go, we are called to represent Christ and live in a way that honors Him

In “Chosen by God, Built for His Glory,” based on 1 Peter 2:4–10, the central message is that through Jesus Christ, believers are given a new identity and purpose as God’s people. Jesus is the living Stone and the cornerstone, the only sure foundation on which our faith and lives can be built. Those who trust in Him become living stones, joined together as a spiritual house and called to serve as a holy and royal priesthood. Peter describes believers as a chosen people, a holy nation, and God’s special possession—not because of their accomplishments or worthiness, but because of God’s grace and mercy through Christ. This identity brings both assurance and responsibility: we belong to God, have access to Him through Jesus, and are called to offer our lives in worship, obedience, generosity, and service. Having been brought out of darkness and into His wonderful light, we are called to proclaim God’s greatness through our words, actions, relationships, and everyday lives. Ultimately, we have not simply been saved from sin; we have been saved for a purpose—to live together as God’s people and make His glory known to the world.

The message “Grow Up in Your Salvation,” based on 1 Peter 2:1–3, teaches that spiritual maturity is an intentional part of the Christian life. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through our good works, but once we are born again, we are called to grow in our relationship with Him and live a life that reflects His holiness. Peter identifies five behaviors believers must put away: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, all of which stem from selfishness and a self-centered attitude. Instead, Christians are called to follow the example of Jesus, who demonstrated humility, servanthood, and love for others. Growing in salvation also requires craving pure spiritual nourishment through God's Word, worship, prayer, fellowship, serving, and giving. These practices do not earn salvation; rather, they help us mature in the faith and become more like Christ. Spiritual growth is a process, and we will stumble along the way, but we are not meant to grow alone. God uses the church and other believers to encourage, strengthen, and challenge us as we walk together in faith. Ultimately, because we have experienced the goodness and grace of the Lord, we are called to put aside our old selfish ways, remain connected to Christ and His people, and continually grow into the people God has called us to be

The message “Growing Up in Your Salvation,” based on 1 Peter 2:1–3, teaches that salvation is not about earning or maintaining our salvation through good works, but about intentionally growing in our relationship with God and developing spiritual maturity. Peter encourages believers to remove the relational cancers of deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and slander because these behaviors destroy relationships and prevent the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—from flourishing in our lives. Just as newborn babies crave their mother's milk for nourishment and growth, Christians must intentionally hunger for the pure spiritual nourishment found in God's Word and the teachings of Jesus. While physical maturity happens naturally with time, spiritual maturity requires a daily, intentional pursuit of Christ. As we draw closer to God, our desire for Him grows through relationship, prayer, worship, and studying Scripture. Ultimately, having tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord, we are called to cry out for Him, grow deeper in our faith, remove the things that hinder our spiritual growth, and live Spirit-filled lives that reflect His love and goodness.

1 Peter 1 teaches that holy living is not something we do to earn salvation, but rather a response to the salvation we have already received through Jesus Christ. Because we have been saved by grace, we are called to set our minds on spiritual truths, obey Christ’s teachings, practice spiritual discipline, and live with reverent fear and respect for God. Our actions matter because God will evaluate our works, but our obedience should flow from love and gratitude rather than an attempt to earn His favor. Through the precious blood of Jesus, we have been redeemed from our former way of life, demonstrating our immense value to God. This understanding should motivate us to live holy lives, not only for our own spiritual growth but also for the sake of others. Since every person is loved by God and has value in His eyes, we are called to love one another deeply, view people through Christ’s perspective, and serve as His ambassadors by sharing the message of reconciliation. Ultimately, the more we grow to reflect Jesus in our lives, the more effectively God can use us to accomplish His purposes.

1 Peter 1:17–25 teaches that believers should live with reverent fear, knowing that God judges everyone impartially and that our actions and motives matter to Him. We have been redeemed not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our salvation and reminds us of our immeasurable value to God. Because we have received His love and been born again through His living and enduring Word, we are called to love one another deeply and sincerely. Although our earthly lives and achievements are temporary, God’s Word and the spiritual life He has planted within us are imperishable. Our salvation is received through faith in Jesus, not earned through our works, and we can trust Him to continue transforming us to become more like Christ. Therefore, we should remain in faith, live righteously, love others, and trust God to complete the good work He has begun in us.

The message “A Call to Holy Living” teaches that holiness is not about earning salvation, following legalistic rules, or achieving perfection; rather, it is the natural response to the grace and salvation God has already given us. Peter calls believers to prepare their minds, exercise self-control, reject their former sinful ways, and live in a way that reflects the character of the holy God to whom they belong. Holiness begins with the mind and involves allowing God to transform our desires, attitudes, relationships, decisions, and actions. Through Christ, believers have been given a new identity and are no longer slaves to sin, although they will still experience struggles and failures. The goal is not sinless perfection but an increasingly Christlike direction through repentance, growth, discipline, and surrender. Grace does not give us permission to remain unchanged; instead, grace empowers us to live differently. Because we belong to Jesus, we are called to offer every part of our lives to Him—not because we need to earn His love or salvation, but because we get to experience the good things He produces in us, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Holy living ultimately means becoming who God has already declared us to be: His children, set apart for Him, and increasingly transformed to reflect His character.

The message teaches that salvation is received by grace through faith, not by works, but that grace is not a license to continue living in sin. Drawing from 1 Peter 1 and Romans 6, it explains that believers must first know the truth: through Christ, their old sinful nature has been crucified, they have died to sin, and they are no longer slaves to it. Although believers still live in mortal bodies and may struggle with temptation, their identity has changed—they have received new hearts, new spirits, and Christ’s righteousness. Therefore, they must consider these truths to be true, renew their minds, and make deliberate choices that reflect their new identity in Christ. Holy living is not legalism or following a list of rules; it is a willing response to what God has already done, expressed through discipline, wise decisions, and presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness and temples of the Holy Spirit. Believers may still stumble, but they should not make sin a continual practice; instead, they should confess their sins and quickly return to God’s abundant grace, remembering that Christ has set them free and that sin no longer has to be their master.