Title: Crave The Word
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1 Peter 1:22–25
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)
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In his sermon titled "Crave The Word," Jed Gillis delves into the transformative power of Scripture as outlined in 1 Peter 1:22–25 and 2:1–3. He begins by emphasizing the foundational role of the gospel and the Word in forming a Christ-centered community. According to Gillis, believers are called to love one another earnestly from a pure heart, a love that springs from being born again through the imperishable seed of God's enduring Word.
Gillis likens the Word to an imperishable seed that endlessly produces fruit, underscoring its timeless value. Drawing on agricultural metaphors, he explains how this seed is unlike any other; it constantly bears spiritual fruit and never perishes. This continuous renewal is crucial for believers, who are born again with new desires and loves that transcend worldly pursuits.
Transitioning to 1 Peter 2:1–3, Gillis highlights the necessity of putting away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander to foster genuine brotherly love. He then uses the vivid imagery of newborn infants craving pure spiritual milk to illustrate how believers should hunger for God's Word with necessity, intensity, and delight. This longing for Scripture is not just for information or transformation but ultimately to know and love God more deeply.
Gillis stresses that true Christians will naturally crave God's Word if they have truly "tasted that the Lord is good." This craving is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. He concludes by encouraging believers to pray for a deeper desire for Scripture, read it diligently, and engage with fellow believers to foster mutual encouragement in their walk with God.
Through this sermon, Gillis calls believers to center their lives around God's enduring Word, which continually nourishes and transforms them into mature followers of Christ.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.
