1. MARCH 2014

2. THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS 20 He [Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD

3. THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:10-25 INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD

4. How are we “believers in God” _______ ____? THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD through What did God know before the foundation of the world? him

5. Obedience to the truth = _____ INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD faith God: the focal point of our _____ and our _____ THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS faithhope

6. Genuine faith results in ____ for one another INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD love God: the focal point of our _____ and our _____ THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS faithhope

7. That love springs from a ________ heart, a pure heart INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD changed God: the focal point of our _____ and our _____ THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS faithhope

8. God gives the new birth, and it is not temporary: Imperishable ____ INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD seed Where does that changed heart come from? The _____ _____ THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS newbirth

9. Note the contrast of the withering grass vs. the imperishable seed! INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS

10. Living and abiding INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD Finally, how does God do all this? The word. The gospel word. Remains forever Good news preached to you THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS

11. INEXPRESSIBLE JOY AHEAD Why do we believe in preaching? THE IMPERISHABLE SEED AND WITHERING GRASS