Wheaton Bible Church

No matter what chaos, suffering, or struggle threatens to overwhelm us, 1 Peter 4 brings perspective to our pain and a surprising answer to the age-old question—one you may be asking—Why me?

How would we live if we really believed what 1 Peter 4:7 says: “The end of all things is near”? In his message, Pastor Rob reminds us of the “ultimate reality” that Jesus could come at any moment, and life in this world will change in an instant. The question is not whether that will happen, but whether we will choose to live in anticipation of that coming day.

Pastor Rob begins this message by sharing eight simple words a friend spoke to him that changed the trajectory of his life. He then continues our series by considering the power of words —both God's and our own—and four areas of practical instruction on words laid out for us in 1 Peter 3.

Continuing our series from 1 Peter, Pastor Lon considers how we can thrive in a chaotic world that's changing so quickly around us. He reminds us that we are part of a royal, holy priesthood—temporary citizens, yes—but on display so that even through our suffering and submission the world might be saved.

Continuing the conversation about how to live in peace in the midst of a chaotic world, Pastor Phil Shields looks to the second chapter of 1 Peter. This passage points God’s children to a practical action step that will allow us to experience that peace and live lives that reflect the reality that we are God’s own children, no matter what is going on in the world around us.

Peter writes to Christians, "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God." Living within the Church as one people can be challenging, but also one of the most beautiful things we can ever experience. In this message, Pastor Hanibal looks at Christ's Church—what it is, what it offers, and what it needs—as he continues exploring how we can both experience and be "Living Hope" in our world today.

As we continue our series on how to live lives of hope in spite of the difficulties we so often face, Pastor Lon looks at a powerful passage from the book of 1 Peter. Reminding us that the full benefit of God's grace will be unleashed only at Christ's coming, he lays out four specific and practical steps to experiencing a life of hope even in a world of chaos.

We all have a longing for hope—the feeling that better times are coming. But for the people who first read Peter’s letter—and those of us who read it today—those feelings of positive expectation don’t always come naturally. For Peter’s readers then and now, who frequently find themselves in challenging circumstances, Pastor Rob looks to Scripture for a path to experiencing hope—no matter what the new year brings.

Arriving in Jerusalem after Jesus’ birth, the Magi were looking for the newborn King, whose star they had seen in the east. They didn’t find Him in Jerusalem, but soon they were on their way, sent by a jealous King Herod—and led by the star—to where the child was. Pastor Phil Shields looks at Matthew 2 for a message that focuses on the joy of those wise men when they found Jesus and worshipped Him, and what their example can teach us about getting worship right today.

The message from our Christmas Eve service at Wheaton Bible Church. Listen in as Pastor Rob Bugh shares some thoughts about the nativity and how we can relate.

In a world filled with suffering, joy can seem illusive. Yet, as the the shepherds in the story of Christ's birth demonstrate, the key to experiencing joy is not in living a problem-free life. Pastor Rob explains three ways these first-hand witnesses found and embraced the news of Christ's birth, modeling for all of us a path to true peace and joy.

As we continue into the celebration of Advent, Pastor Lon explains that the miracle of Christ's birth was filled with both peaks and valleys for those personally involved. Looking at the life of Mary, he explains how great joy—but also fears and even suffering—are a part of the story of all people who choose the risk and adventure of following God's call.

As we enter the season of Advent, Pastor Rob looks at the subject of joy—one of the most illusive longings of the human heart. He explains that all Scripture is an account of joy lost, recovered, and completed, and nowhere is this demonstrated more fully than in the birth of Jesus Christ. Looking to the account of Elizabeth and Zachariah, he explores how even in the face of suffering, discouragement, and fear, God’s people can experience deep-seated, sustained delight.

As we conclude this series from 1st John, we look at the final verse on idolatry—which many believe cements all the teachings that precede it. Pastor Wil begins by explaining what idolatry really is, and then explores how this one sin can stand in the way of fully loving God and others.

All humans, even the most secular, exercise faith on a daily basis—whether we’re eating a meal, driving in traffic, or opening our computers. But there’s a special kind of faith displayed by those who follow Jesus Christ, and it’s that faith Pastor Rob describes as he continues our series in 1 John. It’s a faith, he says, that is to the soul, what oxygen is to the body—a faith that overcomes the world.

The English language uses the word "love" in many contexts—from affection to friendship to romance. As we continue in our series of studies in 1 John, Pastor Lon defines these kinds of love—as well as the supernatural "agape" love that God has shown to us, and that we, as recipients of His transforming love, are able to show toward others.

Many people today say there is no absolute truth, Jesus can't be the only way to God, and that being good is more important than what you believe. But in this message Pastor Rob explains the importance of testing such thinking against the truth God has given—and gives an answer to these common arguments against the Gospel.

What John does in this letter, Pastor Rob says, is to clarify three ways we can know that we love God and that He lives in us: the truth test, the obedience test, the love test. In this sixth message in our Love Works series, Pastor Rob Bugh focuses on the love test, and how our love—toward God and toward others—reflects hearts and lives transformed by Christ.

On our second MissionsFest Sunday—focusing on our own community—Pastor Lon reminded us of God’s call to “welcome the foreigner.” From Colossians 4, he reminded us of the power of prayer and our potential to represent Christ through our actions and words—and that we each have a part in God’s grand mission to restore a broken world!