Taste and See

1 Peter 2:1–3 NLT

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Goal: After Sunday, the people of Parkway will understand that they are expected to grow as followers of Christ and they do that through a steady diet of God’s Word.

Big Idea (not to be read): Spiritual growth begins with a hunger for God’s Word.

Key Thought (not to be read): You cannot grow spiritually on yesterday’s encounter with God.

Introduction:

Illustration: A Little Debbie snack cake and a head of broccoli.

Take a look at these two items before you today.

Both of these are things that people consume.

One of them is can be loosely considered food and is the popular choice among many.

The other contains essential elements for fueling one’s body and creating energy, the fuel a body needs.

One of them is detrimental to your health while the other one is beneficial.

If you could choose between the two, how many would choose the Little Debbie?

Our lives are much like this — by default we choose the things that hinder our growth instead of that which helps us to grow as children of God.

WE CANNOT GROW SPIRITUALLY ON YESTERDAY’S ENCOUNTER WITH GOD — WE NEED A FRESH ENCOUNTER DAILY!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH STARTS WITH A HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD!

There are three very important action statements that Peter makes in this passage:

1. Get Rid Of

1 Peter 2:1 “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”

1 Peter 2:1 KJV 1900

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Peter has given some pretty powerful instruction to the church of his day and it is one that is still very much needed: We are to get rid of things.

The things that Peter listed:

All evil behavior (NLT) / Malice (KJV) -

Greek - kakia

this word “malice” is the same root word where we get the word “malignant” which we would use in reference to cancer.

Deceit (NLT) / Guile (KJV)

(Greek dolos)

meaning bait - think about the Trojan horse

Hypocrisy

We talked about this word recently

Think about acting

Jealousy (NLT) / Envies (KJV)

Ill will, envy, spite

All unkind speech (NLT) / Evil speakings (KJV)

Peter tells believers to lay these things aside, better said in the NLT - GET RID OF THEM!!!!! - THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE!!

These things are poisons and they rob people of their true identity in Christ

That true identity is only found in the Word of God!!

Just like the broccoli is food for our bodies - The Bible is like spiritual food for our souls, we need it to survive.

Matthew 4:4 NLT

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

Some things that hinder us from spending that necessary time reading and studying the Bible are:

Wrong attitudes

life’s worries/Business

Riches and Pleasures

We could all likely agree our need for the Word yet how often do we actually spend time with it? (PAUSE FOR EFFECT)

Not only does Peter instruct Believers to get rid of some things, but he tells them to crave something better.

2. Crave

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

Craving

Peter doesn’t just tell his readers to just pick up the Bible and start reading it like a novel.

He tells them to crave it

When is the last time you craved something? (PAUSE OF EFFECT)

We have probably all been there. You had to go to Savannah for one reason or another and as you travelled down Abercorn St. you passed Krispy Kreme Donuts and the “Hot and Ready” sign was lit up. What did you do? Did you pull a U-turn at the light and swing in for a dozen or two? Did you smell the sweet smell of dough and sugar wafting up through the air as you walked in the door?

I can see the look on some of your faces and I bet somebody is going to have donuts for lunch today. You are craving donuts just by the mere mention of the word and that craving is just compounded by the thought of it being heated up and devoured.

This is what Peter is saying that we should be doing for the Word of God.

We used to crave other things:

Ephesians 2:3 NLT

All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

Don’t just commit to reading the Bible (though you must), but crave it. Desire that time in the Word.

Psalm 119:20 NLT

I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations.

All of Psalm 119 is about God’s Word

Psalm 119:35–36 NLT

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

Peter says that we are to crave the pure spiritual milk

Milk is the simple truths of doctrine

Paul used this word also

1 Corinthians 3:2 “I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,”

In Peter’s context it is not an indictment against believers but an exortation for us to crave those simple truths of Scripture

But we are not to stop there, we are to cry out for nourishment

Nourishment

Broccoli is nutrient dense, it has essential vitamins like:

Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that supports your immune system and skin health. One cup provides a large percentage of your daily need.

Vitamin K: Essential for proper blood clotting and building strong bones.

Folate (Vitamin B9): Vital for healthy cell function and tissue growth.

Vitamin A: Supports vision, immune function, and reproductive health.

Other Vitamins: Includes small amounts of Vitamin E, riboflavin (B2), B6, and niacin (B3). [1, 2, 3]

Minerals like

Potassium: Helps control blood pressure and supports heart health.

Phosphorus: Promotes bone health and energy production.

Calcium: Strengthens bones and teeth.

Iron: Helps transport oxygen in your red blood cells.

Other Minerals: Contains trace amounts of magnesium, zinc, and manganese. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Macronutrients and Fiber like

Dietary Fiber: Promotes a healthy gut, aids digestion, and helps manage blood sugar.

Protein: Contains a surprising amount of plant-based protein relative to its low calorie count.

Carbohydrates: Mostly composed of fiber and small amounts of natural sugars. [1, 2, 3]

Beneficial Plant Compounds (Phytonutrients)

Sulforaphane: A sulfur compound known for its potential anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties.

Carotenoids: Includes lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, which support eye health.

Flavonoids: Includes kaempferol and quercetin, which help protect against chronic illness. [1, 2]

The Bible contains words of life that we need in order to live vibrant, victorious lives

7 Essential Nutrients for the Soul Found in the Bible

Truth — to know what is real

The Bible gives us God's truth in a world filled with competing voices.

— John 17:17 “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Without truth, we don't know what to believe.

Grace — to know that God loves and accepts us

Scripture continually reminds us that salvation is God's gift, not something we earn.

Ephesians 2:8–9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Grace tells the soul, “You don't have to earn what God has freely given.”

Wisdom — to know how to live

The Bible doesn't just tell us what to believe; it teaches us how to live.

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” ;

James 1:5 “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

Wisdom gives us direction when life gets complicated.

Hope — to keep going when life gets difficult

Scripture points us beyond today's circumstances to God's promises.

Romans 15:4 “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

Hope gives the soul strength for tomorrow.

Correction — to keep us from destroying ourselves

Sometimes we need Scripture to tell us that we're wrong.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

God's Word doesn't just comfort us; it corrects us.

Promises — to remind us that God is faithful

Scripture is filled with God's promises concerning His presence, provision, forgiveness, strength, and eternal life.

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

When circumstances change, God's promises remain.

Jesus — to show us who God is

Ultimately, the Bible isn't simply a collection of principles. It points us to Christ.

John 5:39 ““You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” ;

Luke 24:27 “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Jesus is the central nourishment of Scripture.

Not only does Peter instruct Believers to get rid of some things and to crave something better, but he also tells us to REMEMBER.

3. Remember (again, like in previous verses)

1 Peter 2:2–3 “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

Peter is likely remembering his time with Jesus while they walked together in ministry, but he is also reflecting on his time being led by Jesus’s Holy Spirit

This is a nod to the OT Scripture

Psalm 34:8 NLT

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

How many of you are like me? You go to a restaurant like maybe Olive Garden and you look through the menu and you see something and think to yourself, “Oh that might be good,” yet you order that same meal that you always do. Is there anyone else like that?

Once you get a taste for something good, you make the rational decision that the risk of trying something else is just not worth giving up what you know is good. Why would anyone ever give up Jesus after tasting of His goodness?

I remember what it was like to fill my mind with things that drew me away from God.

I quote a lot of movies because I have seen a lot of movies. Blockbuster video and I had an intimate relationship. I had a Bible but it stayed on a shelf.

Since picking up the Bible and reading the pages that speak life instead of death over me, I find that to be my main meal.

Where do you find yourself?

If you haven’t read the Bible or are even not sure about following Jesus, try Him and find out before you pass judgement.

Jesus the living water -

John 7:37–39 NLT

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

nourishment comes from consuming that which is good for you - choose wisely (PAUSE)

Call to Action:

Take a close look at your diet.

What are you feeding your soul?

If you are not already in a Bible reading plan, start one today. If you have fallen behind, pick it back up.

Commit to reading and studying everyday this year. Why not start with reading Psalm 119 this week!

Altar:

Salvation

Needs

Lost loved ones

Communion: