Navigating Scripture

Rev. Chandler Wiley
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Join Rev. Chandler Wiley as we navigate our way around various passages of Scripture, setting a course for Jesus Christ.

  1. 1d ago

    God's Great Building Project (1 Peter 2:4-8)

    What happens when the world rejects the very thing God has chosen to save it? In 1 Peter 2:4–8, the apostle Peter presents one of Scripture's most powerful images of Jesus Christ: the Living Stone. Drawing from Isaiah and the Psalms, Peter shows that Jesus is God's chosen Cornerstone—the sure foundation upon which sinners can build their lives and find salvation. Though rejected by men, mocked by the world, and crucified on a cross, Christ became the very means by which God accomplished redemption. This message explores why Peter points suffering Christians to the Cornerstone and how that same truth speaks to believers today. In a culture that increasingly pressures Christians to conform, Peter reminds us that true honor comes not from the approval of society but from the approval of God. Those who trust in Christ will never be put to shame, while those who reject Him stumble over the very stone God has established. But Peter's vision extends from Christ to the church. Those who come to Jesus become "living stones" themselves, joined together into God's spiritual house and commissioned as His holy priesthood. The church is not merely a gathering of individuals but a living temple where God's presence dwells and from which the message of redemption goes forth. Join us as we consider what it means to build our lives on the Living Stone, endure the world's rejection with confidence, and embrace our calling as God's people in the midst of a hostile world.

    34 min

  2. Jun 9

    Putting Away Poison, Pursuing Christ (1 Peter 2:1-3)

    Loneliness has become one of the defining challenges of modern life. Despite unprecedented levels of digital connection, many people feel more isolated than ever. Yet Scripture presents a radically different vision: through Jesus Christ, God creates a new humanity marked by genuine fellowship, sacrificial love, and deep belonging. In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:1–3, we examine the relational sins that threaten to destroy Christian community—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These habits fracture trust, isolate individuals, and undermine the church's witness. Peter calls believers to put away these destructive patterns and embrace a better way. But how do we actually change? Peter's answer is not moral self-improvement. Instead, he calls us to crave the "pure spiritual milk" of Christ Himself. As we feed on Christ, delight in Christ, and taste His goodness, He reshapes our desires and enables us to live in the gift of authentic Christian community.

    37 min

  3. May 26

    Pentecost and the Advantage of the Spirit (John 16:4-15)

    Why do so many Christians feel unsure—or even uncomfortable—talking about the Holy Spirit? In this Pentecost sermon from John 16, we look at Jesus’ surprising words to His disciples: “It is to your advantage that I go away.” How could it possibly be better for Christ to ascend and the Spirit to come? This message explores the beauty, comfort, and necessity of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the believer and the mission of the Church. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or vague spiritual energy. He is God with us—teaching, convicting, guiding, comforting, and opening blind eyes to the glory of Christ. As Jesus prepares His sorrowful disciples for a hostile world, He promises them an Advocate who will do what they never could on their own: soften hearts, expose sin, tear down self-righteousness, and lead people to salvation in Jesus Christ. If you’ve ever struggled to understand the Holy Spirit, feared misunderstandings about Him, or wondered how God still works through ordinary Christians today, this sermon is an invitation to rediscover the Spirit not as someone strange or distant, but as the very presence of God lovingly drawing people to Jesus.

    34 min

  4. May 12

    Fear & Love Make for Good Motivation (1 Peter 1:17-21)

    In 1 Peter 1:17–21, Peter gives a surprising command to Christians living as exiles in an unholy world: “conduct yourselves with fear.” What does it mean for believers—those redeemed by grace—to live with fear? This sermon explores Peter’s call to holy living in light of God’s impartial judgment. The Father sees every deed, weighs every motive, and will bring every secret thing into the light. Yet for those who belong to Christ, the Judge is also Father, and the One appointed to judge the world is the same Savior who shed His blood to ransom His people. This message traces how Peter holds together two truths Christians must never separate: the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the gospel. As exiles in a culture that celebrates self-indulgence and rejects holiness, believers are called to walk in reverent awe, remembering that they were not redeemed with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ, the spotless Lamb. How should the coming judgment shape the Christian life? And how does Christ’s ransom transform fear into worship, obedience, and hope? Join us as we consider what it means to live holy lives before our Father during the time of our exile.

    31 min

  5. May 5

    Grace That Leads to Holiness (1 Peter 1:13-16)

    In 1 Peter 1:13, the apostle Peter turns a corner—from celebrating the gospel to calling believers to live in light of it. But this command doesn’t stand on its own. Like Paul, Peter grounds every imperative in the finished work of Christ. The Christian life always begins with “therefore.” In this episode, we explore the vital connection between what God has done and how we are called to live. What does it mean to “set your hope fully on the grace” to come? Why is hope—not behavior—the first command? And how do we avoid the two deadly distortions of the gospel: cheap grace that ignores holiness and self-righteousness that tries to earn it? Drawing from 1 Peter, Exodus, Leviticus, and the wider New Testament, this message unpacks the call to live as sober-minded, holy people in a confused and compromised world. We’ll see how grace doesn’t just save us—it reshapes us. And we’ll be reminded that our hope, from beginning to end, rests not in our performance, but in the grace of Jesus Christ. Set your hope rightly. Live in light of grace. And walk as those who are already set apart.

    33 min

  6. Apr 13

    Born Again to HOPE (1 Peter 1:3-5)

    In a world marked by instability, displacement, and uncertainty, where do we find a hope that actually lasts? In this episode, we explore the opening of 1 Peter and the powerful reality that the earliest Christians were not just spiritually “sojourners,” but very likely people forcibly displaced from their homes by the Roman Empire. Writing to believers scattered across Asia Minor, the Apostle Peter calls them—and us—not to despair, but to praise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Why? Because according to God’s great mercy, we have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This episode traces the deep human longing for something more—what Scripture calls eternity written on the heart—and contrasts it with the fragile hopes we often cling to in this world. Political stability, financial security, and personal comfort all fade. But the hope secured by Christ does not. It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading—kept in heaven for us. Even more, this hope is not merely a future reality, but a present anchor. It is guarded by God’s power, sustained through faith, and grounded in the finished work of Jesus, who walked the path of perfect faithfulness on our behalf. Whether you feel disoriented by life’s circumstances or discouraged by the state of the world, this message calls you to lift your eyes beyond what is fading and fix your hope on what cannot perish. Because our ultimate inheritance is not a place—it is a person. And His name is Jesus Christ.

    30 min

  7. Apr 7

    From Eden to EASTER (John 20:1-18)

    Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in the darkness of early morning, carrying the weight of grief, loss, and unanswered questions. The one who delivered her from darkness now lies in a grave—or so she thinks. When she finds the stone rolled away, her despair only deepens. Death, it seems, has won. But the empty tomb is not a sign of theft—it is the beginning of new creation. In this Easter sermon, we follow Mary’s journey from confusion to clarity, from weeping to worship, as she encounters the risen Christ in the garden. Along the way, we see how John’s Gospel draws a powerful connection between Eden and the resurrection: another garden, another gardener, and another chance at life. Where sin once brought death, Christ now brings life. Where humanity once hid in shame, Jesus now calls His people by name. And where graves once marked the end, they now stand empty. This message invites us to see ourselves in Mary—to recognize our own grief, doubt, and longing—and to hear the voice of the risen Jesus calling us out of the darkness. “I have seen the Lord.” Because He lives, everything has changed.

    25 min

  8. Apr 7

    Memento Mori: The Death of Death (Mark 15:42-47)

    On Holy Saturday, the Church stands in the silence between the cross and the resurrection. In this sermon from Mark 15:42–47, we are invited to slow down and face a reality we often avoid: death. With the ancient reminder memento mori—“remember death”—we step into the burial of Jesus and watch as Joseph of Arimathea courageously claims the body of Christ. As the lifeless body of Jesus is taken down, wrapped, and laid in a tomb, Mark leaves no doubt: Jesus truly died. But this is more than a historical detail—it is the heart of our hope. This message reflects on the weight of Christ’s death, the cost of our sin, and the quiet faithfulness of a disciple who honored Jesus when others fled. More importantly, it points us to the deeper truth behind the grave: that in the death of Christ, death itself is defeated. On this Holy Saturday, we remember not only that we will die—but that in Christ, death does not have the final word. Join us as we wait at the tomb… and prepare for the stone to be rolled away.

    19 min
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About

Join Rev. Chandler Wiley as we navigate our way around various passages of Scripture, setting a course for Jesus Christ.

Information

  • Creator
    Rev. Chandler Wiley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rev. Chandler Wiley
  • Show Website
    Navigating Scripture