1 Peter Sermons by A.W. Tozer

Ken Pullen

ACP

Monday, August 26th, 2013

I am led at this time to include and expand in the “Contemplations” section here on “A Crooked Path” A.W. Tozer’s sermons.

I have not a molecule of doubt A.W. Tozer was a man of God. An vessel in which God worked. And we are blessed. Do not worship the man – but listen to God working through this man for the edification of God, and to build the kingdom of God through words which convict, make one think, and hopefully lead one to true repentance and a renewing of mind and spirit making Jesus the Christ not only their Savior but Lord of their lives. Turning to God on bended knees searching His Word whereby to increase and grow daily.

Preserved on audio over the years Mr. Tozer’s Spirit led life and preaching are as relevant, perhaps more relevant, than when he spoke them from the pulpit in Chicago in the 1950’s. It is my sincerest and deepest hope and prayer those who visit “A Crooked Path” will be led to these sermons and listen to them allowing the Spirit of the Lord to work in each listener.

“Contemplations” will continue to contain the writings of many different believers in God and Jesus Christ the Lord – this is just an expansion and additional offering in the hope even one person is led to the Lord by the hearing of the preaching of the living Word of God, by the God of abundant mercy for all.

We will begin A.W. Tozer’s sermons in his series on 1 Peter.

Each installment such as this will contain 3 recorded sermons.

(1 Peter – Part 1): Introduction to 1st Peter by A.W. Tozer

Topic: Expositional Scripture(s): Ephesians 1, 1 Peter 1:1

Description: This is a general introduction to the book of 1 Peter, beginning with a 15min sketch of Peter and who he was(and was not) in the church. Followed by a 15min explanation of who Peter was writing to and the current landscape of the roman world. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. Phil 2:10-11

(1 Peter – Part 2): God’s Abundant Mercy by A.W. Tozer

Topic: Abundant Mercy
Scripture(s): 1 Peter 1:3

Description: A wonderful exposition on God’s Mercy. God mercy is limitless and God desires us to come as we are his mercy is abundant for sinners of the worse sort. (Date Preached: 6/28/1953, Reference: 1 Peter 1:3)

(1 Peter – Part 3): Begotten Again unto a Living Hope by A.W. Tozer

Topic: Living Hope

Scripture(s): 1 Peter 1:3

A.W. Tozer

While on his way home from the Akron, Ohio tire company where he worked as a teen, young Aiden Wilson Tozer overheard a street preacher say,“If you don’t know how to be saved…just call on God.” Upon returning home, Tozer climbed into the attic and heeded the preacher’s advice.

In 1919, five years after his decision to follow Christ, and without formal theological training, Tozer accepted an offer to pastor his first church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. This began forty-four fruitful years of ministry with The Alliance, thirty of which he served as pastor of the Southside Alliance Church in Chicago (1928 to 1959). His final years were spent pastoring the Avenue Road (Alliance) Church in Toronto, Canada.

Considered by many to be a modern-day prophet, Tozer felt that the church was on a dangerous course towards compromising with “worldly” concerns. In 1950, he was appointed editor of the Alliance Weekly magazine, now Alliance Life (alife), the official publication of The Alliance. In his first editorial, dated June 3, 1950, he wrote “It will cost something to walk slow in the parade of the ages, while excited men of time rush about confusing motion with progress. But it will pay in the long run, and the true Christian is not much interested in anything short of that.”

Prayer was of vital personal importance for Tozer. “His preaching as well as his writings were but extensions of his prayer life,” comments his biographer, James L. Snyder in the book, In Pursuit of God: The Life Of A.W. Tozer. “He had the ability to make his listeners face themselves in the light of what God was saying to them”, writes Snyder.

Among the more than forty books Tozer authored, at least two are regarded as Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy. His writings impress on the reader the necessity to abandon worldly comforts in favor the deeper life that comes with following Christ. Living out this simple and non-materialistic lifestyle, Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, never owned a car, preferring bus and train travel. Even after becoming a well-known Christian author, he signed away much of his royalties to those who were in need.

Tozer had seven children, six boys and one girl. He was buried in Ellet cemetery, Akron, Ohio, with a simple epitaph marking his grave: “A. W. Tozer — A Man of God.”