Humble Yourself
As Peter concludes his letter to the new believers scattered throughout Asia Minor who had been suffering under the beginnings of persecution, his final word is to call them to humility. To call them to resist the attacks of the evil one by thinking of God more, themselves less, and following Christ in the way of humility.
Shepherds of God’s Sheep
Peter has spent a good portion of his letter preparing the new believers for the suffering that will come their way because of their faith in Jesus, and the kind of life they will need to live as a result. But now he turns his attention to the kind of leadership the church will need as it embraces the call to suffer. Pastor Joe helps us understand God’s prescription for church leadership.
Suffering for Christ
Perhaps you have noticed a theme throughout 1 Peter? Following Christ will most likely result in some form of suffering. Finally, Peter wraps up this theme by helping us to see that our suffering should be purely because of our connection to Christ, not our foolish behaviour.
Backlash Against Belief
The suffering of the faith community is supposed to help us in the pursuit of holiness as our faith muscles are worked and we understand the power of God in our weakness. However, this holiness will cause the world to push back against us. We need to understand why this backlash comes if we are to know how to live out faith in spite of it.
Zealous for Good
We have a keen sense of justice and rights in our world. We know our rights and know how to gain justice for ourselves when they are taken from us. But at the same time that Peter has been calling the new believers to understand that they will have to submit to authorities who may threaten their rights, he now calls them to not seek vengeance. AUDIO COMING SOON
Holy Marriage
Peter has challenged the churches to embrace a posture of submission in their relationships with the authorities in their lives, government and masters. He now challenges them on the most intimate and personal relationship; marriage. Pastor Joe helps us understand what God wants a set apart marriage to look like and how it is vital for communicating Christ to our world.
Be Subject to Authorities
Christianity is never practiced in a vacuum. Christians live in a real world, with real systems of authority and governance. How should followers of Jesus, liberated from the power of sin, interact with sinful governments and authorities that hold sway over their lives? Pastor Joe helps us wrestle through this difficult issue.
Living Stone
The new believers Peter is writing to have been encouraged by the glorious salvation they had received and challenged to live in a way that was set apart from the world. Now Peter continues to challenge them to cling to Jesus in the hostile world they lived in. Pastoral Intern Ben Torr helps us unpack this challenge.
Holiness
Peter has encouraged the new believers in Asia Minor by unpacking the glorious way in which they were saved… they had been brought into the covenant family of God. But there is a certain way in which the covenant family of God is supposed to live… they are supposed to be holy! Pastor Joe helps us understand what it means to be holy.
Living Hope
The Apostle Peter wrote to a bunch of Christians, scattered throughout what is now modern-day Turkey, who were starting to feel the pinch of suffering for their new-found faith in Jesus. Pastor Ben helps us understand Peter’s glorious vision of salvation in Christ and how it secures our hope.