1 Peter 4:12-19

Perhaps one of the most difficult paradoxes we find in the Bible is the repeated call for Christians to rejoice in the midst of suffering. Can one really find joy in the deep and painful trials of life? The answer for those transformed by grace in Christ is "Yes!" We look at 1 Peter and see the reasons that believers have to rejoice in suffering.

1 Peter 4:7-11

Approaching the end, whether it's the finish line in a race, the last pages of a novel, or the last years of life, usually brings with it a desire to finish well. Peter reminds us in his letter that the end of all things is near, and though we don't know the exact time and it may still seem a long way off, we should live our lives in such a way as to finish well for God's glory. Here we learn how to live like the end is near, because it is!

Pastor Harvey continues in the 1 Peter series from chapter 4, verses 1-6: Living the Rest of Time for the Will of God.

John 3:16

It's probably the most memorized verse in all of Scripture. We see it highway billboards and on posters at ball games. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world..." and most of us can finish it from memory. It rolls off the tongue with such familiarity, that there is a danger we can miss the life-transforming significance of the truth it contains. The same is true at Christmas. We get caught up in our familiar routines and traditions and can easily overlook the greatest gift in the world, the gift of God's Son. Join us this Sunday as we look afresh at that most familiar of verses that points us so clearly to the greatest Christmas gift ever.

1 Peter 3:18-22

Where do you find hope when you face times of pain or suffering? What gives you confidence and courage in trials, particularly when such trials come unjustly as a result of your faith in Christ? Peter prepares and encourages us to face such suffering by pointing us to the example of Christ and to the suffering which he endured for us which gives us hope and guarantees that our suffering is not in vain.

2 Samuel 9: 1-13

In 2 Samuel 9 David asks a great question: "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" It is a great question because it is a grace question. Is there anyone to whom I may show kindness? God's grace is for anyone. His grace seeks us out. It (He) seeks us when and where we are hiding, and is relentless in doing so. And as the man with the funny name and lame feet, Mephibosheth, found grace, so we have been found by grace in Christ and the new covenant he has ushered in through his blood.

1 Peter 3:8-17

We all long to be blessed. We all love receiving a blessing. Jesus reminds us in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 that the blessings of God's kingdom come to those who experience hardship, suffering and persecution for Jesus' sake. How we respond to such trials is key to receiving such kingdom blessing. Peter reminds us that it's as we bless others, particularly those who may be hostile towards us, that we display and proclaim God's grace in the gospel, and we obtain the blessing that comes from the sure hope we have in Christ.

1 Peter 3:1-7

Marriage was designed by God to serve as a beautiful portrait of the love of Christ for His people. It was meant to be a witness to the world. In our day when marriage has been redefined and so distorted from its ordained purpose, Christian marriages cannot help but stand out as distinct among the culture. We continue in 1 Peter looking at godly submission as gospel witness in the context of the relationship between husband and wife.

1 Peter 2:18-25

Peter continues in his letter to point to the gospel work of godly submission, in this case calling servants to be subject to masters, a relationship that would translate for us today to our place of work. But what about when those in authority over us are unjust? How should we respond when submission brings suffering for doing what is right? Join us as we continue to look at godly submission as gospel witness in the face of suffering.