Homes today are under a lot of stress. Parents are struggling as their children are struggling. Everyone is frustrated, but answers are in short supply.

In this sermon we look at the the problem - and why there is every reason to hope!

God is FOR families, and He has answers to help parents!

It isn't easy being a parent today. Our culture is undermining authority and challenging our values. The role of parents is no longer clear and authority is suspect. BUT we need healthy families! The good news is that God believes in families and is ready to help us in our homes!

Our culture tells us it's all about ME. Part of us wants to believe this is true. The problem is it doesn't work! There IS a way to find a happy life, but it's not INSIDE, not ME. Jesus showed us what does WORK.

When life isn't working, we need to be aware that EVIL is very real, and there is a spiritual being (Satan) trying to destroy us. We need to be careful and wise - but he can't destroy us if we don't let him. We have JESUS!

Peter warns the Christians: when you face opposition, there is more going on than you realilze. Satan is real and it is he who is opposing you. We don't need to be afraid - we need to be careful AND depend on God's help!

When it's not popular to be a Christian, being a leader isn't easy. And today we all question authority. But Peter shows us just how important it is for us to have GOOD leaders and for us to FOLLOW them when times get tough.

In our culture today we've become skeptical of all authority. Yet any group of humans, including the church, need leaders. And in tough times it becomes especially important to have good leaders.Peter talks to both the leaders AND the followers in the church with some important principles for everyone to hear.

Absolutely NO ONE likes to suffer. And when we DO suffer, we wonder why. Peter has a lot to say about suffering, not only why it may happen, but how God wants to use it for good in our lives.

What happens when we become a Christian? Does our life suddenly start working perfectly? We all want that to happen, but what if it doesn't?What if we actually face difficulties? What if suffering comes?We're going to look at that issue today - and what Peter has to say.

In our culture, we tend to think that people owe us a lot. And our need to work for something is minimal.

But Peter shows us that tough times - when things don't come easy - can really become something good in our lives.