Hope Church (Dubuque)

How do we respond when someone wrongs us? Our natural instinct is often to retaliate, but God calls us to something different. In this message, Ross explores how we can choose to bless instead of retaliate, even when it's difficult. Because Jesus took the curse we deserved, we can receive God's blessing and extend that blessing to others.

Marriage is about more than our happiness—it's an opportunity to reflect Christ to the world. In 1 Peter 3:1–7, we see how biblical submission, sacrificial love, and servant leadership point others to Jesus. Whether married or single, we're called to honor God through our relationships. The question is, do the way we love and serve others help them see Christ?

How do we thrive spiritually when life brings circumstances we can't control or change? In this message, Marty shares five practical lessons from 1 Peter that help us navigate difficult seasons with faith and purpose. Through Christ's example, we learn to keep our focus on God, live as a testimony to others, resist sin, and trust Him through suffering. Even when our circumstances don't change, God can use them to grow our faith and bring glory to Himself.

What does it look like to live as free people in Christ? In a world filled with division and disagreement, Peter calls believers to honor those in authority, do good, and reflect Christ in how we treat others. Join Pastor Ross as we explore how our freedom in Christ allows us to serve others, respect our leaders, and ultimately honor God above all else.

In 1 Peter 2:4–12, Peter reminds believers that although the world may reject them, God calls them chosen and precious. Through Jesus—the living Stone and cornerstone—God is building His people together into a spiritual house set apart for His glory. As those who have received His mercy, we are called to come continually to Jesus, live out our new identity, and reflect Him in a way the world can see.

Peter gives believers two clear commands: love one another deeply and crave the Word of God. The same Word that gave us new life is the Word that continues to grow us—and it calls us to a sacrificial love for the family of God. When everything around us fades, God’s Word endures forever.

Holiness isn’t something we achieve to earn our place with God—it flows from who we already are in Christ. In 1 Peter 1:13–21, Peter gives us a blueprint for pursuing holiness: prepare our minds, live differently as God’s children, and remember the priceless redemption we have through Jesus. Because Christ has made us holy, we can learn to live holy lives that reflect the character of our Father.

Trials are never easy, but they are not wasted. In 1 Peter 1, we see how God uses hardship to strengthen our faith, remind us of the priceless salvation we have in Jesus, and prepare us for the glory that is still to come. Because we know the outcome, we can walk through trials with hope, trusting that God is at work in us even when life is hard.

In 1 Peter 1:3–5, Peter calls suffering believers to praise—not because life is easy, but because of what God has secured for them through Jesus. Our hope is alive, our inheritance is secure, and we are guarded by God’s power. Because of the risen Christ, even in seasons of hardship and uncertainty, we have every reason to praise.

Before life gets hard, we need to remember who we are.

In 1 Peter 1:1–2, we’re reminded that followers of Jesus are exiles in this world—but we are also God’s chosen people. The Father chose us, the Spirit set us apart, and Jesus bought us with His blood.

We are not defined by how the world receives us, but by the God who chose us. When hardship comes, we can hold tightly to Him, knowing we belong to Him and are secure in His grace.