Three Mindsets To Endure Suffering

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 12th April 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-6

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Here, Peter repeats that perseverance requires a disciplined mind (see 1:13). It comes in the single imperative of the text, which says we are to arm ourselves with the same way of thinking. In other words, we are to have the mind of Christ as we face suffering in this life. Peter gives us three mindsets––three truths to which we must cling tightly––as we hit the wall in the Christian life.

This Jesus Is Lord And Christ

Series: Easter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 5th April 2026

Passage: Acts 2:22-36

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Peter's objective is to declare that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah who brings salvation to those who believe and judgment to those who will not. I want to show you Peter's argument so that you might call upon the name of the Lord and be saved in the judgment.

Christ Our Victor

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 29th March 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 3:18-22

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Having just told the suffering Christians in Asia Minor that an eternal inheritance awaits them beyond this time of exile and that they must persevere in following Jesus despite persecution, he now anchors that exhortation firmly in the good news of Jesus' death, resurrection, and exaltation. Peter's train of thought is quite clear: Jesus suffered, Jesus rose, and Jesus reigns. This is the essence of the Christian's hope, which they are to always be prepared to display and defend. Jesus has satisfied God's wrath against sinners, triumphed over death itself, and has authority to deal decisively with all our enemies, human or demonic. Therefore, as we suffer for righteousness' sake, we keep our eyes fixed firmly on Christ our Victor.

Thriving In Suffering

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 22nd March 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 3:13-17

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We have reached a point in Peter's letter where suffering for the faith is the main idea. Of course, the Christians to whom Peter wrote didn't need to be convinced of the reality of this kind of suffering; they were living it in real time. What they did need was to be reminded of the hope that was theirs in Jesus Christ and to be encouraged to persevere in faith and obedience despite suffering for it. That's the aim of this text. It shows us how to thrive in times of suffering for righteousness' sake. I want to present it to you as four requirements to suffer well for Jesus.

Called To Bless

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 15th March 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 3:8-12

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After addressing the specific circumstances of Christian citizens, Christian slaves, and Christian wives, in this conclusion to the section, Peter addresses all of you. That is, all of God’s people, no matter what their specific circumstances may entail. It’s a fitting summary of all that he has written in the previous passages.

So, what exactly is it that Peter is concerned to say to all of us? The emphasis of this final instruction is on the Christian’s responsibility to bless others, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. As God’s people in the world, we are called to bless the people of the world, and by doing so, we will receive the blessing of God.

Thriving In Marriage

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 8th March 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-7

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In this text, Peter focuses on a third category of people who are especially vulnerable to abuse on account of their faith. But he does something different in this third address. He not only addresses Christian wives, who were vulnerable to abuse. He also addresses Christian husbands, who were in a position to abuse their authority in the home. It isn’t just about wives or husbands; it’s about Christian marriage and how to thrive in it. So, how can Christians represent God’s kingdom and faithfully follow Jesus in their marriages? Peter tells us right here.

The Gospel According To Peter

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 22nd February 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 2:21-25

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The larger point of the text is that believers are to follow Christ in his suffering, and last week we considered Jesus' example of suffering well as a model to follow. But Peter also acknowledges that our suffering is not fully comparable to Christ's. His suffering was unique and atoning, providing the basis for salvation for his people. So, it is good for us to linger a bit longer on this passage to meditate on the unique nature of Christ's suffering as an atonement for our sins and how the benefits of his sacrifice can be applied to each of us. We might even say that this is the gospel according to Peter.

Thriving Despite Injustice

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 15th February 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 2:18-23

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Peter's description of the Christian experience as one of exile suggests that hardship on account of our faith and obedience to God is not unusual. The source of our sufferings may routinely come from those to whom God commands us to humbly submit. How are we to function as God's people in such hostile and unjust conditions? How do we represent Him well to such a wicked world? What does it mean to thrive when facing serious injustices? Those are the questions Peter answers here.

Thriving Under The Emperor

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 8th February 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 2:13-17

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Thriving in exile means thriving under the emperor, and Peter helpfully instructs us on how to do just that. His main point is this: Christians must submit to civil authorities under Christ, obeying the rule of law except when doing so would result in disobedience to God. The goal of this submission is to be like Jesus and to prove the goodness of Christian ethics in the public sphere.

Live As God's People

Series: 1 Peter

Preacher: Jared Blankenship

Date: 18th January 2026

Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-12

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"Beloved" signals a major shift in the content of Peter's letter. Having well-established the gospel identity of believers, he now turns away from where we are going and to whom we belong and urges us to live in a way that is worthy of our calling––the calling to be God's children and God's people. The point is that if we are God's people, a priesthood called out of darkness to represent God to the world, then we need to take seriously the way we conduct our lives day by day. From here to the end of chapter four, Peter provides instructions on how to do that.