The "good news" (Gospel) is that the baby humbly born in the manger to a poor couple was non other than the King of Kings. He emptied himself and came so that the could die in humble obedience to death on a cross. Peter, thus, calls on us to clothe ourselves in humility.

How will you react when the inevitable suffering comes? Peter tells us that our perception of the purpose for the suffering will make all the difference in the world.

Musicians use a tuning fork. Mechanics use a 'timing light'. Brick layers use a plumb line. What standard do you use to make sure that you are living the Christian life in keeping with God's Word? Peter provides one for us in 1 Peter 4: 7-11 - prayer, love, hospitality, and service.

Christ suffered once for all sins, dying so that we might live. We, too, are called to die so that we can share in His resurrection. How might we show that in a visible manner? Maybe baptism?

We are not called to defend the faith, we are called to "make a defense... for a reason for the hope that is in you." We are not called to be trained theologians, but people who have an answer for the meaninglessness that is rampant.

Peter uses five adjectives, in what appears to be a chiastic structure, to describe essential characteristics of Christians. How do you stack up? At the focus is 'brotherly love', which we all need more of.

The pattern remains the same -- dutiful submission by means of proper respect / honor. The pattern remains the same -- Christ and the church in a loving relationship. This, we believe in the name of Jesus and we love one another as we have been commanded (1 John 3:23).

How much more could you ask for, when wanting to know what you should do, than to have an example who loving cares for us. Jesus is our example, our sin-bearer, and our Shepherd.

How does the Church prepare itself for encounters with the world, since we are to be in the world, but not of the world? Peter wants us to know that the principle is one of submission. He provides us with patterns for behavior AND the pattern given as an example.

"To whom shall we go?" was once asked of Jesus. Peter probably remembered that day clearly when he wrote, "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious..." We, as 'living stones' come to the "Living Stone" to find our foundation and our bearing.