Peace comes through the promised King and His promised Kingdom; we see that by looking at the King’s promise, his character and his rule. “… Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:1-7

Advent is from a Latin term which means "coming". On this first Sunday of Advent, we celebrate our Savior's coming to earth and look forward to his coming again. The story of Samson wonderfully points to the Messiah's coming. It also raises an important question: What more than anything else moves you to serve God?

Since our adversary prowls around “seeking someone to devour,” we must know who he is, what he does, and be prepared to stand firm in our faith.

God refines the church by identifying and commanding the humble character of the Church’s faithful shepherds and the humble responses of the Church’s true sheep. So I exhort the elders … shepherd the flock … exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock… Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Christians can confidently and joyfully entrust their life to God when suffering for the sake of Christ. “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (4:19)

As we follow Christ, we may suffer for living differently from the world, yet we can stand firm and confident together with His mindset: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking…” (v. 1)

Christians are saved by grace through faith and can rest on the grace of God and finished work of Christ. The Lord uses the “means of grace”–word and sacrament–in our lives both to bring us to faith and to build us up in faith. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit… (3:18). 

Campus Outreach Regional Director Patrick Lewis preaches the sermon, “The Unexpected Blessing of Blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-17). “… bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (v. 9).

One of the ways that we bring glory to God is through imitating the character of Christ at home. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (2:21)

Christians show unbelievers Jesus by living lives of true freedom in our imitation of Christ and in submission to God’s world. “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (v.16).