[1 Peter 4:12] Expect all manner of painful and difficult trials as you follow the Lord. Surprise is the wrong response. They are from the God who calls you 'beloved,' and are for your testing.

[Psalm 119] What does it mean to seek the Lord with your whole heart? And why is there the constant refrain of "I do not forget your word" in the context of affliction?

[1 Peter 4:11] How is God glorified? Through Jesus Christ. This truth is written over our lives now and God sees us and everything we do through His son, our great propitiation and atoning sacrifice, our savior, Lord, and example. May our hearts overflow with the same outbursts of praise as Peter and Paul do in their letters to the church.

[1 Peter 4:11] Tracing God’s glory as a theme through all the scriptures shows us clearly how jealous God is for the glory of His own name. God values more than anything else to display His glory. Is it God or you who is at the center of your heart and thoughts? How does God get all glory from our lives? God must always be the giver and we must always be the receiver.

[1 Peter 4:11] Feeling your weakness is not a sign to give up or that we are unable to accomplish great things for God, but rather an awareness of your need for God's strength which is received through prayer.

[1 Peter 4:11] God gives speakers to the church, who are to keep in mind that they speak the very utterances of God--words from the mouth of God. Have you considered that these "sacred writings" are the very words of God, able to make you wise for salvation and equip you for every good work?

[1 Peter 4:10] Serve one another with the gift you’ve been given by God's grace. Love fuels service to fulfills perceived needs within the body. The Christian life is to be one of selflessness as stewards with differing abilities. This is not optional-Jesus will hold us accountable.

[1 Peter 4:10] God employed the people of Israel, putting skill in their hearts to complete His work when it came to building the tabernacle and He does the same today for believers in the temple of the new covenant-the church-as we build one another up to maturity in the unity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1 Peter 4:9] Peter wants us to have open homes and open hearts toward one another in the body, even when it's hard and we are tempted to complain. God instructs us by the example of the children Israel grumbling against God. God destroyed Israel for complaining and grumbling about lacking food and water-how much more if we complain about inconveniences and annoyances that come with opening our home to our brethren for whom Christ died!

[1 Peter 4:8] In this third sermon focusing on this passage, we narrow in on the priority of love, "above all" in Peter's mind. Healthy churches forbear and deal with sin in love. We must have thick skin and warm hearts, always humbly seeking the good of others, even when it means rebuking or overlooking a transgression in love.