Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:7-10. Peter encourages the persecuted church by reminding us of who we are in Christ. Though the unbelieving world appears powerful, and the church currently appears weak, ultimate shame is coming to those who reject Christ, and ultimate honor and glory to the church!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:4-7a. Peter encourages suffering Christians by reminding us of our identity in Christ. We are united to Christ! The church is the new, spiritual temple of God on this earth! Never forget the glory of what we are building together in him.

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:1-3. Peter calls believers to grow up and mature in this salvation we have in Christ. We grow in our love by putting away sins that kill community. We grow up in the truth of God’s word, craving it like a baby craves its mother’s milk. And we grow in our experience with Christ himself – tasting, experiencing the goodness of the Lord!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:23-25. What does it mean to be born again? How do we experience the rebirth? Peter sets this spiritual experience before our eyes, showing us that we are reborn for the purpose of loving our church family, and we are reborn through the preaching of God’s word, the gospel of Christ!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:22. Peter commands the church to show real, fervent love to each other. This love is a miraculous love from God, put in our hearts at our conversion to Christ. Since we have this love, let us give ourselves wholly to loving the brothers and sisters!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:20-21. Here is a dose of practical encouragement for believers! Because our salvation in Christ is absolutely certain, our hope is also certain when we rest in the accomplishment of Christ – even though we live in a difficult and evil world. Set your hope in Jesus!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:17-19. Peter shows us how Christians are to live while we are in this exile, far from our heavenly home. Our mindset helps us live with holiness and hope: remembering that God is our Father, He is the Judge, and He is our Savior!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:14-16. Peter commands believers to be holy, because God is holy. We were not holy. God made us part of his holy people through conversion to Christ. And now he calls us to walk out that holiness as we live in a hostile world.

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:13. Peter transitions to the commands of his letter. We look at how the commands of Scripture are grounded in truth to believe. Peter shows us how to focus our minds on the Lord, and calls us to set our hope in the glory that is coming when Jesus returns!

Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:10-12. Peter explains that the prophets who wrote the Old Testament wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and predicted the sufferings and glories of Jesus Christ! Now this same Holy Spirit anoints the preaching of the gospel of Jesus! Believers can be encouraged in our suffering because of this salvation!