Peter unpacks a short exhortation that summarizes everything he’s been saying. And he's focusing on Christian behavior in two directions: First, he provides counsel for how we live toward one another within the local church. Secondly, to how we should relate to those outside the church, especially those who oppose the gospel and persecute believers.

Peter writes to Christian wives who find themselves in marriages where their spouses don’t believe in Jesus. In all probability tha'’s going to mean living with some level of difficulty and tension. This is not a Hallmark Channel romance picture of marriage. This is real world; and he offers real world counsel for marriages under pressure, which makes this passage important. It gives us a message that some of us badly need to hear.

In this section of Peter's letter he deals with the practical implications of the gospel. He is presenting an apologetic, aiming to help these young marginalized believers, by the way they live their lives, to show the difference the gospel makes to the world. And in the backdrop of this apologetic is how we should respond to suffering and injustice. Peter informs us — we need grace to suffer.

This has been another hard week in America, as earlier this week we witnessed another altercation on national TV involving the police shooting a black man. In the aftermath of this shooting, two interrelated debates have emerged on news outlets and social media — whether the shooting was justified and whether the outrage was justified. In this sermon, we press pause on our 1 Peter series and ask God for perspective. Instead of judging the actions on the ground and quickly taking sides, we serve ourselves by spending time talking about what does it mean for us as Christians to "do justice."

Thanks to the redemptive work of Christ, the church is no longer of this world as we are citizens of heaven. However, we are still exhorted to be good citizens during our sojourn here on the earth, glorifying God in our submission to, and honor for our governing authorities.

We have been redeemed to proclaim the excellencies of our Redeemer, and that proclamation of His goodness is to be both declared in our lips and demonstrated in our actions. In our text Peter boldly declares that through our good works, former persecutors of the church will see the goodness of Jesus and shift from warring against the redeemed, to joining them in worship of their Redeemer.

1 Peter 2:9-10 -- Whether consciously or subconsciously, we sometimes have a tendency to believe that God exists to serve us and to make much of our names. In 1 Peter 2:9-10, that lie gets shattered as we learn the far greater truth that we are a kingdom of priests, a people for God’s own possession, who have been redeemed out of darkness to proclaim the excellencies of their Redeemer.

1 Peter 2:4-8; One of the overarching redemptive themes of the Bible is our holy God’s pursuit of dwelling in the midst of His people. Thanks to Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone, God’s presence now dwells not in a brick and mortar temple, but in the hearts of every believer, who collectively are the living stones being built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ into the spiritual household of God.

1 Peter 2:1-3 continues the train of thought of the text right before it, where the apostle exhorts his readers to brotherly love. Peter says. if you're going to live for Christ in a world that's increasingly hostile to you because of your faith, don't suffer alone; you have to love each other. Further, you need to do two things: you need to dress the part so that you can battle with sin; you also need to eat right, drinking in pure spiritual milk.

1 Peter 2:1-3 continues the train of thought of the text right before it, where the apostle exhorts his readers to brotherly love. Peter says. if you're going to live for Christ in a world that's increasingly hostile to you because of your faith, don't suffer alone; you have to love each other. Further, you need to do two things: you need to dress the part so that you can battle with sin; you also need to eat right, drinking in pure spiritual milk.