Beloved, we are learning from Peter what it means to be refined in our faith as a Christian going through trials. Peter addresses the issue of submission towards leaders. This is a challenging area for many but we must see this as walking in faith to love and serve the Lord. We are free in all circumstances! 1 Peter 2:11-25 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives am

Beloved, We are learning how our faith is refined through suffering. Peter encourages us to think of ourselves as living stones in the spiritual house he is building in and through Jesus Christ. How does this help us become more like him in our trials? 1 Peter 2:4-10 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spirit

Beloved, we learned from 1 Peter about God's saving mercy that can cause us to rejoice even in trials of many kinds. Now we will learn how that plays out in our lives. God's purpose for us is not be make us happy but to make us holy. That changes the way we look at suffering. Let's learn about God's sacred plans for us. 1 Peter 1:13-21 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is rev

Beloved, how does suffering refine our faith? God's word tells us to rejoice about what is happening. How is that possible? Let's gather and listen to the gospel teach us the way of Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-9 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in prais

Beloved, we learned from Job about holding on to God in suffering. Now we look at 1 Peter to learn how our faith is refined through suffering. 1 Peter 1:1-5 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: