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:

Job 1:8-22 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he wi

Beloved, the older we get, the more we realize how important it is to respect authority at home and in the world. This too must be navigated by the wisdom of God in and through Christ our Lord. Proverbs 1:8-9 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid Prov