Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12 | Listen to Message 1 Peter 3:8 lists five qualities that define Christian community in contrast to the self-promoting and vindictive culture of the world: unity, sympathy, brotherly love, compassion, and humility. Unity is literally “of the same mind.” The world is characterized by either dogmatic, close-minded, inflexible opinionating on the one hand or groupthink on the other. We love to surround ourselves with people who share our same thoughts, perspectives, and opinions, and we love to argue with those who don’t. In a culture of conflict, unity is a breath of fresh air. Unity doesn’t mean...
Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7 | Listen to Message This passage on marriage has prompted more eye rolls, groans, and snide remarks than perhaps any other in Scripture. “What right does a man have to tell a bunch of women to submit to their husbands?” “How unbelievably close minded, primitive, sexist, chauvinistic, and patriarchal!” “See, this is one of the big problems with Christianity: it’s so condescending to women.” But are those accusations and complaints even accurate? The 21st Century reader sees words like submit, obey, and weaker, interprets them through a postmodern lens, and automatically assumes the Bible is crude and...
Text: 1 Peter 2:18-25 | Listen to Message Most of you will spend more hours at work over the course of your life than you will spend doing anything else, including sleeping. Work is the source of some of our greatest joys as well as some of our greatest frustrations and sorrows. We often give too much of ourselves to it – and expect too much from it in return. Work is especially challenging for those of you who have an unreasonable boss or a toxic work culture. The nepotism, dishonesty, and corruption wear on you. You’re passed over for opportunities...
Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17 | Listen to Message Our nation’s political and civic life is riddled with acrimony. We don’t just disagree anymore; we are rudely disrespectful, bitter, and malicious toward one another. We tend to ignore and justify the flaws of our own party/politicians/tribe while exaggerating the flaws of the other. We are deeply divided and arrogant. Given how contentious this situation has become, how should Christians view politics and civic life? Should we compete for positions of power or should we surrender power? Should we infiltrate politics by running for office or is politics no place for Christians? Should...
