Writing methods and equipment have changed drastically in the 2000 years since Peter wrote his first book. Today we are able to type a letter that our computer can process it faster than the human hands can type. Some programs even type for you as you talk. We can then print it on high quality […]
As Peter’s letter draws to a close, the Holy Spirit guided him to think back over some of what he wrote and to highlight several facts about our great God. He did not want his readers to be discouraged by suffering for Christ. He wanted them to stay focussed and to keep looking up to […]
The world has a twisted view of the devil. Cartoons picture him as a horned creature in a red suit carrying a spear. There is NO truth to that picture. He is not a make-believe character. He is very real. The world honours him on Halloween, but he is our dangerous enemy. Transition This morning […]
In our hymnbook, there are four rows of notes for each song. Only the top note is the melody. The other notes are harmony to make it sound nice. An person once asked the famous orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein what was the most difficult instrument to play. He responded with quick wit: “Second fiddle. I […]
(2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” While not every scripture applies directly to you, all scripture is for your benefit and most contain […]
As we read our text this morning, see if you can identify the five ways Peter describes persecution. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. Did you find all five? (v.12, 13, 14, 16, 19). In this section, God gives six commands to persecuted Christians. Those commands were to help persecuted Christians endure trials and to bring honour […]
The website called “deathclock.com” estimates when a person may die based on statistics. Though I know that God is in control of life and death, seeing the statistical average lifespan for a person like myself made me stop and think about the time I have left on earth. Not only is life short, but the […]
In “The Encourager,” Charles Mylander writes, “Sunrise was dawning when Los Angeles motorcycle police officer Bob Vernon saw a red [ute] pickup truck speed through a stop sign. This guy must be late to work, he thought to himself. He turned on his emergency lights and radioed that he was in pursuit. The pickup pulled […]
Peter and the Christians to whom he was writing lived in a time of cruel persecution. Living for Christ was not easy. Many of those who identified with Jesus lost their possessions, their comforts, their freedom, and often their lives. In the previous section, God told us that if we suffer it should be for […]
On July 19, AD 64, shortly after the time of Peter’s writing of this book, Rome burned. Nero falsely accused the Christians of starting the fire. Historian Thomas Armitage reports, “Many were seized as victims, were enwrapped in oil or pitch; Rome was invited to the imperial gardens, and crowds gloated their eyes on the […]