Posts with the category “1-peter”

3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.1 Peter 4:3I spent four hours talking to the phone company about my latest bill. Feels like such a waste. There are so many things I would have rather been doing in that time. Our language when it comes to time is instructive isn’t it. We sa...  Read More

21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.1 Peter 3:21-22So here we have one of the dividing passages between Roman Catholicism and ...  Read More

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.1 Peter 3:15-16My friend’s wife doesn’t like Christianity. We had the...  Read More

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.1 Peter 3:7I wonder if you find those last few words as confronting as I do. The thought of my prayers being hindered makes me picture maybe not a brick wall, but at least a hedge of so...  Read More

3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.1 Peter 3:3–4I want you to think of how many beauty products you can name. It’s pretty easy to start rattling them off because you ...  Read More

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”  but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.1 Peter 2:24-25I grew up hearing that this passage meant Jesus promises us physical healing. Which is unfortunate, because I don’t belie...  Read More

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.1 Peter 2:11My family loves to watch The Block. I think we like the creativity and renovation, hopefully we aren’t watching for the drama. But often as we watch I need to warn the kids (and myself), be careful of your heart.It’s a show that wages war on my soul. You see these lux...  Read More

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.1 Peter 2:10I like to tell people I’m Italian. I’m half Italian. But like many people, I love to trade on the culture. Italian food, Italian history and so on. We all want a people to belong to.Peter reminds us that if you are a Christian, you have a people to belong t...  Read More

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.1 Peter 1:18-19There are some things in life that just feel empty. Like mowing the lawn. I hate it. Because I can almost feel the grass growing back. Peter s...  Read More

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.1 Peter 2:2-3One of the realities of Church life is that you are around babies alot. And it’s wonderful. But I know from my own that when babies are hungry, they let you know about it. Hopefully you haven’t experienced that on an international flight o...  Read More

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.1 Peter 1:17We just finished a Living Grounded Episode on the Fear of the Lord. You can find that on Spotify. But I thought I’d continue the theme by reflecting on this verse in 1 Peter.I’ve got three children and now two nieces who we spend a fair bit of time with. The n...  Read More

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when ...  Read More

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,1 Peter 1:1In our 1 Peter blog over the next bunch of Tuesdays and Saturdays, I want to engage with areas of the text that I couldn’t or didn’t give much time to in the Sunday Sermon. And I thought it would be worth taking a little time to talk about Peter ...  Read More