In this final farewell to the “elect strangers” Peter summarizes the contents of this letter as “exhortations” (law) and “declarations” of the true grace of God (gospel), and then calls the saints to “stand fast” in this grace. Using Peter’s categories, this message provides a brief look back at the letter and concludes with some final exhorations.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:12-14

Peter warns the saints that we have a common foe who stalks us like a predator does his prey, and that enemy is the devil. This message examines Satan’s devices and warns Christians to be sober-minded in order to prevent being taken captive by his devices.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-11

One last time Peter returns to the issue of community relationships and in this instance commands adorning humility for the purpose of promoting healthy relationships in Christ’s church. This message examines the command, reason and process of humbling ourselves for the sake of others.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:5-7

Leadership is essential to the health and progress of human institutions and the church is no exception. Peter admonishes the elders of the church to take the oversight of God’s people through effective shepherding born out of out of proper motives.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:1-5
Support text: Ezekiel 9:1-6

In this passage, Peter returns once again to the theme of suffering. This time he gives his most complete explanation of Christian suffering by applying the Malachi 3 prophecy of the Lord coming into His temple to the New Testament church. Fiery trials will be the lot of every true Christian because the Lord sits in His temple, the church, and refines His people through sufferings in order to fit them for His worship and service.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Husbands, the way you treat your wives is so important to God that He ties the efficacy of your prayer life to your obedience to this command. This message is an important reminder to men that loving leadership in the home is not only the key to a sound marriage but also a key to a healthy spiritual life.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:7

Evangelicals, and disappointingly, far too many Reformed believers, imagine that fulfilling the command to use gifts received from the Holy Spirit is as easy as taking a so-called “spiritual inventory” test to discover which gift(s) they have. Such a concept is fatally flawed. This message explores the Biblical meaning of spiritual gifts, and then offers guidance for how to use those gifts within the church body.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Hospitality was a leading characteristic of the early church. Historians, scholars and even early primary source documents record how characteristic it was for Christians to show hospitality to one another and to strangers. Peter sets forth the Biblical mandate for this hopsitality, commanding believers to exercise it toward one another as they wait for the coming of the Lord.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:9

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the ethical priority of love, but Christians tend to repeatedly deemphasize it because it is perhaps our greatest challenge on account of our selfishness. This message admonishes Christians to prioritize this command, by demonstrating why its a priority from several different scriptures and by showing its great signficance for building Christian community.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:8

This sermon has three parts: First, we argue from the Scriptures what a sacrament is, second we argue for the biblical definition of Baptism and third, we argue for the biblical view of infant baptism.

Scripture Lesson: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Generally speaking, First Peter is written so clearly that its doctrines and admonitions are accessible and understable to the average reader. However, that rule is put to the test in this passage. Though difficult to understand, the main line of thought is clear, and that is, that Peter is encouraging God’s people to endure suffering for testifying about Christ through pointing them to Christ’s example of suffering, Christ’s preaching through Noah and Christ’s exaltation to the right hand of God in heaven.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-22

Two common responses to suffering for the sake of the gospel are running or retaliating. Over against these unbiblical responses, Peter teaches that we are to keep our composure and make a cogent presentation of the Christian faith to those who ask.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Peter teaches that God places such a premium on how we treat fellow believers in the church and unbelievers in the world, that He ties the enjoyment of spiritual blessing to our behavior toward others. Before you discard this message, please take a moment to understand the meaning of this passage and see whether it doesn’t challenge the way you look at the significance of your behavior toward others.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:8-12

The Biblical mandate for wives to submit to husbands is touchy topic in today’s world and is sure to generate a passionate response. This message sidesteps the contemporary criticisms of the political correctness establishment, and focuses instead on breaking down the duty, character and spiritual significance of submission.

Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:1-6