10 22 I Peter 3:22 Heaven, it is the home of Christ and the hope of the Christian. Christ has gone there to prepare a place for us who by faith have trusted in Him for salvation. It is there for us, yet how many of us really long for it? Are we too tied down to things here on earth that we think so little about it? As the chorus goes “Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I’m gonna see my Savior’s face. Oh, heaven is a wonderful place.
10 01 I Peter 3:21 To encourage his audience, Peter challenges them to stand up with an action that would show the world that they were followers of Christ. Baptism was not only a way to show others by outward expression that an inward change had taken place, it also demonstrated a commitment to obey the commandments of God. Any baptism should be a reminder to us of the commitment we made to Christ to live godly every day.
09 24 I Peter 3:19-20 Scholars consider this passage to be one of the most controversial in the New Testament. Yet we can discover some truth in it that draws us to consider Christ once again. Two compelling truths emerge. The first is that Christ died for us to bring us to God. There is only one way to be saved. The second is that judgment can happen at any time. The question is: are you ready? The invitation has been made.
09 17 I Peter 3:18 In the previous verses Peter instructs his hearers to be a good example even in suffering so that others will look at their godly character and ask them about the hope they have. In verse 18 Peter once again lets us know who the ultimate example of suffering for doing good and why He suffered – to die for our sins and bring us to God. We find in this verse that His death was essential.
09 10 I Peter 3:15 How do we not fear what others fear and give an answer for the hope that is in us? Peter provides an answer. “Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts.” It means to give Him total control, first place in your heart. When He is Lord of your life, you will be ready to give an answer for the hope in you. You will also fear what man can do. It’s a matter of our heart, our hope, our humility. People need the Lord.
09 03 I Peter 3:13-17 Peter encourages us with some wisdom on how to respond to suffering and why it’s important. Godly character in suffering gives us a great opportunity to respond to the hope that we have when we are asked. Can you defend your faith?
(We apologize that there is no audio for this message.)
Dr. Andrew Semenchuk has been a missionary with the Slavic Gospel Association for 66 years. He shares some brief news about what SGA is doing and his own ministry responsibilities. He then shares from II Timothy 3:16-17 how it is we can be thoroughly equipped (prepared) through the Word of God to do good works.
From a familiar account of the men who carried the stretcher of friend to Jesus we learn from Bob Murray how it is we can become stretcher carriers. Listen in and then find a stretcher.
08 20 I Peter 3:12 Peter gives us one more piece of advice as part of our desire for godly living. The key to answered prayer is in our pursuit of righteousness. God’s ear is attuned to their prayers. The counter to that is that His face is against those who are evil. Would you rather have God’s favor through answered prayer by pursuing righteousness or have God against you because you choose to do evil?
08 06 I Peter 3:9-11 part 2 After noting five virtues for the Christian to practice, Peter relates how we are to apply these virtues in our relationships with others. There are things we shouldn’t do and things we should do. Don’t retaliate. Don’t insult. Instead bless those who do evil to you or insult you.