March 15, 2023
1 Peter 4:12-19 (HCSB)
12 Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you.13 Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.15 None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a meddler.16 But if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God with that name.17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 19 So those who suffer according to God's will should, in doing good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.
Rachel Raley
Peter is writing to dispersed, persecuted Christians. The Christians were dispersed because the emperor, Nero, set Rome on fire in hopes to rebuild it for fame. Nero blamed the Christians for this fire. The Romans believed Nero’s lie because they hated Christians for their association with Jews and their new teaching. Four necessary attitudes we can take from Peter’s writing when we face trials: expect them, rejoice in them, think about the cause of them, and trust God in them. As Christians, we can take comfort that all trials are under the sovereignty of God. This momentary affliction can’t be compared to the glory that we are going to receive. If we are entering into the kingdom of God with this difficulty, imagine how difficult it will be for those who end up under the judgement of the Almighty God not being saved. This should weigh heavy on us as we pray for those who don’t know Him.
12 Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you.13 Instead, as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. 14 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.15 None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a meddler.16 But if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God with that name.17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 19 So those who suffer according to God's will should, in doing good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.
Rachel Raley
Peter is writing to dispersed, persecuted Christians. The Christians were dispersed because the emperor, Nero, set Rome on fire in hopes to rebuild it for fame. Nero blamed the Christians for this fire. The Romans believed Nero’s lie because they hated Christians for their association with Jews and their new teaching. Four necessary attitudes we can take from Peter’s writing when we face trials: expect them, rejoice in them, think about the cause of them, and trust God in them. As Christians, we can take comfort that all trials are under the sovereignty of God. This momentary affliction can’t be compared to the glory that we are going to receive. If we are entering into the kingdom of God with this difficulty, imagine how difficult it will be for those who end up under the judgement of the Almighty God not being saved. This should weigh heavy on us as we pray for those who don’t know Him.
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2023
January
Sunday Connect Lesson for January 1, 2023A Note From Pastor H.D.ColossiansJanuary 2, 2023January 3, 2023January 4, 2023January 5, 2023January 6, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKJanuary 8, 2023January 9, 2023January 10, 2023January 11, 2023January 12, 2023January 13, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 15, 2023January 16, 2023January 17, 2023January 18, 2023January 19, 2023January 20, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 22, 2023January 23, 2023January 24, 2023January 25, 2023January 26, 2023January 27, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for January 29, 2023January 30, 2023January 31, 2023
February
February 1, 2023February 2, 2023February 3, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 5, 2023February 6, 2023February 7, 2023February 8, 2023February 9, 2023February 10, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 12, 2023February 13, 2023February 14, 2023February 15, 2023February 16, 2023February 17, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 19, 2023Outline of 2 PeterFebruary 20, 2023February 21, 2023February 22, 2023February 23, 2023February 24, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for February 26, 2023A Message from Pastor H.D.February 27, 2023February 28, 2023
March
March 1, 2023March 2, 2023March 3, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 5, 2023March 6, 2023March 7, 2023March 8, 2023March 9, 2023March 10, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 12, 2023March 13, 2023March 14, 2023March 15, 2023March 16, 2023March 17, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 19, 2023March 20, 2023March 21, 2023March 22, 2023March 23, 2023March 24, 2023QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEKSunday Connect Lesson for March 26, 2023March 27, 2023March 28, 2023March 29, 2023March 30, 2023March 31, 2023
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