1 Peter 2:11-17 (HCSB)11 Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation.13 Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether t...  Read More

1 Peter 2:1-10 (HCSB)1 So rid yourselves of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation,  3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 Coming to Him, a living stone-rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God- 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built i...  Read More

HOLY LIKE HIMPeter likely wrote this first letter to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor around AD 62-63.Study the Word: Through the work of Jesus Christ believers have received the incorruptible gift of salvation. While the gift is marvelous and free, holiness is an expected part of a believer's life as he or she grows in a relationship with the Father.Key Truth: Believers are joyful in ev...  Read More

Peter was likely written as a sort of handbook for those ministering in a hostile area. By the time he wrote, the Gospel had spread from into Asia, where Jesus was largely unknown. Why would it be encouraging to know there was an inheritance in Heaven waiting (vs. 4)? What is it about going through hard times that makes our faith more precious than gold (vs. 7)?The last book in the Old Testament w...  Read More

Acts 4:13-22 (HCSB)13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response. 15 After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,          16 ...  Read More

Matthew 16:15-19 (HCSB)15 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” 17 And Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Had...  Read More

Luke 5:1-11 (HCSB)1 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God's word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When He had finis...  Read More

1 Peter 1:13-25 (HCSB)13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy...  Read More

When our kids were little, we would cringe every time one of them would tattle because someone said the “S - Word”. Thankfully most of the times that word was describing someone with low intelligence or a harsh way to tell someone to be quiet. I hear some of you laughing because you have had this very experience. In the Christian’s life there are some “S - Words” that we don’t like talking about… ...  Read More

1 Peter 1:1-12 (HCSB)1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.  3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accor...  Read More

FOREVER SETTLEDThe lesson applies to all of Scripture, affirming that the Old Testament and New Testament were given to us and preserved by God. We can be confident that the Bible we read is the inspired Word of God.We know God gave His Word through inspiration; He preserved his Word accurately so that we can confidently trust it still today.Key Truth: God has preserved the accuracy of His Word (1...  Read More

1.     Purity means something is completely one thing. In 1 Peter 1:22, it says that obedience purifies our souls. What is being purified out of us? How does obedience do that in us? What is the “truth” that we are to be obedient to? How does our being “born again” affect our ability to do this? 2.     In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), Jesus says that we have a big i...  Read More