Peter, a man who was transformed by his belief in Christ, writes this letter to believers who were scattered throughout many Roman provinces. Believers, who are chosen by God according to His foreknowledge, have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. This inheritance provides security for us because it is imperishable, undefiled, won't fade away and reserved for us. We experience security as our faith is tested through suffering. We are filled with gratitude as we focus on our inheritance during times of suffering.

Peter calls on believers to live differently than what comes natural and differently from the world. He says to be holy (different) because God is different and because believers ARE different. Believers can do this by thinking about who they are, being alert to what they are doing, and focusing on their hope in Jesus.

Peter exhorts his audience by telling them of the importance and power of God's Word. The Word of God: gives us life and lasts forever; sustains and stimulates our growth; renews our minds; convicts our hearts; nourishes our souls, and stirs our emotions. Peter says we should crave the word the same way a newborn baby craves milk.

Peter uses the analogy of a building to explain that a believer is to live in community with other believers. Christ is the cornerstone and believers are living stones that are part of the spiritual house God is building. God says the cornerstone (Christ) is choice and precious: some choose to believe in Him, leading to salvation; for others Christ is a stumbling block and rejecting Him leads to destruction. God wants us to willingly play our part in the spiritual community he is building rather than live autonomous individualistic lives.

Peter reminds his audience that they are different than those who don't believe in Christ and they should live differently for their own good and for their witness to others. Believers can represent Christ in a hostile world by expecting slander, not being needlessly offensive, communicating with kindness, and being proactive with good deeds. Christ is the ultimate example.

In many different religions and cultures, women are not respected and have no rights. The Bible, however, has a high view of women. Peter is speaking to Christian wives who have non-Christian husbands. He explains how to live as Christians while loving and submitting to their husbands. Peter advises these women to a silent witness in order to win their husbands over by their behavior: respecting their husbands, avoiding casting suspicion, and not focusing on the world's view of beauty. Peter also calls on husbands to honor their wives by being faithful, gentle, and considering their needs.

This passage calls on believers to always have a reason for their hope. There are several reasons that people believe in something: because it's what people around you believe, it's what your parents taught you, it makes you feel better, because it works. The best reason is because it's true. This teaching discusses 3 reasons to believe in the God of the Bible: 1- Arguments from science: (fine-tuning, big bang, origin, and complexity of life); 2- arguments from history; 3- arguments from common sense. There are 2 videos on human DNA.

Believers should be prepared to suffer. Noah suffered and sacrificed a great deal in his life. His rescue came at a significant cost; Christ's rescue of humanity came at an even greater cost. Christ's suffering is the supreme example for us and is also the reason why we can live different lives. Christ suffered so we can have new life.

There is no such thing as autonomous leadership in the New Testament. Peter contrasts four ways to be a good shepherd vs. a worldly leader: 1) I get to do this vs. I have to do this; 2) Giving vs. taking; 3) Serving vs. lording it over the people; and 4) Humility vs. pride. Jesus is the ultimate example of what leadership should look like. Peter says we should be servant leaders to please the Chief Shepherd and as a response to His grace. An audio testimony by Wayne Talarzyk is included.

Peter warns his audience about God's enemy: Satan. Satan is a magnificent created being whose pride led to his fall. Satan works in two main ways. First, he guards his turf (non-Christians) by accusing God, distorting God's message, distraction or bribery. Second, he attacks Christians by persecution, opposing any effort to serve God, temptation, and accusation.

Peter describes how to resist Satan. Spiritual warfare is a battle of truth between God and Satan. Believers resist Satan by putting on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the peace that comes from the Good News, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Satan's tactics involve accusations against God (doubt), against other people (division), and against believers and their efforts to serve God. Believers resist Satan in the strength of God's power and the truth of Scripture.