As Peter closes out his letter, he discusses the devil. We can fall into two errors concerning the devil: either we are dismissive and sceptical of the devil’s existence, or we’re hyper-focused on him. Peter affirms the devil is real and gives clear instructions for resisting him and living in freedom.

Our society seems to have more anxiety now than ever before. Like a heavy weight we’re carrying around with us, it slows us down and immobilizes our lives. But God doesn’t want you to live with debilitating anxiety, and He shows us how to overcome it.

Peter reminds us about the consequences of pride, and the blessings of humility. But how do you become humble? It only comes through making daily, deliberate choices to humble ourselves.

It’s easy to think that spiritual gifts are only for a select few. But Peter explains that God has given each of us spiritual gifts: special abilities that help the church flourish. So how do you know what your spiritual gift is? And how do you make use of it? Knowing and using your spiritual gifts are critical to help you fulfill your unique role in the church.

One of the biggest questions we have is why do we suffer? The Bible has much to say on the topic, but the greatest truth is we have a Saviour who suffered. Through His incarnation and death no the cross, Jesus experienced life — and suffering — just as we do. So when we encounter suffering, we can always turn to Jesus who understands better than anyone else.

Peter tells us to always be ready to explain our hope as a believer. But before we can explain our hope, we must be hopeful ourselves. But how does hope show up in our lives? And what do you do if you’re feeling utterly hopeless?

Most homes and organizations have ‘house rules’ that govern how they relate to each other. In 1 Peter 3, Peter sets out the house rules for the church. But he doesn’t start with a bunch of dos and don’ts, instead he addresses the 5 heart attitudes that are the foundation for genuine Christian community.