We'll talk briefly about the husband and wife dynamic, then expand to include other relationships and social change in the world. All of these areas seem to be subject to God's slow strategy. His plan can feel slow. But it is moving just as He wants it.
If you don't like to hear about submission, then this is the message for you. Everybody has problems with submission. Let's look at it head on.
God requires us to be subject to the authorities that are over us. He does not excuse their behavior or condone all their actions but for our part we are held responsible to live in submission to them so long as they do not ask us to break the laws of God. This is a firm and clear New Testament teaching, consistent from Jesus through the Apostles and into the early church.
Peter continues to use images and metaphors to help us understand who we are in Jesus. This one concerns our relationship with the people around us and the system of the world.
Is the priesthood necessary today? Who would need it? What would the priests do? Peter has something to say about it.
Peter heard Jesus describe Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. And he heard Jesus tell him that Peter was the Rock. Now Peter tells us that we also are living stones being built together into a house for God.
There is a growth process that occurs once we have been born again. Our spirit needs nourishment and we are responsible to care for it. What do we need? What is a good diet?
When things get shaky, will you be ready?
This section gives us numerous reasons why we should live a holy life. God's goodness toward us started before creation, was revealed to us by the gospel, and extends beyond the grave.
Holy is misunderstood and inaccurately taught. How is it defined and how does it look? Christians should be holy as God is holy. Let's step it up.