Reading our Bibles regularly can be a challenge, but we're all on this journey together.

We're praying that this podcast inspires you, helps you better understand God's Word, and builds your faith.

This is Join the Journey with your host, Emma Daughter.

Thanks for joining. We're getting ready to study the books of First and Second Peter, so I want to help us be set up to succeed as we study them together. Now is a great time to invite your friends to read along with us. But in the meantime, here's all the background information you need to know before we start. The Apostle Peter wrote the first letter, First Peter. He wrote it to believers who are

mainly Gentiles, but there were also some Jews in the mix. If we wanted to identify a key phrase or

theme for First Peter, suffering for Christ is a pretty good one. In chapter five, he makes his

purpose behind writing really clear. He says in verse 12, chapter 5, verse makes his purpose behind writing really clear.

He says in verse 12, chapter 5, verse 12, by Sylvainus, a faithful brother I regard him.

I have written briefly to you exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God.

Stand firm in it.

What's he saying?

His point in writing is to call his audience to stand firm.

Even when life gets hard, even when it feels like you're swimming upstream or that everyone is

against you, stand firm in the faith. It's worth it. That's his charge. For us today, that's a great

reminder as culture praises and celebrates the very

things that Christians should run from. We've got to stand firm. Sometimes, standing firm

might result in persecution. We might be made fun of, people might roll their eyes or call us

bigots, but a rebellious heart is not of the Lord.

How do you respond to peer pressure? How do you think of others? What does your life say about you?

Are you standing firm on truth? In chapter one in verses 3 through 5, we see God's gift.

We're born again, given hope, because Jesus didn't stay dead

so we can look forward to an inheritance in heaven, the place where we'll get to go if you've got

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