So it doesn't matter if you have a high school degree or a college degree, or if you're poor, or if you're rich, or no matter who you are.

When you become a disciple of Jesus Christ, he's the one that inspires you and annoys you to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And that was Peter, man, when he was called to follow Jesus Christ.

I am falling in love. I am falling in love. I am falling in love. I am falling to have you along with this today. Somebody Lives You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Roll Rees in Diamond Bar, California.

It's great to have you along with us today as Roll continues our introduction to First

Peter with a look at its comforting yet faith challenging themes. You'll see that like the early

believers suffering persecution, you can seek God's peace and hope in your trials.

We'll also discover that the Lord can use you in mighty ways, no matter how unqualified

you might personally feel.

In 1st Peter chapter 1, here's Roll Ries.

The situation that Peter finds himself now is that Nero begins a horrible, terrible persecution of

Christians. It started in October of 80, 64. And Nero began to burn Christians alive to illuminate

his gardens at night with Christian bodies by tiring them and then torching them them and then riding his chariot around.

Imagine that.

Mero burned Rome in July and started his persecution of the church in October.

Peter knew that the fiery trials would spread from Rome to the Roman providences.

And so here he does what?

He wanted to encourage the saints there.

You guys, I want to encourage you.

You're going to go through the fire.

But no one thing that Jesus will be in the fire with you.

So it's really important that you understand

...