February 11, 2018


Sermon Message by Rev. Dr. Parrish Bridges

"How to Handle Christian Suffering"

LISTEN to the SERMON MESSAGE HERE





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New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 2: 1-10   (NIV) New International Version

1) Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.


Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11) Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12) Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14) or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15) For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16) Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17) Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18) Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19) For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20) But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22) “He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.

23) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24) “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 


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Prayer of Confession



Lord, when we read how those early Christians devoted themselves to Your teachings, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer, we realize how much we have neglected our spiritual life.  Forgive us, we pray, and through the power of Your Holy Spirit draw us nearer to You and to one another by cultivating spiritual disciplines in our lives.   (Moment of personal silent prayer).  Amen.

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