Christians will not always live lives of ease and comfort on earth, but will face trials that bring distress, sadness, pain, and anguish. These trials come by necessity, in order to prove our faith to be genuine. A proven faith is more precious than gold, because while gold perishes, true faith results in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. True Christians love and believe in Jesus with great joy, knowing that the outcome of tested faith is the salvation of our souls.
Paradise Awaits Us (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Because of God’s great mercy, Christians are born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our inheritance is secure, imperishable, and reserved in heaven, far surpassing anything this world can offer. Even now, we are protected by God’s power through faith until the final salvation is revealed. This lesson reminds us that no matter what we face on earth, paradise awaits those who belong to Christ.
This World Is Not Our Home (1 Peter 1:1-2)
This world is not our home, because God has chosen us to belong to Him. Like sojourners passing through, we live as temporary residents here, awaiting our true home with Christ. Peter reminds believers that though scattered and often treated as strangers, we are set apart by the Spirit, cleansed by Christ’s blood, and called to obey Him. This lesson teaches us to live with hope and faith as God’s chosen people, knowing our eternal home is with Him.
Christ Died: To Bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18)
Christ died not only to remove our guilt but to bring us into the very presence of God. The good news of the gospel is not just that we’re saved from wrath, but that we are adopted, forgiven, welcomed into fellowship, freed from sin, and given eternal hope in Him. This lesson reminds us that Christ’s death is the pathway to communion with God both now and forever.
Christ Died: For Us to Imitate Him (1 Peter 2:21)
Christ died not only to save us but also to leave us an example of holy suffering, showing us how to endure injustice while entrusting ourselves to God. He lived without sin, reviled no one in return, and submitted to the Father’s will—even unto death. This lesson teaches us what following Christ looks like: imitating His humility, righteousness, and patient endurance, especially in times of suffering.
Christ Died: To Teach us Marital Love (Ephesians 5:23 - 29)
Christ died to reveal His deep, sacrificial love for the church—He gave Himself to cleanse, sanctify, and present her in glory, without blemish. His love is steadfast, nourishing, and committed to our eternal good. This lesson teaches us how marriage points to this greater love: the love Christ has for His people.
Christ Died: To Enable Us To Live By Faith In Him (Galatians 2:20)
Christ died to enable us to live by faith in Him, not in ourselves. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that our old self was crucified with Christ, and now Christ lives in us. As new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), we no longer live for ourselves but by trusting in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. This new life means we no longer depend on our own strength or desires—we remember Christ daily, live by faith in His power and promises, and show our love for Him through obedience (John 14:23-24). His death gives us the joy and purpose of living for Him.
Christ Died: For Us to Boast in the Cross (Galatians 6:14)
Jesus died so that we would stop boasting in ourselves and start boasting in Him. The cross shows us that salvation is not earned by our works, wisdom, or strength—it is entirely a gift of God's grace. Christ alone lived a perfectly righteous life, and His righteousness is given to all who trust in Him. That’s why the only thing worth boasting about is the cross. It humbles us, lifts up Jesus, and reminds us that in our weakness, His power is made perfect.
Christ Died: To Magnify His Greatness in Our Hearts (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Jesus died not just to save us from sin, but to reorient our hearts to live for His glory. When we truly behold the beauty of Christ—His humility, love, sacrifice, and joy—we are moved to treasure Him above all else. This lesson invites us to fix our eyes on the One who gave Himself for us, that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again. In doing so, we find that living for Christ is not only right—it is more satisfying than anything the world can offer.
Christ the Shepherd, Who Died: To Gather Every Last Sheep (Psalm 23:1)
Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd who leads and protects—He is the Shepherd who laid down His life to gather every one of His sheep. From eternity past, the Father gave Him a people, and Jesus came to seek, save, and never lose even one. This lesson explores the Shepherd’s deep love and fierce commitment to His flock—how He pursues the lost, heals the wounded, gathers the scattered, and carries His own forever. We are the sheep of His pasture, and in His voice, care, and sacrifice, we find our peace, our purpose, and our place.