2026-05-31 - Joshua Cunningham

morning and from god's glorious word that the certain hope that christians and really only christians have in jesus christ and this is a certain hope in a hopeless world you know all around us and we were thinking about it this week even in the theme of our little mission here can i find hope but you know peoples and societies and individuals throughout time and across our world have always asked this question is there any hope is there any hope in this world is there anything good to look forward to And, you know, this is a great question that even seems to be revived in our own time.

And, you know, I've heard this question even once or twice this week.

Is there any hope? People disillusioned with the chaos of the world, the conflict, the crime and the confusion of the world.

Is there any hope? Well, praise God.

I can say, you know, on the authority of the word of God that there is hope.

There is true hope to be found in the person.

Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And for those of us here today in this room.

Who are Christians.

Born again.

Trusting in Christ fully and completely.

We have received a hope.

That the world doesn't have.

A hope that no man or devil can take away from you.

It's certified to you in Christ Jesus.

And this is the grand subject that I want us to see.

In 1 Peter chapter 1 here.

This morning.

This letter of 1 Peter.

Was written to Christians.

Who knew only all too well about suffering.

They knew a whole lot about trials and persecutions for Jesus Christ's sake.

And in every chapter of this five chapter letter you will observe repeatedly a theme of Christian suffering.

You've seen it there in verses 6 to 7 of chapter 1 where the Apostle Peter says that you have been grieved by various trials.

Then in chapter 2 in verses 18 to 20 you will see again the Apostle writes that servants be subject to your masters and he goes on and he says in verse 21 for to this you have been called because christ also suffered for us leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps then in chapter 3 you could go chapter 4 chapter 5 and you see this theme continually of christian suffering You see, the Apostle Peter here is writing a letter inspired by the Holy Spirit that proclaims a glorious hope to Christians, even in spite of the greatest suffering.