Mark Driscoll

This weekend at Mars Hill we kicked off our seven-month study of 1-2 Peter. Peter's big idea is that Christians are "exiles" on mission for Jesus in a world that is not their home. Consequently, their life is filled with trial. God uses trial for much good in us, for us, and through us. In particular, Peter gives us four guiding principles for Christian trial:

• Principle #1 - Our life is a trial. (1 Pet. 1:6-7, 4:12; 2 Pet. 2:9)
• Principle #2 - We are to live in light of God's judgment trial at the end. (1 Pet. 1:17, 4:5)
• Principle #3 - Like Jesus, we are to live in worship to God and witness to others in the midst of trial. (1 Pet. 2:23)
• Principle #4 - Trial in life is a purposeful opportunity for our sanctification, worship, and witness to God's glory and our joy. (1 Pet. 1:2, 1:6-8, 2:12, 3:15-16, 4:13, 5:10; 2 Pet. 1:3, 3:18)

In summary, trials come to all Christians. Trials come without warning. Trials do not necessarily come one at a time, and sometimes it feels like we're at war on every front-for the simple reason that we are. Trials can repeat, which means that just because you've lived through it does not mean that it is over. Trials range in severity and duration from the momentary annoyance to the lifelong anguish. Still, as Peter will show us, every trial is either from God's hand or through God's hand. Thus, if we embrace trials as opportunities from God, they can and do result in his glory and our good. Furthermore, each trial that we face is a witness to the genuineness of our faith, to reassure us that God has saved us and to reveal to others the difference that salvation makes. As a final point, Peter's own words serve as a matchless closing exhortation, which is the purpose of this entire series. In 1 Peter 5:12 he says, "I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it." For those people wanting to begin their studies on 1-2 Peter, the following commentaries will be helpful to choose from: Technical Commentaries

• Peter Achtemeier, 1 Peter (421 pages)
• Karen Jobes, 1 Peter (384 pages)
• Richard Bauckham, Jude, 2 Peter (377 pages)

Non-technical Commentaries

• David Horrell, 1 Peter (126 pages)
• Edmund Clowney, 1 Peter (234 pages)
• Wayne Grudem, 1 Peter (239 pages)
• Thomas Schreiner, 1-2 Peter, Jude (400 pages)

Simple Bible Study Guides

• 1 Peter: A Navpress Bible Study - The Lifechange Series (144 pages)
• 2 Peter and Jude - The Lifechange Series (144 pages)