Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1:1-22 OBSERVATION: This story (Ruth) will show how history is His story, how God works through the dramatic details of the lives of His people. God does not eliminate hardship, but He does work through it to restore His creation. And He works in surprising ways. That Elimelech moves his family to Moab was…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 5:1-14 OBSERVATION: Peter identifies himself as a “fellow elder”, a reminder that in the community of Christ-followers there is no hierarchy. We are all under-shepherds under the Chief Shepherd, and we are called to serve the sheep in a selfless, loving and eager way! The emphasis on suffering and submission is important, this is…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4:7-19 OBSERVATION: The whole letter speaks of suffering, and here Peter puts it in the context of the “last days” (the end of all things). I notice how this does not lead Peter to panic, but rather to prayer. What an amazing response to suffering, it leads to a renewed passion to pray, to…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:13-4:6 OBSERVATION: When we suffer, we can see that as an opportunity to gently share the reason for our hope, in a way that will win over those who are troubling us. To set apart Jesus as Lord means to commit our safety to Him, and to devote ourselves to His way of life…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:1-12 OBSERVATION: Peter is encouraging wives (and husbands) to imitate Christ’s humble love in submitting to their spouses to win them over. He urges husbands to be considerate and respectful, another way of saying “be humble” given the way men treated their wives in that culture. He summarizes, “live in harmony,be sympathetic, love, be…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:13-25 OBSERVATION: Continuing his theme of how to live in this world as citizens of a hevanely kingdom, Peter urges believers to live in humble submission and service to others, including our leaders, masters. This is not a vindication of oppressive and unjust leaders, but a pattern for Christ-like living in a godless world…