Ken

There’s a guy I play pickleball with who never quite gets my name right. Some days I’m Jeff. Other days I’m Roger. I just roll with it. But it’s a funny reminder that names matter. Identity matters. The truth is, a lot of Christians have forgotten who they are. We let the world define us. We let our past haunt us. We wear labels that God never gave us. But Peter gives us a better name. He says, “Remember who you are.” Who Are You, Really? Here’s what Peter says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…” (1 Peter 2:9) Let’s unpack that. 🟡 You are a chosen people You’re not a mistake or a leftover. God picked you. Not because you were the smartest or most talented—but simply because He loves you. In a world that makes people feel forgotten or…

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the most important truth in history: Jesus is alive. And because He’s alive, we can be made alive too. That’s not just something we say on Easter morning; it’s a truth we can build our lives on every day. But here’s a question worth asking: What holds your life together? What keeps you steady when things feel shaky? Peter gives us an answer. He calls Jesus our Living Stone, the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus Is Our Cornerstone Peter writes: “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God… the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:4, 6) In ancient times, the cornerstone was the most important stone in a building. It was placed first and used to line up every other part of the structure. If it was off, the whole building…

Think about when something new comes into your life - like a new baby, a puppy, or even a fresh start. Everything changes. There's excitement, growth, and sometimes a little chaos. But there’s also joy. Peter tells us in his letter that something even greater has happened to those who follow Jesus: we’ve been born again. We’ve gone from lost to found, from dead to alive. And this new life has a purpose—to love deeply and grow steadily. A New Life Means a New Way to Love Peter writes: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) When we’re born again, we’re given a new identity nd that identity is rooted in love. Not surface-level love. Not polite smiles and quick greetings. Peter is talking about deep, from-the-heart love.…

Have you ever looked around and thought, “What is happening to the world?” Things feel upside down. Right looks wrong. Wrong looks right. In the middle of all this confusion, how are we supposed to live with hope? That’s the same question Peter was answering in his letter to early Christians. These believers were scattered, facing trials, and struggling to stay strong. But Peter gives them—and us—a powerful reminder: Because of God’s grace, we’ve been set apart for a different kind of life. Get Your Mind Ready Peter starts with this challenge: “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you…” (1 Peter 1:13) In other words: Stay sharp. Stay focused. Don’t let the chaos around you pull you away from God’s truth. Life throws a lot of distractions our way. News headlines, social media, personal stress—these things can cloud…

Have you ever felt out of place, like you didn’t quite fit in? Maybe it was at school, at work, or even in your own family. The people Peter was writing to in the book of 1 Peter knew that feeling well. They were called “exiles,” scattered far from home, living in places where following Jesus wasn’t always welcomed. But Peter reminds them—and us—that even when life is hard, we have something powerful: a living hope. We May Feel Like Outsiders, But We Are Chosen by God Peter begins his letter with a message of comfort. He calls his readers “God’s elect,” chosen by God—even while they were living as strangers in the world. “To God’s elect, exiles… who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” (1 Peter 1:1-2) They were facing persecution and suffering, but they weren’t forgotten. God had His eye on them. The…