On Christmas Day Harpeth members Betty Kayitesi and Emmy Nteziryayo were featured on the front page of The Tennessean! Read their heart warming story of loss, love and faith here.

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. [2] As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Observation: If the son of God suffered, and was miss treated why should it shock me when I am! Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:4-5  ⁴ Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. ⁵ But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead

Observation: This verse really resonates with me because it is so similar to what I experienced as a new believer in high school.  At first verse 5 brings a bit of self-righteous pride knowing that they will have to face judgment and answer for their choices.  But then as Read More »

Scripture: NIV 1 Peter 4:19;   So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Observation: To choose to suffer means that there is something wrong; to choose God’s will even if it means to suffering is a different thing.  No healthy Christians like’s to suffer.  God puts His children where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Observation: Christ’s is the greatest example of love. I find that when knowing truth, in the flesh I get so focused on sharing it and making sure the truth is revealed and absorbed.  I am sure this approach can come off a bit judgmental and pushy. I am very thankful Read More »

Scripture:1 peter 3:8-14 ⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^[a]

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”

Observation: Peter is writing to all the people of Pontius, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.  These people are obviously being persecuted for their faith and being treated very poorly. Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 3: 15-16 NIV   But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Observation: Every Christian is bound to answer and for the hope that they have in Jesus Christ.  Christians should have a reason ready for Christianity, that it might be shared with love.  This might have to be shared more than once or twice, so that we as Read More »

Scripture:  1 Peter 2:9-12    ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Observation: Peter is writing to remind people that Jesus is the corner stone of our faith, and a stumbling block to those who do not believe in Him.  Because of who he is and what he has done, we have been called out of darkness and into the light-he has made us a Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:22-25 (NIV)   ”He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ”He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Observation: In this chapter, Peter quotes from one of most important passages of the Old Testament, a portion of Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 that portrays the coming Messiah as a Suffering Servant.  I have heard many sermons and teachings on these amazingly accurate Read More »

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)  “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” .

Observation: “Holy” is one of those Bible-words that we don’t use very often in modern language, at least not the way it is used here.  Of course, we have all heard or said, “Holy Toledo,” “Holy Moley,” or even “”Holy Kleenex, Batman! That was right under our Read More »