What does it look like to follow Jesus when doing the right thing still leads to suffering?

In this message from 1 Peter 3:13–22, we discover that following Jesus isn't a spectator sport. Peter was writing to Christians facing opposition because of their faith, yet instead of telling them to stay quiet or blend in, he challenged them to live boldly as witnesses for Christ. We aren't called to simply watch from the sidelines—we're called to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us.

As followers of Jesus, suffering will sometimes come because we're doing what is right. Other times, we suffer because we live in a broken world or because of our own choices. Scripture reminds us that there is a difference. It's better to suffer for doing good than to suffer because of our own bad decisions.

Ultimately, Jesus is our example. Christ suffered even though He was completely righteous, but His suffering wasn't meaningless. Through the cross, what looked like defeat became victory. Jesus died for the unrighteous to bring us to God, rose from the grave, and now reigns victoriously over every power and authority.

Peter even points us back to Noah and the flood to show us an important truth: the same waters that brought judgment to the world also carried Noah and his family to safety. In the same way, the cross that took Jesus' life is the cross through which we receive life. What looked like destruction became the means of deliverance.

In this message, you'll discover:

• Why God saved you to be a witness, not a wallflower
• How to stand for your faith with gentleness and respect
• The difference between suffering for doing right and suffering because of our own choices
• What Peter means by the mysterious "spirits in prison"
• How Noah, the flood, and baptism point us toward the gospel
• Why Jesus' suffering accomplished God's plan rather than preventing it
• How God can use what you're going through to get you where He wants you to be

You may be going THROUGH something right now, but God may be using it to get you TO something. Throughout Scripture, God used seasons of suffering in the lives of Joseph, Job, Moses, Naomi, David, and countless others to accomplish purposes they couldn't yet see.

📖 1 Peter 3:13–22

Suffering is never for nothing. We suffer patiently because Christ reigns victoriously.

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