As we begin a study of the epistle of 1 John, we get eyewitness testimony of the eternal life found in Jesus Christ and invaluable instruction on how to remain in close fellowship with God in a world filled with darkness.
Challenges to our Christian faith, as well as mockery of it, are to be expected. God is well aware of this. The third chapter of 2 Peter answers attacks on the truth of Christ's second coming and the day of the Lord and reveals the practical impact the future should have on our lives.
There is no reason we as Christians should be lured into error by false teachers. We have the objective standard of God’s Word to measure their teaching, and the apostle Peter's clear warnings regarding their character and actions.
How are we to grow and mature as Christians in this dark, sinful world? In this first chapter of 2 Peter, we are reminded that God has already provided everything we need for "life and godliness," and it is all found in and based on God's inspired Word.
As Christians we should expect persecution and suffering. What we need is the proper perspective so that we are prepared and can respond properly when it comes. Peter offers us the way forward and encouragement to stand firm.
As Christians, we can expect some degree of persecution and suffering for our faith. While suffering is certainly unpleasant, Peter informs us that in God's plan it also has benefits, providing us unique opportunities for evangelism and personal growth.
Perhaps the greatest impact Christians can have on the world is through our attitudes and practices in regard to marriage. When we follow God's plan in marriage, we present a unique and powerful testimony to unbelievers and ensure God's blessing upon our lives.
Our success in serving the Lord and being a witness to the unbelievers around us is directly connected to the way we conduct ourselves in the various relationships of life. The apostle Peter gives us the instructions we need.
God has done a work in our lives so that we can work for Him in this world. The second chapter of the apostle Peter's first letter reveals who we are in Christ and on that basis urges us to live holy, honorable, and consistent lives that will have an impact for God in our world.
Peter begins the first New Testament letter he wrote by zeroing in on the great salvation he and all genuine believers in Christ have experienced. Revealed in this first chapter of 1 Peter is the glory of God's salvation and the implications of it for our daily lives.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
Psalms 39–41 remind believers to guard their words, gain perspective, and give praise. Stephen Davey explains that David, like James, recognized the power of the tongue and the danger of unrestrained speech. Confronted by frustration and fleeting life, David prays for wisdom to live with eternity in view—his hope fixed on God, not anger or enemies. Psalm 40 celebrates deliverance: God lifts the believer from the pit, sets his feet on solid ground, and puts a new song of praise in his mouth. In Psalm 41, which closes the first book of Psalms, David affirms that true wisdom comes from trusting and thanking God continually. Davey concludes that since we speak thousands of words daily, we should dedicate many of them to glorify God—cultivating gratitude, guarding our lips, and proclaiming the everlasting truth: “Blessed be the Lord… Amen and Amen.”
