Category Archives: Christian Life

Marriage

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Don Merritt

1 Peter 3:1-7 Peter moves on from his discussion of Christian slaves and their masters in which he called upon slaves to be good and reliable workers who respect their masters for the sake of the Gospel, and now applies … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The One Who First Loved Us

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Don Merritt

“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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

I Don’t Want to Hear This!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Don Merritt

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Are You Driving too Fast?

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Don Merritt

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Strangers

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Don Merritt

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Living Stones

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Don Merritt

This passage, 1 Peter 2:4-10, is a really rich one, but it might seem a little confusing at first because of the imagery involved, that of living stones, but as you’ll shortly see, this, too is a simple passage to … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | 11 Comments

Like a Newborn

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Don Merritt

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Love… Again!

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Don Merritt

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. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

What… me change?

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

At the end of yesterday’s post “Something Special” I mentioned that the challenge for FCC and other churches like it is whether or not enough people there would be willing to make changes to grow, both spiritually as a congregation and numerically … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

“Reverent Fear”

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Don Merritt

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments