Sermons By Ed

Study Notes Ed Underwood 1 Peter—Stand fast in grace! Experiencing Grace in the Midst of Suffering “I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you, and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” (1 Peter 5:12, NET Bible) It’s 64 AD. Paul’s death under the cruel persecution of the wicked Emperor Nero staggers Christianity. The infant church questions God’s goodness and power, especially on the frontiers of faith—the fledgling assemblies scattered throughout the five provinces of Asia Minor. Today that area is northern Turkey. The news of Paul’s death and the raw threat of persecution and suffering forces the young church and its even younger shepherds and flocks to ask the questions every follower of Christ will ask: If God is good, then how could He allow this to happen to us? I thought He loved us! If Christ is building His church, then why is this so hard? I thought we were the world’ s only hope! Someone needed to step in with the answers to those faith-shattering q