8/10/25 - Countercultural and Called - 1 Peter 1:4-6 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we continue in our series through 1 Peter. It’s an encouraging letter written to ancient Christians facing hostility and pressure for their faith. In many ways, their world mirrors our own. Especially for the next generation, following Jesus today often means standing alone in a culture that demands conformity. Many young believers are caught in the tension between faith and social acceptance. Social media fuels this fire. Peter doesn't shy away from this conflict; he speaks directly into it. We'll be looking at what it means to rejoice in salvation even while walking through grief, and how trials, far from being pointless, are the very means by which our faith is refined and proven genuine.

I’ve spent some time this week reflecting on my own journey with suffering and what God has taught me through it. So this is where we’re headed Sunday - a deeper look at how God meets us in our trials, not to shame us, but to shape us, not to fail us but to form us. I hope you’ll come ready to hear from God and encourage one another. Invite someone who’s walking through something hard. You never know how a word from 1 Peter might speak into their life.