1 Peter 5 (résumé): To Elders and young Men

Finally Peter addresses elders and younger men: "To the elders among you... be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers... as God wants you to be, not greedy for money but eager to serve... being examples to the flock... so that one day you receive the crown of glory... and young men be submissive to your elders... and humble yourselves under God's mighty hand... cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you... be self-controlled and alert... because the devil prowls around seeking to devour you... but resist him standing firm in the faith... and the God of all grace will make you strong, firm and steadfast.. greet one another with a kiss of love... and peace to all of you who are in Christ".

1 Peter 4 (résumé): Living for God

Peter now continues to exhort Christians: "Since Christ suffered in the body armu yourselves with the same attitude... and live for the will of God... because you have spent enough time doing what pagans do like debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies and idolatry... but they will have to give account to him who judges the living and the dead... because the end is near... so be clear minded and pray... and love each other deeply... offer hospitality without grumbling... and use your gifts to serve others... to give glory to God... but don't be surprised at the painful trial you are going through... but rejoice in participating in the sufferings of Christ... so if you suffer as a Christian never be ashamed... for it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God... so those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good".

1 Peter 3 (résumé): Wives & Husbands

Peter now gives advice to husbands and wives: "Wives be submissive to your husbands so as to win over non-Christians through your purity and reverence... and your beauty shouldn't be outward but should be the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit... holy women of the past were like this such as Sarah who obeyed Abraham and called him master... and husbands be considerate to your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner... so that nothing hinders your prayers... and everyone lives in harmony... love, be compassionate and humble... keep your tongue from evil... for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous... so set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts... be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have... for it's better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil... for Christ died for you once for all to bring you to God... and he went and preached to spirits in prison... who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah... but 8 were saved through water symbolizing baptism that now saves you also... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ".

Ex-Landless Settlement

Yesterday we were involved in intensive counselling and value your prayers for us and for those we counselled.

We made a blessed visit to the ex-landless settlement of NS Aparecida II in the municipality of São Mamede where we had good discussions about the work of the Lord with Deaconess Dodora and her husband Paulo. Please pray for this family and the work of the Lord in the São Mamede region.

Last night I was at the Patos Men's Fellowship held at our school once a month in the borough of Jatobá. We enjoyed a nice time of sharing round the word together about forgiveness from Ephesians 4:31-32. 

1 Peter 2 (résumé): A chosen & precious cornerstone

1 Peter 2 challenges Christians to "rid themselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander... craving pure spiritual milk... so that you grow up in your salvation... now that you have tasted that the Lord is good... for you come to Jesus the living stone... chosen by God... and you are living stones being built into a spiritual house... for I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone... and trusting in him you will never be put to shame... for the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone... and now you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God... so I urge you to abstain from sinful desires... and submit yourselves to authorities... live as free men but don't exploit your freedom for evil... show proper respect to all... slaves submit to your masters with all respect... and it's commendable to suffer for doing good... for Jesus bore our sins in his body on the tree... by his wounds you have been healed".

1 Peter (résumé): Living Hope

We come now to 2 Petrine epistles written to encourage Christians amidst suffering, live lives pleasing to God and grow in the faith.

Chapter 1 starts: "Praise God for giving us a living hope through the resurrection and an inheritance that can never perish... so greatly rejoice despite suffering from all kinds of trials... such trials refine your faith and prove it genuine... so as to result in praise, glory and honour when Christ returns... in whom you believe filling you with inexpressible joy... and this salvation spoken of by the prophets... predicting the sufferings of Christ... has now been told you by the preaching of the Gospel... which angels longed to look into... so prepare your minds for action... and set your hope on grace... and be holy in all you do... be holy because I am holy... live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear... because you were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ... so your faith and hope are in God... and love one another deeply from the heart... because you have been born again... for grass and flowers wither but the word of the Lord stands forever".

James 5 (résumé): Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now James condemns the rich who have horded wealth, failed to pay workmen wages, lived in luxury and self-indulgence and condemned and murdered innocent men. But be patient in suffering, he says: "Be patient and stand firm... don't grumble or you will be judged... and have the perseverance of Job... and don't swear by anything but let your yes be yes and your no be no... when in trouble pray... when happy praise... if you're sick call the elders to pray for you and anoint you with oil... confess sins and pray for each other... for the power of a righteous man is powerful and effective... Elijah was a man like us yet his prayers controlled the rain... and remember that whoever turns a sinner from error will save him and cover a multitude of sins".