First Service 10.19.2025 (Unlisted)

Devotional

Day 1: Christ’s Example of Suffering and Trust

Jesus, though sinless and without deceit, endured suffering and injustice without retaliation, entrusting Himself fully to God. His willingness to bear our sins on the cross is not only the foundation of our salvation but also the model for how we are called to respond when we face mistreatment or vulnerability. Rather than seeking control or revenge, we are invited to follow Christ’s path of humble trust, knowing that God is the ultimate judge and protector. This posture of surrender is not weakness but a courageous act of faith, especially when the world’s systems tempt us to assert power or defend ourselves. [31:33]

1 Peter 2:22-25 (ESV)
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Reflection: When you feel wronged or misunderstood, what would it look like today to entrust your situation to God rather than trying to control the outcome or defend yourself?

Day 2: The Power and Vulnerability of Submission

Submission, as described in Scripture, is not a command to passivity or silence, nor is it permission for others to dominate or harm. Instead, it is a voluntary act of trust—an invitation to place oneself under another’s care, even when it feels frightening or countercultural. This kind of surrender is especially challenging in a world that prizes autonomy and control, yet it is precisely in these moments of vulnerability that God’s grace and strength are most evident. True submission is grounded in the example of Jesus, who laid down His power for the sake of others, and it is always rooted in the hope that God sees, intervenes, and redeems. [35:02]

1 Peter 3:1-2, 6 (ESV)
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct... as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Reflection: Where do you sense God inviting you to a posture of voluntary trust or surrender today, even if it feels vulnerable or frightening?

Day 3: The Beauty of a Gentle and Quiet Spirit

In a culture obsessed with outward appearance and status, Scripture calls us to cultivate the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This inner beauty is not about timidity or passivity, but about courage, serenity, and unshakable trust in God. Outward beauty fades, and the world’s standards are ever-changing, but the character formed by hope in God endures. This kind of beauty is powerful—it is the strength to remain steadfast under pressure, to resist the temptation to use external means for control, and to rest in the assurance that God values who we are far more than how we appear. [49:10]

1 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV)
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to seek validation or influence through outward appearance, and how might you instead cultivate the inner beauty that God treasures?

Day 4: Sarah’s Faith and God’s Faithfulness

Sarah’s story is one of both courage and complexity—she submitted to Abraham’s flawed leadership, sometimes at great personal risk, yet her ultimate hope and security rested in God’s faithfulness, not in human plans. Even when Abraham failed, God intervened and delivered Sarah, showing that true safety is found in entrusting oneself to the Lord. Sarah’s example reminds us that faith is not about blind compliance but about resilient hope, trusting that God works even through imperfect relationships and circumstances. Her life becomes a stage for God’s deliverance, and her legacy is one of agency, courage, and trust in God’s promises. [52:54]

Genesis 20:1-7 (ESV)
From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.” Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are relying on your own plans or another person for security, rather than entrusting yourself to God’s faithfulness?

Day 5: Submission as Missional Witness

The call to submission in relationships is not about upholding oppressive systems but about bearing witness to the gospel through resilient hope and Christlike love. When believers live out this posture—especially in difficult or unjust circumstances—they become living testimonies to the transforming power of Jesus. This kind of submission is not passive; it is active, courageous, and missional, seeking the good of others and the honor of Christ. It is a quiet revolution that subverts the world’s expectations, offering a different vision of power, agency, and beauty rooted in God’s kingdom. [43:06]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: How might your attitude and actions today serve as a quiet but powerful witness to the hope and love of Christ in your relationships and community?

Sermon Summary

In 1 Peter 3, the call to submission within marriage is not a command to blind obedience or a tool for domination, but an invitation to a Christlike posture of trust and humility. Peter addresses wives and husbands in a world where power, status, and outward beauty defined worth, and where women were often denied agency. Yet, he speaks directly to women as moral agents, inviting them to a quiet revolution—a way of living that subverts the world’s expectations not through outward rebellion or manipulation, but through the resilient, inner beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit rooted in hope in God.

This kind of submission is not passive or weak. It is courageous, especially in a culture that objectifies and judges women by their appearance or their ability to conform. Peter’s words are not a blanket endorsement of the social order, but a subversive call to live out the gospel in the midst of it. He does not command wives to abandon their faith or to use their beauty as a means of power, but to entrust themselves to God, just as Christ did in his suffering. The example of Sarah is held up—not as a model of perfect submission to a flawless husband, but as a woman whose ultimate trust was in God, even when Abraham failed her. Her story is one of both vulnerability and strength, of obedience that became the stage for God’s deliverance.

Peter’s instructions are not meant to justify abuse or silence, but to invite both men and women into a relationship marked by honor, understanding, and mutual trust. Submission in the biblical sense is always voluntary, never coerced, and never a license for harm. The call is to a deeper kind of beauty and strength—one that does not fade, one that is imperishable because it is grounded in God’s faithfulness. Even when the world’s systems are unjust, and even when the church has misused these texts, God’s invitation remains: to entrust ourselves to Him, to find courage in His care, and to become witnesses to His transforming love in our homes and relationships.

Key Takeaways

1. True submission is an act of courageous trust, not passive compliance. It mirrors Christ’s own surrender, which was not coerced but chosen, and which led to resurrection and vindication. This kind of trust is frightening because it means giving up control, but it is also the path to experiencing God’s faithfulness in the midst of uncertainty. [34:37]
2. Peter’s invitation to wives is radically countercultural: he addresses them as moral agents, capable of reason and holiness, in a society that denied them such dignity. He does not command them to abandon their faith or to manipulate their circumstances, but to live out the gospel in the concrete realities of their homes, trusting that their gentle and steadfast faith can be a powerful witness. [39:42]
3. The world tempts us to seek power and security through outward beauty, status, or manipulation, especially when we feel vulnerable or powerless. Peter redirects our attention to the “imperishable beauty” of a gentle and quiet spirit—a strength that is unshakable because it rests in God, not in fleeting external things. This inner beauty is not passivity, but courage under pressure and serenity in the storm. [49:10]
4. The story of Sarah reveals that submission is not about trusting in human plans or authority, but about entrusting oneself to God’s providence. Sarah’s obedience was not blind; it was grounded in hope that God would protect and deliver her, even when Abraham failed. Her story teaches that God’s faithfulness is the ultimate source of security, and that our obedience can become the stage for His deliverance. [53:37]
5. Biblical submission can never be used to justify abuse, manipulation, or silence. It is always a voluntary act of trust, never a license for one person to dominate another. The cross of Christ is not a weapon for power, but the place where power is laid down for the sake of love. When these texts are twisted to excuse harm, the gospel itself is distorted. [57:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:33] - Christ’s Example of Suffering and Trust
[33:05] - The Challenge and Fear of Surrender
[34:37] - The Frightening Call to Submission
[35:49] - Misuse and Context of Submission Texts
[37:18] - Peter’s Gentle Invitation vs. Roman Command
[38:52] - The Quiet Revolution: Women as Moral Agents
[41:13] - Social Transformation and Moral Responsibility
[43:06] - Redefining Beauty: Inner vs. Outer Adornment
[45:56] - The Pressure and Power of Beauty in Culture
[49:10] - The Imperishable Beauty of a Gentle Spirit
[50:36] - Sarah’s Story: Beauty, Fear, and God’s Protection
[53:37] - Submission, Hope, and God’s Deliverance
[56:03] - The Frightening Invitation to Trust God
[57:01] - Submission, Abuse, and the True Way of Jesus
[59:53] - Courage, Holiness, and Resilient Hope
[61:53] - Working Out Submission in Our Homes
[63:21] - Wrestling with the Text Today

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 3:1-7 (ESV) — Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Observation Questions

According to Peter, what kind of conduct does he say can “win” a husband who does not obey the word? What does this suggest about the power of actions versus words? ([31:54])
How does Peter describe the difference between external adornment and the “hidden person of the heart”? What qualities does he highlight as precious to God? ([43:06])
What example does Peter use from the Old Testament to illustrate his point about submission, and what do we learn about Sarah’s situation? ([50:36])
How does Peter address husbands in this passage, and what does he call them to do in their relationship with their wives? ([32:28])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes Peter’s call to submission as “an invitation to a Christlike posture of trust and humility,” not a command to blind obedience. Why is this distinction important, especially in the context of the Roman world and today? ([38:52])
The phrase “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” is used to describe inner strength. How does this challenge the way our culture defines beauty and worth? ([49:10])
Sarah’s story is described as one of both vulnerability and strength, where her trust was ultimately in God, not Abraham. What does this teach us about the true nature of biblical submission? ([53:37])
The sermon makes it clear that biblical submission is never a license for abuse or domination. How does this reshape the way we should read and apply these verses in our homes and church? ([57:01])

Application Questions

The sermon says that true submission is “an act of courageous trust, not passive compliance.” In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to let go of control and trust God? What fears come up for you? ([34:37])
Peter’s words to wives were radically countercultural, treating them as moral agents with dignity. Are there places in your life where you feel your voice is not valued? How might God be inviting you to live out your faith with quiet courage in those spaces? ([39:42])
The world often tempts us to seek security through outward beauty, status, or manipulation. When you feel vulnerable or powerless, what are you most tempted to rely on for a sense of worth or control? How can you shift your focus to the “imperishable beauty” Peter describes? ([49:10])
Sarah’s obedience became the stage for God’s deliverance, even when Abraham failed her. Can you think of a time when trusting God in a difficult relationship or situation led to unexpected help or growth? What did you learn about God’s faithfulness? ([53:37])
The sermon warns that these verses have sometimes been misused to justify harm or silence. How can we as a group and as a church make sure that our relationships are marked by honor, understanding, and mutual trust, rather than control or fear? ([57:01])
Husbands are called to live with their wives in an understanding way, showing honor. For those who are married, what does it look like in practical terms to honor and understand your spouse? For those who are not married, how can these principles shape your other close relationships? ([32:28])
The sermon describes submission as “always voluntary, never coerced.” How can you discern the difference between healthy, Christlike submission and situations where you need to set boundaries or seek help? ([57:01])

Sermon Clips

Roman culture obsessed over adorning. A woman's hair was an advertisement of her husband's honor and wealth. Her jewelry was a statement of her success. Status gleams out from the mirror. Peter doesn't scold beauty. He redefines it. He shifts the gaze from the mirror to the soul. [00:43:31] (24 seconds) #PressureOfCulturalBeauty

Sarah submitted to Abraham's leadership flawed as it was. Her safety, though, depended not on him but on God's faithfulness. Her obedience became a stage, on which God's deliverance was destroyed. Now, Peter is writing to Christian wives in a pagan world. Many married, unbelieving husbands. They, too, lived in risky, uncertain situations. Their obedience and gentle spirit may not immediately be rewarded and might expose them to misunderstanding or even mistreatment. Peter reaches back to Sarah as a kind of prototype. So this is how the holy women who hope, the key phrase, who hope in God. Sarah's submission wasn't blind or weak. It was meek. Meekness is power or strength. Meekness is grounded in a larger hope. She trusted that God was her ultimate protector and deliverer even when Abraham failed her. That's what made her unafraid of any terror. [00:52:44] (66 seconds) #RadiantInLivingHope

And before we go any further, it's crucial to say, Peter's words can never be used to justify abuse. They have been. They have been. The way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus, the way of never gives one person license to harm or silence another. Submission in scripture is a voluntary trust, postive trust, never permission for another to dominate or demean. And if someone uses these verses to excuse manipulation, control, or violence, they are twisting the gospel. The cross is not a weapon. It's a place or power was laid down from power. That's where the power of the gospel lies. [00:56:47] (51 seconds) #CourageInReverentFear

So when Peter writes that women are her daughters, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening, he is telling them, even as you are afraid, to locate courage in a greater fear, the reverent fear and awe of God. [00:59:55] (20 seconds)

This is written with mission and intent. Now, Paul expounded on this in chapter 5, and there's various echoes of both of this in his text. But it is meant to be worked out in your individual home. What does this look like? And how? How can your relationship with God and your trust in Him be the ground for how this works out in your life? Knowing that submission is not domination, and it's not a lot of other things that are kind of adjacent to that. It is an invitation to following, listening, feeding, and yet also pushing back and speaking up and sharing your thoughts. [01:01:08] (62 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the biblical view of inner beauty?

How does submission reflect trust in God's plan?

In what ways can faith transform cultural expectations?