Sunday Morning Worship, October 19th, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Following Christ’s Example in Suffering and Submission

Jesus suffered for us, leaving an example so that we might follow in his steps, even when it means entrusting ourselves to God in situations where we feel powerless or vulnerable. He did not retaliate when wronged, but instead continued to trust the One who judges justly, showing us that true strength is found in surrender to God’s will. When we are called to submit or to endure suffering, we are invited to imitate Christ’s humility, knowing that our hope and security rest not in our own control, but in God’s faithful care. [34:24]

1 Peter 2:21-25 (ESV)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 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: Where in your life do you feel most out of control or vulnerable, and how might you intentionally entrust that area to God today, following the example of Jesus?

Day 2: The Quiet Revolution of Holiness

Peter calls women—and all believers—to a quiet revolution, where holiness is displayed not through outward adornment or social status, but through the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. In a world obsessed with appearances and power, God values the hidden person of the heart, a beauty that endures and cannot be taken away. This inner strength is not passive, but courageous and resilient, rooted in hope in God and a willingness to trust Him even when it is frightening to do so. [49:35]

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: What is one way you can intentionally cultivate inner beauty—gentleness, quiet strength, or patient courage—today, rather than focusing on outward appearance or achievement?

Day 3: Sarah’s Courage and Hope in God

Sarah’s story is a model of courageous faith under pressure, showing that submission is not about passivity or blind obedience, but about trusting God’s faithfulness even when human plans fail. Though Sarah was exposed to danger and uncertainty, her hope was ultimately in God, who protected and delivered her. Her example reminds us that our security is not found in our own strength or in others, but in the God who sees, intervenes, and honors those who trust Him. [59:37]

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: When have you had to trust God in a situation where others failed you or where you felt exposed? How can Sarah’s story encourage you to hope in God’s protection and deliverance today?

Day 4: Submission as Defiant Loyalty to Jesus

Submission in the Christian life is not defeat or fear-based compliance, but a defiant loyalty to Jesus that upends worldly systems of power. It is a voluntary posture of trust, rooted in the example of Christ, that seeks to honor God above all else—even when misunderstood or misused by others. This kind of submission is not about propping up unjust systems, but about planting seeds of the kingdom that quietly transform relationships and communities from within. [44:41]

Ephesians 5:21-24 (ESV)
…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Reflection: In what relationship or situation are you being called to practice a Christ-like, voluntary submission—not out of fear, but as an act of loyalty to Jesus? What would it look like to do this with courage and hope?

Day 5: God’s Grace in Our Failings and the Promise of Restoration

Even when we falter, try to control outcomes, or fail to trust God fully—like Sarah did—God’s covenant promise remains. Jesus bore our failures and shame on the cross so that we might return to Him, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. The call is not to perfection, but to keep returning and entrusting ourselves to God, knowing that His grace is sufficient and His promises are for us, even in our weakness. [01:07:14]

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Reflection: Where do you feel you have failed or tried to take control instead of trusting God? How can you receive God’s grace and return to Him today, trusting that His promises still hold for you?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from 1 Peter 3:1-6 invites us into the tension and beauty of Christ-shaped submission, especially as it relates to women in the first-century Roman world and, by extension, to us today. The text acknowledges the deep fears and vulnerabilities that come with surrendering control—whether in marriage, in society, or before God. Peter’s words are not a command to uphold oppressive systems, but a gentle invitation to live out the radical difference of the gospel, even within the constraints of a broken world.

Peter addresses women who, in their culture, had little agency and were often valued only for their beauty or compliance. Yet, he dignifies them as moral agents, capable of reason, holiness, and courageous faith. The call to “be subject” is not a barked order, but a participle wrapped in gentleness—an invitation rather than a coercion. This is a subversive act: the grammar itself becomes a bridge of grace, pointing not to the empire’s demand for domination, but to Christ’s example of humble trust in God.

The passage challenges both the cultural obsession with outward beauty and the temptation to use beauty as a means of power or control. Instead, Peter points to the “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,” a strength that is unshakable because it rests on God. This inner adornment is not passivity, but resilient courage—meekness that is power restrained and hope grounded in God’s faithfulness.

Sarah’s story is held up as a model—not because she was perfect, but because her hope was ultimately in God, not in her husband or her own ability to control outcomes. Her submission was not blind compliance, but a stage for God’s deliverance and faithfulness to be displayed. The call is not to disappear or to accept abuse, but to entrust oneself to God, even when it is frightening, and to become a witness to the gospel’s transforming power.

This way of living—soft difference—does not prop up the patriarchy, but plants kingdom seeds that crack the concrete of unjust systems from below. It is a call to courageous trust, to adorn ourselves from the inside out, and to rest in the promise that Christ is our hope, our vindication, and our inheritance.

Key Takeaways

1. Christ-shaped submission is an invitation, not a command to uphold oppressive systems. Peter’s use of gentle grammar signals that the gospel’s way is not domination but invitation, especially for those who have known the sting of power used against them. The call is to entrust ourselves to God, even when it feels frightening and vulnerable. This is a radical, countercultural act that mirrors Christ’s own humility and trust. [41:58]
2. The gospel dignifies those whom society marginalizes, granting agency and moral voice where there was none. Peter addresses women directly as capable of reason, holiness, and courageous faith, upending the cultural expectation of silence and compliance. Submission here is not defeat, but a defiant loyalty to Jesus that subverts the world’s values from within. [44:21]
3. True beauty is found in the “imperishable” adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, not in outward appearance or status. Peter acknowledges the immense pressure on women to gain power or security through beauty, but calls them to a deeper, lasting strength rooted in God. This inner beauty is not passivity, but resilient courage—serenity in the storm, unshakable because it rests on God’s faithfulness. [56:15]
4. Sarah’s story reveals that hope in God, not in human plans or control, is the foundation of courageous faith. Her submission was not blind or weak, but a form of meekness—power restrained and grounded in trust that God would deliver, even when her husband failed her. This is the paradox of faithful submission: agency through faith, security in God’s care, and resilient hope when others disappoint. [60:45]
5. The call to “soft difference” is not to disappear or accept abuse, but to become a witness to the gospel’s transforming power. Submission in Scripture is always voluntary, never a license for domination or harm. The cross is not a weapon for the powerful, but a place where power is laid down for the powerless. In Christ, all are co-heirs—women and men alike—invited to courageous trust and inner transformation that cracks the concrete of unjust systems. [65:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:42] - The Deacons Fund and Generosity
[33:13] - Preparing Our Hearts for God’s Word
[34:24] - Christ’s Example of Suffering and Trust
[35:14] - Wives, Conduct, and the Power of Example
[35:56] - Husbands and the Call to Honor
[36:32] - The Surrender of Control
[37:58] - The Challenge and Fear of Submission
[39:19] - Wrestling with Difficult Texts
[40:29] - The Cross as Blueprint, Not Background
[41:04] - The Invitation to Gentle Submission
[44:21] - Dignity and Agency for Women
[49:35] - Redefining Beauty and Inner Adornment
[56:15] - The Courage of a Gentle and Quiet Spirit
[57:17] - Sarah’s Story: Beauty, Fear, and God’s Faithfulness
[60:45] - Meekness, Hope, and Entrusting to God
[65:40] - The Cross, Abuse, and True Power
[69:11] - Co-Heirs and the Revolution of Soft Difference
[70:10] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 3:1-6 (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. 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.

Observation Questions

According to Peter, what is the purpose of wives being subject to their own husbands, especially if their husbands do not believe? (1 Peter 3:1)
How does Peter describe the kind of beauty that is precious in God’s sight? What words does he use? (1 Peter 3:3-4)
What example from the Old Testament does Peter use to illustrate his point, and what does he highlight about Sarah’s story? (1 Peter 3:5-6)
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the way Peter uses grammar (“a participle wrapped in gentleness”) to communicate the call to submission? [[41:17]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter focus on “the hidden person of the heart” rather than outward appearance? What does this reveal about God’s values versus cultural values? [[49:35]]
The sermon says that Peter’s call to submission is “an invitation rather than a coercion.” What difference does this make for how we understand and live out this passage? [[41:58]]
How does Sarah’s story show both the risks and the hope involved in entrusting oneself to God, especially when human leaders fail? [[59:25]]
The pastor says, “Submission in Scripture is always voluntary, never a license for domination or harm.” How does this shape the way we should respond to this passage, especially in situations of abuse or injustice? [[01:05:14]]

Application Questions

The sermon acknowledges that surrendering control—whether in marriage, society, or before God—can be frightening. Where do you most feel the fear of losing control in your own life? How do you usually respond to that fear? [[37:58]]
Peter calls women to focus on the “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” In a world obsessed with outward appearance and status, what are some practical ways you can cultivate inner beauty this week? [[49:35]]
The pastor says that “meekness is power restrained and hope grounded in God’s faithfulness.” Can you think of a recent situation where you had the opportunity to show meekness? What did you do, or what could you have done differently? [[01:00:45]]
The sermon makes clear that submission is not about accepting abuse or disappearing, but about courageous trust in God. If you or someone you know is in a situation where this passage has been used to justify harm, what steps can you take to seek help or support? [[01:05:14]]
The idea of “soft difference” is about living out the gospel in a way that quietly subverts unjust systems from within. Where in your life do you have the opportunity to practice this kind of “soft difference”? What might it look like for you? [[46:17]]
The pastor says that both men and women are “co-heirs” in Christ, invited to courageous trust and inner transformation. How does this truth challenge or encourage you in your relationships with others? [[01:09:11]]
Sarah’s story is one of hope in God, not in her own plans or her husband’s perfection. Is there an area of your life where you need to let go of control and trust God more deeply? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area this week? [[01:00:45]]

Sermon Clips

The empire commands and the gospel invites. Now why would Peter speak that way? Because he's writing to a people who already know the sting of power used against them. They are exiles and sojourners, marginalized by a society that prizes status, control, and honor. The participle becomes, as Jobes says, a bridge of grace. It connects the earlier section, Christ, suffering, and trust in God, to the concrete realities of the home. The word likewise looks back to Jesus, not to Caesar. Peter is saying, look to your gracious Savior as he invites you, into living out this text. [00:42:15] (47 seconds) #GraceOverEmpire

Their steadfast, gentle faith may be the very sermon that wins their husbands to the gospel. Job calls this the quiet revolution of holiness. Peter gives women a moral voice in a culture that denied they had one. He doesn't hand them a sword. He gives them something sharper, the cruciform life of Jesus. Peter isn't propping up the patriarchy. He's planting kingdom seeds that crack the concrete from below. [00:45:49] (32 seconds) #TrustOverControl

To not use your beauty, whatever it is, to get power for yourself. To instead rely on an inner beauty that can't always be seen. Peter's call is to rely and it's named in part gentleness and quietness. Like we hear those words, gentleness and quietness, sound passive to our modern ears. And in Peter's world, they were anything but. These women who were quiet and gentle displayed courage. Courage under pressure. Serenity in the storm. The gentle and quiet spirit is not timid. It's unshakable because it rests on God. [00:55:39] (40 seconds) #ResilientHope

Sarah's submission wasn't blind or weak. It was meek. Meekness is power restrained. 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. This meekness displayed in a gentle and quiet spirit. Is actually Jesus-shaped strength. It's non-retaliation rooted in entrusting oneself to him who judges justly. [01:00:35] (36 seconds) #CovenantInFailure

Now for Peter's audience and ours, Sarah embodies the paradox of faithful submission. It's not about passivity. It's about agency through faith. It's not about safety. It's not about safety in human plans. It's about security in God's divine care. It's not romantic idealism. It's about resilient hope when those you depend on fail you. [01:03:05] (25 seconds) #KingdomEquality

``Peter's words can never ever be used to justify abuse. The way of Jesus never gives one person license to harm or silence another. Submission in scripture is a voluntary posture of trust. Never permission for another to dominate or demean or hurt. If someone uses these verses to execute manipulation control or violence they are twisting the gospel. The cross is not a weapon in the hands of the powerful. It's a place where power was laid down for the powerless. And that's where true power lies. [01:05:08] (43 seconds)

Sarah is the paragon. But Sarah didn't always trust the promise. Out of that place of control she gave her husband Hagar. Out of that place she laughed the laugh of disbelief. How can this body, this worn out body produce an heir? How can this same body sustain that life? Ha! God! You laughed Sarah. I didn't laugh. That's who is the paragon here. And here's the thing. The covenant promise remained. That's the good news. You will fail. You will struggle. You will try to be your own and make your own way. And our world will help you. But Jesus took all of this upon his body in the tree. He suffered for you and all your failings. He did this so you might die to this and live to righteousness. By his wounds you are healed and will be healed. Even when you're straying like sheep, you will return to him, the good shepherd, the faithful overseer of your souls. Just like Sarah. And that covenant sealed in Jesus' blood remains. Sarah and you are included in the covenant. The promises are for you even in your failing. [01:06:16] (79 seconds)

Soft difference is not disappearing. Sarah didn't disappear. She pushed back and then reappeared differently. And this is what Peter's calling you to. A quiet courage that confounds the empire and calls an unbelieving husband to Jesus. When wives do this, the home becomes an embassy of the coming kingdom. And the gospel is your hope. The Jesus who we read took our sin and shame on the cross. Without 21 to 25 of chapter 2, this becomes self-help. Keep returning and entrusting yourself to him. Rest upon him. [01:07:38] (41 seconds)

Don't miss how revolutionary this is. These women who he says in verse seven are co-heirs, equal in their access to this God who is gentle and merciful to them and all their failings to be holy like he is holy. This grace is for them. They will inherit this Jesus and his kingdom just like their believing husbands would. This is soft difference. It's not propping up the patriarchy. It's planting kingdom seeds that crack the concrete from below. The depth charge that remakes our world where there is neither slave nor free male nor fiend and male Jew nor Gentile. Christ is all and in all. [01:09:13] (40 seconds)

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