On Persecution, Hope, and a Good Conscience; 1Pet. 3:13-17

Delivered during the Sunday evening worship service, 03/01/2020. Peter launches into a new section of His letter where persecution and the way we respond to that persecution takes center stage. In this passage, Peter addresses the confusing relationship between persecution, the Gospel, and a good conscience. Too often we focus only on what is perceived on the outside, especially when we are under persecution, and we don't check the inner-self to see if the conscience remains good in the midst of it. We will analyze Peter's teaching on this subject and notice how it reflects the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Ultimately, we will find that in order to truly model our Lord and effectively share the hope that is within us, we must be able to do so despite persecution and with a good conscience.