[Sermon] Hope for Heaven

<p>The entire epistle of 1 Peter is one of the most hopeful and hope-filled writings in all human literature, and if you’d like to engage in a pleasant half-hour Bible study, sit down quietly and read through 1 Peter, marking and meditating on the occurrences of both the word and the concept of hope that run through the verses like a golden thread. The apostle longed to dispense hope to his readers because of the difficulties they faced. These original readers were Christians who had been scattered throughout the Roman Empire and were risking their lives and freedom for their faith. Persecution threatened them. Some were facing financial discrimination; others were imprisoned; some were risking beatings and physical suffering. Additionally, they dealt with all the various trials that torment all of us throughout our lives.</p> <p>The Lord has a good word for us about how we should face these things, and it’s wrapped around the concept of <em>living hope</em>.</p> <p>What does the Bible say about living hope?</p>