What does it mean to live with hope when the world around you feels hostile to your faith?

In this episode of Practice the Word, we begin our study of 1 Peter and lay the foundation for one of the New Testament’s most powerful messages about suffering, identity, holiness, and perseverance.

Peter knew what it meant to fail under pressure. He denied Jesus three times—but Jesus restored him. Decades later, that same Peter wrote to Christians experiencing rejection, discrimination, and growing persecution, teaching them not how to avoid suffering, but how to suffer well without losing hope.

We explore who Peter was, who received his letter, and why he calls believers “elect exiles.” Though scattered throughout a culture that did not share their faith, these Christians were chosen by God and reminded that their ultimate citizenship was in heaven.

We also unpack the powerful language of 1 Peter 1:1–2: chosen according to the foreknowledge of the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, called to obedience to Jesus Christ, and sprinkled with His blood. That language connects Peter’s message to the covenant established in Exodus and the New Covenant made possible through Jesus.

In this episode:

• Who was the Apostle Peter?
• Peter’s transformation from failure to faithful leader
• Why was 1 Peter written to suffering Christians
• What it means to be “chosen but scattered”
• Living as an exile in a culture opposed to your faith
• How Christians can suffer without losing hope
• Why our hope rests on the resurrection—not circumstances
• The biblical meaning of holiness
• The connection between Exodus 24 and 1 Peter 1
• Gentile believers and the promises of God
• The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 1:1–2
• Why knowing your identity changes how you live

Peter’s message remains incredibly relevant: You may be rejected by the world, but you are chosen by God.

The question isn’t simply, “How can I avoid suffering?” Instead, Peter challenges us to ask:

How do I suffer well?

Open your Bible, grab your notebook, and join us as we begin Living Hope in a Hostile World.

📖 Scriptures discussed: 1 Peter 1:1–2, John 1:42, John 21, Exodus 24:8, Ephesians 3:6, Leviticus, and 2 Corinthians.

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00:00 – Welcome to Practice the Word
00:20 – Introducing 1 Peter: Living Hope in a Hostile World
01:02 – Opening Prayer
01:57 – Welcome Back, Alison
03:28 – Chosen but Scattered
04:21 – How to Study the Context of Scripture
04:40 – Who Was the Apostle Peter?
05:27 – Peter the Fisherman and His Home in Capernaum
06:40 – The Importance of Close Christian Relationships
08:27 – Peter’s Witness and Restoration
09:14 – From Failure to Faithfulness Under Pressure
11:25 – Peter’s Mission Beyond Israel
12:24 – Peter’s Message to Gentile Christians
14:03 – From Fighting Peter to Surrendered Peter
15:04 – Babylon, Rome, and Opposition to God
16:29 – Who Received Peter’s Letter?
17:24 – Strangers, Exiles, and Citizens of Heaven
18:12 – How to Suffer Without Losing Hope
19:56 – Living Hope Is Not Based on Circumstances
20:33 – “Be Holy, for I Am Holy”
21:59 – The Question Peter Asks About Suffering
22:59 – How Do We Suffer Well?
23:26 – Remembering Who You Are in Christ
24:22 – 1 Peter 1:1–2
25:10 – What Does “Sprinkled With His Blood” Mean?
26:10 – Chosen by God, Rejected by the World
27:05 – Exodus 24 and the Blood of the Covenant
28:00 – The New Covenant and Our Identity
29:47 – Ephesians 3:6 and Belonging in Christ
31:20 – Connecting the Covenants
32:07 – God’s Foreknowledge, Choice, and Suffering
33:33 – Faith, Obedience, and the Heart
34:18 – Closing Encouragement

In the final episode of our study through the Book of James, we reach James 5:19–20—and discover that James doesn’t end his letter with condemnation. He ends it with restoration.

When someone wanders from the truth, what should Christians do? James calls believers to pursue them with truth and love. It’s a reflection of Jesus leaving the 99 to seek the one and His mission to seek and save the lost.

Throughout this episode, we look back at the practical wisdom James has given us about prayer, perseverance, speech, suffering, forgiveness, faith, works, obedience, and living as true doers of God’s Word.

We also discuss an extraordinary story of forgiveness, the relationship between the teachings of James and Paul on faith and works, and why genuine faith should produce visible fruit in our lives.

James contains 108 verses and nearly 50 commands. Again and again, he calls believers to action.

The Word enters our ears, changes our hearts, transforms our speech, guides our relationships, directs our decisions, strengthens our endurance, and ultimately shapes our lives.

As we finish this series, the challenge isn’t simply to know more about the Bible.

It’s to become more like Christ.

Don’t simply finish the Book of James. Live it.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Practice the Word
00:31 Stay in the Fight
00:45 A Mother’s Bold Prayer
03:07 The Power of Fervent Prayer
03:35 Burn the Boat: No Plan B
04:18 The Final Lesson From James
04:42 James 5:19–20 — Restore the Wanderer
05:44 Leaving the 99 for the One
07:00 Are You Actually Practicing the Word?
07:20 Restore With Truth and Love
08:44 The New Testament Proverbs?
09:34 James Calls Christians to Action
09:57 108 Verses and Nearly 50 Commands
10:49 How the Word Changes Your Life
11:18 The Great Commission and James
11:47 Facts About the Book of James
13:09 Obey Without Hesitation
14:04 The Illustrations of James
14:57 Christians and Retaliation
15:20 An Extraordinary Story of Forgiveness
17:17 How Forgiveness Leads to Restoration
18:22 Did Martin Luther Think James Contradicted Paul?
18:55 James vs. Paul on Faith and Works
20:38 Final Thoughts on the Book of James
20:54 Closing Prayer
22:15 A Testimony From Two Young Listeners
22:50 The Final Doer’s Challenge
23:52 Closing

In this episode of Practice the Word, we continue through James 5 and explore one of the strongest teachings on prayer, perseverance, healing, confession, and faith in the New Testament.

James reminds believers that suffering does not mean God has abandoned us. Job is remembered not simply because he suffered, but because he endured and remained faithful. Romans 5 echoes the same truth: suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.

Then James turns directly to prayer.

What should you do when you’re suffering? Pray.
When you’re joyful? Praise.
When you’re sick? Call the elders and pray.
When you’ve sinned? Confess and seek restoration.

The conversation takes a deeper look at James 5:13–18, including the biblical practice of anointing with oil, praying for the sick, confessing sins to one another, and James’ declaration that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

We also hear a powerful personal testimony of prayer during a medical emergency and discuss an important question: What happens to our faith when the outcome of our prayers isn’t what we hoped for?

Finally, James points us toward Elijah—a man who prayed and saw the rain stop, then prayed again and saw it return. His example reminds us that extraordinary prayer is not reserved for extraordinary people. God hears ordinary believers who trust Him and faithfully seek Him.

Prayer isn’t simply informing God about what is happening. Prayer is part of our obedience, our perseverance, and our relationship with Him.

Chapters

00:00 Persevering While You Wait on God
01:41 “Are You Yet Holding On?”
02:20 Remaining Faithful Through Suffering
03:02 Job’s Endurance, Not Just His Suffering
04:14 How Suffering Produces Perseverance
05:32 Let Your Yes Be Yes — James 5:12
06:50 Jesus’ Teaching on Oaths and Integrity
08:10 From Doubting Brother to Devoted Disciple
09:01 James 5:13–18 — The Power of Prayer
10:22 Prayer, Healing and Calling the Elders
13:08 Is James Giving Us a Plan for the Sick?
14:16 Prayer as an Act of Obedience
16:30 Why Does James Mention Anointing With Oil?
17:36 Confession, Healing and Accountability
18:33 A Powerful Testimony of Prayer and Healing
22:02 What If Healing Doesn’t Happen?
22:56 Prayer Is Always Part of the Response
24:23 Confessing Our Sins to One Another
26:44 Elijah and the Prayer of an Ordinary Believer
27:37 Prayer, Persistence and James the Just