For the week of May 25, 2026
MONDAY
Day One: Servants Be Subject to Your Masters
Sermon Focus: Just do the next right thing – it delights God when we obey our earthly masters with all respect.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:18-20 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
Sermon Point: Household servants – whether slaves with no freedom or bondservants with limited freedom – were responsible for tending to the daily work and upkeep of the home. Peter instructs these servants to submit themselves to the authority of their masters, carrying out their directives with a posture of willing obedience. This submission is to be marked by deep reverence and wholehearted respect – not half‑hearted compliance but devoted honor toward the one who oversees them.
Sermon Reflection: In what ways does the posture of a “household servant” challenge your own approach to serving others, especially when the task or the authority over you feels limiting or inconvenient?
Application: Find a unique and tangible way to serve and encourage a person in authority over you today – and as you do, thank God for the opportunity to do so.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Thank God for Jesus today – that as the One who has all authority in heaven on earth, He came not to be served, but to serve. Pray that His example would foster humility in us, so that no matter who has authority over us, our desire is to be subject to them with all respect, out of our gratitude and reverence for Christ.
- Pray for the people in your life who are in authority today (teachers, bosses, pastors, police, government officials, etc.). Pray that they would exercise their authority with wisdom, compassion, graciousness, and in Truth. Pray that they would not abuse their authority but use it for the good of those over whom they have influence.
TUESDAY
Day Two: The Good Ones…and the Bad Ones!
Sermon Focus: Just do the next right thing – it delights God when we obey our earthly masters with all respect.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:18-20 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
Sermon Point: Peter qualifies his initial instruction by insisting that servants must submit not only to good and gentle masters but also to unjust ones, removing any loopholes for selective obedience. While submitting to a kind and fair master is naturally easier, submitting to an unjust one is far more painful and challenging. Yet, Peter’s command extends even into situations marked by cruelty, mistreatment, or unfair blame, reflecting the harsh realities of first‑century Palestine. In every circumstance, the call remains the same: no matter what, just do the next right thing with reverent respect, standing firm through consistent, faithful obedience.
Sermon Reflection: How might your posture toward unjust treatment change if you view steadfast, respectful endurance as a deliberate act of faithfulness that forms Christlike character in you?
Application: Read this article: authority in the Bible Consider where you may need to repent for not submitting to the authorities God has set in place…and then just do the next right thing to bring your belief and behavior in line with the Truth.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Confess to God how prone we are to resist His authority in our lives, in myriad ways – and ask Him to continue to help you to throw off any rebellious spirit that may lurk within your heart. Praise Him for new morning mercies and grace upon grace; praise Him for His Spirit who sanctifies and strengthens us to live within the bounds of God’s authority for our good.
- Pray for our elders – Steve, Sherri, Josh, Garrett, Jack, Brian, David, and Cammie. Pray that they would lead with humility and Christ-like love. Pray for wisdom and discernment to make godly decisions. Pray that they would be fully dependent on the Spirit in prayer and for the endurance and courage to walk in step with Truth, no matter what. Pray that they would be united – and all for God’s Glory Alone.
WEDNESDAY
Day Three: God’s Favor
Sermon Focus: Just do the next right thing – it delights God when we obey our earthly masters with all respect.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:18-20 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
Sermon Point: Peter teaches that enduring unjust suffering is considered a “gracious thing,” not in the sense of saving grace but in the sense of divine favor, joy, and reward. Although such suffering feels anything but delightful, God regards it with pleasure when we are “mindful of Him” because of His ultimate authority over every earthly master. The joy and favor come not from the pain itself but from wanting to submit out of reverence for God, honoring Him, no matter what. Scripture affirms that such faithful endurance carries eternal reward, revealing God’s delight in those who place His glory above their own comfort.
Sermon Reflection: How does the promise of God’s favor and eternal reward reshape the way you think about obedience in difficult circumstances, especially when that obedience feels costly or unseen?
Application: Peter anchors unjust suffering in future joy. In an area where you may be sufferingly unjustly, practice this breath prayer every time you are tempted to respond negatively: God, You are present with me and You delight in my faithful endurance; strengthen me to keep on, amen.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Ask God to help us view suffering through the lens of Truth. No matter what kind of suffering we may be enduring (and especially if it is unjust), pray for the grace to suffer well – to keep our eyes steadfastly focused on Christ, keen to see and embrace every opportunity we have to glorify Him in our words and behavior.
- Praise God for Jesus’ example of enduring unjust suffering – He never reviled, He never lashed out, He didn’t give in, and He never wavered in His resolute devotion to obeying His Father. Pray that we might have that same strength in us, as we depend on the Holy Spirit’s power to sustain us.
THURSDAY
Day Four: If You Sin…You Deserve What You Get
Sermon Focus: Just do the next right thing – it delights God when we obey our earthly masters with all respect.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:18-20 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
Sermon Point: Peter emphasizes that there is no credit or reward for enduring suffering that results from one’s own sin, just as a servant who rebels against a good and gentle master deserves the consequences that follow. Only undeserved suffering – endured with a faithful heart – carries the favor, joy, and delight he describes. The gracious reward Peter speaks of applies solely to those who suffer unjustly, not to those who receive just discipline for their sin.
Sermon Reflection: Where might you be tempted to view the consequences of your own sin as unjust? How does Peter’s teaching help you discern the difference between deserved discipline and true unjust suffering?
Application: Why would we ever want to sin? It only ever brings suffering. Rather…commit yourself to living in obedience today! Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21), put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20), and GO – be a fully devoted disciple who makes disciples! For God’s Glory Alone.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Pray for FMC – that we would be a church wholly devoted to living lives for God’s Glory. Pray that the Truth of God’s Word would take deep root in us, so that we might bear much fruit as we live in obedience to it. Pray that we would stop just talking about making disciples but that we would all actually do it, so that this Tri-State region might be transformed by the power of the Gospel!
- Praise God for the forgiveness that we have in Jesus! Pray that we would never want to take advantage of His grace. Praise Him for His mercy! Pray that we would, in turn, be merciful toward others. Praise God for His love. Pray that we would be people who love as we have been loved.
FRIDAY
Day Five: Endure Unjust Suffering for God’s Glory Alone
Sermon Focus: Just do the next right thing – it delights God when we obey our earthly masters with all respect.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:18-20 says, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
Sermon Point: Peter concludes by saying that when someone does good and still suffers for it – enduring with a God‑ward mindset – that endurance is a “gracious thing” in God’s sight. It brings Him favor, joy, and delight! Even when an unjust master crushes a faithful servant without cause, God treasures the obedience that just keeps doing the next right thing for His sake. Such steadfast endurance honors God above self, and He promises heavenly reward for those who suffer unjustly out of devotion to His glory alone.
Sermon Reflection: How does the promise that “God delights in and rewards faithful endurance” invite you to rethink what “the next right thing” looks like in the difficult relationships or authorities you face today?
Application: Use this graphic to review what we’ve learned from these verses in 1 Peter. Who in your life can you pray for and encourage with this counter-cultural response to unjust suffering from authority?
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
1. Praise God that He sees and rewards unjust suffering – what a kind and generous God He is! Pray for those you know are suffering unjustly under the authority of those over them – that they would be strengthened to remain mindful of God, no matter what. And pray for those who are suffering for their own sinful choices – that they would be led to repentance and would do whatever it takes to make right what they’ve done.
2. Pray for our upcoming corporate worship on Sunday. Pray that every single person will be encouraged and built up in their faith – that Truth will be pursued – that unity among us would be guarded – that our conversations would be gracious and seasoned with salt – that eyes and ears would be open and responsive to the work of the Holy Spirit – that next steps would be identified and taken. And that in and through every moment, God’s Glory Alone would be our chief aim.