Nov. 16, 2025

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 25:43 min into the video. The music "Blessed Be Your Name", "Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)",  "Build My Life",  "You Are My All And All", "You Are My King (Amazing Love)", "Thank You Lord", and  "In Christ Alone" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

Pastor Dave delivers a realistic, compassionate message that acknowledges the inevitability of hardship while pointing believers toward hope in Christ's sovereignty.

When Doing Right Brings Trouble

Pastor Dave took us into 1 Peter 3:13-18 this morning, focusing on a reality none of us love to face: sometimes doing the right thing invites suffering into our lives. He reminded us this letter was originally written to scattered believers facing persecution, but it speaks directly to us too. "We're just passing through, and we will have seasons of suffering," he said. The question isn't if trouble will come—it's how we'll respond when it does.

Don't Be Surprised When Trouble Comes

Pastor Dave's first point hit hard: don't be surprised when suffering shows up. "If you've lived more than just a few years in life, your own experience tells you that there's going to be seasons of suffering," he said. We tend to forget this truth or convince ourselves bad things only happen to other people. Some folks even believe that enough faith exempts them from hardship—what he called "errant theology." He warned that kind of thinking leads to disillusionment or despair when life inevitably gets hard. The reality? Suffering touches everyone, even—especially—those living righteously. "Some of the most righteous people suffer the most, right?" he reminded us. Then he added something beautiful off-script: when someone in our church family is struggling, that's when we rally around them, pray for them, and speak life into them. That's what being family means.

Don't Be Afraid—Trust God's Sovereignty

Second, don't be afraid. Verse 14 says even if we suffer for doing right, we're blessed—and we shouldn't fear their threats or get all "tore up" about it. Pastor Dave admitted he doesn't practice this perfectly: "If you ever get around me and trouble's happening, I may get tore up a little bit. I may churn a little bit." We all do. But Scripture says over and over: don't fear man; fear God. When we recognize God is sovereign over everything—that nothing touches our lives unless He allows it—we can rest even in uncomfortable circumstances. "When I come to the place where I can rest in that truth... even then, Lord, I trust because You are sovereign," he said. That's how we stop living in fear.

Set Christ Apart in Your Heart

Third, sanctify Christ in your heart—make Him the central authority in every area of life. When suffering swirls around us, keeping Christ at the core brings peace. "Let it be established that He is the main thing," Pastor Dave urged. No matter what's churning externally or internally, if Jesus is supreme in our hearts, we can stand firm.

Be Ready to Share Your Hope

Fourth, be ready to give an answer for the hope within you—but do it with gentleness and respect. When people ask how we can smile through hardship or treat others well when they treat us badly, we need to point them to Christ. "My hope is not in this world. My hope is not in these things. My hope is in this, the book, what God has said in His promises." He reminded us to be kind, not harsh—especially toward unbelievers. "I don't see Jesus ever doing that to people," he said about in-your-face evangelism.

Actively Do Good

Finally, keep doing good even when others defame you. Live a life that reflects Christ's character, because "people will listen to your actions more than they'll listen to your words." And remember: Christ suffered for you. He did everything right and still suffered—carrying the weight of the world's sin. "Jesus suffered more than you will, I promise."

Pastor Dave closed by asking us to reflect on two things: What is God saying to me today, and how am I going to respond? As we head into Thanksgiving and Advent, that question lingers—how will we live differently when suffering comes?