How Do We Stay Hopeful? - Against The Current: 1 Peter Series (Nathan Holland)

In the opening message of the new series 'Against The Current: 1 Peter', Nathan introduces 1 Peter 1:1–12, setting the stage for how believers are called to swim "against the current" of secular culture. Addressing a church facing regular trials and grief, he unpacks Peter's dual description of believers as both "elect" (chosen by God) and "exiles" (foreigners who do not truly belong to the world's system). The core of the message focuses on the reality of "living hope" anchored firmly in the resurrection of Jesus, which promises an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. Nathan explains that while our faith is actively refined by the fires of suffering and cultural pressure, this temporary grief ultimately proves the genuine value of our trust in Christ. The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder that our ultimate salvation and future glory are so profound that even ancient prophets and angels longed to catch a glimpse of the grace now given to us.

1 Peter 1:1–12; Daniel 6; John 15:18–19; Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 7:13–17