The book of 2 Peter is an encouragement for God’s church to continue persevering in the Christian life on the basis of God’s promises. He wants us to know that God’s promises are sure, so that we will give ourselves to good works rather than indulging our sinful desires. We must not be taken in by those who say there is no judgment and therefore we may live as we please.

Your first sermon from Peter will be a chance to highlight and focus on God’s promises and our response to them. In terms of application you can challenge the various ways in which we introduce a hierarchy into church life, treating some believers as more special than others. You can also challenge the idea that we need something extra from God before we can start fighting against sin—as if he must first give us a good job, car, wife, children, or something else before we are ready to pursue godliness. Finally your sermon should encourage believers to know that God’s forgiveness is available whenever we fail and that we are to persevere in our fight against sin, remembering the promises that have been made to us in Christ.