In 1 Peter 1:3-8, the Lord gives us a series of eight critical character qualities necessary for triumphant living. Brotherly kindness is high on the list; in fact, it's right before agape love itself. The term "brotherly kindness" is from the Greek work, philadelphia, which means "brotherly love." The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was named for this Greek word, for the founder, William Penn, aspired to create a city where people truly loved each other. How do we develop brotherly love? We have it described for us in a parallel passage--Ephesians 4:25-32.

We live in a dirty world, which makes it challenging to keep our lives clean. Yet Peter tells us to add godliness to our perseverance and to the other qualities we're developing. Godliness is akin to Christlikeness. Jesus Christ, being God, showed us how to live like God on this planet. The book of First Peter tells us how to walk in His steps, so we can zoom in on 1 Peter 2:9-12 to glean some insights into godly living as we imitate our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Peter's list of qualities we are to cultivate, he tells us to add self-control into the mixture of our life (2 Peter 1:6). A person without self-control is like a city without walls; the enemy can burst in and plunder at will. But someone who is under the Spirit's control is also learning self-control, for the Holy Spirit wants to impart personal discipline to all our other traits. This deserves priority; it displays maturity; it deepens our disciplines; and it's available to those who develop a meaningful strategy for putting this virtue into place.

According to 2 Peter 1:3-8, God has given us everything we need for godliness; He has given us a set of powerful promises. As we put those into operation, we must be diligent to work on certain traits that He desires to see in our life. One of these is virtue—the quality of seeking to please God. Jesus Christ pleased God on every occasion, and we should endeavor to do the same. First Thessalonians 4 tells us how.

Peter opens his second epistle by telling us God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and He empowers us for that kind of life by His great and precious promises. We’re not a passive part of the process. We must diligently work to build up the traits that will honor Christ and make us more like Him. Peter tells us to diligently add to our faith the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. This lesson focuses on the aspect of diligence, growing into the likeness of Christ by working at it with all our heart.

Sheila Walsh interviews Dr. David Jeremiah as they discuss eight steps to living a life of confidence in the promises of God.

Drugs like Valium and Prozac are taken like aspirin today in an attempt to bring peace and to calm those consumed with anxiety. The apostle Paul had a different and better prescription for finding peace: Pray, think, and do the will of God, and the peace of God will surround you.

It’s one thing for a Christian to believe he needs to press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It's another thing to do it consistently and energetically. Paul offers four guidelines or principles that will keep the Christian from falling by the wayside as he presses toward home.

Is winning spiritual? Some would say competition is a carnal pursuit—that it's not whether we win or lose, but how we play the game. The apostle Paul would say both are important in the spiritual life. In fact, it's how we play the game that determines whether we win or lose.

Dr. Jeremiah introduces us to three role models in sacrifice, service, and suffering.

Learn three disciplines that will help you fulfill your responsibility as a believer.

The book of Philippians offers lessons on courageous faith and integrity.

Discover the community of believers…where people are known, loved, strengthened and accepted by the grace of God.

Spiritual transformation begins with the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2) as we discipline ourselves to seek the perfect will of God for our lives.