Peter has been pleading with his readers to choose submission. Submission to government leaders, to employers, to spouses and to each other within the Body of Christ. In chapter 3, as he challenges us to make the choices that lead to unity, he suddenly turns all of his attention to how we speak to and about each other. Peter is so specific and so clear in his statements that tonight we have to ask, is the most important decision in our submission the words we choose to use? Do our words not only have the power of life and death but also of submission and rebellion? Does being a pilgrim and a stranger, a witness in the world and a brother or sister in the church come down to what we say to and about each other? As Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”.