As horrifying as tyrants like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao are to our sensibilities, they are little more than pale projections of the ultimate destroyer: the evil one who prowls the earth like a roaring lion (1 Pet. 5:8). From the beginning, Satan has distinguished himself as a destroyer. Here's part 1 in a series on Satan the destroyer.

In John 10, Jesus weaves the language of Ancient Near Eastern shepherds into his teaching. He plies the imagery of the gate, the shepherd, and the sheep to emphasize the security found only in him, and the dangers posed by those who seek to ravage the flock. Is this a pointed reference to Satan?

Clayton Carver serves as pastor of small groups and administration at First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mo. He also teaches on apologetics and theology at Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more about this member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network.

The apostle Peter knows first-hand the perils of dropping one's guard in the presence of the evil one. So, in 1 Peter 5:8, he strongly urges his readers to be sober-minded and alert. Just as a prowling lion often pounces on the weak and vulnerable, Satan most easily devours those who are lifted up with pride, or who wage spiritual battles in fleshly strength, or who drift into apathy.

Peter depicts Satan as a prowling, roaring, and voracious lion, seeking "anyone he can devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). The Greek word Peter uses for "devour" is katapino, which means "to drink down, swallow, or destroy." The earth is Satan's domain. He roams it freely. And believers, who are in this world but not of it (cf. John 17:14-15), are vulnerable prey.

Satan seeks not only to destroy our spiritual lives -- our confidence in the Lord, our testimonies, our spiritual disciplines -- but our physical lives as well. He targets our bodies for a number of reasons, first and foremost because they serve as temples of the living God. This article concludes our series on Satan the destroyer.

Where did American values originate? In this guest column from Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network member Ed Croteau, our values are not race-based, religion-based or ethnic-based. American values are based on ideals. In this first of three articles, Ed looks at one of these ideals: "In God we trust."

What Every Christian Should Know about Satan explores more than a dozen biblical names and titles that reveal the evil one's character, tactics, and ultimate destiny in hell. Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this resource is designed for personal or group study.