High Expectations in Exile.
Pastor Kent Landhuis
THEME - Where is the hope?
TEXT - 1 Peter 1:1-12
OUTLINE
Where does your hope come from?
1. We live in exile.
a. God’s elect, scattered in exile. 1 Peter 1:1a
b. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11
2. We live with hope.
a. We live with the hope of God’s great mercy.
b. We live with the hope of inexpressible joy.
c. We live with the hope of going home.
d. Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
NEXT STEPS
1. Read 1 & 2 Peter.
2. Claim your exile status.
3. Be hopeful.
GO DEEPER
The Politics of Church: Food for Thought…
The church used to be politically subversive. Jesus and the apostles proclaimed a message that disrupted everyone regardless of political persuasion. Think about that…
Seeing our true condition as exiles in a strange land will help us get our politics straight. The Bible describes followers of Jesus as exiles living in the shadow of a foreign empire. This is still true today. Think about that…
The book EXILES by Preston Sprinkle might help you sort out how you are called to live as a follower of Jesus, Here is a teaser from the book: “Viewing ourselves as exiles under a foreign empire should strengthen the church’s unity and group identity. Imagine a world where our common baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus bonds us together much more than our political views. Imagine a world where you feel closer to a fellow believer who voted differently than you do to someone who shares your political leanings. Imagine a world where left wing or right wing aren’t the only options, where Christ’s kingdom creates a whole different way of viewing politics.”
Think about that…
As we Study 1 & 2 Peter we will discover what it means to live as exiles. We will also learn why that is good for us AND good for our neighbors. Think about that…
RECOMMENDED READING - If you wish to go deeper into the "Exiles" sermon series, we highly recommend Exiles by Preston Sprinkle. BUY ON AMAZON