Eternal Brothers (1 Peter 1:22-2:3)

What is the great hope of the Christian life - to be free from suffering, or to be like Christ? In this passage the Apostle Peter shows how God uses our suffering to make us more like Christ - to put to death our sin for sin, and to prepare us for glory.

How should Christians respond to injustice and persecution? Some of us are tempted to shrink back, whilst others of us are tempted to fight back. But the Lord Jesus Christ shows us a better way, which opens the door to share the reason for the hope that we have.

Peter's letter continues to help Christians see how to live as exiles in this world, this time particularly focussing on aspects of God's beautiful and counter-cultural design for marriage.

How do we live in this world as God’s holy people? Withdraw like monks? Blend in? Listen to Peter’s simple strategy, and his surprising focus.

In a culture where we are being publicly shamed for following Jesus, what will make us speak up about him? Peter’s strategy is to show us how our identity and purpose are all wrapped up with Christ, our Cornerstone.

Is it possible to be a solo Christian? In this passage the Apostle Peter explains how holiness is utterly relational, and that we have been saved in order to love one another within the family of God.

Christians will always be under pressure to conform to the thinking and values of the culture around us, so how can we resist? Peter maps our experience onto the Exodus generation, encouraging us to keep our eyes looking forward to Christ’s return, up to our holy Father, and back to the Lamb’s sacrifice.

What accounts for how different people respond to suffering in different ways? Peter encourages his exiled readers to respond with joy and praise because of the certain resurrection hope that is theirs in Christ.

Peter’s introduction and closing greeting helps capture the theme of the letter - that Christians live in this world as exiles. We should expect difficulty, and yet know we are deeply loved by our Triune God.

In this talk from guest speaker Tim Saunders we are reminded about the good news of the gospel we have, and are encouraged to share it with others, and consider how we can play a part in God's harvest today.