Learning how to live under pressure, especially when it involves the testing of our faith, is essential to our progress in the Christian life. In today’s passage we take a closer look at how suffering is related to the gospel, and how God wants to use it to help us grow in holiness. Jesus is the Messiah, the ’Suffering Servant’, who shed His precious blood to redeem us and make us children of God. Understanding the greatness of this salvation gives us the confidence and hope that whatever we may face in this life, the best is still yet to come …. and it’s worth waiting for.
The book of 1 Peter is making a comeback today. It’s original readers felt like ‘exiles’ or ‘foreigners’ in the world of the early church. And that’s the way more and more Christians are starting to feel these days. Somehow we don’t really fit as the world around us becomes more secular. But the reality is that we are different and we don’t fit. This world is not our true home and we aren’t meant to belong here. So how do we cope with this tension, especially when trials come and our faith is tested? In this message, Pastor Murray urges us to see how God wants to use these times to prepare us for the glorious ‘inheritance’ that awaits all who truly belong to Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-9)
As modern society becomes more secular, it is gradually becoming more difficult to publicly identify as a Christian. In many instances these days it is actually risky to stand up for Christ. Yet that’s the way it has been for most Christians over the past 2000 years. The idea of Christians being a triumphant majority in society is the exception rather than the rule! So how should we live out our faith in a predominantly pagan world? Tonight’s message explores this question and shows just how radically counter-cultural the Christian life should be. We’re not meant to fit in too comfortably. Our lifestyle ought to be different. And rejection is actually an expected part of following Christ. That’s the theory. Now to put it into practice!
“Who am I?” A simple question, but, as Christians, a very important one to ask. We must understand who we are, because who we are affects how we live. Peter knew this, so he says to his readers, “Remember who you are!” What he has to say is just as true for us today as it was for the church in Peter’s day.
Listen as Pastor Michael explores what Peter has to say about our identity as Christians. Let us consider how our identity will affect the way we live.