Sunday, April 3: Living Stones

1 Peter 1:1–3

The world is changing.

Advances in technology, communication, and transportation have brought global cultures together in ways previously unimaginable.

I think we all feel the changes.

Cultural change isn’t limited to language, food, and customs, we have also noticed a shift in values. Sometimes it feels like our culture is growing more tolerant of other worldviews, but less tolerant of the Christian worldview.

More and more, Christians are feeling like exiles—strangers in our home culture.

Granted, Christians in other parts of the world have it way worse than we do. We can worship freely. We can evangelize freely. We can buy homes, find employment, and go to school without facing discrimination because of our faith.

But the world is changing. We don’t know what the future holds.

Fortunately, God is in control, and He has given us wisdom for the journey. The Bible was written by and to a persecuted minority. Our mothers and fathers in the faith were exiles in the Roman world. They were often persecuted and discriminated against. In fact, that was the only life they knew! Much of the New Testament is dedicated to navigating life in a hostile culture, and that includes the book we are studying next—1 Peter.

This Sunday we are launching a new series on 1 Peter called Living Stones. First Peter is about living as an “elect exile” (1:1), rejected by men but chosen by God. We can find joy even in rejection because of the inheritance kept in heaven for us. As Jesus was glorified after his suffering, so also we rejoice in our hope.

Join us this week as we launch into 1 Peter, celebrate our future hope, and find out what it means to be “Living Stones.”

See you on Sunday!

Service times are at 9:30 & 11:00. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch live at those times.