There are many things Christians will not agree on, but there are some major things a church must agree on to be unified, pure, and active in God’s work. After his rich greeting, Paul begins to address the division and discord in the Corinthian church.

The first words of a letter often come in the form of a greeting. This is no different in the many letters, or epistles, of the New Testament writers. The letter of 1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. Though we tend to overlook opening words of greeting, these first words are significant to the hearers, which includes us.

Before we can live up to our theme, Always Abounding in the Work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58), we need the Lord to first do a heart work in us. Therefore, we begin this new year by hearing the call of Jesus to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3.

In this final week and chapter of The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian finishes his journey and arrives at the Celestial City.

After leaving the Delectable Mountains, Christian & Hopeful are not far from the gates of the Celestial City. There are a few more characters to meet and a few more important lessons to be learned before they reach their destination.

After losing his traveling companion Faithful, Christian is joined by a new friend named Hopeful. Though the Delectable Mountains are not far off, they stray from the path and end up in Doubting Castle.

After enduring the valleys, Christian is joined by new companion, Faithful. They encounter two others before heading to the Godless City, Vanity Fair.

Christian continues on his journey to the Celestial City. He loses his burden, but also loses the Roll he’s been given. He is refreshed at the Palace Beautiful, but soon after must endure two dark and difficult valleys. This is the way of the narrow path, the King’s Highway, and we learn much about our own journey to the City of God.

Chapter 2 is a transitional scene before Christian begins his journey. He enters the Interpreter’s House, learning of the perils & rewards that await him along the way.

As we start The Pilgrim’s Progress, we learn about the author, John Bunyan, and the main character, Christian the Pilgrim.

To take up the mission of God and make disciples, we will seek to follow the example of the early church. They gathered corporately for worship on the first day of the week, but they also met by the dozens in House Churches. Why House Church? What are the reasons we are following this model, and what will it look like?

What is the mission of God? How did Jesus and the early church live on mission? How can we live on mission?

Peter ends his first letter with a word to elders, an exhortation to humility, and a call to stand firm to the end.

On Sunday, October 13th, our IMB missionaries to Madrid, Spain joined us.

Suffering is a recurring theme in Peter’s first letter. It’s also a recurring theme in our lives, as long as we live in a fallen world. But Peter dives deeper into what it means for us to suffer as a Christian.

Peter continues to build on similar themes he has introduced throughout his letter to the elect exiles. In chapter four, he calls them (us) to think differently and live differently. To live in light of past and future truths. This way of thinking and living will attract the attention of a watching world.

Today we will be examining 1 Peter 3:8-22 as Jay Sirmon opens the word with us.

In the previous section of this letter, Peter helps us to see the best way to glorify God in an ungodly culture. It doesn’t involve fighting against it, but humbly doing good within it. He applies this to different spheres of society, including our role as citizens and as servants/workers. In today’s passage, he applies it to our roles as husbands and wives in marriage.

Jesus provides us the perfect example on how to live as an exile. It involves humility, gentleness, servanthood, and honor. It includes submission, suffering, and doing good. It’s not about fighting against the culture but humbly doing good within it. This is what Peter begins to unpack in today’s passage.

We have been identified by the Apostle Peter as God’s proclaiming people. Now he begins to instruct us how to live as proclaiming people. He starts by calling us to a personal purity and a public witness.

Peter continues to share identity-shaping truths for elect exiles living in the world. These truths about our own identity and purpose, as God’s people, are rooted in the identity and purpose of Jesus. We cannot live faithfully on mission as exiles without knowing and pursuing our purpose in Christ.

Now that Peter has reminded us of our identity as elect exiles, he gives several imperatives on how we are to live out our identities in this world. As people observe our hope, our holiness, our fear, and our love, they will see the distinctness of God’s people and the glory of God himself.

The opening words of the Apostle Peter’s first letter is a gospel-rich reminder to scattered first century Christians of their identity. We too are exiles needing to understand who we are so that we can live faithfully in our world today.

The book of Exodus traces the children of Israel’s story of being redeemed by God out of slavery, led by God through the wilderness, and coming into God’s presence. As the book ends, it climaxes with the glory of God descending and filling the Tabernacle. This is what their journey has been driving towards: God dwelling in the midst of his people.