Today's sermon is built around 1 Peter 3:8-22. Peter references suffering 18 times in this little letter to churches who were facing the realities of hostility toward their faith in Jesus and the lifestyle that faith demanded. In this section, Peter reminds the church of the position Jesus has over all powers and authorities, and how that reality should shape their response to hostility.
We should not let fear cause us to act in a way that is inconsistent with who we as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. All followers of Jesus are called to repay evil with a blessing and to respond to hostility in a way that does not violate our conscience before God—the one we pledge to him at our baptism. In this way, in both word and deed, we live good lives among the pagans so they might glorify God on the day of his visitation.
Our theme for 2023 is 'Love. Learn. Love.', which is taken from Matthew 22:34-40 and Matthew 28:16-20. Throughout the year we will give our attention to the teachings of Jesus and what it means to follow Him @home, w/the church, &beyond.
