Romans 5:1-5 — How should God’s people respond to what is happening? Love! God’s love, that has been poured out into our hearts abundantly and without limit, should overflow through us to the world. Our calling is to be true image-bearers, true reflections of God to the world by letting his love flow through us into the world and to others. We are in a time of testing. Will we fail the test by being like the world, or will we be faithful and love others as God loves us?
Read More1 Peter 4:1-19 — During suffering be and remain faithful. Be of sound mind and practice self-control so that we can keep on praying. Keep on loving. Keep on showing hospitality. Keep serving others. Rejoice in suffering because we know that we are God’s children and the Holy Spirit is with us. Remain faithful and entrust our lives to the faithful Creator God. Remain faithful and God’s glory will be revealed.
Read MoreWhen we suffer because we are persecuted for Jesus’ sake we should rejoice because we are blessed—the Kingdom of heaven is ours and we know our faith is real. We rejoice by revering Jesus Christ as Lord and following his example. We rejoice by praying, loving and serving.
Part of our sermon series—”Be Courageous! Living as God’s People in God’s World.” This series is based on and follows the outline of Christopher J.H. Wright’s book, The Mission of God's People : A Biblical Theology of the Church's Mission, (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2010).
Read MoreWhen we live as God’s people in the world, and when we confront the world, we are called to suffer because of Jesus.
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