Exiles in a Foreign Land

So far in our study of I Peter, we've learned that as elect exiles, living in a foreign land, we should expect pushback and opposition to the way we conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus.  We've also been reminded that, as we encounter opposition, Christ is our hope and heaven is our home.  These two truths were delivered by Peter to a group of Christians who had been scattered, distressed, tempted and tested.  With this letter, Peter took on the role of a coach or personal trainer, encouraging the early church to pull together, support one another, and to keep the end goal (heaven) in mind.

Amazingly, even today, many of us are still in need of a personal trainer, a coach, who like Peter, will encourage us to not forget our kind, loving heavenly Father who held us in His arms, protected us, and fed us just what we needed to grow.  New believers feel free to ask God anything, sharing everything with him.  But as we advance in biblical and theological knowledge, an erosion begins to occur.  We drift from the childlike intimacy with God and before long, that caring Father seems distant, uninterested in our everyday problems, even a bit irritated by our constant mistakes and nagging requests.  We need a Peter to come alongside and remind us of who we are and our role in this world.

This is the message of I Peter 2:4-12.  Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue in our series called, Resilient Hope.  In I Peter 2, we will be reminded that we are God's chosen people, living stones, royal priests, called on by God to pursue holiness so that a world without God, might come to know Him and accept His free gift of salvation.  Please join me this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue to wade through the book of I Peter.

Special Invitation:  Immediately following this Sunday's service, I am inviting you to join with me, and our church council, in praying for the future of Parkside Fellowship.  We will meet in the large Sunday School room directly across from the Fireside Room. 

The most critical key to any church revitalization and renewal is prayer.  Prayer is the foundation for beginning any new direction a church might take.  It anchors the future and the past by drawing us closer to the Lord.  Prayer produces faith.  Prayer leads us to confession.  Prayer leads us to humility.  Prayer leads us to make God glorifying decisions.  Prayer is a privilege.  It is a powerful tool.  Prayer is where you meet God.  Prayer is where you and I are shaped.  So let's pray!  We will also spend time around the communion table, as we remember that Christ died for his bride....the church. 

Thank you for praying for our church.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug