Living as citizens of heaven means we live as foreigners on earth, and therefore as representatives of the kingdom of God to a non-believing world. We witness to an outside world through what we worship, in a way that either ascribes our ultimate worth in the things of the world or in Jesus Christ. Peter encourages us in this passage to the latter. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Part of being in Christ is that we are as close to God as we can ever be, as we are members of the priesthood of believers with Jesus Christ as our great high priest. Living in our priestly identity means we offer our obedience and worship to God Almighty.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Finding our belonging and identity in Christ—our cornerstone—means that we have a godly purpose. And as we live as God’s people, in holy exile, we are called to lean into the church, God’s chosen people, as our family. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4–10

Loving others is a foundational part of following Christ. Jesus himself gave the command in his teachings. The source of our love comes from the abundant love that God has for us, a never-ending, unshakeable kind of love. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22–2:3

This passage shows us where our hope lies—in Christ’s death and resurrection. While we often want to skip suffering and hardship for the reward of life in Christ, we ultimately find the cross comes before the crown. Scripture 1 Peter 1:10–12

This week’s passage begs the question, “How do we live ‘holy’ in exile?” According to this passage, as Christ’s ambassadors living on mission in exile, we are called to a holy standard because we are in Christ. There’s no where we can go in exile where God is not already there. And through Christ we are able to exemplify God’s holiness as we walk through this time in exile. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Because Peter knows suffering intimately, and has embraced the risen Christ, he speaks to a suffering people in a shepherding way throughout this letter. To the Christian, Peter’s inspired words encourage rejoicing, grieving and refining, to know that in our trials, Jesus is near.

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9

The book of 1 Peter reminds us that Christ’s resurrection gives us assurance in the presence of our future, imperishable inheritance and hope. The invitation from the word of God is to rest in this truth and to fix our eyes on Christ. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3–5

This week, we begin a new series in the book of 1 Peter. A book that explores many themes, particularly the good news that the defining reality of our life is not our sin, but our Savior. In Christ, we are unconditionally loved as we live as a people in exile. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-2

As Christians, we should live in the ongoing pursuit of wisdom as we consider how we spend our time, and align it with the ways of God. Wisdom is living in God’s world, in God’s way. Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21