The church of Christ on McDermott Road

When Paul preached in Thessalonica, not everyone believed. A mob was formed, a riot broke out, and the city was thrown into turmoil. In spite of this “severe suffering,” those who believed, “became a model” to believers in other areas. Paul commended these Christians for turning “to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” In this first lesson, we will explore how the church in Thessalonica can continue to be “a model” on how to live as sanctified people, as we “wait for [God’s] Son from heaven.” (Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)

Scripture: Romans 10:14-17

Being saved, cleansed, purified, and sanctified means we have no need to fear the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, we ought to long for that day and pray that it comes quickly. Furthermore, knowing that day is coming should completely change the way we live our lives. As Peter says, “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…” (2 Peter 3:11). What does a holy and godly life look like and how does the promise of “new heavens and a new earth” motivate that sort of lifestyle? (Scripture: 2 Peter 2:17-3:13)

Being God’s chosen, elect, and called people is not a passive identity. It is an identity we must live into. Peter tells his audience to “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election.” In other words, we need to live in such a way that proves or demonstrates we are God’s sanctified people. We do this by practicing the qualities Peter lays out in this chapter. (Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-11)

Most modern Westerners think very individualistically, even about our spirituality. When it comes to the church, we tend to think of the church in the same category as a business at which we are customers, an organization to which we are donors, or an establishment in which we have a membership in order to receive goods and services. We have to drastically change this way of thinking. We have to learn to think of the church as our family. One aspect of being in the church is having elders/shepherds to whom we submit ourselves as they teach and equip us to live sanctified lives. (Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Followers of Jesus are like a flock of sheep in need of good shepherds. Peter described how the elders were to shepherd in such a way that they would please Jesus, “the chief Shepherd.” McDermott Road members will soon begin recommending men to serve as additional elders of our congregation. These men should have the sort of character Peter describes, men who will join alongside the current elders as “examples to the flock.” (Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5)

Followers of Jesus are called to bless, do good, pursue peace, and show hospitality, using whatever gifts we’ve been given to serve one another. This is what it looks like to live a saved life; but a saved life is not always a safe life. Sometimes Christians must follow Jesus’ example by suffering while doing good. Whether we travel to foreign countries or help people in our own neighborhoods, we must be willing to go wherever we’re called and steward the gifts that God has given us. (Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11)

When Peter refers to followers of Jesus as chosen, royal, and holy he does not do so to merely  make them feel good about themselves. He is helping them understand that salvation comes with a vocation. In fact, the two are inseparable. Being God’s people, priesthood, and nation is a lifestyle and a full-time job. What would it look like if we—at school, work, home, or anywhere else—considered ourselves to be priests, involved in holy service to God? What would it look like to consider every moment and every task, sacred? (Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-10)

From the very first words of Peter’s letter, it is obvious that Peter wants followers of Jesus to see themselves as God’s chosen people, set apart by the “sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.” We are saved and set apart to live a particular sort of life in the world, an “obedient” life. Peter tells his audience, “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” So, what does this mean? How does Jesus expect sanctified people to live? What does it look like to “be holy” in all we do? (Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-21)

All year we have studied about loyalty, faithfulness, and allegiance to King Jesus. In this final lesson, we will consider some of Jesus’ strongest words on the sort of loyalty he is looking for in his followers. He wants a loyalty without limits. A loyalty that, by comparison, makes all of our other commitments look like “hatred.” (Scripture: Luke 14:25-33)