Lately my kids have been into Netflix cooking shows—I have no idea why, but it’s a nice break from Disney Junior. It seems like every episode there’s always that one aesthetically-brilliant culinary creation that impresses the judges and audience alike right up to the final (and always definitive) leg of the inspection, namely, the taste test. During that test, if you see the judges cringe, then it doesn’t matter how symmetrical, glittery, or visually-complex the dish is, it’s out. Our passage this Sunday provides a refreshing reminder for Jesus-followers living in our current world of rhetorical games, political spin, mass marketing, and Instagram filters: the taste test matters! People crave something real. Thus, if our faith is just a cathedral of doctrines, a set of cognitive affirmations, or well-rehearsed insider-rituals, then it fails the taste test. The South Bay is hungry for organic, nutritious, and delicious lives committed to the ultimate purpose of human existence, and 1 Peter is pointing the way!

James

Actions speak louder than words. Our faith in Jesus is on display when we live out the nitty gritty details of life at work, in school, and with friends and family. The call and choice to follow Jesus in an increasingly un-Christian society impacts every relationship, including those under the roof where we live. While not writing a Marriage Manual, Peter provides practical counsel to Christian wives and husbands seeking to work out their faith in their most intimate commitments. His words in 1 Peter 2:11-3:8 give timely advice for all of us, in whatever relational status we find ourselves today. Let's figure out how to put Peter's words into our actions this Sunday. Take a few moments to read what he has to say, and then let's wrestle out some application this weekend. Oh, and this is important, we can't make a twenty-first century application of Peter's words until we understand the first- century context for husbands and wives.

Bill

Ethics is defined as a set of beliefs or moral principles that dictate behavior or at least in principle, should dictate behavior. What good are ethics without a corresponding behavior? Peter has laid the groundwork in I Peter 2-3 to describe the Christian ethic. Now in chapter 2:11 all the way to 3:7 Peter makes the case that when push comes to shove, it's how you live, not what you say that counts. Our Christian ethic must permeate our behavior to have any impact in culture whatsoever. In an article in the Guardian on the view of American Christianity: change and decay, the question is raised, "Is Christianity ceasing to matter in the United States?" Great question. Several articles point to a demise in Christian influence, not because Christian truths are antiquated but because there is no sign of Christian morality in the lifestyle of the believer anywhere. We who call ourselves Christians have melded with society instead of influencing, or as Andy Crouch says, "creating it". So, does what you believe bleed out into the way you live? Peter addresses the 4 relational arenas we interface with every day - the world, government, work, and marriage. How we are presenting ourselves to an unbelieving audience in each of these arenas is Peter's concern for our next two weeks together.

Todd

July 8, 2018

There are so many types of stones and gemstones: granite, marble, slate, limestone, sapphire, beryl, emerald, etc... Can you name a few more? Well, which one would you say is the most beautiful? For me it's probably Smoky Quartz or Black Onyx. Well, which one would you say carries the most value? I'm gonna say Blue Diamond... only because I googled it. Come this Sunday as we examine 1 Peter 2:4-12 and learn about the most beautiful, precious, life-giving stone that is yours to keep and cherish forever.

Jazz

July 1, 2018

“Love may be simple. Life is complicated.” Lewis B. Smedes

I wonder if it is getting more difficult to have intelligent, respectful, helpful conversations about the complexing issues of our lives. We’re tempted to move quickly into defensive, protective postures and corners. The impact is felt in our work, politics, driving, families, schools, dating, social media, and friendships.

The letter of 1 Peter leads us into a journey of love where the barriers of “different” and “other” melt away into community, unity, help, and compassion. Love may be a simple action, but it takes intense, intentional, persistent work. Peter says it this way, “Love one another deeply, from the heart.” Let’s get after this deep love, described in 1 Peter 1:22-2:3.

Grace and peace,

Bill

It is most unfashionable to speak of holiness today. Far more acceptable is to talk about love. The pejorative "Holy Rollers," or Dana Carvey as the SNL "Church Lady" comes to our cringing mind. The worst offense is to be judgmental. Or preachy. Or moralistic. We understandably run from a smug moral superiority that sometimes hides hypocrisy.

But Peter says plainly: "just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

What the heck are we to do with that imperative? This Sunday we will look at the three-sided beauty of holiness in 1 Peter 1:13-21. We will discover that holiness and love always go together. We will move toward the adventure and joy of bringing health and wholeness to a deeply hurting world.

A fellow stranger in a strange world,

Bill

Our passage this father's day describes from Peter's perspective the radical transformation from being aliens (which I believe could have a double meaning, once alienated from God, and now alienated from the social norms of this world) to full conversion to Christianity, to becoming a full fledged maturing believer whose faith has stood the test of time and trial (I Peter 1:1-12). I believe that true faith is more than simply assent or conversion to Christianity but a radical new relationship with God in the midst of trials and difficulties. As Dorothy Sayers says, "If Christianity is to be anything more than wishful thinking about ethical thinking" then we truly need to understand our dogma more clearly. And here is a deeper look at dogma. Our faith cannot flourish without personally transitioning from alienation to conformity to what I am calling a healthy antagonism with God in the midst of real life trials. I was inspired this week by a talk I heard entitled: "How to be an Idiot". It drew me in. I listened to it three times and then did some background research on this person's data and sources. It was all about conversion to Christianity through a movement or a process of being an idiot to becoming a moron to finally settling in as an imbecile, each representing a stage of progression from alienation to conformity to healthy antagonism of the world around them and in relationship with their God. He's looking at these terms not from an intelligence standpoint but from a way in which we see and interact with the world and God. Coming back to Peter and his overarching reason for writing this letter, he strongly presents a battle plan for victory- how to handle difficulties and live healthy and thriving until the hope which is to be revealed. It's about becoming an imbecile.

Todd

Last Sunday we zoomed all the way out and beheld the big-picture beauty of the entire letter of 1 Peter. This week, we are going to pull out the microscope and look exclusively at the letter's profound two-verse greeting. Join us as we discover that this ancient two-line introduction contains far more than thin social pleasantries or stock rhetorical filler. Instead, the short passage is absolutely pregnant with inspiring theology and timeless principles that, if we truly wrap our heads and hearts around, will set the table for unparalleled victory in our lives.

James

I Peter is about living a victorious Christian life even in the midst of trials and suffering. Rather than being discouraged and sidelined by hardship, Peter encourages us to grow from our trials, long for the pure milk of God's word, live in a harmonious way with all fellow believers, honor our governing authorities, guard yourself from the fleshly lustful living, serve in our giftedness, and stand firm against spiritual attack. Live out the victory which is ours in Jesus. That's Peter's message to us today. Defeat is not an option. Live victorious in Christ. Peter calls us aliens and strangers, socially disenfranchised in this world, yet with a rich new identity in Christ as a holy nation, a royal priesthood. Our new identity in Christ is what we lean into even in the midst of suffering and trials to live out this victory in Christ. This letter of Peter's is a fresh voice calling us to walk in the ways of Christ. Its not easy to live this out. In fact its downright difficult. But its possible and more rewarding than the alternative. And that my friends, is why we follow Peter's lead.

Todd

We are in commencement season. Colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, and home schools, are inviting speakers to give a commencement address to the graduating students. It is a fun and exciting time of year as it celebrates the end of one journey and the beginning of new adventures. I have always enjoyed commencement speeches, especially ones that leave me inspired to live the best life possible. As we wrap up our Belonging series this Sunday, we come to John 17. The whole chapter is a prayer by Jesus, the longest prayer that we have recorded by him. It is a beautiful and powerful prayer. It is deeply personal and reveals Jesus' intimate relationship with the Father. Yet, the prayer is more than Jesus' desires for his disciples. The prayer commissions the disciples for the journey they are about to embark on without Jesus. It is a call to faithfulness in the world; to remaining steadfast in the Jesus way. It is a prayer for public discipleship.

Matt