When we give ourselves to Christ in baptism, we die to the old self, are buried with him, and then raised with him to walk a new life. That new life involves not just living a life of personal purity, but also a life of community concern towards our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as to the world. We live new, raised from the dead lives as Christ’s Ambassadors, Spiritual Priests, bearing the Name of Christ, knowing we’ve been Bought with a Price – the blood of Jesus. Let us then express these new identity markers through INTENTIONAL WORKS OF MINISTRY!

Since we have been bought with a price our goal in life is to bring glory to God.  To bring glory is to live in such a way that Christ is seen clearly in our speech and actions.  It’s not enough to do random acts of kindness, we must do Intentional Works of Ministry in a way that Christ is seen and honored in those works.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

-1 Peter 5.8

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of

God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:14-16 (NIV)

As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)