“Heavenly Citizens – Earthly Servants” 1 Peter 2:13-17

TRANSCRIPT

Date: September 8, 2024 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Persecution is the deliberate mistreatment or ridicule of a person or group of people based on their race, country of origin, religion, or political opinion. According to both Christian and secular historians, the Jews have been, and continue to be, the most oppressed ethnic group in the history of humanity. However, anti-Christian violence in America is rising . According to the Family Research Council, the number of attacks on churches in 2023 (436) was twice as high as it was in 2022 and eight times as high as it was in 2018. Pastors are being targeted.  On Tuesday night, dozens of bullets were fired at Pastor Greg Locke’s home in Tennessee.  Several months ago, a trailer full of Bibles was pulled into the church parking lot and set afire. Conservative politicians are being targeted.  Christian schools are being targeted.  Pro-life organizations are being targeted. Evangelical Christians are the number one enemies of secular humanists, and if Donald Trump wins the election in November, Christians can expect such violence to increase. This Sunday, we will continue our sermons from 1 Peter: A Living Hope – Preparing for Persecution. The title of this sermon is “Heavenly Citizens – Earthly Servants.” As Christians, we are called to stand firm in our faith. However, God has also called us to prepare to be persecuted because of our convictions. Thank you for sharing these sermon study guides with those you believe might be interested.

Persecution is the deliberate mistreatment or ridicule of a person or group of people based on their race, country of origin, religion, or political opinion. According to both Christian and secular historians, the Jews have been, and continue to be, the most oppressed ethnic group in the history of humanity.

However, anti-Christian violence in America is rising . According to the Family Research Council, the number of attacks on churches in 2023 (436) was twice as high as it was in 2022 and eight times as high as it was in 2018.

Pastors are being targeted.  On Tuesday night, dozens of bullets were fired at Pastor Greg Locke’s home in Tennessee.  Several months ago, a trailer full of Bibles was pulled into the church parking lot and set afire.

Conservative politicians are being targeted.  Christian schools are being targeted.  Pro-life organizations are being targeted. Evangelical Christians are the number one enemies of secular humanists, and if Donald Trump wins the election in November, Christians can expect such violence to increase.

This Sunday, we will continue our sermons from 1 Peter: A Living Hope – Preparing for Persecution. The title of this sermon is “Heavenly Citizens – Earthly Servants.” As Christians, we are called to stand firm in our faith. However, God has also called us to prepare to be persecuted because of our convictions.

Thank you for sharing these sermon study guides with those you believe might be interested.

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

Old Testament Reading:  Exodus 34:1-12 New Testament Reading: Matthew 26:36-56

The main theme of 1 st Peter 2:11-25 is found in verse 15: “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

STEPS TO REMOVE THE UNWANTED FROM SOCIETY

The Apostle Peter said the only way Christians can prepare for such persecution is to:

Peter exhorts Christians to live in such submission unto God that their behavior would silence those who criticize their faith.

To have that kind of witness on people, Peter said Christians should change their “mindset”, and be willing to live as:

In verse 11, we “abstain” from fleshly lusts by not participating in those things that would give people reason to criticize our testimony.

In verses 13-15, we “accept” our responsibility to be good citizens by submitting to those in authority over us, as evidence that we have surrendered unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

– Vs. 16 – “As free…but as servants of God.”

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