Posts in Exiles
Exiles: Spiritual Gifts

It’s easy to think that spiritual gifts are only for a select few. But Peter explains that God has given each of us spiritual gifts: special abilities that help the church flourish. So how do you know what your spiritual gift is? And how do you make use of it? Knowing and using your spiritual gifts are critical to help you fulfill your unique role in the church.

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Exiles: Suffering Saviour

One of the biggest questions we have is why do we suffer? The Bible has much to say on the topic, but the greatest truth is we have a Saviour who suffered. Through His incarnation and death no the cross, Jesus experienced life — and suffering — just as we do. So when we encounter suffering, we can always turn to Jesus who understands better than anyone else.

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Exiles: House Rules

Most homes and organizations have ‘house rules’ that govern how they relate to each other. In 1 Peter 3, Peter sets out the house rules for the church. But he doesn’t start with a bunch of dos and don’ts, instead he addresses the 5 heart attitudes that are the foundation for genuine Christian community.

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Exiles: God’s Design for Marriage

There is no shortage of advice these days about love, sex, marriage, and family. The Bible also has advice that we ought to pay attention to — because as the creator and designer of marriage, God knows better than anyone how it works best. We look at what the Bible has to say about how husbands and wives can relate to one another in order for a marriage to flourish.

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Exiles: Responding to Human Authority – Part 2

We all want as much personal autonomy as possible, which means that we often struggle with human authority. Peter acknowledges this struggle by discussing at length how Christians should respond to the authorities in our lives. He challenges us to follow the example of Jesus by not rebelling but instead submitting to human authority, while trusting in the ultimate authority of God.

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Exiles: Responding to Human Authority – Part 1

How should Christians respond to government authority? Surprisingly, Peter challenges us to submit to governing authorities and to honour the king. That’s the opposite of what most of us want to do, especially in the midst of our current political environment. So why does he ask us to submit, and what does that look like? What if the government is corrupt or the leadership is evil? What then?

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