The Church as ExilesDr. Dennis E. JohnsonThe First Epistle of Peter teaches Christians, whatever our cultural context, to view ourselves as exiles—not homeless, but distant from our real home, “the inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). Our uncomfortable calling as exiles—to be neither isolated from nor absorbed into our environment—means following the footsteps of the Suffering Servant, confident that, even as we are marginalized, “the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (4:12-14). The Church as ConfidentDr. Bradley BitnerDespite the challenging conditions of her exile, the Church of Christ can have great confidence. As Christians we may be confident that God is indeed for us in Christ even when our circumstances tempt us to doubt God’s favor toward us and presence with us. Romans 8:31-39 bolsters our confidence by pointing us to the gracious gift of God in Christ, the comforting verdict of God in Christ, and the glorious love of God in Christ. The Church as NeighborDr. David VanDrunenHow is the church to remain faithful to preaching the gospel, which is an offense, alongside the call to live in peace with all people? Both are expressions of Christian love. This message will explore how the church relates to unbelieving neighbors alongside whom it exists. The Church as PilgrimsDr. Michael HortonAs pilgrims we are purposefully and intentionally headed somewhere. We have been liberated and freed for the journey, but we have neither settled nor arrived. This message will compare and contrast being a pilgrim with being a master, on one hand, and a tourist, on the other. The Church as BodyDr. A Craig TroxelChrist “fills all in all” but the church is his “fullness” (Eph 1:21-22). The headship of Christ splashes upon the shores of millions of galaxies and myriads of angelic hosts, which bow to the dominion of Christ’s supremacy. And yet it is the church—not the universe—which is his body. All things are under his feet. One thing is the apple of his eye. This message will unfold how this marvelous reality influences how we worship and serve Christ as creator, ruler, and redeemer. The Church as PersecutedDr. Joel E. KimWhat do the sufferings of the church of Christ in the past and around the globe teach us about the present church? It is easy to forget that Christ’s church is more often marked by persecution and not prosperity. This message will explore how Christ’s church bears witness in the midst of persecution, proclaiming the enduring reign of God and the power of His Word.
