To start the year, we are studying Peter’s first letter by beginning with I Peter 1:1-2. In each section, we will see how he describes the people of God. In his greeting, Peter calls Christians “elect exiles,” which is a curious expression that mixes something positive (elect, chosen, selected) with something negative (exiles, driven out, rejected). As it turns out, God’s election makes his people exiles in this world, and Peter reminds us that it is our call to live our lives as those who are in the world but not of the world.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-23, King Jehoshaphat sought the LORD, who delivered his people from a powerful enemy. Their rescue anticipated a greater deliverance by...
After the dismal failures of Israel during the time of the judges, the restoration began with the birth of a son to a barren...
After his farewell discourse with his disciples, Jesus prayed his longest recorded prayer in John 17:1-26. He prayed regarding himself, for his original disciples,...