Faith Baptist Church
07/20/25 Dwell Richly Bible Study
  • Picture an evangelist. What comes to mind?
    “But this isn’t how it has always been. Not throughout history and certainly not in much of the world today.[1] And I suspect it will soon not be the case in the West either, as Christian power and influence fade into the cultural background in the span of our own lifetimes, as we lose our public and respected “voice” and perhaps even as we encounter persecution. So we must learn what it means to do evangelism as exiles, as strangers and outcasts in our own land.” (pg 7)

    Embracing Exile

    1 Peter 1:1–2 ESV
    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles ... according to the foreknowledge of God the Father ...
    How do you preach the gospel when you and your message are unwelcome?
    How do you witness when you have neither a place nor a position?
    How do you practice evangelism as a stranger and outcast?
    How did Jesus do it?

    Our Exiled King

    1 Peter 1:1 ESV
    1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
    In what way were these believers exiles?
    “They were not, as we might imagine them, like the desperate refugees and wayfaring immigrants flooding the West today from the war-torn Middle East or famine-stricken Africa.”
    Peter was writing before Nero. Before Christianity became criminal in the Roman Empire. Before death sentences and political persecution. We might call it “soft persecution.”
    What did this soft persecution look like for these Asian Christians?
    1 Peter 4:4 ESV
    4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
    “They experienced repeated reviling from family members, neighbors, and coworkers. Friends openly mocked them for their faith, maligning them for their unwillingness to join in debauched parties and sexual escapades.” (8-9)
    Christian became the cultural byword for idiot or, if they had such a word, bigot. Does that sound familiar?
    How did Peter describe such soft persecution?
    1 Peter 1:7 ESV
    7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
    Peter called the inconveniences and harassments “fiery trials.”
    Does that surprise you?
    What other kind of trials did Peter include under this label?
    Someone read:
    1 Peter 3:1–2 ESV
    1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
    1 Peter 2:18 ESV
    18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
    That is what suffering looked like for these Asian Christians that Peter is writing to.
    Can you see how their situation mirrors our own?
    However, one of Peter’s main concerns is to demonstrate how the sufferings of the believers reflected the life and afflictions of Christ.
    When the church is reviled and is suffering, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We are joining our King in exile.

    Jesus was chosen by God

    1 Peter 1:1–2 ESV
    1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
    We could spend weeks of debate arguing for what exactly these ideas mean. Indeed, much of church history has covered that debate.
    But, I don’t think that is Peter’s focus. His aim was to highlight the overlapping realities of the believer’s experience with Jesus’ experience.
    1 Peter 2:4 ESV
    4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
    Just as the believers in Asia were elect according to the foreknowledge of God, so too Jesus was chosen by God and precious.
    1 Peter 1:20 ESV
    20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
    Here, Jesus was also foreknown before the foundation of the world.
    Peter wants the believers to see their solidarity with Christ- we both are foreknown and chosen by God.

    Jesus lived as an exile

    1 Peter 2:4 ESV
    4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
    1 Peter 2:7–8 ESV
    7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
    John said it this way...
    John 1:11 ESV
    11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
    Jesus’s own people rejected him, they stumbled over him, they were offended by him. In short- they wanted nothing to do with Jesus.
    Over and over again in his letter, Peter compared the identity and experience of the believers to that of the exiled Christ.
    1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV
    4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
    1 Peter 2:21 ESV
    21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
    1 Peter 2:23 ESV
    23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
    The believers, who were in such close identity with Christ, were also to entrust themselves to their heavenly Father as they endured suffering.
    1 Peter 4:19 ESV
    19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
    Why would we want to identify with Christ, if it means we must identify with His sufferings?
    1 Peter 1:21 ESV
    21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
    The logic of the apostles is simple: If we share now in Christ’s sufferings, then we will share in his glory. This is the ground of Christian joy. A living hope. In a world of seemingly unending shame, opposition, struggle, weakness, affliction, and persecution, the certainty of future glory is the unstoppable heartbeat of our enduring hope—
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 10). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.

    Learning in Exile

    In this study on evangelism we want to talk not only about what the gospel is and why we preach it to others, we also want to talk about how we live on mission when we’re strangers and sojourners in our own land.
    What is our normal reaction when as American Christians we realize that we are losing our cultural power and influence? What is our normal reaction when we get pushed to the margins?
    Despondent and hopeless, we bemoan what is lost, we throw up our arms and cry foul. We tend to fight for our rights in the public square and slam our opponents on social media.
    We become fearful about our future.
    More and more I see Christians incensed when the world mocks us and our faith. But we seem to have no trouble disparaging others with whom we disagree, whether it’s for their position on the environment or economics, guns or gays. Meanwhile, we unnecessarily disenfranchise unbelievers by becoming ardent apologists for relatively unimportant opinions, such as our preferred diet or sports team. But, at the same time, we somehow lack an authoritative voice on far weightier matters. Few of us would ever risk offending someone by actually proclaiming the good news of Christ. Instead, we’ll only passively or reluctantly share the gospel provided someone else is inclined to listen.
    We stand opposed to so much of what we dislike in the world, but then we live much like the world. Our churches mimic the value system of corporate America, promoting our professional ministries with the tools of marketing and amusing ourselves with endless entertainment. Then we’re surprised when the world sees us as phony. So many of us are in love with this present world, yet it seems we’d rather keep the world—or, more accurately, its sinners—at much more than arm’s length. Far too often we’re a happy and hope-filled people as long as our churches are prospering, as long as we have a seat at the cultural and political table. But it’s highly unlikely we’ll invite the world—other races and creeds and lifestyles—around our own kitchen table. We’re of the world but somehow not in it.
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 11). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.
    Thoughts? Agree/Disagree? Why?
    How should we respond to this criticism? Repent!
    Put off-
    Put on-
    Our study will cover six essential qualities of a Christian exile on mission:
    Hope filled, yet
    Fearful.
    Humble and Respectful with
    Authority
    We will live a holy life, separate from the world, yet be incredibly
    Welcoming and loving in it.

    You’re Not Alone

    We all know a seismic cultural shift is taking place in our land. The social pressures crashing against Christians and Christianity are on the rise and aren’t likely to recede for some time. The West is fast becoming post-Christian, post-truth, and perhaps even post-tolerant. Our exile and persecution doesn’t seem any longer to be a question of if or even when, but how far. How far will we slide? How much will we lose? How long will it last? And while those are all reasonable questions, the more pressing and biblical question is this: How will the church respond?
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 12). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.
    1 Peter 4:12 ESV
    12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
    We should not be surprised by these kinds of fiery trials. They are actually the most normal thing in all the world.
    It was normal for Jesus.
    Is it common for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world?
    We are not alone in facing fiery trials as we share our faith.
    As we walk away from what we have known in a sheltered American past, we are not alone. We are actually being included in what many Christians have endured much of their lives.
    We are also joining Christ outside the camp.
    Hebrews 13:13 ESV
    13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
    But in-as-much-as we share in Christ’s sufferings, so too we will also partake in His glory. This is our living hope. This is what enables us to do evangelism as exiles.

    Application

    What are some ways we can embrace evangelism as exiles this week?
    How does seeing our close identity with Jesus empower us to share our faith?
    Why are we so vocal on sharing our opinions on certain cultural issues, yet so timid when it comes to sharing our faith?

      • 1 Peter 1:1–2ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:1ESV

      • 1 Peter 4:4ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:7ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:1–2ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:4ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:20ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:4ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:7–8ESV

      • John 1:11ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:4–5ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:21ESV

      • 1 Peter 2:23ESV

      • 1 Peter 4:19ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:21ESV

      • 1 Peter 4:12ESV

      • Hebrews 13:13ESV

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