Faith Baptist Church
09/14/25 Dwell Richly Bible Study
  • 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.
    1st Couplet- Hope Filled, yet Fearful:
    1 Peter 3:15 “15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
    2nd Couplet- Humble and Respectful with Authority

    With Respect For All

    1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV
    13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

    Winning Others without Words

    1 Peter 3:1–6 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. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

    Honor for Everyone

    1 Peter 2:17 “17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
    Why is this such an important disposition for evangelism as exiles?
    What is our normal response to criticism or scorn? We often respond in kind.
    Why? The natural inclination of every human heart is to play dodgeball with shame. If we are mocked, then we give twice as much in return. If we are trolled, we be sure to troll back—only one better.
    Peter points to a better example:
    1 Peter 2:22–23 ESV
    22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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.
    Then Peter directly connects Jesus’s example with how we are to respond to others in a culture that is anti-Christian.
    1 Peter 3:9–11 ESV
    9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
    Why is this a hard text to imagine ourselves doing this week?
    Is this an easy week to honor everyone?
    Take a moment and turn that thought over in your mind. You’re called to show honor to every single person. Not just the people who deserve it. Not just those who earn our respect. Not just the ones who treat us agreeably. Not just the politicians we vote for or the immigrants who are legal. Not just the customers who pay their bills or the employees who do their work. Not just the neighborly neighbors. Not just kind pagans or honest Muslims. Not just the helpful wife or the good father.
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 39). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.
    What difference will we make if we only honor those who are nice to us?
    1 Peter 2:18–20 ESV
    18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
    Matthew 7:12 “12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
    How do we treat those who malign us? Those who mock us? Those who consider our lives worth little value?
    Is it possible to treat our opponents with honor? Surely, Peter didn’t mean we can’t be rude to people on social media who are mocking the death of a Christian- right?
    1 Peter 2:22–23 “22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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.”
    1 Peter 2:1 ESV
    1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
    Those are strong and comprehensive words. But Peter knew that Christian exiles easily slip into an unending volley of tit for tat. Of hurting those who hurt them. Of showing spite to their accusers. Of harboring malice toward those who put them down. Of mentally standing on their toes, like a tennis player, ready to return serve.
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 40). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.

    With Gentleness and Respect

    1 Peter 3:15 ESV
    15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
    How can we have this kind of gospel preparedness? Can you treat your non-Christian culture with gentleness and respect? How? We need to remember what we have already studied from I Peter. This kind of readiness comes from having a fear of God over and above our fear of man (honor Christ the Lord as holy). It comes with demonstrating an evident hope (for the hope that is in you).
    Peter caps off those dispositions with the idea of communicating the gospel message with gentleness and respect. A Gentle spirit and a humble respect for everyone is a critical disposition for exiled evangelists.
    Just as our enduring hope can be a compelling testimony when we suffer, showing respect to our rivals has a way of validating the gospel we preach. Many times people won’t be compelled to listen to our message on account of sound arguments or persuasive evidence. Instead, their ears will only open when we demonstrate inexplicable kindness, meekness, and compassion.
    Clark, Elliot. Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission As Strangers In Our Own Land (p. 40). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.
    Have you been paying attention to the response of the “right” to the assassination of Charlie Kirk? I have seen several difference responses. What have you seen?
    Fight, war, eye for an eye. Guy getting beat up on his scooter.
    Comparison of George Floyd riots to the prayer vigils for Charlie.
    Charlie’s wife, Erika’s response.
    What kind of impact will our gospel witness have if we can respond to unbelievers, even now, with gentleness and respect?
    What happens to our gospel witness if we hit them back twice as hard? “Our gospel is obscured.”

    Quiet for the Sake of the Gospel

    1 Timothy 2:1–6 ESV
    1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
    2 Timothy 2:23–25 ESV
    23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
    Romans 12:14–21 ESV
    14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
    If extra time:
    Ephesians 6:12 “12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
    1 Timothy 4:1 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”

      • 1 Peter 2:13–17NASB95

      • 1 Peter 3:1–6NASB95

      • 1 Peter 2:22–23NASB95

      • 1 Peter 3:9–11NASB95

      • 1 Peter 2:18–20NASB95

      • 1 Peter 2:1NASB95

      • 1 Peter 3:15NASB95

      • 1 Timothy 2:1–6NASB95

      • 2 Timothy 2:23–25NASB95

      • Romans 12:14–21NASB95

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