Elect Exiles and the Pursuit of Joy

Here are some thoughts to prepare you for the Word on Sunday night:

1. We, as elect exiles, have cause for GREAT joy, because of the work of Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
2. Our joy in suffering, sharpens our faith, preparing us for the revelation of Christ, when our faith will be sight. (1 Peter 1:6-9)
3. Our work of Christ in our salvation is so glorious, that the prophets longed and the angels long to take part in it. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

There are a few quotes that have influenced my thinking and understanding of this text:

"Grace came down. Joy came up. That’s Christianity."
John Piper

God is preparing you, through suffering, to enjoy him more in heaven than if you had not suffered: “It will be no damp to the happiness of those who are of lower degrees of happiness in glory that others are more advanced in glory above them for all shall be perfectly happy, everyone shall be perfectly satisfied, every vessel that is cast into the ocean of happiness is full, though there are some vessels far larger than others. And there shall be no such thing as envy in heaven, but perfect love shall reign through the whole society.”
Jonathan Edwards (quoted by John Piper.)

“This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world.”
Piper, Desiring God, p.222

"Had some sweetness in the thoughts of arriving at the heavenly world. O for the happy day! God gave my special assistance in prayer; I wrestled with much sweetness; intercession was made delightful employment to me..."
David Brainerd, The Life of David Brainerd, p.33

"Was not a little distressed for want of suitable food. Had no bread, nor could I get any. I am forced to go or send ten or fifteen miles for all the bread I eat; and sometimes it is moldy and sour before I eat it; and then again I have none for some days together, for want of an opportunity to send for it, and cannot find my horse in the woods to go myself. And this was my case now, but through divine goodness I had some Indian meal, of which I made little cakes and fried them. Yet felt contented with my circumstances, and sweetly resigned to God. In prayer I enjoyed great freedom, and blessed God as much for my present circumstances as if I had been a king: I found a disposition to be contented in any circumstances. Blessed be God!"
David Brainerd, The Life of David Brainerd, p.61

"My leanness testifies against me! My soul abhors itself for its unlikeness to God and sluggishness. When I have done all, alas, what an unprofitable servant am I! My soul groans because I do not fill the hours in spirituality and heavenly-mindedness. Yet I long they should speed their pace to hasten me to my eternal home, where I may fill up my moments, through eternity, for God and His glory."
David Brainerd, The Life of David Brainerd, p.57

Come Sunday night at 7pm, and bring a friend!

Exiles and Aliens - The Book of 1 Peter

Next Sunday night, re:Generātion will begin a new teaching series focused on the book of 1 Peter entitled, “Exiles and Aliens.” The title for this series is taken from 1 Peter 1:1 and 2:11, where Peter addresses his readers as “the elect exiles of the dispersion . . . aliens and exiles.” Amidst these powerfully descriptive labels, what unfolds is essentially an extended application of Jesus’ words from Mark 8:34-35, words that Peter himself would have heard and witnessed firsthand: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

More profoundly than any other New Testament author, Peter connects the sufferings of Christ’s followers with the sufferings of Christ himself. As Christians, we are, by definition, suffering exiles because we believe in, love and serve the ultimate Suffering Exile, Jesus Christ. Suffering, however, is only half the story, for Peter takes great pains to remind us that not only should we “not be surprised by the fiery trial” but that in the end, when Jesus is revealed and salvation is made whole, we will ourselves be glorified just as Christ himself was glorified.

The pattern Peter establishes for the Christian life is the same pattern the whole of Scripture is itself built upon: suffering is the prerequisite for glory, the cross always precedes the resurrection, death is only the way to life. As Dorothy Sayers wrote reflecting on the inescapable chronology of Good Friday to Easter: “God did not abolish the fact of evil: He transformed it. He did not stop the crucifixion: He rose from the dead.”

As a sampling of this theme, the following are all excerpts from 1 Peter that address the reality and meaning of suffering in the life of Christ himself as well as his people. Take some time to read through them along with the rest of the book as we prepare together.

“elect exiles of the dispersion” (1:1)
“grieved by various trial” (1:6)
“the tested genuineness of your faith” (1:7)
“the sufferings of Christ” (1:11)
“the time of your exile” (1:17)
“a living stone rejected by men” (2:4)
“the stone that the builders rejected” (2:7)
“as sojourners and exiles” (2:11)
“when they speak against you as evildoers” (2:12)
“be subject to your masters . . . to the unjust” (2:18)
“this is a gracious thing, when . . . one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (2:19)
“if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing” (2:20)
“to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example” (2:21)
“he was reviled” (2:23)
“he suffered” (2:23)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (2:24)
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless” (3:9)
“even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed” (3:13)
“when you are slandered, those who revile you” (3:16)
“it is better to suffer for doing good” (3:17)
“Christ also suffered” (3:18)
“put to death in the flesh” (3:18)
“Christ suffered in the flesh” (4:1)
“whoever has suffered in the flesh, has ceased from sin” (4:1)
“they malign you” (4:4)
“do not be surprised by the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you” (4:12)
“you share in Christ’s suffering” (4:13)
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed” (4:14)
“let none of you sufferer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler” (4:15)
“if anyone does suffer as a Christian” (4:16)
“those who suffer according to God’s will” (4:19)
“the sufferings of Christ” (5:1)
“the same kinds of suffering” (5:9)
“after you have suffered” (5:10)

Core Value - Leadership

This weekend we'll take a look at our fifth and final core value -- Leadership. What is leadership? Here are two of my favorite definitions:

J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership

Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others. One man can lead others only to the extent that he can influence them to follow his lead.

John Piper

[Spiritual leadership is] knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God’s methods to get them there in reliance on God’s power.

Sunday night I'll talk about why we want re:Generation to be a "leadership engine" for the church of Jesus Christ. Hope to see you there.

Jesus Is Alive!

This Sunday we will be taking a break from the Core Value talks and focusing on The Resurrection of Jesus. Easter is THE DAY for Christians. It is the most important day and the truth of this day makes all of the difference. This Sunday night we will be talking about the resurrection and its massive significance in our lives. How significant is it to you?

We will be taking a small excursion through 1 Corinthians, hitting a few keys points (It is really long we can’t do all of it.) To begin honing your focus before we meet again think about these quotes.

“If Jesus is Dead than Christianity is Dead. If Jesus is Alive than Christianity is Alive.”
-Mark Driscoll

“True New Testament Christianity is a religion of the resurrection.”
-John MacArthur

“We live and die; Christ died and lived!” -John Stott

"In the bonds of Death He lay
Who for our offence was slain;
But the Lord is risen to-day,
Christ hath brought us life again,
Wherefore let us all rejoice,
Singing loud, with cheerful voice,
Hallelujah!"
- Martin Luther

-Aeric E.