1. Kingdom People in a Secular Age 1 Peter 2:11-17

3. A “Post-Christian” Era? From Cultural Clout To Cultural Cost

4. Where Are We?

6. “Secular” – The Classic Definition Secular (ordinary) as opposed to sacred (spiritual) tasks

7. “Secular” – The Prescriptive Definition Non-religious neutrality. A viewpoint emptied of religious consideration.

8. “Secular” – Taylor’s Definition From a society where belief in God is unchallenged and indeed, unproblematic, to one in which it is understood to be one option among others, and frequently not the easiest to embrace.

9. “Secular” – Taylor’s Definition Belief is no longer THE option. All beliefs are contestable.

11. Our Opportunity in a Secular Age Unbelief is challengeable.

12. “I don’t believe in God, but I miss Him.” – Julian Barnes

13. Our Challenge in a Secular Age Doubt is normal.

14. “The real reason faith doesn’t matter to so many of our young adults and teens is that – too often – it didn’t really matter to us. Not enough to shape our lives. Not enough for us to suffer for it. A man can’t give what he doesn’t have.” - Charlie Chaput

15. Who Are We?

16. 1 Peter 2:11-17 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

17. 1 Peter 2:11-17 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.

18. 1 Peter 2:11-17 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.

19. Who Are We? Beloved

20. The only way you will ever be able to live without the approval of others is if you are assured of God’s approval of you in Christ.

21. Who Are We? Sojourners

22. This is my Father’s world; O let me never forget; That though the wrong seems oft so strong; God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world; the battle is not done; Jesus who died will be satisfied; and Earth and Heaven be one.

23. Who Are We? Exiles

24. “The church has a double responsibility in relation to the world around us. On the one hand we are to live, serve, and witness in the world. On the other hand, we are to avoid becoming contaminated by the world.”

25. “So we are neither to seek to preserve our holiness by escaping from the world nor to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world. Escapism and conformism are thus both forbidden to us.” - John Stott