1. Rev. Phillip Kesler

2. 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NIV) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

3. Acts 18:1-4 (NIV) 1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

4. What does being a Christian mean today? What does it really mean?

5. How does a royal priesthood and holy nation interact with a sinful world? (1 Peter 2:9-12) We are special and chosen and can rely upon that (v9) We have received God’s mercy (v10) We are rejecting the temptations around us and letting the Holy Spirit control our behavior (v11) We are to live so well in the world that our words and testimony and praise of God will influence unbelievers around us and cause them to want to glorify God too! (v 9, v 12)

6. How did Paul manage to work and witness during his day? (Acts 18:1-4) He worked as a tentmaker where he earned money and mixed among the people (v3) He looked for opportunities to witness in the area where he was working (v4)

7. How are Christians worldwide getting into places hostile to God and effectively sharing their witness? Sports Education /Teaching Health /Medical Social Work /Community Development Business /Commerce

8. How are you as a Christian influencing those around you? Only you can answer that question…….