Pastor Reed Sowell
Following Jesus has never meant that Christians will always agree with the culture around them. Whether navigating political disagreements, difficult conversations with family, workplace expectations, or questions about personal values, believers regularly face decisions that challenge their convictions. These moments raise an important question: How do we live faithfully for Jesus in a culture that doesn't always share our beliefs? First Peter 2 offers a compelling answer, reminding Christians that their identity in Christ should shape their character, relationships, response to authority, and participation in society. Rather than withdrawing from culture or compromising biblical truth to gain acceptance, followers of Jesus have an opportunity to demonstrate a different way of living. Click the link above to watch the full message and explore what it means to be a different kind of citizen.
What Does the Bible Say About Christians Engaging Culture?
Christians have always faced the challenge of remaining faithful to God while participating in communities that don't necessarily share their convictions. The tension may look different depending on the time and place, but the underlying question remains remarkably consistent. How can someone hold firmly to biblical truth while treating people with kindness, humility, and respect? How should followers of Jesus respond when cultural expectations conflict with their faith? And what happens when Christians themselves disagree about how to apply Scripture to contemporary issues?
These questions become especially relevant during election seasons, political debates, and periods of cultural uncertainty. People bring deeply held beliefs into conversations about government, family, education, morality, and social responsibility. Even within the church, believers sometimes interpret Scripture differently or disagree about how particular biblical principles apply to modern circumstances. Sometimes those disagreements reflect genuine differences in understanding, while other times personal preferences and political loyalties have shaped convictions more than God's Word.
It's possible to hold a proper biblical conviction and communicate it in a way that doesn't reflect Jesus. It's also possible to become so concerned with gaining acceptance that we compromise what God has called us to believe and practice. Neither response demonstrates the kind of faithfulness Scripture describes.
The Christian calling requires both conviction and character. We cannot separate what we believe from how we behave, particularly when interacting with people who see things differently.
Understanding the Cultural Context of 1 Peter 2
The apostle Peter wrote his first letter to Christians scattered throughout regions of Asia Minor, in what is now modern-day Turkey. These believers lived among people who often viewed their faith with suspicion or hostility. Following Jesus could affect their relationships, social standing, and everyday security. Peter understood that these Christians needed encouragement to remain faithful while navigating opposition from the surrounding culture.
Interestingly, Peter doesn't begin by telling believers how to confront their opponents or defend themselves against criticism. Instead, he reminds them of their identity in Jesus Christ. Before addressing their conduct, he establishes who they are and to whom they belong. Their response to cultural pressure must grow from that foundation.
This order matters for Christians today. Before we decide how to engage culture, we need to remember who we are in Christ. Our identity should guide our behavior, rather than allowing the expectations of society to determine our values.
1. Remember Your Identity: What Does It Mean to Be a Chosen People and Royal Priesthood?
Understanding 1 Peter 2:9-10 and Our Identity in Christ
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, Peter describes believers using language that God originally spoke over His people, Israel. Through Jesus, Peter explains that Christians now share in a remarkable calling and belonging.
He identifies believers as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession. These descriptions communicate more than religious affiliation. They reveal a new identity that carries both purpose and responsibility.
To be a chosen people means Christians belong to God and have a purpose beyond themselves. God calls His people to know Him and make His goodness known to others. A royal priesthood describes a community devoted to worshiping and serving God while helping others come to know Him. A holy nation identifies believers as people set apart for God, whose shared belonging should influence how they live and interact with others.
Peter also reminds believers that they have received mercy. Their identity doesn't originate in personal achievement, social status, or moral superiority. It begins with God's gracious invitation through Jesus Christ.
This distinction changes how Christians understand themselves and their place in society. Our identity in Christ is not something we earn through performance or construct according to personal preference. It is something Jesus made possible through His sacrifice.
Why Your Identity in Christ Must Come Before Your Other Roles
Everyone occupies different roles throughout life. Someone may be a spouse, parent, employee, business owner, student, friend, neighbor, or community leader. These responsibilities matter, and they influence how we spend our time, make decisions, and relate to other people. Yet none of these roles should become the ultimate source of a Christian's identity.
The same principle applies to political affiliation. A person may identify as conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, or independent. These associations may reflect sincere convictions about government and society, but they cannot replace the believer's primary allegiance to Jesus.
Problems develop when we begin asking what someone in our profession, social circle, or political party would do before considering what Christ calls us to do. We may unintentionally adopt expectations that conflict with biblical teaching simply because they feel familiar or receive approval from people around us.
Our roles should flow from our identity in Christ, not determine it. A Christian's faith should influence how they parent, work, vote, lead, communicate, and participate in their community.
Roles and circumstances will change throughout life. Careers evolve, relationships shift, and political movements come and go. Our belonging to Christ provides a foundation that remains secure through those changes.
How to Put Jesus at the Center of Every Area of Life
Putting Jesus first involves more than identifying as a Christian or attending church regularly. It requires examining the influences that shape our assumptions, reactions, priorities, and decisions. Sometimes the expectations of our workplace or family become so familiar that we rarely question whether they align with Scripture. Other times, our loyalty to a particular political viewpoint makes it difficult to recognize where our thinking needs correction.
A helpful starting point is to consider the different roles we occupy and ask whether our faith actively shapes how we fulfill them. Does our commitment to Jesus influence how we treat our spouse when we're frustrated? Does it affect how we respond to coworkers who disagree with us? Does it guide the way we discuss political issues with our children or communicate online?
These questions aren't meant to create guilt or demand perfection. Spiritual maturity develops as believers continually surrender their lives to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to shape their character.
The goal isn't simply to have Jesus included in our lives. It's to allow His leadership to influence every part of them.
2. Set the Example: Living a Faithful Christian Life in Everyday Culture
Why Good Conduct Matters in 1 Peter 2:11-12
After reminding believers of their identity, Peter challenges them to live differently from the surrounding culture. In 1 Peter 2:11-12, he describes Christians as foreigners and exiles and urges them to resist sinful desires while demonstrating good conduct among unbelievers.
The language of foreigners and exiles points to the believer's eternal citizenship. Christians participate in earthly communities, but their ultimate home and allegiance belong to God's Kingdom. This doesn't make their everyday responsibilities insignificant. It gives those responsibilities a greater purpose.
Peter connects personal holiness with public conduct because both contribute to the Christian witness. The choices believers make privately affect their integrity, while their behavior toward others reveals something about the God they follow. Faithfulness to Jesus should be visible in both personal character and public relationships.
The goal isn't to appear morally superior or earn admiration from others. Peter encourages Christians to live in such a way that their actions provide credible evidence of God's goodness. Even when others misunderstand their beliefs, they should be able to recognize honesty, compassion, and integrity in their lives.
Christian Integrity Is Revealed in Ordinary Decisions
Consider a couple purchasing a used vehicle after carefully saving $3,500. They find a 2004 Ford Escape through Facebook Marketplace, meet the seller, complete a test drive, and pay for the vehicle in cash. During their conversation, they mention their involvement in a local church, share their love for Jesus, and extend an invitation to attend.
After completing the paperwork, the couple drives away in their newly purchased vehicle. Almost immediately, they discover the envelope containing the entire $3,500 sitting in the cupholder. The seller had counted the money but accidentally left it inside the vehicle while retrieving the title.
Technically, the buyers could have continued driving and claimed they had already handed over the payment. The seller might never have been able to prove what happened. Instead, they return the envelope, recognizing that keeping the money would violate the very faith they had just shared.
The seller expresses surprise and gratitude, although she never attends the church they invited her to visit. That detail matters because Christian integrity isn't dependent on whether doing the right thing produces an immediate spiritual result. The decision to return the money demonstrates that following Jesus shapes our conduct even when dishonesty might benefit us.
Why Our Actions Must Support Our Christian Witness
Sharing our faith involves more than explaining biblical beliefs or inviting someone to church. People also observe how we handle responsibility, respond to conflict, treat those who cannot benefit us, and conduct ourselves when nobody appears to be watching. Our daily behavior either reinforces or undermines the message we communicate.
Imagine a Christian who speaks passionately about God's love but regularly takes advantage of customers at work. Or consider someone who shares Scripture online while responding to every disagreement with hostility. These contradictions make it difficult for others to understand how faith in Jesus genuinely transforms a person's life.
This doesn't mean Christians must achieve perfection before sharing their faith. Every believer continues to grow, make mistakes, repent, and receive God's grace. But genuine discipleship should produce a growing desire to reflect Christ in practical ways.
Our lives should give people a glimpse of what following Jesus looks like in ordinary circumstances. Honesty, generosity, patience, humility, and compassion often communicate something powerful about the character of God.
Following Jesus Means Denying Ourselves
The call to live differently becomes especially challenging when it confronts our natural desire to prioritize ourselves. Modern culture frequently celebrates self-promotion, self-sufficiency, personal recognition, and individual success. These values can influence Christians more deeply than we realize, especially when social media and everyday conversations constantly encourage us to elevate our own interests.
Jesus presents a radically different invitation in Luke 9:23-24. He teaches that discipleship requires denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him. Rather than making personal comfort and self-preservation our highest priorities, we learn to surrender our desires to God's purposes.
This kind of surrender doesn't happen through determination alone. Our natural tendency toward selfishness creates an ongoing struggle, and even sincere believers cannot overcome that struggle through personal discipline alone. We need the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
We cannot live faithfully for Jesus without the help of Jesus. The same Savior who calls us to follow Him also provides the grace and strength we need to grow.
Self-denial becomes practical when we choose patience instead of retaliation, generosity instead of selfishness, or honesty instead of personal advantage. It appears when we serve someone we don't particularly enjoy being around or extend compassion to a person who cannot repay us. These decisions may seem small, but they reveal the values governing our lives.
3. Honor Authority Appropriately: What Does the Bible Say About Government and Obedience?
Understanding Submission to Authority in 1 Peter 2:13-16
Peter's instructions become especially challenging when he addresses how Christians should respond to governing authorities. In 1 Peter 2:13-16, he teaches believers to submit to human authority for the Lord's sake, connect their obedience with doing good, and exercise their freedom responsibly.
The phrase "for the Lord's sake" establishes the motivation behind this instruction. Christians don't honor authority simply because they agree with a leader, appreciate a policy, or fear punishment. Their response to authority reflects their commitment to Jesus.
This distinction matters because political leadership changes, and people in authority sometimes make decisions we strongly oppose. If our willingness to show respect depends entirely on whether we approve of a particular leader, our behavior will fluctuate according to personal preference. Peter instead calls believers to demonstrate consistent character grounded in their relationship with God.
Honoring authority ordinarily includes obeying laws, paying taxes, treating public officials respectfully, and participating responsibly in civic life. These actions aren't expressions of unconditional agreement with government decisions. They reflect a Christian commitment to integrity and responsible citizenship.
Does the Bible Require Christians to Obey Every Government Command?
Biblical submission to authority has important limits. Because Jesus holds ultimate authority over the believer's life, Christians cannot obey human commands that directly require disobedience to God. Scripture doesn't teach that government officials, employers, or other leaders possess unlimited authority over our conscience and worship.
The account of Daniel in Daniel 6 provides a powerful example. Daniel served faithfully in government under King Darius, earning a reputation for exceptional character and responsibility. Other officials became jealous and convinced the king to establish a decree prohibiting prayer to anyone except the king for thirty days. Anyone who violated the decree would face punishment in a den of lions.
Daniel faced a direct conflict between government authority and obedience to God. He didn't respond by abandoning his responsibilities or launching a campaign of personal insults against the king. Instead, Daniel continued the practice that had already characterized his life.
Daniel 6:10 describes how he returned home and prayed three times daily, giving thanks to God as he had done before. His commitment to worship remained unchanged despite the consequences.
Daniel honored human authority, but he refused to give it the place that belonged to God. His faithfulness had shaped his service to the king, and that same faithfulness guided his decision to disobey the decree.
The Difference Between Biblical Conviction and Personal Preference
Daniel's example raises an important question for modern Christians: When should we respectfully challenge authority, and when should we accept a decision we dislike?
Not every disagreement represents a violation of biblical conviction. A frustrating workplace policy, unpopular government decision, or school rule may create inconvenience without requiring anyone to disobey God. Christians need discernment to distinguish genuine conflicts of faith from matters of personal preference.
For example, an employer who asks someone to falsify financial records or conceal wrongdoing creates a clear moral conflict. A Christian should refuse to participate in dishonesty, even if that refusal carries professional consequences. Likewise, an authority figure who demands that someone mistreat another person or participate in conduct Scripture identifies as sinful cannot claim obedience at the expense of God's commands.
Other situations require more careful evaluation. A person might dislike a government regulation or disagree with a supervisor's decision without having biblical grounds to disregard it. Frustration alone doesn't transform a preference into a matter of spiritual obedience.
Before resisting authority, Christians should ask themselves an important question: Would obeying this instruction require me to disobey Jesus, or do I simply disagree with it?
The answer should influence the response. When obedience to God requires refusal, believers should stand firm with conviction and respect. When the disagreement concerns preference rather than biblical faithfulness, humility may require accepting the decision.
Can Christians Challenge Political Leaders and Still Show Respect?
Respect for authority doesn't mean Christians must remain silent about injustice, harmful policies, or government decisions. Believers can participate in elections, advocate for change, express disagreement, and hold public officials accountable. Responsible civic engagement provides opportunities to contribute to the well-being of our communities.
The distinction lies in how we engage. Criticizing a policy doesn't require attacking the dignity of the person responsible for it. Advocating for change doesn't justify dishonesty, cruelty, or contempt toward those who disagree.
Christians can speak truthfully, challenge decisions, and treat others with respect at the same time. In fact, these commitments should reinforce one another. Biblical conviction should produce courage without arrogance, while humility should encourage respect without compromising truth.
We can disagree with someone in authority without dishonoring them. We can also recognize legitimate authority without surrendering our ultimate allegiance to Christ.
When situations become complicated, Christians benefit from prayer, careful study of Scripture, and counsel from mature believers. The Holy Spirit helps us develop the discernment necessary to respond faithfully, especially when the right decision carries personal consequences.
4. Show Proper Respect: How Christians Should Treat People Who Disagree with Them
Four Biblical Instructions from 1 Peter 2:17
Peter brings together the believer's responsibilities toward other people, the church, God, and government in 1 Peter 2:17. His instruction is brief but remarkably comprehensive.
The verse identifies four responsibilities:
Show proper respect to everyone. Treat every person with dignity, including those who disagree with your beliefs or fail to show you the same consideration.
Love the family of believers. Demonstrate genuine care for fellow Christians, even when differences in opinion create tension.
Fear God. Give God the reverence, worship, obedience, and ultimate allegiance that belong to Him alone.
Honor the emperor. Show appropriate respect for governing authorities without treating their position as equal to God's authority.
These instructions establish an important distinction between respect and worship. Peter tells Christians to honor human authorities, but he reserves the command to fear for God. No political leader, movement, institution, or party deserves the allegiance that belongs exclusively to our Creator.
Respecting People Doesn't Require Agreeing with Their Beliefs
Respect becomes meaningful when we extend it to people who think differently from us. It's relatively easy to show kindness toward someone who shares our convictions, supports our political preferences, and approaches life similarly. The greater challenge comes when we encounter someone whose beliefs directly oppose our own.
Peter's instruction doesn't contain an exception for people who frustrate us or treat us unfairly. Christians should recognize the dignity of every person, regardless of political affiliation, religious background, or personal disagreement. This doesn't mean affirming every belief or overlooking harmful conduct. It means refusing to treat disagreement as permission for contempt.
A respectful response might involve listening carefully before answering, asking thoughtful questions, or acknowledging another person's concerns without compromising biblical truth. Sometimes it means refusing to participate in a conversation that has become unnecessarily hostile.
We don't have to agree with someone to treat them with dignity. This principle should shape conversations around dinner tables, interactions at work, discussions in church, and the way believers communicate online.
Why Political Differences Shouldn't Divide the Church
Political disagreement can create significant tension within Christian communities. Believers may share a commitment to Jesus and the authority of Scripture while arriving at different conclusions about candidates, policies, and political strategies. These differences can become especially difficult when people begin assuming that everyone who follows Jesus must share their political preferences.
The church must remain a place where people can pursue Christ together without allowing political affiliation to become the defining requirement for belonging. Christians who vote Republican and Christians who vote Democrat both need opportunities to grow in faith, develop meaningful relationships, and receive biblical teaching. Their shared identity in Jesus should carry greater significance than their political differences.
This doesn't require the church to avoid difficult conversations or abandon biblical convictions. Instead, believers should approach disagreements with a commitment to truth, humility, prayer, and love. Scripture must shape our understanding of political issues rather than allowing political loyalty to determine how we interpret Scripture.
We need to see politics through Jesus, not Jesus through our politics.
That distinction challenges Christians across the political spectrum. It requires us to examine whether our attitudes, assumptions, and public conversations genuinely reflect the character of Christ.
What Does It Mean to Fear God and Honor Human Leaders?
The instruction to fear God sometimes creates confusion because people associate fear exclusively with anxiety or punishment. In this context, fearing God means recognizing His holiness, standing in awe of His authority, and responding with reverence and obedience. It involves taking God's Word seriously and allowing His character to shape our priorities.
Honoring human leaders carries a different meaning. Christians acknowledge legitimate authority and treat those who govern with appropriate respect, even when they disagree with particular decisions. Leaders remain accountable for their conduct, and believers can challenge their actions through appropriate means.
The difference becomes clear when a human authority demands something that conflicts with God's commands. Christians may respect the position of a leader while refusing to participate in wrongdoing. Their ultimate loyalty remains with the Lord.
This distinction protects believers from two unhealthy extremes: treating political authority as absolute or rejecting all authority simply because leaders are imperfect. Christians are called to honor people appropriately while reserving their highest allegiance for God.
5. Follow the Example of Jesus When Faithfulness Becomes Costly
Jesus Shows Us How to Respond to Unfair Treatment
Living faithfully doesn't guarantee that everyone will appreciate our convictions or treat us fairly. Sometimes doing the right thing leads to misunderstanding, criticism, exclusion, or consequences we don't deserve. Peter addresses this reality by directing believers toward the example of Jesus.
In 1 Peter 2:21-25, Peter describes Christ's response to suffering and injustice. Jesus committed no sin, yet others insulted Him and treated Him cruelly. He refused to retaliate or threaten revenge, choosing instead to entrust Himself to the Father who judges justly.
This example challenges the assumption that someone else's hostility gives us permission to respond in the same manner. Christians can defend truth, seek justice, and address wrongdoing without abandoning the character of Christ. The behavior of another person doesn't determine whether we remain faithful to Jesus.
Jesus refused to let the wrongdoing of others determine His own conduct. His example invites believers to respond with courage, self-control, and trust in God's justice.
The Cross Gives Us More Than a Moral Example
Jesus didn't simply demonstrate admirable behavior under difficult circumstances. His suffering and death accomplished something far greater. Peter explains that Christ bore our sins on the cross so that we could turn away from sin and live for righteousness.
This truth matters because the Christian life requires more than following a set of ethical principles. Human beings struggle with selfishness, pride, hostility, and the desire for personal control. We cannot overcome these patterns through determination or religious activity alone.
Through His sacrifice, Jesus offers forgiveness and makes a transformed life possible. He restores our relationship with God and invites us to follow Him through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. Our obedience grows from the mercy we've received rather than an attempt to earn God's acceptance.
Peter also describes Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. This image reminds believers that they don't have to navigate cultural pressure, personal struggles, or difficult decisions without guidance. The One who calls us to live differently also walks with us and provides the strength to follow Him.
Why Faithfulness Matters More Than Public Approval
One of the greatest challenges of Christian discipleship involves accepting that obedience to Jesus won't always receive approval from others. People may misunderstand our convictions, question our motivations, or criticize decisions rooted in Scripture. Even other Christians may disagree with how we apply biblical principles.
The temptation in those moments is to protect our reputation, win the argument, or retaliate against those who oppose us. Yet Peter's teaching directs believers toward a different response. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to Jesus, demonstrate good character, and trust God with the outcome.
Faithfulness doesn't mean avoiding every difficult conversation or refusing to defend what is right. It means allowing Christ to govern both our convictions and the way we express them. We can speak with clarity without becoming cruel, and we can remain humble without abandoning truth.
The Christian witness becomes especially meaningful when believers demonstrate consistent character under pressure. Our calling isn't to gain everyone's approval. It's to honor Jesus in the way we live.
6. Putting Your Faith Into Practice: Four Ways to Be a Different Kind of Citizen
Understanding biblical principles matters, but Christian discipleship requires us to put those principles into practice. The challenge isn't simply knowing what Scripture teaches about identity, conduct, authority, and respect. It's allowing those truths to influence our decisions when circumstances become uncomfortable or our preferences are challenged.
Spiritual growth rarely happens all at once. God continually reveals areas where our attitudes, habits, and relationships need greater alignment with His Word. Rather than trying to change everything immediately, believers can begin by identifying one area where they need the Holy Spirit's help.
Remember Your Identity: Let Jesus Define Your Priorities
Begin by examining the responsibilities and relationships that occupy most of your attention. Consider whether your identity in Christ genuinely influences how you function as a parent, spouse, employee, friend, or community member. Ask yourself whether the expectations of other people have become more influential than the teachings of Jesus.
A practical exercise is to identify one role where you frequently experience pressure to compromise your convictions or adopt unhealthy attitudes. Bring that area before God in prayer, asking Him to reveal where your thinking or behavior needs to change. Allow who you are in Christ to determine how you live in every other role.
Set the Example: Choose Self-Sacrifice Over Self-Centeredness
Consider the example your daily decisions provide to the people around you. Do your actions communicate generosity, patience, honesty, and compassion, or do they consistently prioritize your comfort and personal advantage? Are you willing to serve someone who frustrates you or extend grace when another person doesn't deserve it?
Choose one intentional act of self-sacrifice this week. Serve someone without expecting recognition, express gratitude where you've become critical, or share your faith with someone even if the conversation feels uncomfortable. Let your actions point people toward the goodness of Jesus rather than drawing attention to yourself.
Honor Authority Appropriately: Practice Conviction and Humility
Think about the people who hold authority in your life, including employers, teachers, parents, and government officials. Is there someone you regularly criticize, dismiss, or treat disrespectfully because you disagree with their decisions? Consider whether your response reflects genuine biblical conviction or personal frustration.
Look for an opportunity to demonstrate respect without compromising your beliefs. When a legitimate conflict arises, seek wisdom through Scripture, prayer, and trusted Christian counsel. Stand firm when obedience to God requires it, but don't confuse every disagreement with a matter of biblical faithfulness.
Show Proper Respect: Love People Beyond Your Differences
Examine the relationships where disagreement has created distance or resentment. Is there someone you've stopped treating with kindness because of their political views, personal beliefs, or behavior? Have you allowed differences with another Christian to weaken your commitment to loving them?
Consider initiating a thoughtful conversation, extending forgiveness, or making an effort to understand someone whose perspective differs from yours. Stay connected to your church community, notice people who need encouragement, and refuse to let disagreement become an excuse to withdraw your love. Demonstrate the kind of respect that reflects Christ's character, even when others don't respond in the same way.
Living as Citizens of Heaven While Serving Our Communities on Earth
Christian citizenship carries a beautiful responsibility. We belong to Jesus, yet He calls us to participate meaningfully in the communities where we live. Our eternal citizenship doesn't diminish our earthly responsibilities. It gives them direction and purpose.
Following Christ should influence how we approach politics, engage cultural conversations, raise families, serve neighbors, and respond to people in authority. We don't need to withdraw from difficult issues or compromise our convictions to maintain relationships. Instead, we can demonstrate that biblical faithfulness and genuine respect belong together.
The invitation of 1 Peter 2 isn't to become more skilled at winning arguments or defending our personal preferences. It's to become more like Jesus. His example teaches us to pursue righteousness without arrogance, speak truth without hostility, and remain faithful even when doing so carries a cost.
A different kind of citizen is someone whose highest allegiance to Jesus shapes every other allegiance they hold. This kind of life requires humility, courage, and continual dependence on the Holy Spirit.
As you consider what this means for your own life, begin with one question: Where is Jesus inviting me to grow in faithfulness today? Bring that area before Him, ask for His help, and take a practical step toward obedience. You don't need to accomplish everything perfectly, but you can continue growing as you follow the One who has called you His own.
Further Reading
The Christian Calling to Citizenship — The Gospel Coalition. An exploration of how Christians can participate responsibly in civic life while allowing biblical values to shape their decisions and service to others.
The Gospel Coalition
If You Want to Be Sanctified, Rehearse Your Identity — The Gospel Coalition. A helpful article explaining how understanding our identity in Christ contributes to spiritual maturity and transformation.
The Gospel Coalition
Submission to Civil Authority — Desiring God. A biblical examination of how Christians should respond to government authority while remembering that their ultimate citizenship belongs to heaven.
Desiring God
Other links
Want to hear more? Check out last week's message titled, "The Cost of Christ," exploring Matthew 5:10-12 and what it means to remain faithful to Jesus when following Him brings opposition. Visit the YouTube search for The Cost of Christ to find the message.
Looking for more resources to strengthen your faith? Explore View Church's Resources Page for additional opportunities to grow in your relationship with Jesus.