REFLECTION: 1 Peter 2:11-25 “Living as God’s people in the World”
What does it mean in our daily living to live as God’s holy people?
It means turning from some things that we shouldn‘t do that dishonour God.
It means learning submission and obedience to Christ our King.
It will often involve being misunderstood and persecuted and we may suffer
for following Christ. But it also means living with the living hope of
Salvation, knowing that Christ himself bore
our sins in his body on the cross so that we might live for righteousness.
Here is an outline of this morning’s message.
1. Live as God’s people: (11-12)
a. Abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. (11)
b. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles (12)
c. That they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God (12)
2. Submit yourselves to others for the Lord’s sake (13-21)
a. For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution (13-
14)
b. Live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. (16)
c. If you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s
approval (18-21)
3. Follow Christ’s example of submission and obedience (21-25)
a. Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example (21)
b. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth (22-23)
c. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins,
we might live for righteousness (24-25)
To Think about:
Are there any sinful desires in your life that “wage war against the soul” and
need to be reined in? What are you prepared to do about it so that you might
grow in holiness?
HYMNS FOR THIS SUNDAY
TIS 223 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
TIS 260 Behold the Lamb of God
TIS 256 From heaven you came (the servant king)
TIS 215 You servants of God, your master proclaim.
BISHOP KATE PROWD
Will be visiting us for the 10am service on Pentecost Sunday, May 28th
VICAR’S LONG SERVICE LEAVE
Please be advised that our Vicar, Graeme, will be taking Long Service Leave from June 13th until September 18th. Rev. Ian Oates will be the part time Locum in his absence working with our Curate Jonathan and associate priests George and Oyem.
RATS and Masks
We have been given a quantity of COVIDS RAT tests and N95
masks. They are available at the back of the church for you to take.
GROWTH GROUPS
Two study groups have been operating in our Parish over the last 3
years. Jane Peters (0468696254) is leading one which meets via Zoom on
Wednesday nights at 7:15. Jonathan is leading the other group which meets
in the fellowship room on Wednesday nights at 7:30. Both groups are about
to start new study programs and both would welcome warmly new
members. Jane’s group will be looking at the Psalms and Jonathan’s group
will be starting the course “Life Explored”
ST JAMES’ MOTHER’S DAY HIGH TEA
Bring you mum your aunt, your grandmother, or just
yourself along for a scrumptious high tea, entertainment, Friendship and Music on Saturday May 13th at 2.30pm. Last tickets still available. See Margo Hartley
for tickets.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
14th May–Sixth Sunday after Easter
Acts 17.22-31; Psalm 66.7-19, 17-18; 1 Peter 3.8-22; John 14.15-21
THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR
Mike; Mark; Clovis; Rose; Eva; Cecil; Stanley; Nigel; Russell; Josie, Kevin; Joanne, Eve, Margaret, Lynette, Danny, Esme, Michael, Charles, Edward, Babu, Tyrone & Renee.
WE ALSO PRAY FOR
St Thomas’ Moonee Ponds; Mission Agencies of the Anglican Church of Australia; Camberwell Girls' Grammar School; The Episcopal Church; St Andrew’s Somerville – pastoral visit; St Augustine’s Moreland – pastoral service; Parish of Banyule – pastoral visit; Archbishop Philip and all our Bishops in their ministry this week.