1 Peter 3.15-17

¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always beready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷For it isbetter, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3.10-14

¹⁰For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the LORDare on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORDis against those who do evil.”
13And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

1 Peter 3.8, 9

⁸ Finally, all of youbeof one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, betenderhearted, be courteous, ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3.7

⁷Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as beingheirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3.3-6

³Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing of gold, or putting on fine apparel – ⁴rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beautyof a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. ⁵For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their husbands, ⁶as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

1 Peter 3.1, 2

¹Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ²when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

The Law of God for Daily Meditation

Morning Meditation

Exodus 31.12-17

¹²And the LORDspoke to Moses, saying, ¹³“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it isa sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I amthe LORDwho sanctifies you. ¹⁴You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it isholy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does anywork on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. ¹⁵Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh isthe Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does anywork on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. ¹⁶Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations asa perpetual covenant. ¹⁷It isa sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for insix days the LORDmade the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

Sometimes you need to confront.

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea and foras many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attainingto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2.1-3

A humble platform

We are considering the platform from which we must judge and engage the culture of our lives in ways that please God and bless our neighbor.

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea and foras many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attainingto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2.1-3

Five disciplines

We have considered five specific ways in which Christians are called to engage culture in their service to God and their neighbors.

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave itto them saying, “This is My body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22.19

Cultural innovators

From the beginning of the Christian movement, the followers of Jesus Christ have blazed new trails in creating culture. They have been used to innovate a great many new cultural forms that have brought glory to God and benefit to others to this day.

Do not let your adorning be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it bethe hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beautyof a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3.3, 4

A work in progress...

What matters most of all in the way Christians engage culture is making sure that we are doing so as God Himself would – glorifying and honoring Him in all things (1 Cor. 10.31).