In the middle of the 1st century, the Christian church faced an incredible challenge. No longer a small Jewish sect, they had become a new religious movement. How were they to live in the broad and varied environments of the Roman world?
In the beginning of the 21st century, the Christian Church faces an incredible challenge. No longer the dominant cultural perspective, it is becoming another is a long list of voices clamoring for attention. How are we to live in the broad and varied environment of post-Christendom?
St. Peter tells them (and us) to live as hopeful sojourners, as pilgrims who have chosen to put down roots and make our home in a new and foreign place - always remembering that, in joy and in hardship, we are united to Christ and belong to God.
For more information about our method for reading Scripture at St. Aidan's, please check out my video on "The Study Bible Method":
https://youtu.be/v3GU-KYo00s
It may also be helpful to review our series "Misreading Scripture" for helpful information about understanding the cultural assumptions we bring to Scripture: https://anchor.fm/thin-places/episodes/The-Apocalypse-Revisited-1---Biblical-Genres-eg631l
Here are the study notes from our discussion: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qt6zrnvrnspbgat/Whiteboard%20Ch.%203.png?dl=0
Finally, here is a brief list of the reference materials I use in preparing for our discussions. These commentaries are excellent resources, and I highly recommend them all:
The New English Translation (NET Bible)
The New Interpreter's Bible Commentary
The Expositor's Bible Commentary
The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary
The Oxford Bible Commentary
The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
The Early Christian Letters for Everyone - by N.T. Wright
