Embracing Our Identity: Worship, Holiness, and Service

Devotional

Day 1: Our Identity as God’s Chosen People

God’s people are called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession—not because of their merit, but solely by God’s grace. This identity is not earned or deserved; it is a gift that unites believers from every background into one new people in Christ. The knowledge that we are chosen by God should not lead to pride, but to deep gratitude and humility, recognizing that our salvation and belonging are entirely the result of his love and mercy. As we embrace this identity, we are reminded that our worth and purpose are rooted in God’s initiative and faithfulness, not our own achievements. [41:15]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to believe that your identity is rooted in God’s grace rather than your own performance or background? How might embracing your identity as God’s chosen possession change the way you see yourself and others today?

Day 2: Praising God—Our First Purpose

The primary calling of God’s people is to proclaim his excellencies and worship him for who he is and what he has done. Worship is not just one activity among many; it is the central and enduring purpose of the church, flowing from hearts that have been redeemed and brought from darkness into light. As we praise God, we remember that our worship is a response to his initiative—his love, mercy, and saving work in our lives. This praise is meant to be both personal and communal, shaping the life of the church and pointing others to the greatness of God. [42:02]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Reflection: What is one specific way you can intentionally praise God today for calling you out of darkness into his marvelous light—either in private prayer, with your family, or among friends?

Day 3: Pursuing Holiness as Sojourners

As sojourners and exiles in this world, believers are called to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against the soul. The greatest battle is not with the culture around us, but with the sinful desires within us. Pursuing holiness requires vigilance, effort, and dependence on God’s grace, as we seek to live in a way that reflects our new identity and allegiance to Christ. This journey is not about moral superiority, but about being set apart for God, resisting the drift toward compromise, and growing in love for God and neighbor. [45:55]

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Reflection: What is one “passion of the flesh” or old habit that you sense waging war against your soul right now? What practical step can you take today to resist it and pursue holiness?

Day 4: Practicing Good Deeds as Witness

God’s people are called to keep their conduct honorable among those who do not believe, so that their good deeds may be seen and God may be glorified. The transformation that comes from following Jesus is meant to be visible and compelling, serving as a living testimony to God’s grace. Rather than withdrawing from or blending into the world, Christians are to remain engaged, practicing acts of mercy, justice, and love that make the gospel plausible to others. Our good deeds are not a means of earning God’s favor, but a witness that points others to him. [50:45]

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Reflection: Who is one neighbor, coworker, or acquaintance who might see Christ through your good deeds this week? What is one concrete act of kindness or service you can offer them today?

Day 5: The Cycle of Worship, Transformation, and Mission

The mission of the church is a beautiful cycle: worship leads to transformation, which leads to service, which in turn draws others to worship God. As we praise God, pursue holiness, and practice good deeds, God uses our lives to gather more worshipers to himself, multiplying his glory in the world. This cycle reminds us that our mission is not just about personal growth or church activities, but about participating in God’s ongoing work of redemption. Each day, we are invited to play our part in this chain reaction of grace, holding fast to our identity and purpose as God’s people. [55:42]

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: Where do you sense God inviting you to join in his cycle of worship, transformation, and mission today? What is one step you can take to participate more fully in his purpose for your life and for our church?

Sermon Summary

In 1 Peter 2:9-12, we are reminded of our true identity and calling as the people of God. We are not defined by our achievements, backgrounds, or even our failures, but by the fact that God has chosen us, called us out of darkness, and made us his own possession. This identity is not something we earned or deserved; it is a gift of grace, rooted in God’s love and mercy. Just as Israel was chosen not because of their greatness but because of God’s sovereign love, so too are we called to humility and gratitude, not pride.

From this identity flows our mission. We are called first to praise God—to proclaim his excellencies, to worship him for who he is and what he has done. Worship is not just one activity among many; it is the very heartbeat of our life together, the one thing that will endure into eternity. Our praise is rooted in the reality that we have been rescued, redeemed, and brought into the light.

But our calling does not end with worship. We are also called to pursue holiness. Peter urges us to abstain from the passions of the flesh, recognizing that the greatest battle is not with the world outside, but with the desires within. Holiness is not a passive drift but an active pursuit, requiring vigilance, effort, and dependence on God’s grace. We are sojourners and exiles, set apart for God, and our lives are to reflect that difference—not for the sake of moral superiority, but as a witness to the world.

Finally, we are called to practice good deeds. Our conduct among those who do not yet know Christ is to be honorable and beautiful, so that even if we are misunderstood or maligned, our lives bear witness to the transforming power of the gospel. Our acts of mercy and justice are not just add-ons to our faith; they are essential to our witness, making the gospel plausible and attractive to those around us.

All of this forms a cycle: worship leads to transformation, which leads to service, which in turn draws others to worship. This is the mission God has given his people—to be a worshiping community, transformed by grace, serving the world for his glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Our identity as God’s people is a gift of grace, not a reward for merit. We are chosen, not because of our greatness or worthiness, but because of God’s sovereign love and mercy. This truth should humble us and fill us with gratitude, leaving no room for pride but only for praise. [41:15]
2. Worship is the central and enduring purpose of God’s people. It is not simply one activity among many, but the very reason we exist. Our praise of God is both the source and the goal of our life together, shaping everything else we do. [42:02]
3. The greatest spiritual battle we face is internal, not external. Peter calls us to wage war against the passions of the flesh, recognizing that holiness requires intentional, grace-driven effort. True transformation begins with the heart, as we continually turn from old patterns and align ourselves with God’s will. [43:11]
4. Our distinctiveness as Christians is meant to be visible and winsome, not withdrawn or combative. We are called to live honorably among those who do not share our faith, practicing good deeds that reflect God’s character. Our lives should provoke curiosity and even admiration, making the gospel plausible to a watching world. [49:50]
5. The mission of God’s people is a dynamic cycle: worship leads to transformation, which leads to service, which draws others into worship. As we praise God, pursue holiness, and practice good deeds, God uses us to gather more worshipers to himself, multiplying his glory in the world. [54:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:34] - Scripture Reading and Prayer
[31:26] - The Starbucks Analogy: Losing Identity
[32:48] - Rediscovering Purpose and Mission
[34:09] - The Drift from Core Identity
[34:55] - Lessons from Corporate Drift
[35:55] - C.S. Lewis and the Church’s Drift
[37:20] - Three Essentials: Praise, Holiness, Good Deeds
[38:29] - Praising God: Our Primary Purpose
[41:15] - Chosen by Grace, Not Merit
[43:11] - Pursuing Holiness: The Internal Battle
[45:55] - Set Apart: Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation
[47:29] - Practicing Good Deeds Among Outsiders
[49:50] - Living Honorably in a Hostile World
[54:48] - The Cycle of Worship, Transformation, and Service
[56:39] - Holding Fast to Our Identity and Mission
[57:23] - Closing Prayer and Response Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:9-12 (ESV) — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Observation Questions

What are the four descriptions Peter uses to describe the identity of believers in verse 9?
According to verse 9, what is the purpose of God calling us out of darkness into his light?
In verse 11, what does Peter urge believers to abstain from, and how does he describe the struggle?
What does Peter say is the intended result of believers living honorably among those who do not know Christ? [47:29]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon emphasized that our identity as God’s people is a gift of grace, not something we earned. Why is it important to remember that we are chosen by God’s mercy and not by our own merit? How might forgetting this affect our attitude toward others? [41:15]
Peter calls believers “sojourners and exiles.” What does it mean to live as someone who is not fully at home in this world? How might this shape our daily choices and priorities? [45:55]
The sermon pointed out that the greatest spiritual battle is internal, not external. Why do you think Peter focuses on the “passions of the flesh” rather than outside opposition? How does this change the way we think about holiness? [43:11]
The passage says our good deeds should be visible to those outside the church. In what ways can our actions make the gospel more believable or attractive to others? [49:50]

Application Questions

The sermon warned about “drifting” from our core identity and mission, using the Starbucks story as an example. Are there ways you have seen yourself or the church drift from what God has called us to be? What are some warning signs that this might be happening? [34:09]
Peter says our primary purpose is to praise God. What are some practical ways you can make worship more central in your daily life—not just on Sundays, but throughout the week? [42:02]
The battle for holiness is described as an internal war. What is one specific “passion of the flesh” or old habit that you sense God is calling you to fight against right now? What would it look like to actively pursue holiness in that area this week? [43:11]
The sermon said that our distinctiveness as Christians should be visible and winsome, not combative or withdrawn. Think of a recent situation where you interacted with someone who doesn’t share your faith. Was your conduct honorable and attractive? If not, what could you do differently next time? [49:50]
Good deeds are not just “add-ons” to our faith, but essential to our witness. What is one act of mercy or justice you could do this month that would show God’s love to someone outside the church? How might this open a door for spiritual conversation? [52:24]
The sermon described a cycle: worship leads to transformation, which leads to service, which draws others to worship. Which part of this cycle do you find most challenging right now—worship, transformation, or service? Why? What is one step you could take to grow in that area? [54:48]
The passage calls us to humility and gratitude, not pride. Is there an area of your life where you struggle with spiritual pride or comparison? How can you practice humility and gratitude this week in that area? [41:15]

Sermon Clips

The point is this, that losing one's sense of identity and drifting from one's mission can easily happen to a successful Fortune 500 company, but it can also happen to us, to God's people. C. S. Lewis warns about this. And here's what he wrote. There exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God, to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it. [00:36:06] (34 seconds) #GuardTheMission

And I think we would do well this morning to pause, to listen, to ponder his words, so that we as a church, we as the people of God, don't drift from what he has called us, from who he has called us to be, and what he has called us to do. [00:36:52] (16 seconds) #PauseAndPonder

Everyone who follows Jesus has membership in the people of God. All who believe, although we are from many different ethnicities and cultures, we form a new race in Christ, a new people. He is our God. We are his people, his prized and special possession. [00:40:39] (21 seconds) #OneNewPeople

God did not choose you, did not choose us, because we were better than the rest. We contribute nothing to our salvation. It's all by his grace. And there's no room for pride, just praise. Just praise. That's why we worship. [00:41:47] (15 seconds) #GraceNotWorks

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. And Peter uses really strong language here, right? It's the language of warfare. He is reminding his readers that they have an adversary that can't be ignored, an adversary that must be reckoned with, that must be resisted. [00:42:47] (24 seconds) #SpiritualWarfare

He calls the church to stay in proximity to their neighbors. And he calls them to live in such a way that unbelievers will see their lifestyle as winsome and as beautiful. He exhorts them to walk daily in a manner that even the pagans will recognize as good and virtuous and right. [00:50:39] (23 seconds) #WinsomeWitness

These three essential aspects of what we do as the people of God are actually a cycle that begins and ends with worship. So think about it this way, okay? So first, we praise God. We worship him by adoring and thanking him for his grace to us. And then out of gratitude for that grace, we pursue holiness, and we practice good deeds. We shape our lives around the character and conduct of our Savior, becoming more like him. [00:54:38] (29 seconds) #CycleOfWorship

God uses that to draw our unbelieving neighbors to himself, and they experience his redeeming grace, which results in them now praising God. And then the whole thing starts over again. It's like a cyclical chain reaction that results in more and more worshipers, results in more and more men and women and children bringing glory to God. [00:55:18] (23 seconds) #GatheringWorshipers

The church, the people of God, are the means by which he gathers, God gathers more worshipers to himself as we faithfully praise him and pursue holiness and practice good deeds. [00:55:54] (15 seconds) #ResistDrift

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?