Living Faithfully as Exiles: Sharing Hope with Gentleness and Respect

Devotional

Day 1: Living with Hope in Exile

Followers of Jesus are called to live as exiles—outside the center of cultural influence—by embodying hope, gentleness, and respect even when misunderstood or slandered. This hope is not rooted in the absence of adversity, but in the presence of Christ with us in hard places. We are not to force or coerce others, but to see everyone as beloved by God, recognizing that He is already at work in their lives. Our calling is to share the reason for our hope, not from a place of superiority, but as fellow travelers in need of grace, inviting others to look together at what it means to be loved and to have hope in difficult times. [02:30]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection:
Who in your life might be watching how you respond to adversity, and how could you gently share the hope you have in Christ with them this week?

Day 2: The Ministry of Reconciliation

God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation, calling us to be agents of regathering and reconnecting in a broken world. This means not counting people’s sins against them, but instead extending kindness and grace, even to those who may seem unworthy or have made poor choices. Our lives are to be marked by a welcoming spirit, showing others through our actions and relationships what it means to be loved and accepted by God, regardless of our past. [07:43]

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV)
"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

Reflection:
Is there someone in your life you find difficult to accept or forgive? How might you take a step toward reconciliation and kindness with them this week?

Day 3: Blessing Others as We Are Blessed

We are called to live in unity, compassion, and humility, repaying evil with blessing rather than retaliation, so that we may inherit a blessing and become a blessing to others. This way of life is not about winning or being right, but about showing the world what it looks like to be a community marked by love, sympathy, and togetherness. As we live out this blessing, especially in adversity, others are drawn to the goodness of God and the hope we have, not because we are perfect, but because we are loved and live generously. [12:49]

1 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."

Reflection:
Who is someone you can intentionally bless this week, especially if they have wronged or misunderstood you?

Day 4: Living Holy and Gracious Lives

To revere Christ as Lord means to live worshipfully—obeying His commands, receiving His love, and extending that love to others with both holiness and grace. This involves being real and genuine, living generously and gently, and welcoming the unworthy just as Jesus did. We are called to incarnate the Spirit of God to others, not by condemning or standing above, but by aspiring to holiness while being gracious, gentle, and accepting, so that our lives reflect the heart of Christ to the world. [20:46]

Luke 6:35-36 (ESV)
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Reflection:
What is one practical way you can show mercy or grace to someone who may not expect it from you?

Day 5: Offering Relationship, Not Just Theology

The most powerful witness to Christ is not just sharing ideas or theology, but offering a relationship with a God who is near, interested, and empowering. The kingdom of God moves forward at the speed of relationships built on trust, not arguments or worldviews. Our goal is not to win debates or control outcomes, but to come alongside others, listen to their stories, and share from our own struggles how God’s love meets us there. In doing so, we invite others to experience belonging, belief, and transformation that flows from knowing they are loved. [40:43]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reflection:
How can you intentionally build trust and deeper relationship with someone outside your faith community this week, showing them Christ’s love through your actions and presence?

Sermon Summary

In a world where followers of Jesus are no longer at the center of cultural influence, it’s easy to feel like exiles—outsiders in our own neighborhoods, workplaces, and even families. Yet, this is precisely the context in which we are called to live out and offer our faith. The heart of this calling is not about winning arguments, gaining converts, or reclaiming lost ground. Instead, it’s about living as a community marked by hope, gentleness, and respect, especially in the face of misunderstanding or even slander.

The foundation for this way of life is found in 1 Peter 3: “Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.” Our hope is not rooted in the absence of adversity, but in the presence of God with us in the midst of it. We are not called to be strong in ourselves, but to be honest about our struggles and to point to the God who meets us there. This is a hope that is visible, not just in our words, but in the way we live together—showing unity, compassion, humility, and blessing even those who may oppose us.

Sharing faith today is less about one-on-one evangelism and more about inviting others to witness the life of a community shaped by Christ’s love. It’s about showing, not just telling, what it means to be blessed and to bless others. We do not approach others from a place of superiority or with a sense of duty to “fix” them. Instead, we come alongside, acknowledging our own brokenness and belovedness, and offering the hope we have found.

This posture requires us to lay down our insecurities—the need to be right, to be liked, to control outcomes—and to trust that God is already at work in the lives of those around us. Our role is to help others feel seen, heard, and loved, and to be ready, if asked, to share the reason for our hope. We do this not by offering abstract theology, but by sharing our lived experience of God’s nearness and grace.

Ultimately, the journey of faith is not about behavior modification or intellectual assent, but about knowing we are loved, belonging in community, and allowing belief and behavior to flow from that place of belovedness. In this way, we live as exiles with hope, inviting others to discover the same.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope is most powerful in adversity Hope is not the absence of hardship, but the presence of God with us in the midst of it. Our faith does not promise an easy life, but it does promise that we are never alone. When we share our hope, we do so from our struggles, not our strength, pointing to the God who meets us in our weakness and lifts us up. [16:08]
2. Community witness is our primary testimony The most compelling evidence of Christ’s reality is not our arguments, but our life together—marked by unity, compassion, and blessing. When others see a community that loves, forgives, and supports one another, they glimpse the hope we have. Our invitation is to “show, not tell,” letting our shared life speak for itself. [12:04]
3. Lay down the need for control and superiority True faith-sharing requires us to surrender our need to be right, to be liked, and to control outcomes. Instead, we trust God’s work in others and focus on helping them feel seen and loved. This humility opens doors that argument and pressure never could, and it reflects the heart of Christ, who came not to dominate but to serve. [32:59]
4. Begin with belovedness, not behavior Transformation starts with knowing we are loved and welcomed, not with fixing our behavior or perfecting our beliefs. When we approach others with the conviction that they, too, are beloved—regardless of their story—we create space for genuine belonging and faith to grow naturally from the inside out. [43:17]
5. The kingdom moves at the speed of trust Lasting spiritual change happens through relationships of trust, not through quick arguments or clever ideas. Our calling is to invest in real relationships, to listen deeply, and to share our hope honestly and gently. In this way, we become living invitations to the love and grace of God. [40:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Living as Exiles in Culture
[01:21] - Sharing Faith Across a Cultural Gulf
[03:22] - Offering Hope with Gentleness and Respect
[05:09] - The Story of Simon and the Biking Group
[07:04] - Ministry of Reconciliation
[08:18] - God’s Kindness to the Unworthy
[10:39] - 1 Peter 3: Living in Exile
[12:04] - Community as Primary Witness
[14:08] - Wisdom from Psalm 34
[16:08] - Hope in Adversity, Not Escape
[17:32] - Revering Christ as Lord
[20:46] - Living Holy and Gracious Lives
[24:23] - What Makes Us Exiles?
[26:26] - Absolute Truth and Meta-Narrative
[30:38] - Laying Down Superiority and “Shoulds”
[32:59] - Surrendering Insecurities in Faith Sharing
[35:00] - Bringing Others into Community
[37:00] - Asking Questions and Building Trust
[40:43] - The Kingdom Moves at the Speed of Trust
[43:17] - Belovedness Before Belief and Behavior
[43:56] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 3:8-16 (ESV) —
> 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
> 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
> 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
> 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
> 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
> 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
> 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
> 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
> 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 3:8-9, what are the qualities that should mark the community of believers living as exiles?
In the sermon, what specific behaviors did Simon notice about the biking group that made them stand out? [[05:40]]
What does Peter say is the reason we should be ready to give an answer for our hope, and how should we do it?
How does the sermon describe the difference between “showing” and “telling” when it comes to sharing faith? [[12:04]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter emphasize gentleness and respect when giving a reason for our hope? How does this approach differ from trying to win arguments or prove a point? [[16:49]]
The sermon says our hope is not the absence of adversity, but the presence of God with us. How might this change the way someone talks about their faith with others? [[16:08]]
What does it mean to “lay down the need for control and superiority” in relationships with those who don’t share our faith? [[32:59]]
The sermon suggests that transformation starts with knowing we are loved and welcomed, not with fixing our behavior or beliefs. How does this challenge common approaches to faith and church community? [[43:17]]

Application Questions

Think about a time when you felt like an outsider because of your faith. How did you respond, and what might it look like to respond with hope, gentleness, and respect in a similar situation? [[01:21]]
The sermon tells the story of Simon noticing the group’s kindness, honesty, and lack of gossip. What are some practical ways your small group or church community could “show, not just tell” the hope you have? [[05:40]]
Are there areas in your life where you feel the need to be right, to be liked, or to control outcomes when sharing your faith? What would it look like to lay those insecurities down and trust God’s work in others? [[32:59]]
The sermon says, “Our role is to help others feel seen, heard, and loved.” Who is someone in your life right now who needs to experience this from you? What is one step you could take this week to help them feel seen and loved? [[33:51]]
When was the last time you shared your struggles, rather than your strengths, as a way of pointing to God’s presence in your life? How did it go, and what did you learn from the experience? [[22:14]]
The idea that “the kingdom moves at the speed of trust” means that relationships matter more than quick results. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to slow down and invest more time and trust? What might that look like? [[40:43]]
The sermon challenges us to begin with belovedness, not behavior. How can you remind yourself and others this week that you are loved and welcomed by God, even before you “get it all together”? [[43:17]]

Sermon Clips

So God says, I'm going to bless you. You don't deserve it, but I made you, and I love you, so I'm going to bless you. And I want you to bless others around you. As they see that you are blessed, as they see that you know you are loved, even when things are going wrong, they will know that I am good, they will come to me. So I want to bless you. It doesn't mean everything's going to go smoothly. In the midst of adversity, I'm going to bless you and be with you. And as you live out that hope and that joy and that peace, others will see what it's like to be blessed and be drawn towards me. And you will be blessed as you share the blessing. [00:12:44] (46 seconds) #BlessedInAdversity

Christ means Messiah, the anointed one who is a king. He is also a savior, saving us from our enemies, which are not human, but sin, death. Our Lord, the master, and he is God with us. So Christ is a powerful word holding together spirit and matter. He's fully God, and he's fully human. This is the God that comes to be with us. Great and high and holy and unbelievably intimately involved, near and interested in everything that's going on. It's an enormous strength. He's powerful, and he's personal. He's ultimate, and he is intimate. Always both. This is the amazing thing that we see in Jesus, and that's why we worship him as Lord. [00:17:57] (62 seconds) #ChristPowerAndPresence

It's not that we're strong as Christians. It's that we're weak like everyone else, but he meets us there and gives us hope. That's what we're sharing. So we don't speak from strength. We speak from struggles, being lifted up by a God who is always with us. [00:22:08] (16 seconds) #StrengthInWeakness

We have no contempt for others, no sense of superiority. Superiority, we remain ready to see God already at work in their lives. So it's not like I've got God, and I'm wading out into a sea of godless, pagan heathens, you know, who know nothing. No, no, no, no. They're made in his image, too. He loves them. He is working through them long before I get there. My job is to come along, help them to recognize that, and share with them my conviction that I'm loved. And I'm not just a person. I'm pretty sure you're loved, too. And I hear you. You don't feel worthy. I know. I don't feel worthy, either. But this is the amazing thing. It's a God who comes to be with us, to welcome us in our unworthiness. [00:23:23] (48 seconds) #SeeGodAtWork

Instead, what if I come with my belief that I am broken but beloved. I am beautiful and I am struggling. And you, you're the same. You are broken but beloved. You are beautiful and you are struggling. So, I'm coming alongside. If anything, I'm coming from underneath and saying, hey, I've got some hope. I've got some hope here. I'd like to offer that with you and it's up to you. [00:30:46] (33 seconds) #BrokenButBeloved

What if instead, instead of this being about me, my winning, my being liked, my control, maybe I can trust God that I'm already okay. And I can just focus on helping this person. Specifically, help them to feel loved, seen, heard, understood. You see, what if I shift the attention off of how this is going for me, and my goal is just to make this person feel right? I want to control this person. I want to control this person. I want to be respected, valued. But when are you going to convert them? Yeah, I know. I'm feeling that too. But I'm trying to set that aside and just be with them and love them. Very specifically, if the door opens, if they ask, I want to share with them the reason for the hope that I have. [00:33:12] (61 seconds) #FocusOnLovingOthers

What if I begin with, I know that I'm loved. And even without knowing you that well, I believe you are beloved. That God is already at work in your life, using you to bless other people. And you know what? I feel unworthy, but I'm welcome. I belong. And we're the same. You belong. And then over the weeks and months, we'll talk back and forth. And at your own pace, in your own way, you can believe whatever you feel led to believe. I trust the Holy Spirit will do that work. And over the years and decades, your behavior will change. It will start to follow your heart, which knows it's loved, loves God in return, and overflows with love to other people. [00:43:12] (63 seconds) #LovedAndBelovedJourney

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the primary way to share faith in exile?

How does living with humility reflect God's love?

What role does community play in demonstrating faith?