Are we still exiles?

Joel and Tim return from a short break to wrestle with a timeless question — are Christians today still exiles? Drawing from 1 Peter, they explore what it means to live faithfully in a world that doesn’t always share our values. With both Joel and Tim preaching on 1 Peter they delve into the different ways they have approached the sermon preparation process. Joel focuses on identity, inheritance, and how God’s power sustains us through trials. Tim looks at the cultural lens — what it means to live as “God’s elect exiles” in a post-Christendom world. Together, they reflect on how Scripture calls us to faithfulness, hope, and distinctiveness as followers of Jesus. Their discussion expands to cultural engagement too — especially around the banning of books and the idea of reading behind enemy lines. Why should Christians engage with opposing ideas rather than fear them? How do we hold convictions without closing our minds? They argue that wrestling with uncomfortable ideas, when rooted in truth, helps us understand God’s world better and strengthens our witness in it. They also touch on Tim’s new book chapter Why Your Family Needs the Intergenerational Church, the discipline of walking as a form of reflection, and the process of preparing sermons that let Scripture lead. 🎙️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & catching up 15:51 – On the banning of books and reading behind enemy lines 30:37 – Preaching on 1 Peter 1:03:24 – What we hope for after the sermon 📌 Discussed on this episode Why Most Smart People Become Stupid - Ryan Holiday on Modern Wisdom Joel's sermon on 1 Peter Govett's Leap Soren Kirkegaard Dominion, by Tom Holland