For the week of April 27, 2026
MONDAY
Day One: Sojourners and Exiles
Sermon Focus: Our battle plan entails conduct that is fitting of the honor bestowed upon us as believers.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “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.”
Sermon Point: To be a sojourner or an exile is not often thought of as a good thing, but that’s who we are if we are one of God’s children – we’re just passing through this world. Our true citizenship resides in Heaven. No matter where we live – no matter how beautiful or wonderful it is – no matter how much we love it – this world is not our home.
Sermon Reflection: What are some steps you can take to remind yourself often that this world is not your home?
Application: There are still people living in this world who believe that this is as good as it’s ever going to get. So, go! Make disciples! Share with them the love and hope of Christ. Pray, encourage, serve, teach, be generous – do whatever you can to point them to the goodness and glory of God.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Thank God today that for believers, our true citizenship is in heaven and that in many ways, we’re not all that different from the people Peter was writing to. Pray that the Holy Spirit would help us to see and believe how honored we are to simply be just passing through this world, looking forward to spending eternity future in heaven.
- Pray that we would live our lives in such a way that others can see that our eyes are steadfastly fixed on heaven and the glories that await us there. Pray that it compels them to ask us about why we’re so different. And then pray that we become better and better at sharing the joy and hope that is ours in Christ.
TUESDAY
Day Two: Beloved
Sermon Focus: Our battle plan entails conduct that is fitting of the honor bestowed upon us as believers.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “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.”
Sermon Point: Dearly loved, esteemed, favored by God – that’s who we are if we are believers! But look – that’s not just how God sees us, that’s how dearly Peter loves the people he’s writing to. He esteems them as fellow citizens who are favored by God. Every last one of them – all those who are sojourners and exiles, all those who are honored as God’s chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, God’s very own possession – Peter loves God’s people because God loves His people!
Sermon Reflection: Do you love God’s people – ALL of God’s people – simply because God does? Does your life and do your words reflect that love?
Application: Express your love to as many brothers and sisters in Christ today as you possibly can!
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Confess to God all the ways that you love yourself more than you love Him and the people around you. Ask Him to grow in you a deeper love for Him through obedience because it’s through that obedience that our souls are purified and we’re able to love one another deeply (1 Peter 1:22).
- Praise God for how He loves us! And thank Him for giving us each other – pray that we grow in our capacity to love one another in the ways God has loved us. Pray that this love would set us apart more and more.
WEDNESDAY
Day Three: Abstain from the Passions of the Flesh
Sermon Focus: Our battle plan entails conduct that is fitting of the honor bestowed upon us as believers.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “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.”
Sermon Point: Peter makes it clear how believers are to respond to their position in God’s Kingdom – they are to abstain from passions of the flesh – all those things that marked our old lives on the wide, dark path to include those things we lust after. Self-gratification, self-aggrandizement, self-preservation. Power, control, accusation, slander, riches, manipulation. All of these disgusting things war against our souls – the very foundation of our existence. And we abstain from the passions of the flesh not to earn eternal life, but because we already possess it, and now we want to live for God’s Glory Alone. Make no mistake, the battle over our souls is real and intense, but it will not be won unless we put on the armor of God and refuse to entertain the desire for self through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Sermon Reflection: What does the evidence of your life prove? That you take the battle for your soul as seriously as God does – or that you really don’t think it’s all that big of a deal?
Application: Today (every day), put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20) and be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18-21). It is the ONLY way you will be able to stand firm and fight the good fight of faith victoriously.
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Repent! Be DONE with your sin – with all the disgusting ways you keep returning to the putrid things on the wide, dark path. Receive God’s forgiveness. Plead with Him that He would help you to hate your sin and love righteousness as He does. Ask that He would help you to remember every single day to put on His armor and be filled with His Spirit, because without Him, you are powerless.
- Pray for FM – that as brothers and sisters would we come alongside one another with encouragement and support – that we would remind one another often of the battle we’re in for our souls – that we would lift one another in prayer daily – and that we would spur one another toward love and good deeds, not so that we’ll be saved but because we have been saved.
THURSDAY
Day Four: Keep Your Conduct Honorable
Sermon Focus: Our battle plan entails conduct that is fitting of the honor bestowed upon us as believers.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “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.”
Sermon Point: We aren’t to stand firm against the passions of our flesh only for ourselves, we’re also to do so with others in mind. We are meant to continually and consistently keep our conduct honorable among unbelievers. We are to be honorable! In all we do and say, we must behave in ways that are fitting for the Kingdom of God and bring God glory.
Sermon Reflection: If someone were to interview all the unbelievers who observe your life (at your workplace, in your neighborhood, perhaps even in your home), would they say that your conduct is honorable and befitting of God’s glory?
Application: Identify an area in your life where you are not living honorably (perhaps it’s your speech…maybe you drink too much or you’re slacking off at work…). How can you take your next step toward Christ in that area today?
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Thank God for the example of an honorable life that we have in Christ. Thank Him for the indwelling Spirit in all those who believe – the One who empowers us to live honorably. Pray that we would learn to rely on Him fully.
- Pray for FMC – that as a church, we would take seriously our calling to live lives worthy of the Gospel. Pray that we would embrace our mission to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who give everything we’ve got to making fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, for God’s Glory Alone.
FRIDAY
Day Five: God May Use How We Live to Compel Others to Glorify Him
Sermon Focus: Our battle plan entails conduct that is fitting of the honor bestowed upon us as believers.
Truth: 1 Peter 2:11-12 says, “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.”
Sermon Point: How about that? There’s the possibility that those around you might see your good deeds with their own eyes – and it might lead them to glorify God! You may be the person through whom the Holy Spirit works to convict and reveal the Truth of who Jesus is to them. Your obedience to take off those old, nasty clothes you used to wear on the wide, dark path and abstain from the passions of your flesh may be what the Holy Spirit uses to soften another’s heart and lead them to repentance!
Sermon Reflection: The way we live our lives has a tremendous influence on those around us. Are people drawn closer to Jesus or repelled away from Him as they watch your life?
Application: Worship with this song today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ5XdtGaKtA&list=RDxJ5XdtGaKtA&start_radio=1 and then get after it church! Like the song says: while we’re still here, we’ve got work to do!
Kingdom Prayer Focus:
- Pray that God would grant each one of us the fear of the Lord that compels us to worship and obedience. Ask Him to help us remember that there is a spiritual battle going on all around us. Pray that our fear of the Lord would dispel every other fear this world throws our way.
- Praise God that in Christ we find complete forgiveness, fullness of joy, everlasting peace, perfect wisdom, compassionate patience, enduring goodness, infinite love…praise Him for as many things as you can think of today! There is no god like our God!