Are We Still Exiles?
THE SHOCK ABSORBER
Joel and Tim reflect on what it means to be “exiles” in today’s world — drawing from their recent sermons on 1 Peter. Both were preaching the same weekend, approaching the passage from different angles, which sparked a deep conversation about how the Bible shapes our lives as followers of Jesus in modern Australia.
Rediscovering Deep Work and Walking
After a few weeks off, the guys catch up on what’s been happening — from writing projects to family trips. Tim shares about his new book chapter, Why Your Family Needs the Intergenerational Church, and the challenges of engaging in deep, focused work in a distracted world. Joel recounts family adventures at Dubbo Zoo and Mudgee, and how the simple act of walking — like the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once said, “I have walked myself into my best thoughts” — helps slow our minds and create space for reflection.
Reading Behind Enemy Lines
The conversation turns to the banning of books, inspired by Ryan Holiday’s recent appearance on Modern Wisdom. They discuss how engaging with ideas that challenge or contradict our own can actually strengthen our faith — if we approach them with discernment.
Tim and Joel reflect on the concept of “reading behind enemy lines”: exploring different perspectives to understand the world more deeply without being swept up by every new idea. They also acknowledge the tension — that while exposure to diverse ideas is good, we must be wise about what we let shape us, especially when it comes to what our children consume.
Preaching from 1 Peter
The heart of the episode focuses on 1 Peter, a letter written to Christians described as “God’s elect exiles.” Joel and Tim both preached on the same passage but from slightly different perspectives. Joel focused on Peter’s encouragement to remember who we are as Christians — people with an eternal inheritance, held by God’s power, even as we face trials that refine our faith.
Tim’s approach highlighted the bigger cultural question: What does it mean to be an exile today? Peter’s audience were literal outsiders in their world because of their faith. But in modern Australia, Christianity has been the dominant cultural framework for centuries. So do we still feel like exiles — or have we become too comfortable?
Living as Exiles in the Modern World
The discussion digs into whether our sense of comfort might mean we’ve capitulated to the world’s assumptions. Instead of being shielded by God’s power, are we more likely to rely on our insurance policies and superannuation?
As Joel and Tim unpack this, they challenge us to think critically about how faith shapes our everyday lives. In a post-Christendom world, where secularism increasingly defines the cultural landscape, following Jesus means living against the grain. The ethic of the kingdom calls us to stand apart — not as antagonists, but as people whose distinctiveness points to something greater.
Hope Beyond the Sermon
They finish by reflecting on the ongoing process of preaching and learning. No sermon can exhaust the depth of God’s Word, but each message can draw us further into knowing Him. The goal isn’t just knowledge — it’s obedience and hope.
As 1 Peter reminds us, our inheritance is secure, our trials are refining, and our calling is clear: to live as God’s people in a world that doesn’t always understand.
So, are we still exiles? Perhaps the better question is — are we living like it?