Gospel Relationships Are Generative
1 Peter 2:13 - 3:7
The Gospel Shapes Every Relationship
The gospel doesn’t just change what we believe — it changes how we live and relate to one another. In this message, Stu Crawshaw explores how Peter’s teaching calls us to live radically different lives in our homes, workplaces, and society. Gospel relationships are generative — they produce life, reconciliation, and hope in the people and places around us.
Disagreement and Unity in Christ
Peter reminds us that even when Christians disagree, we remain united under Jesus. Not everything in the Bible is equally clear, but the truth of salvation in Christ is crystal clear. Because of that, we can discuss differences with love and humility, not fear or hostility. When our conversations are centred on Scripture and guided by grace, our relationships deepen rather than divide — and that’s the beauty of gospel community.
Living Differently in a Watching World
Christianity has always been a radical way of life. Jesus turned power upside down, teaching us to love our enemies and respond to violence with peace. His followers are called to live as change agents — not through force or dominance, but through active discipleship and self-sacrificial love.
Peter encourages believers to respect authorities, even when that’s hard, and to resist evil not by mirroring it, but by doing good. Historian Rodney Stark noted how early Christian women transformed the Roman Empire through compassion — caring for abandoned children, the sick, and the poor. That same spirit of quiet courage and radical love is how the gospel continues to shape the world today.
The Gospel at Home
Peter’s words to households in 1 Peter 3 are not about oppression, but transformation. He reminds us that true strength looks like gentleness, and true freedom is found in Christ. In a culture that misunderstood power and status, Peter calls both men and women to live in honour, respect, and mutual care — to love as Christ loved us.
When we live out the gospel in our homes, workplaces, and communities, we show the world a different kind of freedom — one that serves rather than controls, and one that brings peace instead of striving for power.
Living Well on the Way Home
The gospel gives meaning to every relationship and every circumstance. We are not the moral elite, but a community of the rescued. As we live for Jesus each day, we draw others toward Him — not through control, but through love that reflects our Saviour.