Talks by Megan Curlis-Gibson
Strangers || Eternal Perspective || 1 Peter 4:1-19
As Megan delivers her final talk at St John’s after filling in during Tim’s leave, she shows off her Latin vocabulary and looks at the phrase sub specie aeternitatis, meaning “from the perspective of eternity”. Peter uses this section of his letter to first-century Christians to lift our eyes to the reality of eternity – the present reality of suffering can make our lives difficult, but we must live in the light of eternity and things to come.
Peter writes about ways people in the first century lived in the day-to-day, debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, detestable wild living – and while they might not be a part of our day-to-day focus, there are still signs of living for today. If time is short, maximising the amount of pleasure in your life might be making sure you have the best clothes, that your money is secure, that your own personal success is guaranteed. Having the perspective of God, from an eternal point of view, can help us pe […]
Strangers || Missional Respect || 1 Peter 2:13-3:7
Grappling with harder and weightier topics in the Bible together as we strengthen our community and our faith in God. Megan tackles Peter’s instructions to first-century Christian Slaves, Wives and Husbands to submit to authority. These early Christians were freed in their relationship with God, and welcomed into this new family – no Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. The identity of these people broke through previous barriers of their culture. How does Peter’s instruction to submit follow through to us in the 21st century? Megan looks at the trajectory which Jesus himself set the culture on, and where it is leading us today.
Strangers || Waiting in Hope || 1 Peter 1:3-12
Peter’s letter to early churches scattered across the world speaks to people waiting in hope of something great to come. Though the people this letter was originally written to were facing trials and persecution, Peter encourages them that trials “…have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Megan explores waiting and how we are still waiting for Jesus. The experience of waiting is expected and purposeful for God’s people- we do not wait in the dark, but rather we wait with evidence.