Christians in Culture - Wednesday PM Lesson
Teacher
Lesson Summary
Clint Davison opened the second week of the "Christians in Culture" series by establishing the biblical foundation for how believers should view themselves in relation to contemporary culture. Using 1 Peter 2:9-11, Davison explained that Peter addressed early Christians dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, reminding them of their identity as a chosen race, royal priesthood, and holy nation whose true citizenship was in God's kingdom, not in any earthly location. This made them "aliens and strangers" whose difference from surrounding culture stemmed not from race or ethnicity, but from their faith in Jesus Christ. Davison presented Paul's encounter with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Acts 17 as a model for Christian cultural engagement. Rather than immediately condemning their worldviews, Paul observed their culture carefully, quoted their literature, and found common ground before presenting the gospel. This approach contrasted with two extremes: "Christ above culture" (isolation) and "Christ in culture" (blending in), neither of which allows Christians to fulfill their biblical mandate. The teacher emphasized that the quarter would focus not on solving cultural issues, but on how Christians should respond to them through the lens of Scripture. Central to this response is remembering John 3:16—that God so loved the world and gave His Son, meaning even those in sinful culture deserve engagement motivated by Christ's love. Davison called believers to be observant like Paul, finding good within culture and working from those points rather than opposing everything indiscriminately.
Key Scriptures
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from fleshly desires that wage war against your soul.