Turning Our World Upside Down 06.06.2025

Introduction

“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.” - 1 Peter 2:11-12

This passage highlights some of God’s standards and purpose.

Last week, we talked about how we were made for more and to use our God-given gifts and talents to bless others. In this week’s sermon we look at how we can turn our worlds upside down through our integrity and character.

Whose standard and purpose are we primarily following? What does our lives point towards? - when people interact with us, look at us, what picture comes to mind?

When I was in secondary school, I did not follow the education system’s standard and purpose - failed maths F9, had to retake ‘O’ levels math and went to ITE for a year. No one will say that I was a prime example of the success of Singapore’s education system and MOE will definitely not point to me to others as a role model.

When I was in secondary school also, I followed NPCC’s standard and purpose - learned the yang tinggi command in Sec 2, sat up straight, ironed my uniform, polished my boots, shouted the loudest - became the unit chairperson, awarded best unit cadet and became a Cadet Inspector - I once heard an instructor tell another cadet “why can’t you sit like how Zi Yuan is sitting?”, in fact, later, my sister also joined NPCC and became a Cadet Inspector.

How many of us know that when we live out God’s purpose and His standards in our lives, true life and joy comes?

We give God glory and point others to him when we consistently live out God’s purpose and His standards in our lives.

Glorifying God is not about increasing God’s unchangeable glory, but it is about pointing to His glory through our lives - in order to do that we need to be bigger on the inside than outside. Building’s raw material = steel/wood. The raw material that builds/destroys our life = information we consume and output - every day, stand guard at the door of our minds.

We want people to see attributes of God in us - we can never be at God’s standard, but we want people to see characteristics of God in us.

Choose to live by God’s standards

Read the scriptures first.

Do you have a certain profession that you aspired towards when you were young? Why? - to lead towards cause whoever you saw had standard in what they did.

Having standard has two effects - it inspires the people within and it attracts the poeple without (on the outside) who are ready.

Our goal is to please God and not striving after the world’s approval. (2 Corinthians 5:9), this means that we must choose to live by God’s standards even when it seems inconvenient or unpopular. Daniel (Daniel 1:8) chose to live a godly life even in the face of compromise. Our determination to live by God’s standards points others to God and becomes a model and example for others.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. -

English Standard Version Chapter 1

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. -

In evangelising, Jesus loved on people and met the needs of the people around Him in miraculous ways - we can do the same, not to the same extent, but there is definitely a choice we can make to try to meet that need.

Discussion

Tip: Prepare your own example ahead of time. Personal examples make the most impact.

● Share scenarios where you chose to live God’s standards even though it was challenging.

Just yesterday, I shared the gospel to friends that I didn’t exactly like cause of past hurts - every day is missions work.

● Examples: Colleagues gossip about someone else, refusing to cheat at an exam, choosing purity, refusing to cover up unethical work, forgiving a bully etc.

Live with godly character especially in our private lives

If someone asked you who is the toughest person to lead, who would you say it is?

English Standard Version Chapter 39

7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. -

Since our goal is to please God, it is not just when others are around that we live with godly character.

Just like Joseph, a person of integrity does what is right even when no one is watching, even if it will cost us.

Joseph’s integrity and ability to lead himself well with the help of God allowed him to step fully into God’s plan and purpose for him without regret.

Discussion

What are some habits we can put in place to help us please God even in the private?

I do my best to pray every day - against sin, for the salvation of various people I know, for each person’s needs in the CG, for friends.

● Examples: set screen time limit to avoid doom scrolling, memorise scripture in areas we struggle with, journal and reflect about our behaviour in the day etc

Help one another to live consistently

What do we think is the purpose of CG? (1) helping each other grow in relationship with God (become bigger on the inside).

Being consistent alone can be difficult. In fact the bible demonstrates this where Paul confronted Peter for not living consistently. Peter had allowed the fear of men to cloud his judgement and affect his behaviour (Galatians 2:11–21). Similar to Peter, we might need others like Paul to help us by pointing out areas in our lives that are inconsistent with godly values.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. -

Galatians 2:11-21 recounts a confrontation between Paul and Peter (Cephas) in Antioch, highlighting Paul's steadfastness to the Gospel[1]. The passage describes how Peter, who had been eating with Gentiles, began to separate himself from them when certain people came from James, fearing those who promoted circumcision[2]. Paul publicly rebuked Peter for this hypocrisy, emphasizing that justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the Law[2][3]. Paul argues that if righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ's death would have been purposeless[2]. The apostle also introduces the concept of being "crucified with Christ," stating that Christ now lives in him, and he lives by faith in the Son of God[2]. This passage serves to defend Paul's apostleship and his understanding of justification by faith, while also addressing the issue of table-fellowship and observance of the Law among early Christians[3][4].

[1] Everett, Gary H. 2011. The Epistle of Galatians. Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures. Gary Everett.

[2] Weeks, Gregory M. 2021. Adult Bible Studies Fall 2021 Student. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

[3] Riches, John. 2013. Galatians Through the Centuries. Edited by John Sawyer, Christopher Rowland, Judith Kovacs, and David M. Gunn. Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

[4] Mangum, Douglas, and Derek R. Brown. 2012. Galatians. Lexham Research Commentaries. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

The phrase "certain people who came from James" refers to a group of Jewish Christians who arrived in Antioch from Jerusalem, where James was a prominent church leader[1][2]. These individuals caused a disturbance in the Antioch church, leading Peter to withdraw from eating with Gentile believers[1][3]. While they claimed association with James, it's unclear if they were officially sent by him or acted on their own accord[3][4]. James later denied authorizing their actions[4]. These men were likely part of a legalistic group within the Jerusalem church, possibly concerned about maintaining Jewish customs[4][5]. Their arrival created tension regarding the inclusion of uncircumcised Gentiles in the Christian community and adherence to Jewish dietary laws[1][5]. This incident highlighted the complex dynamics between Jewish and Gentile Christians in the early church, as well as the influential role of James in Jerusalem[1][2][3].

[1] Schnabel, Eckhard J. 2008. Paul the Missionary: Realities, Strategies and Methods. Westmont, IL: IVP Academic.

[2] Morgan, Christopher W. 2010. A Theology of James: Wisdom for God’s People. Edited by Robert A. Peterson. Explorations in Biblical Theology. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

[3] Gloag, Paton J. 1874. Introduction to the Pauline Epistles. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

[4] Barton, Bruce B. 1994. Galatians. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

[5] Shillington, V. George. 2015. James and Paul: The Politics of Identity at the Turn of the Ages. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Discussion

● Who is someone in your life that you can count on to point out when your life is not consistent with God’s standards and how they do it?

● Share how we can help one another to live consistently.

Conclusion

God is more concerned about our character than how much or how well we do anything for his kingdom.

By living according to his standards and being people of integrity we can influence and show the world that God is real and He lives in us!

Call to action

Share about CDP

Invite CG to sign up for LIW together - Strategy for Living - 12pm from 3 Aug 2025 Central Regional Location.

For those who haven’t gone for growth track (modules 1&2 and 3&4) - can sign up for growth track - 5 Oct to 21 Dec 2025.