Stranger Things - Pt 1
September 15, 2024 • Pastor Ben Bogardus • 1 Peter 1:1–12
Becoming Aliens in a World Not Our Own-Salvation:
Stranger Things is a popular Netflix show set in the 1980s that follows a group of kids
who encounter supernatural forces in their small town. At the heart of the story is a
parallel dimension known as the Upside Down—a dark, twisted mirror image of the real
world. It’s a place where everything is corrupted and dangerous, yet eerily familiar. The
Upside Down exists beneath the surface of their everyday lives, disrupting the normal
and forcing the characters to confront evil, even though most people in the town are
unaware of its presence.
In the same way, as Christians, we live in a world that is spiritually upside down. The
values, priorities, and systems of this world often seem normal, but they are in stark
contrast to God's Kingdom. In 1 Peter, believers are called to live life "right side
up"—following Christ and His way of living, even when it feels alien, countercultural, or
strange to those around us. Just like in Stranger Things, we live in the midst of a battle
between two realities: the visible world and the spiritual Kingdom of God.
The call for believers is to navigate this upside-down world while living according to the
reality of God’s Kingdom, even when it feels out of sync with the culture around us.
For the next 10 weeks, we’ll be diving deep into the
book of 1 Peter, exploring how we, as followers of Jesus, can live in a world that often
feels chaotic, confusing, and completely upside down.
If you've ever felt out of place in today's world, like you're swimming against the current or trying to live by a different set of rules than everyone else, this series is for you. The
Apostle Peter has a lot to say about living as "strangers" in a world that does not always
understand or appreciate our faith. He offers us a roadmap for how to navigate life in this" by staying true to the values and principles of God's kingdom and living
in Jesus victory.
A key passage for the: "Stranger Things: Living Life Right Side Up in the Upside
Down" ** sermon series could be **1 Peter 2:11-12** (NIV):
"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which
wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they
accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He
visits us.
Over the next 10 weeks, we’re going to dig deep into these themes, drawing out practical
applications for our daily lives. We’ll learn how to live "right side up" in a world that
often feels completely upside down. My hope is that this series will not only deepen your
understanding of 1 Peter but also empower you to live boldly and confidently as
followers of Jesus in a world that desperately needs to see His light.
