Opposition Cannot Diminish Your Christian Faith
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:13-17
Theme: Opposition to your pilgrim faith cannot, and therefore must not, diminish your pilgrim faith.
7 Implications of Christ's Victory for Our Times of Oppression
One: You are zealous for good.
Two: You are blessed by God.
Three: You choose allegiance to Christ.
Four: You are known for hope.
Five: You have a clear conscience.
Six: Your righteousness will be vindicated.
Seven: You trust in God's providence.
In your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. ~ 1 Peter 3:15
Introduction to 9 Marks of a Healthy Church
Part 1: Introduction to the series.
Book: 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
Be a Nice Person
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12
Theme: As a follower of Jesus Christ, you must be a nice person.
One: What does it mean to be a nice person?
- Offer some refuge. (Meaning, you must be like-minded; sympathetic; loving; compassionate; humble-minded)
- Respond with grace.
- Guard your words.
- Choose the right.
- Work at peace.
Two: Why should you be a nice person?
- Because you have the Holy Spirit.
- Because you have been called.
- Because you will be blessed.
- Because you have been saved.
Honor everyone. ~ 1 Peter 2:17
Following Jesus Must Shape Your Approach to Marriage
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Theme: Following Jesus must shape your approach to marriage.
One: Instructions for the wife:
- Submit...as a way of life.
- Submit...from the inside out.
- Submit...as an act of faith.
- *Hope: the beauty of godliness may be instrumental in drawing an unbeliever to faith in Christ.
Two: Instructions for the husband:
- Demonstrate love that is tailored by knowledge.
- Demonstrate strength that is expressed in honor.
- Demonstrate commitment that is anchored in grace.
- *Warning: When you lose your way as a husband, you lose your hearing with God.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands...husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way... ~ 1 Peter 3:1-7
We Must Endure Unjust Suffering
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:18-25
Theme: We must endure unjust suffering.
One: The command for a specific context.
- Servants, submit to your masters...
- ...even the unjust ones.
Two: The principle for broad application.
- Note the broadening: from "servant" to "anyone"
- Note the principle: endure unjust suffering
Three: How do we do this? It's difficult!
- Trust in God's sovereignty.
- Follow Christ's example.
- Live in resurrection power.
- Rest in Christ's care.
This is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ~ 1 Peter 2:19
We Must Submit to Government
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17
Theme: We must submit to government.
Be subject ... to every human institution...
One: ...with an understanding of God's will.
- Be known as those who do good.
- Obey for the Lord's sake.
Two: ...with an understanding of true freedom.
- Not free to do evil.
- Not free from authority.
- But free to serve God.
Three: ...with an understanding of Christian living.
- Honor everyone.
- Love other believers.
- Fear God.
- Honor elected officials.
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... ~ 1 Peter 2:13
The Witness of Your Works
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:11-12
Theme: Your righteous living is a witness to the watching world.
The Witness of Your Works...
One: ...flows from your identity with Christ.
- Anchored in love
- Call to be different
Two: ...calls for a war with sin.
- Sin's plan to ruin
- God's plan to stand
Three: ...points to the beauty of goodness.
Four: ...argues against the accusations of evil.
Five: ...longs for the visit of God.
- In judgment
- In mercy
Our Union with Christ
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10
Theme: You must build your life and identity on Jesus Christ.
5 Benefits of My Union with Christ
One: Belonging to God's people.
Two: Worship through God's Son.
- Access to God
- Acceptance by God
Three: Confidence in God's faithfulness.
- Certainty of the stone
- Certainty of my standing
Four: Purpose from God's choosing.
- A life of purpose
- A message of hope
Five: Wonder at God's mercy.
...as you come to him...you are being built up... ~ 1 Peter 2:4
Love One Another
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:3
Theme: You must (and you can) love each other.
How is it possible to love each other?
One: Exercise your faith.
- Your faith was designed for loving others.
Two: Demonstrate God's love.
- Because you have received gospel love, you must show gospel love.
Three: Reject all selfishness.
- Refuse to love self and thus disobey the 2nd great commandment.
Four: Nourish your soul.
- Desire both the Word of God and the God of the Word.
...love one another earnestly from a pure heart... ~ 1 Peter 1:22
Holiness: The Logical Conclusion
Series: Passing Through: A study in 1 Peter
Text: 1 Peter 1:13-21
Theme: Holiness is the logical conclusion of a living hope.
4 Arguments for Holiness
One: Since you believe Christ will return, get busy with kingdom work.
Two: Since you are children of God, show the family resemblance.
Three: Since God evaluates your choices, honor him with the time He gives you.
Four: Since you were ransomed at great cost, trust God with all of life’s issues.
The Wonder of Salvation
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12
Theme: We must rekindle the wonder of our salvation.
One: Our salvation is a story throughout the Bible.
Two: Our salvation is a study by the prophets.
Three: Our salvation is a drama of suffering and glory.
Four: Our salvation is a revelation from the Holy Spirit.
Five: Our salvation is a mystery to the angels.
...the prophets... prophesied about the grace that was to be yours,...
~ 1 Peter 1:3
Hope For Today
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Theme: Hope that works for today looks back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.
One: Hope that works for today...
- A hope that recognizes grief
- A hope that causes joy
- A hope that treasures Christ
Two: Hope that works for today looks back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- We have life by God's mercy
- We have an inheritance by God's promise
- We have protection by God's power
Three: Hope that works for today looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ.
- We have a faith that is growing
- We have a faith that will be rewarded
...he has caused us to be born again to a living hope... ~ 1 Peter 1:3
Elect Exiles
Series: Passing Through: A Study in 1 Peter
Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Theme: Why election matters to an exile.
One: To an exile, election means...I am loved by my Heavenly Father. "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father"
Two: To an exile, election means...I am set apart for God's purpose. "in the sanctification of the Spirit"
Three: To an exile, election means...I am righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. "for obedience to Jesus Christ"
Four: To an exile, election means...I am secure in God's promise of salvation. "for sprinkling with his blood"
Theme of 1 Peter
We must live as followers of Jesus Christ in the face of hostility...steadied by grace.
Passing Through
Series: Passing Through
Text: 1 Peter 1:1
Author: Peter
- Someone who had learned his need for grace and the sufficiency of grace.
- 30 years after Jesus returned to heaven.
Recipients: Exiles
- A different Lord; a different citizenship; a different way of life.
- They were foreigners who didn't fit.
Series Title: Passing Through
Series Theme: We must live as followers of Jesus Christ in the face of hostility ... steadied by grace.
"to the elect exiles...grace and peace" ~ 1 Peter 1:1-2