SERMON SUMMARY

We are a community that lives in the midst of a consumeristic culture, 24/7 and to think that we won’t at times bring that attitude and way of thinking into the church family is naive. Many of us regularly go through life making decisions based on what’s in it for us. We then walk into Church and carry that self-serving mindset with us. Do you live from a place of critique and constant evaluation of what you like and don’t like, a “what’s in it for me” attitude? If so, you are missing out on what it actually means to be part of a Church family. 

We are a Church family, a community of grace that is passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus. This is born out of scripture, born from what Jesus modeled and the commands of His word. We are a part of God’s strategic redemptive plan. His mission, which shines the light of purpose on our everyday moments. God’s mission is the reality of our purpose and hope. We can now walk through life not being whisked away toward less important things or becoming indifferent to the brokenness all around us. Instead, we live in light of eternity, which allows us to walk through life with all things in their proper place. 

Yet, we are forgetful people. We forget that we were redeemed for a purpose bigger than ourselves. 1 Peter serves to remind us what our everyday moments look like if we are this community of Grace, the Church. Peter highlights prayer, hospitality, love, and our gifts as tangible ways to wait for Christ’s return with purpose. We are the Church, each and every believer here. Peter is talking to each and every believer here. As we await the return of Christ, we expectantly and prayerfully live in such a way that the world notices there is something different about us. We truly do love each other, we enjoy being together, and we serve one another when we do gather together. We do not come to gain more of God’s love. We do not serve with the expectation of return. We pray, we are hospitable, we love others, and we use our gifts for the sake of others to the glory of God. These are theological convictions that give birth to practical actions. They are not reminders to simply assent to but reminders to do. Are you being equipped and equipping others for the work of ministry? Are you serving out of love for others, not love for yourself? Heed Peter’s reminder that we might be a community of grace in a land of consumption. 

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4:7-11

SERMON SCREENSHOTS & KEY POINTS

1 Peter is a letter of encouragement to Christ followers to make much of Jesus in the midst of persecution. This is a Church that awaits the return of Christ and lives daily in light of that hope. Peter ties together biblical doctrine and tangible life application in a way that puts the Gospel on display in the midst of a non-christian society. 

We see four ways to live in light of eternity every single day. 

• Pray: In light of the fact that Christ could return at any moment we pray! We must be attuned in our prayers, through communion with God, to our hope and reality in Christ. Prayer is the lifeline of a relationship where we experience communion with the creator God. Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for a changed heart, and pray for those that are close to you but far from God. Pray to be changed and pray to remember. Pray with eternity in mind. When we pray we walk through life not responding to every whim or desire, theory or speculation. Rather we walk in light of the hope that we have received. 
  • 1 Peter 4:7 “therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayer.” 
• Love: We love each other not in the emotionally fleeting way but in the stretching and straining way. This is not a fickle love but a love of repeated forgiveness as we live in light of the future. Loving each other is the outworking of a prayerful expectation that reminds others where their hope, identity, and reality are planted. 
  • Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up conflict but love covers all offenses”
  • 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
  • John 13:34-35” A New commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• Be Hospitable: Yes, Christ is going to return but we are not called to hunker down and wait it out. We are called to the opposite, to open our doors and live a life of invitation. This was essential to the existence of the early church as they did not have big buildings or large auditoriums in which to gather. No, they met in homes all throughout the day and week. This exhortation of scripture has not changed, be hospitable without grumbling. Steward what God has given you for his glory, it is his after all. Cheerfully opening your home and your life to others.
  • 1 Peter 4:9-10 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.”
• Use Your Gifts: You each have been gifted by the Spirit to serve one another. Gifts to build up others, serve others, and equip others. Steward these that others may grow to know and love God more, that others may be better equipped to live on mission in all aspects of life. His grace is shown to His church as we live in and live out of the reality of those gifts. 
  • 1 Peter 4:10-11 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies…”

Remember, whatever God is going to do in redeeming people to himself, he desires to do through all Christ’s people, the Church. You are all called and equipped for the work of ministry. God never intended 38% to serve 62%. All are called to prayerfully love, be hospitable, and use their gifts to serve others.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.