Sunday Morning in the Word Dec 3, 2017

FAR AS THE CURSE IS FOUND JOY FAR AS THE CURSE IS FOUND An Advent Miniseries Sunday Mornings, December 10th and 24th

The Villager’s Tale Sunday morning, December 17th (9:00 and 10:30)

In Desperate Times Today: 1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble . . . 1 Peter 3:8 (NASB) To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit…

1 Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

A Key to doing so is submission! 1 Peter 2:13-17 – submission in society as citizens 1 Peter 2:18-25 – submission in the work place as household servants 1 Peter 3:1-7 – submission in the home as wives (and husbands)

A Key to doing so is submission! 1 Peter 2:13-17 – submission in society as citizens 1 Peter 2:18-25 – submission in the work place as household servants 1 Peter 3:1-7 – submission in the home as wives (and husbands)

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “like-minded” John 17:21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “like-minded” Acts 4:32a Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind . . .

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “like-minded” Philippians 2:2 Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

One of our four core values: THE BIBLE OUR AUTHORITY. which simply means the Bible is the authority for our faith and our practice. It determines what we believe and how we behave!

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “sympathetic” Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, “phileo” = brotherly/family or close friend kind of love

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “love one another” This idea of family permeates the New Testament The words “brother, brethren, sisters,” referring to Christians occurs over 300 times! Christ’s Church, Our Family

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “compassionate” Matthew 14:14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “compassionate” Mark 6:34 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “humble” Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “humble” Philippians 2:5-9 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church “humble” 1 Corinthians 10:12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. Because when it comes to humility, when you think you have it . . . You don’t!

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

Five Virtues Essential for the Church 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith 1 Peter 3:9 Not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith “giving a blessing” Matthew 5:38-41 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith “giving a blessing” Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith (quoting Psalm 34:12-16a) 1 Peter 3:10-11 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith (quoting Psalm 34:12-16a) 1 Peter 3:10-11 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith (quoting Psalm 34:12-16a) 1 Peter 3:10-11 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith (quoting Psalm 34:12-16a) 1 Peter 3:10-11 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Responding to those Hostile to our Faith (quoting Psalm 34:12-16a) 1 Peter 3:12 Because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.

On college and university campuses around the country it is almost FINAL EXAM TIME!

And then we must go “live it!” Every time we read and study God’s Word, God is looking into our hearts to see if we “get it!” And then we must go “live it!”

Grace Church, are we truly committed to . . .  Like-mindedness, being together “on the same page” because we are pursuing God’s agenda vs. our own agendas?  Loyalty to our church family as we love one another with brotherly love?

Grace Church, are we truly committed to . . .  Cultivating tender hearts for one another as we feel each other’s pains and joys and are moved to help each other in our times of need? (sympathy and compassion)  Humility – Are we thinking of God first, others second and ourselves last?

Grace Church, are we truly committed to . . .  Controlling our tongues by avoiding gossip, slander, lies, unkind words, when wronged?    Striving for purity by turning from evil to good, turning from cursing to blessing those who mock us?  Pursuing peace in our relationships with others, even with those who are hostile toward us?

We can only live out this life Peter is calling us to through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!