Sober Sheep. Lion’s Lunch. Secure Shepherd. Fellow Flock. Perfect Peace.

As elders, we are called to ensure that God’s church remains true to God’s intention for and with it! Let’s listen to The command: Shepherd, oversee (v 1-2) The tools: Word and Prayer (cf. Acts 2:42) The attitude of our hearts (v 2-3)

A hope filled, hope proclaiming congregation will be full of humble members and humble leaders. Today we are considering what it means to be Humble Church Members What does it mean to be humble? What are the traits of humble people? How do I clothe myself with humility? 

When the world is burning, Christians don’t freak out, but live God’s glory-plan, in love, perseverance and trust.

Called to bless amidst suffering (3:8-17) – To bless by our deeds (v 8,9,10,11) – To bless by our words (v 9,10,15,16,17) – To bless by our thoughts and attitude (8,9,15,16) – The power to bless amidst suffering (3:18-4:6) – The power of Jesus’s example and the example of the saints of old (3:18-22) – The power of the Gospel Word and Sacrament (3:18-22) – The power of arming ourselves with gospel thought (4:1-6)

We’re going to look at:

1. The core motivation, heart and power for the call for submission: (2: 11,12,16) 2. How married women should be submissive to the Lord and therefore to their husbands: (3: 1-6) 3. How married men should be submissive to the Lord and therefore honour their wives: (3: 7)

As God’s holy children, wherever we have been called, we trust and follow our Redeemer-Shepherd, waiting on His justice, working for His glory.

I’ve titled this sermon, “The art of being free servants of God (11-17)” because it’s not something we will get right at the first go! No, we need to grow into this. Peter is urging us, God’s free, beloved, sojourning exiles to do these 6 things. To 1) abstain from the passions that drives this world (v 11) 2) to live beautiful lives in front of people who don’t know God (v 12) 3) To be the very best submissive earthly citizens (v 13-15) 4) To be humble and from a humble stance, to honor all men including the emperor, love the church, and to fear God! (v 16-17)!

In this first sermon on these 7 verses we will refocus on The heart of our freedom (v 11, 16)

We are the beloved sojourning exiles and servants of God!

Disciplines of Self-Denial – Solitude, Silence, Fasting, Sabbath

Disciplines of Engagement  -Word,  Worship and Sacrament, Prayer, Personal Reflection, Soul Friendship

God is saying through Peter that real hope, real significance, lies in becoming a living member of his family of servants, his spiritual household of priests! This is where you embrace your small role in his big plan, where his Church, his radical new community, build on the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ takes center stage. Sure, embracing this will make you strange, but there’s real tangible hope in being part of God’s plan! So, let’s look at our passage under these four headings: God is actively building his Church on Jesus Christ (v 4-5) Jesus is the prophesied cornerstone (v 6) He is rejected by many, to their own peril (v 7b-8). But He is precious to you, so go be his Church (9-10)!

Does being heavenly minded make people of no earthly good? Not according to Peter! He remind us that we are covenant children! The Creator God, the God to whom everything and everyone belongs is our Father by his choice, he is our almighty Father in Heaven in and through Jesus and nothing, no persecution, no suffering can change this. Peter is saying Christians will live lives of significance, will make a difference even, and especially in difficult times because God by his grace made us and is growing us into his thoughtful (1:13), holy (1:14-16) God fearing (1:17-21), loving community, (1:22-2:1) of every maturing children (2:2-3)!

I believe the first book of Peter is all about perspective.

In this first 12 verses Peter is saying you can live with hope amidst suffering because you are Elect Exiles (v 1-2) Born again to praise God (v 3-7) To love, and trust and hope in Jesus (v 8-9) And to keep the Holy Spirits perspective! (v10-12)