SHARE A LITTLE HOPE
I PETER 3: 8-17
SUNDAY AUGUST 25, 2002
INTRODUCTION: An older sister was sitting next to her younger brother in Church one Sunday morning unsuccessfully trying to keep him still and quiet. Finally she said, “I wish you would calm down.” “I can’t”, he said, “it’s just so boring.” With that his sister turned and said, “It’s supposed to be boring.”
Maybe you have thought that this is the purpose of the Church, be let me share something else with you.
Bill Hybels writes, “Recently, I saw a letter written by a relatively new Christian to the person whose life had influenced hers so greatly. She actually lists about a dozen qualities she found contagious in the life of this older Christian. Listen to some of what she wrote:
You know when we met; I began to discover a new vulnerability, a warmth, and a lack of pretense that impressed me. I saw in you a thriving spirit - no signs of internal stagnation anywhere. I could tell you were a growing person and I liked that. I saw you had strong self-esteem, not based on the fluff of self-help books, but on something a whole lot deeper. I saw that you lived by convictions and priorities and not just by convenience, selfish pleasure, and financial gain. And I had never met anyone like that before.
I felt a depth of love and concern as you listened to me and didn’t judge me. You tried to understand me, you sympathized and you celebrated with me, you demonstrated kindness and generosity - and not just to me, but to other people, as well.
And you stood for something. You were willing to go against the grain of society and follow what you believed to be true, no matter what people said, and no matter how much it cost you. And for those reasons and a whole host of others, I found myself really wanting what you had. Now that I’ve become a Christian, I wanted to write to tell you I’m grateful beyond words for how you lived out your Christian life in front of me.
Basically, she was saying, "Thanks for being a Contagious Christian." Reading a letter like that motivates me to live as a contagious Christian too. How about you? I’ll bet you want your life to count for a whole lot more than trinkets and toys and zeros on a paycheck, too.
From Becoming A Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for today talks about a life that matters. It talks about living a changed and a different life than that of the world outside of knowing the Lord as Savior. It speaks of having an impact within the culture you find yourself. In short, it speaks of sharing a little hope with a world that seems so hopeless. It is about NOT BEING BORING! It’s about sharing hope!
THESIS SENTENCE: Christians are called to live changed lives, lives that share hope!
So, what does it look like to live a changed life, one that shares hope?
I. SHARING HOPE IS HOW WE RELATE TO THE CHURCH [(EACH OTHER) VV. 8-12]
A. RELATING IS ACTIVE
1. Live is a verb and so is love.
2. Look at how Peter tells us to live (vv. 8, 10-12)!
B. RELATING IS NOT REACTIVE
1. The opposite of active is not inactive, but reactive.
2. Must of us live like this and Peter says to cut it out!
3. Verse 9 explains the difference.
4. Reactive is repayment!
ILLUSTRATION: Zig Ziglar writes:
My brother, the late Judge Ziglar, loved to tell the story of the fellow who went next door to borrow his neighbor’s lawnmower. The neighbor explained that he could not let him use the mower because all the flights had been canceled from New York to Los Angeles. The borrower asked him what canceled flights from New York to Los Angeles had to do with borrowing his lawnmower.
"It doesn’t have anything to do with it, but if I don’t want to let you use my lawnmower, one excuse is as good as another."
[Excuses: Any Will Do?, Citation: Zig Ziglar, Something Else to Smile About (Thomas Nelson, 1999)]
5. How we treat each other within the Body of Christ not only matters to the church, it matters to the Lord. HE TAKES NOTICE!
TRUTH: WE FIND HOPE TOGETHER!
II. SHARING HOPE IS HOW WE RELATE TO THE LORD (VV. 13 – 15A)
A. FEAR AS A WORLDLY TERM
1. Suffering a no, no!
2. Humiliation is out of the question.
3. Notice this insane question, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good (verse 13)?” The reality is there are those who don’t like goody two shoes! 4. Suffering is the call of the Christian, but what about health and wealth? What does the SCRIPTURE TEACH, OR AM I JUST MISSING IT?
5. In relating to the Lord, we must live as he lived and understand that as the world treated him, so it will treat us. OUCH! CAN SOMEBODY SAY OUCH?? 6. BUT Peter says, don’t fear what the world fears, think differently, be changed!
B. FEAR AS A SPIRITUAL TERM
1. The Scripture quoted, Isaiah 8: 11-13, “The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said, ‘ Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…”
2. Peter states that what we are to worry about is not wealth, health, or social status, but the Lord Himself!
3. We must stand in awe of God, in reverencial fear!
4. What is your FOCAL POINT?
5. Peter states, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord (vv. 15a).”
6. How are you relating to the Lord? IS HE LORD OF ALL OR NOT LORD AT ALL?
ILLUSTRATION: “When life caves in, you do not need reasons -- you need comfort. You do not need some answers -- you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation -- He comes to us with His presence.”
— Bob Benson
Nothing under God’s control is ever out of control.
— Charles Swindoll
Strongs says it this way "Christ and the believer have the same life. They are not separate persons linked together by some temporary bond of friendship,-they are united by a tie as close and indissoluble as if the same blood ran in their veins."
TRUTH: WE FIND HOPE IN THE LORD!
III. SHARING HOPE IS HOW WE RELATE TO THE LOST (VV. 15B-17FF)
A. Relating to the lost is being prepared!
1. Are you prepared to be a Christian or have you decided to be a bench warmer?
2. Peter states, “Always be prepared.”
3. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).”
4. If we are not ready/ prepared, who wins?
B. Relating to the lost is answering the question!
1. If our life style backs up what we profess, people will ask questions!
2. If they ask, we are to give the answer for the reason we have hope.
3. Maybe the question for us, is do they see any hope in us?
4. Our response must be gentle and respectful!
5. And if you are wondering just how to answer, Peter gives you a one sentence power packed answer, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but make alive by the Spirit…(verse 18).”
6. ANSWER THE QUESTION!!
C. Relating to the lost is living right!
1. Peter says we need to be on “Good Behavior”!
2. Jean shared with us at our LBA retreat Friday night that Children must be taught how to act in worship and with others.
3. I realized a terrible thing. Some adult need to be taught how to act in worship and with others. We must be on “GOOD BEHAVIOR!”
4. Finally he says, If you are going to suffer, make sure it is for doing good and not evil. If you suffer for doing what is evil, you deserve it and have no reward, but if you suffer for doing good, your life style preaches what you say you believe and those watching will get it!
ILLUSTRATION: Howard Hendricks said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”
"Jesus . . . wants us to see that the neighbor next door or the people sitting next to us on a plane or in a classroom are not interruptions to our schedule. They are there by divine appointment. Jesus wants us to see their needs, their loneliness, their longings, and he wants to give us the courage to reach out to them" (REBECCA MANLEY PIPPERT, Draper’s).
TRUTH: WE REALIZE HOPE IN SHARING
CONCLUSION: Are you sharing a little hope or do you have little hope to share? How are you relating to your brothers and sisters in Christ, those in this church and those in other churches?
How are you relating to the Lord? Are your eyes focused on Him, or are you eyes focused on circumstances?
How are you relating to the Lost? Do you resemble them or are you different? Do you have the answers? Does your lifestyle back up what you say?
As the Praise Team comes to sing “Reach Out and Touch” will you listen to the Lord and be obedient? If you Lord tuges at your heart, will you respond?
THE ALTAR IS OPEN!
SPECIAL PRAYER FOR GERTRUDE AND THE SITTON FAMILY!
BENEDICTION: I PETER 5: 10-11
