Eastertide
1 Peter 4:1-11
Good Stewards of God’s Grace
1 Since, therefore, Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2 so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
When Sin is our Solution
- greed becomes a solution to insecurity
- lust becomes a solution to loneliness
- anger becomes a solution to powerlessness
- addiction becomes a solution to pain
- pride becomes a solution to shame
- violence becomes a solution to fear
- cynicism becomes a solution to disappointment
Temptations to use sin to cope...
- debauchery - living only for pleasure
- passions - uncontrolled desires
- drunkenness - numbing yourself, overconsumption
- revels - partying to escape reality
- carousing - losing control of yourself
- lawless idolatry - building your life around false gods (stuff)
Stewards of Grace (4:1-11)
- prayer instead of panic
- love instead of hostility
- hospitality instead of isolation
- service instead of self-protection
- trust instead of control
- community instead of despair
Four Things:
- Disciplined life of Prayer
- Turn toward each other in Love
- Practice hospitality with out complaint
- Use your gifting for the common good
1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Evil is a Real Problem
- like a roaring lion
Fear is not the gospel
- Fear narrows imagination.
- Cynicism is not wisdom.
- Anxiety is real, but it is not ultimate.
“Cast your anxieties on God”
- God’s care is deeper than your fear.
- Humility means trusting strength greater than your own.
- You matter deeply to your Creator.
“Stand firm”
- Hope is not denial.
- Faithfulness is resistance.
- The church tells a different story.
“The God of all grace…”
- Grace is still at work in wounded places.
- Suffering does not get the final word.
- Resurrection hope changes how we endure the present.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
-John 1:5
A Litany of Hope
Leader: Dear friends, don’t be shocked when hard times come like a trial by fire.
People: Evil is a real problem.
Leader: The suffering is real. The grief is real. The fear is real.
People: Evil is a real problem.
Leader: But fear, cynicism, and despair will not become our gospel.
People: That’s not the story we’re telling.
Leader: Stay alert. Stay grounded. The enemy is looking for lives to destroy.
People: Evil is a real problem.
Leader: Place yourselves into God’s care.
Lay down your anxieties before God, because you matter deeply to your creator.
People: The God of all grace is still at work.
Leader: Stand firm in faith. Refuse to surrender your hope.
People: That is the story we’re telling.
Leader: Though the world is wounded and death still stalks creation, the God of all grace will restore, strengthen, and steady you after the suffering of this present moment.
People: The God of all grace is still at work.
Leader: Church, what story shall we tell?
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Leader: What story shall we tell?
People: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Leader: What story shall we tell?
People: The God of all grace is still at work.
Questions to Consider:
- Where are you most tempted to let fear shape the story you tell yourself about the world?
- What anxieties are you still trying to carry instead of trusting God's care?
- When has cynicism started to feel more “realistic” than hope?
- What would it look like for you to “stand firm” without becoming hardened or defensive?
- What story is your life telling right now about God, suffering, and hope?
