Sunday Sermon Series: A Living Hope
Overview: After a period of anticipating the imminent return of Jesus, Christians have come to the realization that there might be a period of waiting that includes trials and suffering. Christians found themselves foreigners in this pagan and often hostile world. In this epistle of grace, 1 Peter encourages these early believers to hold fast to what he calls A Living Hope.
September 7 • A Living Hope
1 Peter 1:1–12; Matthew 5:1–12
When we use that word, hope, we talk about hoping it will not rain today or hoping that our team wins. This is merely wishful thinking. But when the Bible speaks of hope, it is a “sure and certain” hope that because Jesus lives, one day, so will we. To this group of struggling believers, Peter’s encourages them by calling this A Living Hope.
September 14 • A Royal Priesthood
1 Peter 1:13–2:12; Matthew 5:13–16
You are royalty! How did this sound to Peter’s audience – poor, struggling Gentiles who were persecuted for their faith? “You are royalty, a child of the king, heir to the promise and blessed beyond measure.” Pie in the sky platitudes or the reality for those who are in Christ?
September 21 • How Then Shall We Live?
1 Peter 2:11–3:12; Matthew 5:17–20
Having been saved through faith and named as royalty, how then shall we live? Peter strikes an important balance for the believer. With one eye firmly fixed on the eternal prize yet to come, the other eye remains focused on the work to be done here and now with the breaking in of the Kingdom of God
September 28 • The Necessity of Suffering
1 Peter 3:13–4:11; Psalm 46; Matthew 5:43–48
Peter affirms the hard teaching of Jesus that in this world, you will have trouble. Who wants to hear that? And yet when we ask where God is in our suffering, he is not avoiding it or preventing it or closing his eyes to it. Our God is a very present help IN times of trouble. Look to the cross to see where our God can be found in our suffering.
October 5 • Never Give Up
1 Peter 4:12–5:14; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; Matthew 6:19–21
In 1941, Winston Churchill gave the shortest, most powerful and memorable commencement speech ever. Speaking at his alma mater, Harrow School of London, he went up to the podium, paused for a moment, and simply said, “Never Give Up!” No one has forgotten it. As Peter concludes his letter, his message is the same, encouraging these believers to stay the course.
