You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Wow, a glorious hymn. Many of you know that that glorious, celebratory, comforting hymn
was actually written in the midst of terrible suffering. Remember that story?
Unfortunately, Horatio Spafford had already lost his four-year-old son.
And then in the great Chicago fire of 1871, nearly all of his economic assets.
And the rest of his family, a wife and four daughters, sailed ahead of him to England
to be a part of an evangelistic revival there. And there was a shipwreck and the ship sank
and Spafford received a telegram from his wife that said,
Saved alone.
He got on his ship and as he neared the area where his daughters had all died,
he wrote those words that Tam just sang,
that we love to sing, especially in hard times.
It's glorious to celebrate Easter, isn't it?
It's wonderful to have the hope of Christ being yours forevermore.
And we turn back to 1 Peter this morning
and we realize that that has to be true now.
And that we're not home yet.
And we're going to remember that this morning.
That's been hard for me.
I've felt that this week.
Maybe many of you did too.
We're not home yet.
God's people in Peter's day were well aware that they were not home yet.
And the rest of 1 Peter, this letter that he's written to them,
is written to address this issue of suffering.
Telling God's people about suffering that they're already facing
or perhaps they're heading into.
He's already touched on this some as we've talked through the first part of this letter.
But this is the losing part of this series title.
The losing, the suffering in a world that's not our home.
Specifically, the suffering Peter addresses is suffering for being Christians.
We might say persecution or suffering as strangers in this world.
But many of the things we'll learn apply to suffering in general as well.
As we enter into this context for the next few weeks,
I want to give us a picture to orient us, to inspire us as we consider this.
It's one of the most iconic images coming out of Ukraine in recent months.
We've seen pictures of Christians worshiping with one another,
with bombs exploding all around them in their towns.
This brief video was filmed in a bomb shelter
where Ukrainian violinist Vera Latichenko
plays a Ukrainian folk song in the dark, somber shelter.
and puts a man in a
conference knowing between our lives.
It's a situation that brings happening to our guests as well.
This keeps me on Twitter and업 of Ukraine.
This keeps me on Twitter and making myself
in a movable andcerous exchange.
It's a poignant song, isn't it?
Maybe you can imagine yourself in a situation like that singing, It Is Well.
But the song is louder in their hearts than the bombs exploding all around them, isn't it?
Perhaps you don't yet feel like bombs are exploding all around you in terms of persecution and difficulty with living for Jesus day in and day out.
But many of our brothers and sisters around the world do experience that.
And many of us are already experiencing some of that where we live and in our worlds.
And Jesus wants us prepared for more, right?
Beyond that specific suffering, suffering of many other kinds is quite real and pressing in on all of us in different ways.
So we need to hear God's word direct us right now, yes?
And prepare us for days to come.
Read with me God's holy word.
True and powerfully relevant across cultures, across generations.
1 Peter 3, beginning at verse 13.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy.
Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Yet do it with gentleness and respect.
Having a good conscience so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.
Being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.
Father, we thank you for your word.
We ask for your help this morning.
That we would not merely hear it, but that we would receive it.
That we would see our Savior.
That we would find comfort in him.
That you would speak clearly to us.
We thank you that you delight to do that.
And so, would you use my words.
Would you speak far beyond them that we would hear your voice.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
When suffering hits your life, it's easy to forget who you are.
One of the things I love about this image is that Miss Slotichinko does not allow herself to be identified as a lonely person whose life is reduced to hiding in a bomb shelter.
No, she is a violinist, isn't she?
Even in the midst of life-altering suffering, she is a Ukrainian who stands with a courageous people against those who attack them.
Peter begins this long section on suffering with this reminder.
Verse 13.
Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
It's possible if you seek peace and you serve others graciously that no one will attack you at all.
But even more so, he's saying, if and when the attacks do come, you're blessed.
What does Peter mean?
The suffering itself is not good.
It's not a blessing in that sense.
We know that.
Rather, it's that no matter what comes, it's this idea of if God is for us, who can stand against us?
In God I trust.
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The psalmist says.
Don't forget who you are.
Identity amnesia, as Paul Tripp calls it, is dangerous, isn't it?
You're a beloved child of God.
Jesus told you there will be trouble in this world.
And he didn't pray that you would be removed from it so you would have no trouble.
Rather, he prayed that you would be protected from the evil one because he, Jesus, has overcome the world.
Don't forget that you are always held in his hand.
Blessed.
Jesus taught this in the Beatitudes, right?
Remember Matthew 5?
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are not a lonely person who is reduced to hiding from enemy attacks.
That is not your primary identity.
Blessed are you because you stand with a courageous people who have an eternal hope.
A reward in heaven, right?
The kingdom of heaven is yours.
No matter what they say about you here.
No matter how they treat you here.
No matter what they take away from you here.
They cannot take that away.
They can't take away your eternal inheritance.
They cannot harm your soul.
They cannot knock you out of the strong hand of your heavenly Father.
Amen?
Remember who you are and whose you are.
Who is holding you.
No matter what suffering comes your way.
We are going to learn several particular things about suffering in the weeks ahead.
How we as God's people are to live and approach suffering.
But the key principle at the center of this passage this morning is in my words,
that suffering affords us unique opportunities that we must embrace to share our hope with others.
This section that we're studying this morning is one of the main reasons that God led us to 1 Peter this year
and a year that we're focusing as a church on evangelism in our daily lives,
our relationships with our neighbors.
Hopefully many of you will remember Pastor Bill Nash standing down here for several weeks in January
and teaching us about 1 Peter 3.15.
It comes in the context of suffering.
As your heart is overwhelmed,
as your mind is strained,
as your body is being worn down,
opportunities to share your hope
will arise right there as well.
Now the suffering itself is not good.
But those opportunities are exciting, right?
Let me remind us why.
Why are they so exciting to us?
Because we are God's people,
not that we might have comfort and ease here in this life.
No.
We are God's people that we might proclaim the excellencies
of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light, right?
Remember your identity as pastors.
Remember that?
All of you?
If you were here then?
Pastors who are to pray for and point people to Jesus.
I hope as we think about this that at least those three names that you've committed to praying for
and to looking for opportunities to point them to Jesus are coming to mind.
Those people that are in your life that you're living with and seeking to love.
And maybe you're wondering, well, when and how we'll ever get to share with them?
I just don't know how that'll happen.
Well, suffering is not the only way.
It is one of the ways that such opportunities are presented to point to Jesus as your hope.
So what are we sharing?
Here, verse 15.
Make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
A reason for the hope that is in you.
Why do you have hope?
Someone might say.
How do you have hope when all of this is going on in your life and around you?
I mean, we celebrated, especially last week on Easter, it was a very celebratory service, right?
There's hope.
We celebrated.
We have a living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
But maybe life hits and someone says, now?
Do you have that hope?
That's the hope that we're to be sharing.
Do people see and hear where your hope is, especially when life hurts?
Could you share with someone why your hope is beyond success or comfort or fame here in this life?
Could you share what the death and resurrection of Jesus promises you now and forever?
That's your hope.
That's what we're sharing.
Well, when?
When should we share this hope?
The most direct answer here in this passage is when someone asks you.
See, because you haven't retreated into a holy huddle of some sort,
Peter assumes that others who do not know Jesus will see your life
and not only at times malign you, which will happen,
but also at other times ask you.
The assumption here, by the way, is that they don't just see your successes,
so that they don't just know you on Facebook, right?
They also see your sufferings.
Hmm.
You okay with that?
That feels pretty vulnerable, doesn't it?
Pretty personal.
But they don't just get to see the good days.
Apparently, people are seeing the hard times.
Are you okay with them seeing that?
Can your heart say, say yes, because I want them to see my hope.
I want them to see my Savior.
Another answer to that when question would be always.
Always we should share.
This verse is not trying to give us an excuse never to talk about Jesus
unless someone asks us, so just try to make sure no one ever does.
That's not the point.
Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone.
You can stand and share your story of God's grace
scheduled before a large group like this.
That's wonderful.
Or you could unexpectedly bump into someone in the grocery store checkout line
and share the hope of Jesus.
Always with anyone.
So this is the reason Peter tells us
always to be prepared to share our hope.
Always be prepared.
As every good scout knows, and I'm not one, I'm faking right now,
but every good scout knows if you're going to be prepared,
that has to happen ahead of time before you go on the hike, right?
Where you might need fire or food or something.
Always be preparing ahead.
Preparing ahead of the occasion where the conversation comes up
and you need hope, hope to share, right?
Can we do some preparation together this morning?
You and I will both be a bit more equipped
for the next hope opportunity that we have.
Let's spend just a few minutes in this preparation,
helping us be prepared.
Answer this question,
where does preparation primarily need to take place
if we're to be ready to share our hope?
My guess is for many of you, you may say,
oh, it's in my head, this is great.
Pastor's going to give me some theological arguments
and he's going to teach us some things
and that can be helpful.
Probably some of you are thinking,
ah, yes, this is going to be a homiletics course,
public speaking.
He's going to teach me how to say things
so that it comes home just right.
How about your heart?
To be prepared in your hearts,
regard Christ the Lord as holy.
That's the word from the Lord's prayer,
our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Treated as holy, glorified.
And Peter, by the way, has no problem
using that of Jesus Christ the Lord.
What does that mean?
If in your hearts you're honoring Jesus as holy,
that means you're trusting,
even and especially in the midst of your suffering,
remember, that's where we are,
that Jesus is the one in charge
of all the events in your life
and in your world.
He is Lord.
If you're going to worship him
while losing everything,
while the world brings chaos all around you,
and it does,
then this means instead of fearing your enemies
or being overthrown by persecution
so that you abandon the eternal hope of Jesus
just to get a little hope of comfort and security here,
how can I protect myself?
means that you settle in your heart ahead of time,
that Jesus can be trusted,
that he alone is worthy of fear
and also of trust.
And you don't just train your head
to assent to these truths theoretically
in a way that won't impact you
when the rubber meets the road.
No, you help your heart embrace that hope.
There's so much we could say here,
but molding my heart means a bunch of things.
It means prayer, right?
My heart's going to be able to engage with God,
to talk with him,
to listen to him.
It means worship.
Worship shapes our heart, doesn't it?
To come in here with God's people
and to together cling to his promises,
together to hear stories like AC shared with us last week
about God's faithfulness in real hurt and loss.
It means soaking in God's word
and its truths about the heart of God
and the suffering of God's people,
including God's very son
and how God works in the midst of all of that.
My heart needs to know that.
It means being honest,
especially about your fears and your hurts,
being honest with others.
Talk to your grace group, right?
Email one of the pastors and say,
I just need to talk.
Listen, we love talking with you.
We love to get to hear what's going on in your world
and to pray with you,
to go together to remember who God is
right where you are.
Grab a brother or sister this morning
and just say,
I need some help.
I can't see the hope of Jesus right now
in my depression,
in my grief,
in my fear about what might be coming my way
at work or in my neighborhood
or just in my life.
I can't see this hope we sing about and talk about.
I just need some help.
Will you listen to me?
Together, you can ask God to prepare your heart
to find your hope in Christ.
We need each other.
You may memorize a speech to share with someone.
That's great if you do.
Some of you are good at that.
That can help.
But if you prepare your heart
to hope in Christ in every situation,
then the hope can just come out
when the hard stuff happens.
Even sometimes it comes out in messy words.
Even sometimes it's through tears.
Even sometimes you look back
and you think,
oh man, I wish I hadn't have said it that way.
And the suffering floods in
and that's reality, right?
Opportunity arises suddenly
and someone asks unexpectedly
and you're still stinging
from being left out by your friends,
from being passed over by your boss,
from whatever it is.
You're just hurting in that.
And it doesn't come out like a prepared speech,
but the reality of your hope in Christ
can come out with,
well sometimes it's indirect questions
that someone will ask.
Other times, unexpected opportunities.
And there's plenty of those.
I've missed a bunch of those
because I wasn't eagerly prepared
to share my hope.
Maybe you've felt that way
as the person walks away
and as you get in your car
and oh man.
But lots of opportunities.
I've been asked,
sitting in a car in India,
I know Jesus was a good man
who died on a cross,
but I just don't know why
he died on a cross.
Can you explain that to me?
Sure.
Teeing it up, right?
That can happen.
I've also walked by someone
I didn't even know
and a simple,
hey, how's it going?
It was answered with deep personal loss
and longing for hope.
But if our hearts are prepared
by treasuring Jesus,
by praying for people,
then we'll have this opportunity
to point the people to Jesus, right?
To share where our hope is.
We get to share our hope
and worry about rhetorical flourishes later.
You know what?
It's not about you anyway.
It's about Jesus.
You don't have to say it impressively.
Don't fear people
who might be against you.
Decide now,
at your core,
that Jesus is worthy
of all glory,
all your trust,
and so look forward
to sharing your hope
that he is that wonderful,
that he is your treasure,
that he is yours forevermore,
and just sharing that hope in him.
Can you believe,
by the way,
that Peter just told us that?
That he's the one writing,
have no fear of them.
What's Peter's most famous answer
to the question,
why are you with Jesus?
What's his most famous answer to that?
Who?
I mean, not me.
Not who?
That guy?
I mean,
you're a pretty intimidating servant girl.
After all,
I'm a little afraid.
He feared the servant girl.
Maybe like me,
you've failed on many occasions,
and you feel the weight of that,
those missed opportunities.
Jesus tells Peter what?
Jesus says,
Peter,
I've prayed for you,
and you're gonna fall,
and I've prayed that you'll repent,
and that you'll actually help others.
And so the risen Jesus comes to Peter,
and he reinstates him,
and he says,
feed my sheep.
Feed my sheep.
Keep pointing people to me.
And so when Peter is asked at Pentecost
in front of many friends and foes,
why are you with Jesus?
He shares his hope
and boldly declares,
God has made this Jesus
whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ.
Repent and be baptized,
all of you,
in the name of Jesus
for the forgiveness of your sins.
And then when the authorities
threaten his life
because he keeps telling people about Jesus,
they say,
stop!
Or we'll stop you.
The one who was afraid
of the servant girl
says what?
I cannot help
but speak of what I have seen
and heard.
Peter's story of hope
includes fear
and failure
and forgiveness
that is there for us.
I want you to think just a minute
what your personal hope is.
Maybe think of a couple of things
you could highlight
in your story of grace.
That's what we call them around here.
Maybe think of a struggle
Jesus met you in.
A favorite Bible verse
or song
that encapsulates
your hope quickly
and that you always remember
because you've known it a long time.
Maybe it's a moment
or an argument
or a realization
that helped you
trust Jesus.
I want to urge each of us
to spend some time
after you leave
considering that
and preparing
in your hearts.
But before the last
little bit of the sermon
I'm going to actually give you
60 seconds right now
to think on that
or just to pray for God
to be preparing your heart
even right now
because I know
some of us are going to leave here
and this afternoon
is going to get busy
and your intention
to spend three hours
contemplating this
is going to be tough.
Take a little bit of time
right now.
God would you keep speaking
to us
and keep preparing
our hearts
to share this hope.
Amen.
In case you didn't miss it
I'm not quite finished yet.
A couple more things
Peter shows us here
about sharing our hope
amidst our suffering.
When the time comes
how should we share?
Always share eagerly
but do this with
gentleness
and respect.
Gentleness means
I'm not focused on myself.
Respect means
I'm elevating the value
of the other person.
Your manner
should not be attacking
or offensive.
The only offense
should be the offense
of the cross
of Jesus.
You're speaking
to a person
he made
in his image
that he loves
that he values.
Humbly tell them
you're no better
at all
but you found hope
in one who is
and who loves us.
Why?
Why share this way?
Well Peter says
be gentle
and respectful
for your own conscience.
Verse 16
because it's right
and true
but this is primarily
for others.
Look
that even though
they slander you
they may be
put to shame.
The idea is not so much
their public humiliation
it might sound like that
to us
but rather
their change of heart
that they may move
from belittling
to believing.
that they may move
from shaming your hope
to sharing your hope.
Right?
That's our desire.
We must embrace
these opportunities
because this is our mission.
It's our purpose
for existing.
God has sent you
with the best news ever
that many others
would enjoy
the riches
of his grace
through Jesus
alongside of you.
He sent you for that.
Take advantage
of these opportunities.
Do you remember
the story
of the Israelite lepers
in 2 Kings 7?
Things got so bad
in their lives
that they despaired
of life.
They decided
they had nothing
left to lose.
They'd walk over
into the camp
of the enemy
and just hope
against hope
for mercy.
And so these four guys
walk in
and they get there
and God has chased
the Assyrians off
and there's a huge camp
full of silver
and gold
and food
and drink
and clothes
and they're just
it's all theirs
for the taking.
They carry all they can off.
I don't know where they hit it
and as they come back
to start plunder round two
they suddenly stop
and they look at each other
and they say
something's wrong.
This is a day
of good news
and we are keeping it
to ourselves.
Let's go tell.
Let's go share.
There's plenty here
for everybody.
Southwood
this is a day
of good news.
Amen?
Let's not keep it
to ourselves.
Let's embrace
the opportunities
even our suffering
gives us
to share this hope.
After all
verse 17
it is better to suffer
for doing good
if that should be
God's will
than for doing evil.
Remember back to chapter 1
Peter told us
all our suffering
comes from a good God
and though it's not good
it's for your good.
It's to bring something
precious in you.
Remember that?
Remember how he's working?
He's the one who wills.
You're suffering unjustly
not for your sins
and so did someone else.
Jesus also
suffered unjustly.
That's the connection
to verse 18.
We'll pick up
at verse 18
next week.
But I love
that the Bible
always takes us back
to Jesus
doesn't it?
I'll admit
it's not always
as clear as this passage
right here.
But that's why
we preach the Bible
here every week
because it never
ever lets us
miss Jesus.
When you suffer
don't forget
your suffering Savior.
Not only does he know
first hand
about unjust
suffering
so he can relate
he can understand
he can weep
with you.
If you
if you have a lot
of tears
this week
this morning
please know
feel his tears
with you
and for you.
He has been there
he knows
what that suffering
is like.
But also
he suffered
to bring you
to God.
You who are sinful
unrighteous
who had distanced
yourself from God
like Peter
through your words
and your actions
and your lack
of words
and actions
he died
to bring you
to God
so that you
are his.
God's people
recipients
of his mercy
that's who you are
and whose
you are.
Jesus
suffered
for you
so that no matter
what you suffer
you could
confidently sing
it is well
with my soul.
Not
it's good
in my world
it is well
with my soul.
He died once
you don't have to repeat
the sin bearing
part.
No but you
you proclaim
the sin bearing
part of his
suffering
that though his
body died
he was made alive
forever in the spirit
which will really last
so there's eternal hope.
So we have a hope
to stand on.
A hope
to sing about
no matter
what's exploding
all around us
in this world
so that we have
a hope
to share
with anyone
and everyone.
Amen.
Let's pray.
Jesus
thank you
for your
death
in our place
and thank you
that you live.
We need you
with us.
We need a
living
savior
who doesn't
leave us alone
and so we
we thank you
for that.
Would you
remind us
that you're
with us?
Would you
send us
out in your
strength
to celebrate
the hope
that we have
to share
the savior
who gives us
that hope?
Give us joy
in that
we ask in your
name.
Amen.
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information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org
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