1 Peter: Living as Examples in Our Church

In this chapter Peter is writing to a group of churches that have begun go experience persecution from a pagan culture. To help them cope, he reminds them that 1st, this world is not their home. We are strangers and aliens in a culture that is becoming increasingly distant to us as we live in Christ and for Christ. 2nd, while we live in this culture we are to be different than our lost neighbors — we are to be counter-culture radicals.

Peter has been instructing his readers how to live for God in a pagan culture that is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christians. ILLUS. The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think-tank in Washington D.C. has been keeping track of the growing hostility toward religion in the United States. It’s not just a hostility toward Christianity, but toward all religions. While actual numbers of incidents remain relatively small considering the size of our population, percentage-wise their research shows a steady and alarming increase in incidents. Much of the hostility comes at the hands of judicial activists who regularly rule against religious institutions. A month ago a New York state court ruled that Yeshiva University in NYC must allow an LGBTQ club to meet on campus. The University — a private Orthodox Jewish University founded in 1886 — appealed. They lost. The court ruled that the university wasn’t distinctively religious enough to claim a religious exemption. It’s a dangerous place to be when the State begins to determine what institutions are “sufficiently religious” or “not” in regard to protecting their 1st Amendment rights. If this decision stands, and becomes a precedent for other courts, then it’s just a matter of time before any one of our three, or all three, of our Missouri Baptist Colleges are deemed insufficiently religious, and must allow “Gay Clubs” on campus or be forced to hire a transgendered professor.

Most Christian historians believe we are living in a post-Christian society. If this is true — and I believe it is — than letters like 1 Peter will become increasingly important to the church in guiding us through these times. ILLUS. Will Herberg in his 1955 classic book, Protestant, Catholic, Jew: An Essay in American Religious Sociology, referred to American culture as a “cut flower” culture. It’s a metaphor of what has happened to our society: Cut flowers are attractive, but they are also destined to perish quickly. This is because cut flowers are separated from their roots. Without roots, the lovely cut flowers will perish. By analogy, a culture cut from its roots is destined to perish regardless of how attractive the cultural values are that are being celebrated. This, then, describes where America is today with its secular culture that has uprooted our lives and institutions from the previous spiritual roots that caused us to “flourish”.

Increasingly, in that kind of culture, one of the roles of the Christian will be showing the culture what it means to be a believer. One way for the Church to live out its faith in the world is by living exemplary lives among the people of our society.

All of us live in four essential spheres of influence — our culture, our work, and our home

Live to God in the Culture 2:13-17

Live to God in the Labor Market 2:18-25

Live to God in the Home 3:1-7

Live to God in the Church 3:8-23

It’s this last sphere of influence Peter speaks to in the passage before us. We are to live exemplary lives among each other.

I. OUR OBLIGATION TO FELLOW BELIEVERS

1. for the Church, Peter gives five admonitions that present an ideal portrait of the church

A. 1ST, WE ARE TO BE COMPATIBLE

“Finally, all of you, have a unity of mind ... “ 1 Peter 3:8a

1. believers are to strive to get along with one another

a. that takes the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and the grace of God manifested in us, and an emulation of the life of Christ

2. at times, this might mean that, when it is not a matter of vital doctrine, we learn to give and take

a. we must learn to be compatible rather than rigid and disagreeable

b. have unity of mind is one word in the original language of the New Testament and means to be harmonious — literally of like mind

c. does this mean that all members of a congregation, let alone the entire Body of Christ, must march in doctrinal and theological lock-step?

1) is there no room for differences of opinion in a congregation?

ILLUS. If this is what the Apostle means than I doubt this passage has every been fully obeyed in the history of the Church!

3. there are obviously areas where believers disagree, especially over points where there can be an honest difference of interpretation

a. sincere Christians can disagree on the question of eternal security of the believer, on points of prophecy, and on the timing of the Second Coming

b. sincere Christians can debate Calvinism vs. Arminianism, on whether some spiritual gifts were temporary and limited to the early church or if all remain viable for today

ILLUS. John Phillips, in his commentary on 1 Peter writes, “There are enough grounds for disagreement in the Church to keep believers at each other’s throats for the rest of time.”

c. Peter, however, urges grace and a spirit of compatibility

ILLUS. When the herdsmen of Abraham’s sheep and the herdsmen of Lot’s sheep began to squabble over the available pasturage, Abraham put a stop to it. “We are brother’s,” he said. He then proposed a practical solution: they should part company and go their own way. That would be better than fighting and name-calling before the unsaved.

1) certainly some issues cannot be swept under the rug — there are times when a congregation must take a stand on cardinal and fundamental doctrines of the church

a) we all know, however, that it is rarely doctrinal and theological issues to cause separation among believers of a congregation

b) modern congregational conflagrations usually revolve around power struggles, or worship preferences, or leadership style

2) even in these, Peter is urging cordial discussion verses acrimonious argument

d. in nonessentials harmony should prevail

4. I think the unity of mind the Peter is calling the church to is the mind of Christ

a. this is the fundamental calling of every believer — to be governed by the mind of Christ

b. having the mind of Christ means that Christians should have the same basic aim of serving God, and loving one another instead of being guided by individual, and selfish interests

c. having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world — to bring glory to Himself, restore creation to its original splendor, and provide salvation for sinners

1) it means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10)

2) it means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and prayerful dependence on God (Luke 5:16)

3) it means living in fellowship with the Godhead and with the Church Christ died to establish

5. therefore, he exhorts the believers to “live in harmony with one another”

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Compatible

B. 2nd, WE ARE TO BE COMPASSIONATE

“Finally, all of you, have ... sympathy ... “ 1 Peter 3:8b (having compassion in the KJV)

1. it’s learning to feel what others feel so that you can respond with sensitivity to the need

a. it’s a word that refers to sharing another’s feelings — both another’s pain as well as their joy

ILLUS. The very first and the very last miracles of Jesus illustrate this. According to John’s Gospel our Lord’s very first miracle took place at a wedding. His compassion for the nameless couple increased their joy. Our Lord’s very last miracle took place at a funeral. There we find him weeping with the sisters of Lazarus and the other mourners — just before he brings him back to life!

1) the word sympathy in 1 Peter 3:8 is used of our Savior who, as our Great High Priest in heaven, “is touched with the feelings of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15)

b. Jesus is our example of weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice

2. one of the reasons why God allows His people to experience intense moments of joy as well as intense moments of hardship is so that we might understand the wonderful joy of a birth or a wedding or a graduation, as well as understanding the wearisome pain of a lost job, or a lost home or a lost spouse

a. the incarnation was all about being like us so that the Godhead might truly understand the devastating results of the Fall

1) Jesus never sinned — the New Testament is clear on that — but in his incarnation Jesus experienced first-hand the results of sin in the lives of those around him

b. as a result, Jesus was full of compassion for us — we were like sheep without a shepherd

2. Peter encourages Christians to develop a “ministry of compassion” toward fellow believers

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Compassionate

C. 3RD, WE ARE TO BE CARING

“Finally, all of you, have ... brotherly love ... “ 1 Peter 3:8c

1. Peter once again stresses the imperative of brotherly love in the Christian community

a. in a culture that is hostile to believers, believers need to be able to come to a place where their worldview is shared, not condemned, and where they are loved and appreciated regardless of their place or rank in society

b. the word encourages us to have a real fondness toward our brothers and sisters in Christ — a real natural affection

ILLUS. In the Broadway Musical Man of La Mancha, Don Quixote de La Mancha imagines himself a great knight who sets out to right wrongs and rescue maidens in distress. He goes off to find adventures with his trusty "squire", Sancho Panza. If you know the story, everyone thinks Don Quixote is crazy, seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Don Quixote becomes infatuated with Aldonza, a scullery maid who is used to rough treatment, and has become cynical toward life. But Don Quixote see here as his lady, Dulcinea. Aldonza is first flabbergasted and then annoyed at Quixote's kindness. In the musical, Aldonza wants to know why Sancho so faithfully follows such an out-of-touch dreamer, and presses him for the truth. Sancho’s response is simply, “I like him. I really like him.” In the song — and you know there’s a song coming — he sings these lyrics ...

I like him

I really like him

Pluck me naked as a scalded chicken

I like him

Don't ask me for why or wherefore

'Cause I don't have a single good because or therefore

You can barbecue my nose

Make a giblet of my toes

Make me freeze, make me fry

Make me sigh, make me cry

Still I'll yell to the sky, though I can't tell you why

That I like him!

2. brotherly love among believers can’t always be explained, and yet, we look at our fellow believer and say, “I like him”

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Caring

D. 4th, WE ARE TO BE COMFORTING

“Finally, all of you, have ... a tender heart” 1 Peter 3:8d

1. it’s a word that means to be full of pity and is similar to compassion

a. the pagan world of Peter’s day was a pitiless world — cold, callous, and cruel

1) the Roman world provided no hospitals or nursing homes for the sick

2) there were no orphanages for parentless children, no asylums for the disabled, the infirm, or the mentally disabled

3) there were no organizations to help impoverished widows, battered wives, abused children, or the starving unemployed

4) there were no civil rights organizations to protect the rights of millions of slaves

2. being a tender hearted Christian in the 1st century is seeing a brother or a sister in need and doing something about it

a. it’s rescuing the female baby left on a hillside to die of exposure ... it’s feeding the sick elder woman abandoned by her family ... it’s rubbing soothing balm into the sores of a Christian slave beaten by their master

3. our politically correct world is also a pitiless world, cold, callous, and cruel — just in different ways

a. in the politically correct world you must accede to the newest progressive ideas or risk being “canceled”

b. if you say something or write something that is considered objectionable or offensive you will be publically shamed

ILLUS. To be canceled means that a person or group decides to stop supporting someone or something based on a transgression that is either actual or perceived. It’s the secular version of the ancient church practice of excommunication. When you’re “canceled” you’re being boycotted by another person, organization or group. You suddenly loose access to the powerful, and the influential. It’s as if you never existed. Your “voice” is turned off. It can also have more serious repercussions. Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, was “canceled” in 2021 after supporting the claims of voter fraud against former President Donald Trump. At least two banks joined in on the canceling in 2022 and informed him that they would no longer do business with him. For a teenager canceled by school mates the emotional trauma leads to anxiety and even suicide.

4. being a tender hearted Christian in the 21st century is seeing a brother or a sister in need and doing something about it

a. it’s loving them when they’ve been canceled for standing up for Christ in a public forum

b. it’s accepting them even when their politics might not perfectly mesh with our politics

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Comforting

E. 5TH, WE ARE TO BE COURTEOUS

“Finally, all of you, have ... a humble mind.” 1 Peter 8e

1. humility is a virtue is a virtue that does not play well in an age of radical autonomy where the universe is meant to revolve around us

a. Peter reminds his readers that the world does not revolve around them

2. Jesus taught humility when he washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:4–17)

a. Jesus set the example of selfless service by his willingness to be the least in the company of his disciples and to be the servant of all

ILLUS. C.S. Lewis got it right when he wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Courteous

F. 6th, WE ARE TO BE CONCILIATORY

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)

1. Peter indicates that the readers are trying to settle injuries and insults on their own terms — they need to stop it

a. repaying evil for evil and insult for insult has no place in the Body of Christ

2. the apostle instructs the readers to bless their opponents rather than to repay them in kind

“For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:10–11, ESV)

a. if people — even Christian people — treat you unkindly, treat you badly, malign your character, Peter tells us not to pay them back in the same coin

3. we’d like to think that evil or reviling or deceit doesn’t happen within the Church, but that’s pollyannaish — as some of you who have been through a “church fight” know

ILLUS. One of the bloodiest “church fight” in church history took place in A.D. 561. At the center of the conflict was a monk named Columba. (He’s actually well known in current world history because he’s the first known person to record seeing a “monster” in Lock Ness. He claims to have rebuked and banished the creature. It didn’t work - last sighting was in May 2022). Any way ... After successfully starting a number of Christian communities in Ireland, Columba quarreled with another cleric over possession of a copy of the Psalms. While the details of the conflict are not entirely clear, the dispute escalated to the point of bloodshed. Over three thousand men lost their lives in 561 AD at the battle of Culdrevney.

a. the Apostle James speaks to this

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” (James 4:1–6, ESV)

b. conflicts have always plagued the church

1) members fighting members

2) leaders fighting leaders

3) churches fighting churches

... Within the Body of Christ, Let us Be Conciliatory

II. OUR MOTIVATION FOR LOVING FELLOW BELIEVERS

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”” (1 Peter 3:12, ESV)

ILLUS. The apologist Francis Schaeffer once said, “There will be many things your church may not be ... but there is one thing it cannot not be — a place where the people of God love each other. This is the final apologetic.”

In our process of training and equipping Christians, we must not forget to teach them that Christian behavior and attitude cannot be separated from their knowledge of God.

In a culture that seems to be divided over everything, Peter encourages the Church to be the one place where people are not divided.

Related Media

Related Sermons