A Portrait of Christian Character and Conduct
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Main Goal “My Goal for us tonight is to look at 5 Characteristics of Christian Conduct that when practiced help build up believers and give rise to the conversion of unbelievers.
Main Goal “My Goal for us tonight is to look at 5 Characteristics of Christian Conduct that when practiced help build up believers and give rise to the conversion of unbelievers.
Introduction
Introduction
Hi Everyone! My name is Brian Young for those of you who don’t know me. It is my pleasure to be here and to open God’s Word with you. My wife Rachael and I have been at Canyon for a little over 6 months. If i haven’t met you yet, i would love to meet you later tonight. If you have your Bible, go ahead and turn to 1 Peter 3:8-12. Lets read this section, I will pray and then we will get into the sermon.
Hi Everyone! My name is Brian Young for those of you who don’t know me. It is my pleasure to be here and to open God’s Word with you. My wife Rachael and I have been at Canyon for a little over 6 months. If i haven’t met you yet, i would love to meet you later tonight. If you have your Bible, go ahead and turn to 1 Peter 3:8-12. Lets read this section, I will pray and then we will get into the sermon.
Read 1 Peter 3:8-12
Read 1 Peter 3:8-12
Pray
Pray
Story of Marvin.
Story of Marvin.
“No one really cares. They care but not to the extent of getting in your shoes. You have to put in the work, endure the pain, embrace the joys. It’s all you and only you”
“No one really cares. They care but not to the extent of getting in your shoes. You have to put in the work, endure the pain, embrace the joys. It’s all you and only you”
Emphasize- Christian Character and Christian Conduct is a portrait of Christ the the world. We are literally walking images of Christ’s work to the world. The question is what image of Christ are people going to see when they look at you?
Emphasize- Christian Character and Christian Conduct is a portrait of Christ the the world. We are literally walking images of Christ’s work to the world. The question is what image of Christ are people going to see when they look at you?
Main Goal “My Goal for us tonight is to look at 5 Characteristics of Christian Conduct that when practiced help build up believers and give rise to the conversion of unbelievers.
Main Goal “My Goal for us tonight is to look at 5 Characteristics of Christian Conduct that when practiced help build up believers and give rise to the conversion of unbelievers.
1. Unity Rooted In Brotherly Love
1. Unity Rooted In Brotherly Love
2. A Compassionate Willingness
2. A Compassionate Willingness
3. A Humble Posture
3. A Humble Posture
4. A Gospel Perspective
4. A Gospel Perspective
5. A Heavenly Gaze
5. A Heavenly Gaze
As we go through these 5 points, the intent is to be super practical so you and I can easily apply these characteristics to our lives as we seek to be a good picture of Christ!
As we go through these 5 points, the intent is to be super practical so you and I can easily apply these characteristics to our lives as we seek to be a good picture of Christ!
1. Unity Rooted In Brotherly Love
1. Unity Rooted In Brotherly Love
Before Peter lists ant of the characteristics he says the word “Finally” which calls our attention back to the previous passages that Peter wrote. Peter’s main point is found all the way back in verse 12 of chapter 2. He calls the believers to watch their conduct towards their government, workplace, family life, and here in this passage he addresses believer’s relationships towards one another and towards unbelievers in general. These characteristics that Peter urges all believers to display are for any context that believers back then and believers today find themselves in. He starts with unity of mind. While i don’t believe that Peter lists these characteristics in any specific way, i have for the sake of time combined unity of mind and brotherly love together for our first point.
Before Peter lists ant of the characteristics he says the word “Finally” which calls our attention back to the previous passages that Peter wrote. Peter’s main point is found all the way back in verse 12 of chapter 2. He calls the believers to watch their conduct towards their government, workplace, family life, and here in this passage he addresses believer’s relationships towards one another and towards unbelievers in general. These characteristics that Peter urges all believers to display are for any context that believers back then and believers today find themselves in. He starts with unity of mind. While i don’t believe that Peter lists these characteristics in any specific way, i have for the sake of time combined unity of mind and brotherly love together for our first point.
1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
The command for unity is for believers to live in harmony with one another. Remember the context of 1 Peter. These believers are suffering persecution from the world around them. The need for the believers to be united cannot be understated. There are many verses in the Bible that command believers to be united and that show the benefit of unity.
The command for unity is for believers to live in harmony with one another. Remember the context of 1 Peter. These believers are suffering persecution from the world around them. The need for the believers to be united cannot be understated. There are many verses in the Bible that command believers to be united and that show the benefit of unity.
Acts 4:32 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Acts 4:32 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
When life gets tough, it is especially easy for disunity to creep into a church and threaten the body. Just two years ago, every church in the world experienced the reality of Covid. Covid was like a stick of dynamite that was thrown into every church congregation in the world that tested the unity of the congregation. No matter what a church decided to do or not to do isn’t my point, but i think we all can recall some point during those hard times, seeing disunity within our own churches or struggling with pursuing unity within our own relationships with people.
When life gets tough, it is especially easy for disunity to creep into a church and threaten the body. Just two years ago, every church in the world experienced the reality of Covid. Covid was like a stick of dynamite that was thrown into every church congregation in the world that tested the unity of the congregation. No matter what a church decided to do or not to do isn’t my point, but i think we all can recall some point during those hard times, seeing disunity within our own churches or struggling with pursuing unity within our own relationships with people.
I think it is important to quickly mention what unity is not. Unity isn’t a suppression of the truth. Unity
I think it is important to quickly mention what unity is not. Unity isn’t a suppression of the truth. Unity
There are many churches today that are not united. It is especially easy for disunity to creep into a church when times are tough. Just look at what churches around the world went through during Covid. Covid was like a stick of dynamite that was thrown into every single church in the world that tested the unity of the congregation. My point isn’t criticizing what decisions were made or not made by churches but to simply state the reality that church unity was heavily tested during the hard times of Covid.
There are many churches today that are not united. It is especially easy for disunity to creep into a church when times are tough. Just look at what churches around the world went through during Covid. Covid was like a stick of dynamite that was thrown into every single church in the world that tested the unity of the congregation. My point isn’t criticizing what decisions were made or not made by churches but to simply state the reality that church unity was heavily tested during the hard times of Covid.
I think it is important to quickly understand what unity is not. Unity is not a suppression of the truth. Unity is not an acceptance of sin for the sake of being accepted by the culture. Unity is not being exact copies of our favorite preacher.
I think it is important to quickly understand what unity is not. Unity is not a suppression of the truth. Unity is not an acceptance of sin for the sake of being accepted by the culture. Unity is not being exact copies of our favorite preacher.
Unity is rooted in love for Christ and love for one another!
Unity is rooted in love for Christ and love for one another!
Brotherly love is an amazing application to pursuing unity with one another! How do you become united in mind and brotherly love? Well, you have to spend time with people don’t you? Unity and brotherly love go hand in hand. Spending time with one another inside and outside the church is a great way to pursue unity. Talk about what the Lord is doing in your lives. Be a part of a small group and serve with one another.
Brotherly love is an amazing application to pursuing unity with one another! How do you become united in mind and brotherly love? Well, you have to spend time with people don’t you? Unity and brotherly love go hand in hand. Spending time with one another inside and outside the church is a great way to pursue unity. Talk about what the Lord is doing in your lives. Be a part of a small group and serve with one another.
Colossians 3:14 “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Unity is contagious. Believers who love each other, can’t get enough of Christian fellowship. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have differences or that we always necessarily agree on everything. There are true believers who believe differently then we do. Unity rooted in love accepts differences when possible but remains united in gospel truth.
Unity is contagious. Believers who love each other, can’t get enough of Christian fellowship. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have differences or that we always necessarily agree on everything. There are true believers who believe differently then we do. Unity rooted in love accepts differences when possible but remains united in gospel truth.
Non believers will look at a united church and wonder what in the world do those people have that make them want to spend so much time with one another. Non believers will look at brothers and sisters in Christ and wonder, how can i get people to love me like they love one another. Canyon Study, be United in Brotherly Love and you will be a powerful encouragement to each other and to the outside world.
Non believers will look at a united church and wonder what in the world do those people have that make them want to spend so much time with one another. Non believers will look at brothers and sisters in Christ and wonder, how can i get people to love me like they love one another. Canyon Study, be United in Brotherly Love and you will be a powerful encouragement to each other and to the outside world.
John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
2. A Compassionate Willingness
2. A Compassionate Willingness
Where did I get a compassionate willingness? I combined sympathy and a tender heart together to capture the essence of what Peter is encouraging the believers to have amongst one another.
Where did I get a compassionate willingness? I combined sympathy and a tender heart together to capture the essence of what Peter is encouraging the believers to have amongst one another.
Peter is saying to have a heart that loves people and cares to act upon that love.
Peter is saying to have a heart that loves people and cares to act upon that love.
I usually don’t talk about the greek words in sermons because i think most times it isn’t necessary but here i think it is! The greek word for sympathy conveys feeling the same emotions as the other person.
I usually don’t talk about the greek words in sermons because i think most times it isn’t necessary but here i think it is! The greek word for sympathy conveys feeling the same emotions as the other person.
A few months before moving to Los Angeles for Seminary, I was working as an intern at my old home church and i helped serve in the counseling department. I was in charge of handling the phone calls when people were interested in biblical counseling. Each phone call would last around 30 minutes and within those 30 minutes, people would share with me what they were seeking counsel for. I remember a few stories where i could feel the hurt and sadness that these people were going through. Now i get pretty emotional easily, I cry when watching Disney movies but that is beside the point.
A few months before moving to Los Angeles for Seminary, I was working as an intern at my old home church and i helped serve in the counseling department. I was in charge of handling the phone calls when people were interested in biblical counseling. Each phone call would last around 30 minutes and within those 30 minutes, people would share with me what they were seeking counsel for. I remember a few stories where i could feel the hurt and sadness that these people were going through. Now i get pretty emotional easily, I cry when watching Disney movies but that is beside the point.
The sense of feeling the emotions that brothers and sisters are feeling is what Peter is telling the believers to have. You may not have gone through what another believer has but just being there for that person, goes a long way.
The sense of feeling the emotions that brothers and sisters are feeling is what Peter is telling the believers to have. You may not have gone through what another believer has but just being there for that person, goes a long way.
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
I think as Christians, we can be well intentioned but way to quick to want to fix someone’s problem. Often we want to think of the “perfect” Bible verse that in our minds will automatically help this person and fix their problems so that they can focus their mind on God and everything will be better instantly. Again, this is usually well intentioned but i don’t think that is the compassionate willingness Peter is conveying.
I think as Christians, we can be well intentioned but way to quick to want to fix someone’s problem. Often we want to think of the “perfect” Bible verse that in our minds will automatically help this person and fix their problems so that they can focus their mind on God and everything will be better instantly. Again, this is usually well intentioned but i don’t think that is the compassionate willingness Peter is conveying.
I once heard a Pastor say, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
I once heard a Pastor say, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
The Bible is the ultimate cure because God is the ultimate healer of the hurting. But that does not mean that we as Christians need to lead with a Bible verse. Showing sympathy can look like being there for someone and telling them, I’m praying for you and I’m here for you.
The Bible is the ultimate cure because God is the ultimate healer of the hurting. But that does not mean that we as Christians need to lead with a Bible verse. Showing sympathy can look like being there for someone and telling them, I’m praying for you and I’m here for you.
The Tender Heart that Peter speaks of is an interesting Word in the greek. It is “eusplagchnos” which translated means having strong bowels. Weird translation right? How does having strong bowels equate to tender heart or compassionate willingness? Well it doesn’t mean that you had a bad burrito. The image is being so moved within your insides by care for another individual, that you are moved to act.
The Tender Heart that Peter speaks of is an interesting Word in the greek. It is “eusplagchnos” which translated means having strong bowels. Weird translation right? How does having strong bowels equate to tender heart or compassionate willingness? Well it doesn’t mean that you had a bad burrito. The image is being so moved within your insides by care for another individual, that you are moved to act.
A good illustration of this kind of compassion is when Jesus feeds the 5 thousand in Mark 6:30-44, Jesus and his disciples are about to go away by themselves to rest but a large crowd sees them and follows them to where they were going to rest. And in Mark 6:34, “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
A good illustration of this kind of compassion is when Jesus feeds the 5 thousand in Mark 6:30-44, Jesus and his disciples are about to go away by themselves to rest but a large crowd sees them and follows them to where they were going to rest. And in Mark 6:34, “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
Jesus had every right to say come back tomorrow or hey, i’m with my disciples, please leave us be. But he doesn’t say that at all. He was moved in his insides to compassion because they were like sheep that were astray, so Jesus did something about it and he taught them many things!
Jesus had every right to say come back tomorrow or hey, i’m with my disciples, please leave us be. But he doesn’t say that at all. He was moved in his insides to compassion because they were like sheep that were astray, so Jesus did something about it and he taught them many things!
When we have a compassionate willingness for others, it will lead us to be less about ourselves, and more about others! Unbelievers are familiar with people feeling bad or sorry for others but it usually stops there doesn’t it? We give people whether believers or unbelievers our feelings but not so much our actions right? I know i am guilty of this. I have often felt sorry for someone but didn’t extend my hand to help them.
When we have a compassionate willingness for others, it will lead us to be less about ourselves, and more about others! Unbelievers are familiar with people feeling bad or sorry for others but it usually stops there doesn’t it? We give people whether believers or unbelievers our feelings but not so much our actions right? I know i am guilty of this. I have often felt sorry for someone but didn’t extend my hand to help them.
I am not saying that we have to go and donate to charities or give money to every homeless person we see. That is not the point. What Peter is getting at is encouraging believers to care deeply for one another not just in feeling but in action as well.
I am not saying that we have to go and donate to charities or give money to every homeless person we see. That is not the point. What Peter is getting at is encouraging believers to care deeply for one another not just in feeling but in action as well.
To believers, this shows the love of Christ to one another when we come along side each other in times of rejoicing and in times of sorrow. We weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, all the while displaying a compassionate willingness to serve one another in word and deed.
To believers, this shows the love of Christ to one another when we come along side each other in times of rejoicing and in times of sorrow. We weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, all the while displaying a compassionate willingness to serve one another in word and deed.
To the non believers, this will impact the way we evangelize to people with a heart that cares enough for them that we will share the message of the Gospel with them and when possible meet their physical needs as James calls believers to do in James 2:15-16 when he says “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”
To the non believers, this will impact the way we evangelize to people with a heart that cares enough for them that we will share the message of the Gospel with them and when possible meet their physical needs as James calls believers to do in James 2:15-16 when he says “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”
Let us be known as Christians who have a compassionate willingness that loves one another well and that stands out to an unbelieving world.
Let us be known as Christians who have a compassionate willingness that loves one another well and that stands out to an unbelieving world.
3. A Humble Posture
3. A Humble Posture