Easter 6 2023

1 Peter 3:15–21 NIV84

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Semper Paratus is a Latin phrase, meaning "Always Ready". Sometimes shortened to Semper P. It is used as the official motto of some organizations, such as the United States Coast Guard. A 1928 song of the same name is also used as the U.S. Coast Guard's official march, and the phrase appears on the organization's flag.

The Scout Motto of the Scout movement is, in English, "Be Prepared", with most international branches of the group using a close translation of that phrase. These mottoes have been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907. Most of the member organizations of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) share the same mottoes.

In the first part of Scouting for Boys, Robert Baden-Powell explains the meaning of the phrase:

The scouts' motto is founded on my initials, it is: BE PREPARED, which means, you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY; Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it. Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it. — Lieut. Gen. Baden Powell C.B., Scouting for Boys (1908), "Camp Fire Yarn.—No. 4. Scout Law." (Part I, p. 48)

“Are you ready for . . . “ MNF theme song asks if you are ready to sit on the couch for the next three hours eating snacks and drinking beer while you watch two teams of overpaid entertainers play football. In reality, it doesn’t take much to get ready for that expect a trip to the convenience store and clearing your schedule of important things.

In 1 Peter, we are told to always be ready to share with others the reason for the hope that we have.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV84

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Compare this to Jesus’ seemingly contradictory statement that we don’t have to be too prepared to share our hope.

Matthew 10:17–20 NIV

17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Why the seeming contradiction? As we will see, being prepared to share our hope is not like cramming for a test or writing a speech but an ongoing focus on the promises of God so that we can express our hope in any and every situation.

In some speaking examples, the speaker does well to prepare beforehand.

A category in forensics is extemporaneous speech. Contestants choose a topic and then have one hour to write notes on on index card from which they are to give a five minute speech. Topics are usually current events like gun control, the elections, abortion rights, the top political stories, or even trends in the entertainment industry. A current topic now could include the feasibility of all electric cars. How does one get prepared to speak on such topics. Back in high school when I participated in this category, it was highly recommended that I would prepare beforehand by reading the top news magazines on current events and preparing my mind for a logical presentation on such topics. This was before the days of the internet, Google search, and asking Alexa. Although I did not do well this category (possibly because I didn’t really read the articles), it did train me for what I do on a weekly basis as a pastor. I am required to preach a sermon that lasts about 20-25 minutes on a text that has in part been preselected for me. In preparation I rely on research for biblical content as well as make use of modern technology for sermon illustrations. I don’t think I ever have entered the pulpit without first having written a sermon although the first time I preached at Grace I had forgotten my manuscript at St. Paul’s and had to preach from memory. Wasn’t too hard because I had written the sermon beforehand and preached it only an hour before. Now I print two copies and take one to each congregation to avoid that error.

It is important for a pastor to be prepared before he preaches. But he is not the only person who should be prepared. In the introduction to the sermon, we heard of several organization that emphasize being prepared before a crisis. We also know that certain activities should be prepared for.

Watching MNF?

Going on a trip.

Preparing for a test (school, work related, driving)

Key events in our lives.

Retirement.

Death

Here St. Peter writes about an activity that can take place repeatedly in our lives. Prepare to tell others about the hope that we have.

Although we may have a prepared and well thought out way of saying this, this is not necessary. As Jesus instructed his disciples, they would be prepared to speak even under extreme circumstances if they remembered their training. As those who are well grounded in the biblical teaching of hope, we should be ready at all times to speak of our Christian hope.

What is that hope?

Hope is important because it gives us something good to look forward to. Do you remember looking forward to your wedding day or when your child looks forward to their birthday? It makes you happy to wait for something positive that’s coming.

When we go to sleep every night, we make plans for the next day because our hope is that we will wake up and see the new day. And we go though each season knowing that it will end and a new one will come.

Hope carries us in hard times. It’s exactly the time we need to expect something good to happen. This is what will keep us going. The Christian hope quotes below will show you that hope really is what sustains Christians in tough times.

In the same way, our hard times will not last forever. Good times will come. God has promised us this and He will never fail us.

Priscilla Shirer“We can see hope in the midst of hopelessness. We can see peace in the midst of chaos. We have a hope that the world does not have. We can see clearly that all things work together for the good of them that love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

Our greatest hope is that God will sustain us in this life and that after this life we will enjoy the blessings of heaven. This hope is based on the person of Jesus Christ and his resurrection as St. Paul reassures us.

1 Corinthians 15:19–26 NIV84

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

We are perhaps most aware of this in the face of death. Either as it approaches or as it occurs. There is much emotion involved in the death of someone we know. We can read the obituaries of those we don’t really know with little or know emotion, but if we read or have to write the obituary of someone, that is a whole different scenario. It can be a time to express publicly our hope of heaven.

William (Bill) Suprna age 71, of TN of Hubbard, Wisconsin went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 19, 2023 surrounded by his loving family.

Vaughn Lee Braun, age 77, of Juneau, was surrounded by his beloved family when he was called to Heaven on March 24, 2023.

But the worst case scenario is not the only time to express our hope in God. We hope that while we struggle on this earth, God is there to provide for us, protect us, and deliver us. Some have put these words of music to song. Others in uplifting poetry.

Examples: “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare to make no other claim But wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In ev'ry high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

3 His oath, his covenant and blood Support me in the raging flood; When ev'ry earthly prop gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in him be found, Clothed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before his throne. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

Our own expressions of hope do not need to be as elaborate but they can be encouraging and reassure us when we speak those words of hope and also be a source of inspiration to others.