Jr High Chapel: 1 Peter

Introduction:

Introduce myself

High School Pastor

Swim Coach

Married 6 months ago

Room for questions

Overview:

Today we are in 1 Peter 1 and 2 (which we’ll read in a second)

But my main point today and my heart—is that you would desire to grow spiritually

That just like you are all growing and maturing physically—that you would grow and mature in your walk with Jesus

Stand for the reading of scripture:

Scripture:

1 Peter 1:13–2:3 (CSB)

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For

All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory like a flower of the grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Spiritual Growth as a Christian

One of the foundational truths about following Jesus—is that it entails change

You can’t expect to follow Jesus seriously without being open and willing to change.

And the extent of this change is pretty drastic—in fact, the words Jesus uses to describe this change is to be “born again”

To one of the religious leaders Jesus says:

John 3:3 (CSB)

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

And in this letter Peter has these words to say

1 Peter 1:14 (CSB)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.

1 Peter 2:2–3 (CSB)

Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.

And a reminder—Peter is talking to adults—not a Jr High Chapel or Youth group

So today—my aim is very simple

What does it mean to be a child—born again?

What does it look like to be spiritually mature?

How do we mature spiritually?

What does it mean to be a child?

How many of you have little siblings?

Sariah just had Luna

So what are some markers of a baby or child?

Dependence

Crying/Whining

Weak

Gullible

Needy/attention

Lack of self-awareness

Selfish

And I think we can learn a lot about our spiritual new birth—when we look at a physical birth

A new believer:

Is highly dependent on others

Needs a lot of care and discipleship/shepherding

Gullible—prone to false teaching

And I’ve walked through life with a bunch of new believers and this is what is expected

When I’m taking care of a baby

I except them to cry

I expect them to need help

To be fed

To be cleaned up after

To change their diaper

I don’t expect them to do any of that on their own

And the same is true spiritually

We can’t expect from a New believer the level of maturity of someone who has been following Jesus for decades

But even with babies there is an expectation that they will grow and mature

Im sure even you all

Don’t cry for your mom to feed you when you’re hungry

Don’t expect your parents to change your diaper

You guys are all in the process of growing up

And the same is true spiritually

The longer you have been following Jesus—you should see change for the better

But unfortunately thats not always the case

There are people that have been ‘Christian’ for years yet lack a spiritual maturity

My own life:

Following Jesus in Elementary School

It didn’t change the way in which I lived or treated others

Jr High—Did not reflect Jesus (trouble maker)

Even into high school

Jesus had been someone I had been aware of for almost a decade

But I hadn’t grown or changed at all

I saw Jesus as a ‘get-out-of-hell’ plan

I want to do things my own way—but I believe Jesus died for me so I won’t go to hell

So in a way—it was like I was a ten year old acting like a new born baby

I hadn’t quite taken my walk with Jesus seriously

And the thing about growing Spiritually, is that it doesn’t happen automatically

It’s not like physical maturity—you don’t see a 30 year old in a 10 year olds body

I’ve known people that are way older than me, yet very spiritually immature

Growing spiritually takes initiative

I’m not saying it’s all up to us

God does the growth—and the power is in him

But he wants to work with us in the process

So…

What does it look like to be spiritually mature?

Listen to what Peter has to say about this:

Ready for action

Sober-minded (not distracted)

Not being conformed to our desires

Purifying ourselves by obedience

Showing sincere brother love for each other

Riding ourselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander

And the list goes on

In the simplest words, Peter explains this in verses 15-16

1 Peter 1:15–16 (CSB)

But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

What it means to be spiritually mature is to be like God is

What are some attributes of God?

Loving

Patient

Understanding

Caring

Just

Forgiving

Compassionate

We are to become like this.

A spiritually mature Christian is a reflection of Jesus to the world.

So as we are born again… we behave like babies, over time we learn and grow… but our aim is to become more like Jesus—that is our marker of maturity.

And I know it can seem very overwhelming… but we take it one thing at a time

How can I be more patient?

How can I be more understanding?

How can I be more forgiving?

How can I be more just?

And this is what it means to spiritually mature

My mentors and people I look up to—are people that reflect Jesus to me

So I wanted to end today answering the question:

How do we mature spiritually?

We see the need of maturity

We see the goal of what maturity looks like

But how do we actually grow?

And Peter’s answer to this question here is this:

1 Peter 2:2–3 (CSB)

Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Just like you need food to grow physically… God word sustains us through Spiritual growth

What are we eating?

We all have a spiritual hunger—how are we filling it?

Putting gatorade in my car

Daily Meals and Feasts

Forgettable but sustain you vs sticks with us for a long time (life verses)

Teachings and Personal Studies

Someone preparing a meal vs making a meal on your own

Savoring God’s Word

Chew, taste, meditate on God’s word

Conclusion

My prayer for you all is that you would learn to love God’s word

That it would be a source of life to you

That as you read and meditate it you would grow more like Jesus

I can attest to the power of God’s word

Your teachers can

And our heart is that you would learn and grow in your faith