Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Last year we spoke a lot about being REAL.

We started the year with REAL change.

God loves us, and saves us by grace!

That means He saves us.

He is the one who does the work of saving.

He provided Jesus to die in our place, shedding his blood to pay for our sin, and rose again to apply that blood so we might be clean before God.

It is His gift for us, and the only thing He expects us to do in all of this is to believe--to receive His gift of salvation by believing in Jesus, and all He did for us.

But once we believe, is that it?

Is that all there is? No. God not only gives us the gift of forgiveness, of being at peace with Him, He also gives us the Holy Spirit who is working to make us more like Jesus.

He wants more for us than just living and dying to go to heaven.

He wants us to know Him.

He wants us to have abundant life in the midst of this world.

He wants us to be perfect as He is perfect.

He doesn't want us to have to live our old lives anymore.

He has much better in mind for us!

How do we experience that?

As we experience REAL change, looking to Him.

I hope that we will not forget what we looked at last year, and that we will continue to strive to be more like Christ in this year.

After REAL change, we looked at REAL help.

God not only gave us the Holy Spirit.

He gave us brothers and sisters in Christ.

He wants us to give REAL help to each other.

He wants us to love each other, know what is going on from His perspective, and to speak the truth in grace to one another, helping each other to grow in Christ, experiencing REAL change.

Then, we looked at how being fallen sinful people who are not yet perfect, there will be conflict.

We live in a world of conflict, and we want to experience His REAL peace.

As His body, He has called us to peace.

I hope we will be a church that remembers to provide that REAL help and REAL peace to each other.

What all of this comes down to is applying the Gospel to REAL life.

We are people who experience REAL life all week long.

When we come to church, we need to learn how the good news we find in the Bible applies so that we can experience REAL change, give REAL help to one another, and find REAL peace in the midst of conflicts.

As I considered what series to begin next, I was reading different books of the Bible.

I have to admit, I really liked them all, and had a hard time.

However, thinking on this theme of the Gospel for REAL life, I believe 1 Peter is the book we need to dig into.

1 Peter

The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter, to people who were truly experiencing REAL life.

As a pastor He wanted to encourage them.

Where he starts and ends his letter is the gospel of grace.

In between, Peter encourages them with how this REAL gospel, the good news of God's grace transforms them inwardly for REAL change, how is brings them together as a REAL church to provide REAL help to each other, and helps them find REAL peace in the midst of trials.

I believe God will use this book to truly teach and encourage us in our lives today, just as it did for those to whom Peter first this letter.

Let's pray and ask God to speak to us as we study through this book.

Background

Some of the first information we need when studying a book of the Bible, is to know from whom this book, or letter came?

From whom?

This letter, as most in the New Testament tells us right up front that it is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Was it really from Peter?

Even the earliest Christian authors that we have letters from, those who were just a few decades after Peter received this letter as truly from Peter.

To whom?

Peter addresses the recipients as God's elect, strangers in the world scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

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When?

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Peter likely wrote this letter shortly before he was put to death by Nero.

As we heard in the video last week, it has been handed down that Peter watched his wife crucified, and was then crucified himself.

This was somewhere between 64 and 67 AD.

So this letter is thought to be written between 60-67 AD.

What?

When studying a book of the Bible, I believe it is a good practice to first, read through the book all at once if possible, or in a few sittings as possible.

This gives you the ability to really get a feel for the book as a whole, and the way it flows, or fits together.

After reading it through, I would suggest a couple times if possible, try to make a short outline of the book to help you follow the logical development of the contents.

I did that.

Here is the brief outline I came up with:

1. Introduction / Salutation - 1 Peter 1:1-2

2. Foundation: the Gospel for REAL life - 1 Peter 1:3-12

3.

Call to Obey as Children - 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

4. Call to Grow in Community - 1 Peter 2:4-10

5.

Call to Act Properly in the World - 1 Peter 2:11-5:11

1. Holy Submission - 1 Peter 2:11-3:22

2. Holy Living - 1 Peter 4:1-5:11

6. Closing - 1 Peter 5:12-14

I actually have a more detailed outline, but this is a brief overview of the top levels of the outline.

This book is written from Peter, with a true Pastor's heart.

It reminds me of Jesus' exchange with Peter as recorded in John 21:15-19.

Peter knew these Christians were experiencing REAL life.

They were experiencing suffering and trials.

I did a concordance search of words used in Peter.

The most recurring words in Peter are:

God (39); Christ (22) / Jesus (9) / Lord (8); Suffer (12); Glory (10); Grace (10)

They were not accepted, and alone.

So, he wrote to them, to remind them of the Gospel for REAL life, and what that would look like in their situations.

They were going through hard, dark things.

But there was something bright, hopeful, glorious for them to fix their eyes on!

God, Jesus, the Spirit were working in them and for them!

There is something to hold onto in the midst of this life of suffering.

How did Peter know this?

Because he experienced REAL life, suffering and glory himself!

He experienced REAL life with Jesus.

Think through Peter's life with me if you will.

...

That is the Background information.

From: Peter

To: Scattered believers

What: Encouragement for those who are suffering.

Reminders of God's work, Jesus, grace and the hope of the glory to come!

After reading the book through to get the overview, and considering the background information, it is time to read for detailed observation and application.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, ...

Peter was chosen by Jesus to be one of the 12 Apostles.

In the bible the word apostle is used specifically of the 12 who were with Jesus, and also of others.

An apostle was one who was sent with authority to give the message of the sender.

Peter described himself as an apostle.

He did not consider himself greater than the other apostles.