Called to Witness

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SERIES DESCRIPTION:In this series on 1st and 2nd Peter, Pastor Shawn and Krista highlight how Peter is remind the church that they are CALLED OUT of the darkness. This week, P. Shawn explores 1 Peter 2:4-12 as Peter reminds us that we are called be a Witness to the ways of Gods Kingdom.

Altar Instructions: Please come up when I begin the point Representing God through our WORDS

Series | Called Out

Shawn and family come onto the stage

"You can have a seat" - Pastor Shawn takes over

Hand orange mic to Tinajeros

VERONICA TRANSLATE EVERYTHING

Today we’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Day…. and I’ve invited some friends…. to share what God is doing through our Spanish small group.

Veronica, our amazing Spanish translation director…. is here to help tell the story…. along with a wonderful family many of you know.

Thank you in advance for sharing….. how God has impacted your family through our Spanish C-Group.

Spanish Harritage :

Will you…

💡 QUESTION 1 – Introduction w/ challenge

Introduce yourself and your family….. tell us how long you’ve been part of The Grace Place….and what first brought you here?”

💡 QUESTION 2 – Need for God to move

You guys are a bi-lingual family... what are the blessings of being a bi lingual?

💡 QUESTION 3 – The Turning Point

You guys are a bi-lingual family... what are the challenges?

· Give me a word or two…… to describe what it was like…. before our church offered Spanish translation and C-groups for you?

o Lena: At first I asked my husband if he wanted to attend another church.

o Sam: Even though I was often confused, I wanted to keep coming for my family and kids.

🔄 QUESTION 4 – Breakthrough/Growth

How has the Spanish C-group become a blessing to your family?

· Sam: now I feel a part of the family.

Sam was baptized..

💬 QUESTION 5 – Encouragement to Others

What would you say to someone here today who knows a bilingual family, looking for a church to belong to?

Sam: Invite your Spanish speaking friends, bring them to me – I will take care of them.

Would you show my friends some appreciation for being wiling to share their story with you today…

As they are headed back to their seat…. I want to invite Olivia Holgen who is a prayer worrior… to come join me to pray over our Spanish speaking families and those in our community - that God would empower us to reach 2nd and 3rd generation families like the Tinajer’s that are looking for a multi language Church family to be a part of.

Prayer: Olivia H.

Oliva Prays…

Thank you Veronica and Olivia… Well, how many of you are ready for Gods word today?

Go ahead and download the sermon notes in the church center app so you can follow along. We also have paper copies in the lobby when you enter so you can use those if you would like.

Transition: This week we are in week three of our series entitled…

Series | Called Out

We are looking at two books in the New Testament, 1st and 2nd Peter.

Peter is writing to a church facing lots of persecution and hardship. He is writing to encourage and remind the Church… that God has called them to STAND OUT from the darkness around them… . I believe these book speak directly into many of the challenges we face today.

One of the key verse in these books that sums up his writings is this…

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who CALLED YOU OUT of darkness into his marvelous light.”

If you missed any of the message so far in this series you listen most places podcast are played or watch our youtube channel - there is a direct link in the Church Center App.

Well… Open your bibles to 1 Peter 2:4-12… we’l be reading from the New Living Translation

1 Peter 2:4-12

4YOU ARE coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And YOU ARE living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, YOU ARE his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone(Jesus) in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But… for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble(We still see this today as many HATE the message of Jesus-it’s nothing new), the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. (There is an eternal reality for those who Reject Jesus) 9 But YOU ARE not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. (It’s obvious some in these churches are tempted to go back to their old wyas of doing things) 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Transition: the title of our message today is...

Sermon Title | Called out to WITNESS

Well there is a lot here in this passage that we are going to un pack Peters Main idea here… today….

***Feel free to encourage people to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to them personally as the message is preached

LETS PRAY

Peter is addressing this Churches Public Witness… this is more about BEHAVIOR and CREDIBILITY than it is about EVANGELISM its about their Corporate Witness… to the World. I believe this Message is timely for such a time as this.

I want to point out

Three references in this passage.

That Peter uses to help them understand the importance of being a WITNESS for Christ.

For these persecuted churches Peter was writing too… much of what all had built was gone… their reputations, jobs, and they seem to be trying to establish themselves in these new communities…. Here is how Peter helps these folks out…

First thing I wont you to notice here IN YOUR NOTES…

The TEMPLE references v. 4-7(Isa. 28:16, Ps. 118:22, 1 Cor. 3:11)

For the Jews, the temple was the heartbeat of their faith—it was the pride of Judaism, it was often called the place where heaven mets earth, becuase the God of the heavens promised to meet His people there. The Priests acted as mediators, between the people and God… and temple life represented God’s rule to the world.

We see this in v.4 as Peter says… it was never about the temple… it was always about Jesus

He is the Living Cornerstone -

Peter is reminding them here… that true access to God is no longer through a building or priest, but through Christ alone.

Jesus is the new mediator…

Then he says YOU ARE living STONES -The same way Jesus represented Gods Kingdom on earth… SO DO YOU.

Many Jews fell in love with the Temple… the systems, the sacrifices, the structure and lost sight of God. He warns these church’s not to make the same mistake.

If we’re not careful, we can fall in love our morals and ideals more than Jesus Himself and the Body of Christ itself.

We saw this take place in recent ways… on many sides of the social fence…

The next reference I want you to notice here IN YOUR NOTES… is

The IDENTIY references v. 9-10a

It’s easy to wrap our identity in what we do…. or in our degrees, income brackets, social status…. These displaced believers had no reputation… they were starting over. If the Temple Illustration was not enough… Peter says’ Let me explain this to you another way..

In v. 9 he says…

You are CHOSEN… hand selected by God

You are ROYAL… You might not have much influence in your new community… but your are royalty in Gods Kingdom.

You are HOLY

Don’t worry about fitting in… I have made you to STAND OUT and SET APART.

You don’t fit in… because I do not fit in… my ways are HIGHER than the worlds ways… and your ways

Don’t LOSE WHO’s you are all becuase you are trying to “FIT IN” with the world around you.

It sure sounds a lot like what we are seeing today… different circumstances… same story.

People are more interested in your fitting in with their Idea’s than they are CHRIST.

Even when we strip out the politics..

People will still find a way to fight..

Say his name, don’t say his name,

Share his testimony if your a real Christian…

No… If your a real christian you would ONLY LIFE UP JESUS.

It’s sad to watch

People divide, not over doctrine, but over semantics, over optics, over opinions…. over one moment

TGP I want you to know I am proud of you… I know you have your opinions… and they vary in a diverse church like ours… Some may have hoped we would have said more or less… but you chose UNITY over division.. if you look across the landscape that was a rare response… I could NOT be more proud.

The next reference I want you to notice here IN YOUR NOTES…

The WITNESS reference v. 10b-12, Matt. 28:19

We see this in last part of v.10 through verse 12 and I paraphrase…

Let me remind you… as Gods Chose, Royal and Holy people… you are temporary residents on earth.

Think of yourself as a foreigner… on mission.

Your mission is to show the goodness of God to the world.

What is Peter saying to these struggling churches?

Don’t get too cozy with the ways of this world—you belong to Me.

His references in these verse about the Temple, Identity, and Witness all point back to the one thing that matters most in hard times: the mission to represent God’s Kingdom - to a lost world.

Friends scripture is drawing us back to our MISSION IN LIFE… found in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) and the great promise in Acts 1:8…

But Peter’s call then is the same for us now….

“You will be my witnesses; The purpose hasn’t changed.

Church lets NOT don’t forget the mission—we are God’s representatives in this world.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: In what ways are you keeping the mission in mind?

How do you check…. your response to to the world around you to make sure its Kingdom Focused.

To make sure you are clear about what your #1 priority is.

Seek First HIS KINGDOM…

We are allowed to have other things… but it should be clear that those are NOT to be confused with the 1st things.

Transition: the title of our message today is...

Sermon Title | Called out to WITNESS

This passage is dealing more about Reputation than it is evangelism. He is saying I WANT YOU TO REPRESENT ME WELL.

I believe Peter’s advise for the scattered verses is the same advise the Holy Spirit would give us today… and Peter gets really practical… in chapter 2, verse 12 and I’m going to paraphrase…

What does it say… Be careful to what?

Live Properly.. yea he says… do the right thing… do the honorable thing.

1 Peter 2:12 NLT

Be careful to LIVE PROPERLY among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your HONORABLE BEHAVIOR, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

He simply says… live PROPERLY and HONORABLY amoung the lost.

Do the right thing

Do the honorable thing

He tells us exactly how we should represent God here on earth. IN YOUR NOTES….

We should represent God through:

Our DEEDS. v. 11-12,

Deeds… speaks to our actions… it speaks of doing the RIGHT things.

As people of God our actions should look different from those around us…

This is our VISIBLE witness to the world.

Church… Works matter… no in relation to salvation… but in relation to REPRESENTING GOD.

When the world is Angry…Hot headed, Quick to judge… quick to respond… quick to choose tribal sides…

James 1:19 speaks to our deeds… and says…

James 1:19 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

If we are going to represent God by our deeds… we do this… IN YOUR NOTES

By being slow to SPEAK James 1:19

We can’t be quick to listen if we aren’t slow to speak. Yet the world demands instant reactions—“Cast your judgment, speak up!” Sadly, the church often jumps right in.

But what if, instead of joining the frenzy, Christians paused to pray and fast whenever tragedy strikes? What if that fast included Social media… and the news to tune into how God feels about the matter… I don’t think the world would know what to do.

Church - When we rush with our words, we look just like the world…. Representing God’s Kingdom requires that we be slow to speak.

If we are going to represent God by our deeds… IN YOUR NOTES we do it…

By being slow to ANGER Ps 86:15

Our world THRIVES on CHAIOS, OUTRAGE and ANGER

In fact… people make a lot of money from it.. advertisers, social media influencers, new stations…

and much of the time… some in the church feeds right into the drama, the outrage… calling one another out… and sadly… we end up looking just like the world…

The writer of Ps. 86:15 says about God…

Psalm 86:15 “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

How is the Church representing God when it is not compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and FAITHFULNESS?

Jumping Ship or encouraging others to do the same when things get hard is NOT abounding in FAITHFULNESS.

Peter says’s live properly and honorably… this speaks to representing God by our deeds…

Next…. IN YOUR NOTES….

We should represent God through:

Our WORDS. v. 11-12,

After we have been quick to listen… we have perhaps prayed… fasted… sought the Lord

We finally break the silence… with our words… and we aim them at those who are hurting, we weep with them, we encouraged them, we listened to them… We are compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and FAITHFUL to our MISSION to be a witness.

Church our witness is not just visible in deed… but it is verbal.

This witness has a certain sound…

See one of the ways we represent God with our words is… IN YOUR NOTES

By directing them to SPIRITUAL-REALITIES. Eph 6:12

When God speaks regarding the evils in this world… He seems to redirect our anger, our frustration, and our outrage by reminding us… of this… in Eph. 6:12… its on the screen… lets look at it together.. .

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is WHAT… not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The Holy Spirit saw it fit to direct us to this Spiritual Reality

I believe God wants to redirect our anger our frustrations our outrage that is misplaced upon other Christians, other believers, and remind us… we are in a SPIRITUAL WAR.

Evil is real… the spirit world is real

Stop trying to put a face on evil…

A Donkey and Elephant can not get the job done that was made for a LION and A LAMB.

Make sure when you wage war you are FIRST - a WITNESS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.

This verbal witness has a certain sound…

It’s sounding the alarm of spiritual warfair…

Another ways we represent God with our words is… IN YOUR NOTES

By directing them to REPENTANCE 2 Peter 3:9

We see this in 2 Pet. 3:9… lets take a look at it…

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to WHAT? repentance.

Repentance means to change the way you think about

Sin, Evil, the Kingdoms of this world.

Believe what Jesus say’s about sin, evil and the Kingdom of God.

There is NO doubt people are saying GOD COME QUICKLY…. WHERE ARE YOU… SAVE US KNOW…

Why are you slow… why are you delaying… why are we suffering…

Peter say’s friends… everything is NOT about you… but what it is about… people having the oportunity to REPENT…

To change their ways… through the saving message of the Gospel.

When God works good out of bad situations… its always that humanity would REPENT…

Every move of God is intended to bring people to REPENTANCE….

He is a saving God…

Aren’t you God he delayed his coming for you to have time to come to repentance?

Transition: the title of our message today is...

Sermon Title | Called out to WITNESS

We are CALLED OUT in times like these to REPRESENT GODS KINGDOM to the world

We represent his Kingdom in word and deed.

We look different, we sound different, respond different from the world and systems around us.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question:

In what ways have you represented His Kingdom lately?

In what ways have you fallen short in representing His Kingdom lately?

What can you do different to live more accurately as a witness of Gods Kingdom?

Transition: As I close today…. I want to invite us to a moment of REPENTANCE:

I have to admit… I had misplaced anger in the recent weeks

I put a face on my enemy… by the way… the we’re on both sides of the fence at different times… God reminded me… this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE…

I had to repent… ask God to change my mind…

Before we go into a moment of REPENTANCES…

If you do NOT know Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is your day…

Salvation Altar Call

I believe Jesus is here today, and He wants to save you. Salvation simply means to deliver or to free. It’s not just about delivering you…

It’s about believing

Believing in Jesus means trusting what He say’s—about sin, and eternal punishment, thats the bad news.

The good news is this… that His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins, making us right with God.

Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation requires two things:

1. God’s Grace—His undeserved gift of forgiveness and life because of His love for you.

2. Faith—placing your trust in Him for salvation.

If you’ve never asked Jesus to save you, today is your day. If you’d like ask him… , raise your hand.

I want to invite you to Repeat a prayer after me

· There is nothing magical in this prayer.. it simply is a way of declaring to Jesus what has taken place in your heart.

Here is how I would like to end the service for everyone else….

Call to Action Altar Call

We’re going to end the service with A question as we do nearly every week.

ALL ACROSS THE ROOM – HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT spoken to you in anyway today?

Going Deeper

What stuck out to you the in this passage? v. 4-12

In what ways are you keeping the mission to be a witness in mind?

In what ways have you represented His Kingdom lately?

In what ways have you fallen short in representing His Kingdom lately?

What can you do different to live more accurately as a witness of Gods Kingdom?

What might the Holy Spirit be saying to you in light of this teaching?

How might the Holy Spirit want to transform you in light of this teaching?

What actions might the Holy Spirit want to take in light of this teaching?

Tongues & Interpretation

1. To STRENGTHEN the Church (1 Cor14:5)

For prophecy is greater than SPEAKING in TONGUES, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be STRENGTHENED.

Believers, God has operated through this gift today to strengthen you today. Let your faith be strengthened and know that God is in control and using supernatural measures to speak to us.

2. Is a SIGN for unbelievers. (1Cor. 14: 21a, 22)

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 (ESV)

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

22 -  So you see that speaking in tongues is a SIGN, not for believers, but for UNBELIEVERS.

The Bible explains to us God has chosen to use this gift to be a sign for you. A sign for what? It is a sign of his realness for those of you who have been doubting or questioning the existence of God. He wants you to know he is REAL and he wants to bring you spiritual life and health. If you're in here today and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior... he wants you to know he has gone to great lengths to show you his love today. (Great opportunity for a salvation altar call if it fits).