Inward Change that Produces an Outward Focus

English Standard Version Chapter 3

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

PRAYER

Context:

Context is always important while reading scripture—Failure to look at the context can result in misinterpreting the Bible!

- I can do all things through Christ (Talking about enduring suffering)

Since context is so important, what is the context of 1 Peter?

Written to Christians enduring suffering and persecution scattered

Giving hope to those believers and ways to respond to persecution

Peter started giving instructions to different groups of Christians in 2:13:

Christians as citizens (2:13)

How slaves should respond to their masters (2:18)

How wives should respond to their Husbands (3:1)

How husbands should live with their wives (3:7)

Peter th

Peter sums it all up in 3:8 with “finally, all of you”

Finally:

I’m coming to the end of the section

To sum up what I just said

Pay attention to me!

All of you

Peter had been writing to different groups, but this is to everyone

Young/old, Men/women—advice to all

This summation takes us to the goal Peter is trying to convey

The Goal

Two Forms of Unity:

Unity with God

Unity with men ()

What is Unity with God?

Salvation ()

Faith in Christ’s work on the cross

Sanctification ()

Killing the old nature daily

Taking up your cross and dying to self

Bible Reading

Prayer

Asking the Holy Spirit to change your heart and to make it more like Christ’s

It is impossible to have proper unity with others without unity with God

What Unity is and isn’t:

Unity IS counting other more significant than yourselves

Unity ISN’T agreeing on every preference within life

Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity. The members of the body work together in unity, even though they are all different. Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 412). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

3. Unity IS going out of your way to help others

Teens helping shut-ins

Older people investing and discipling teens and children

All believers working together and using their talents to help build the church

4. Unity ISN’T only doing things one way.

Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why

Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why. A man criticized D.L. Moody’s methods of evangelism, and Moody said, “Well, I’m always ready for improvement. What are your methods?” The man confessed that he had none! “Then I’ll stick to my own,” said Moody. Whatever methods we may use, we must seek to honor Christ, win the lost, and build the church. Some methods are definitely not scriptural, but there is plenty of room for variety in the church.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 412). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)

Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why. A man criticized D.L. Moody’s methods of evangelism, and Moody said, “Well, I’m always ready for improvement. What are your methods?” The man confessed that he had none! “Then I’ll stick to my own,” said Moody. Whatever methods we may use, we must seek to honor Christ, win the lost, and build the church. Some methods are definitely not scriptural, but there is plenty of room for variety in the church.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)

A man criticized D.L. Moody’s methods of evangelism, and Moody said, “Well, I’m always ready for improvement. What are your methods?” The man confessed that he had none! “Then I’ll stick to my own,” said Moody. Whatever methods we may use, we must seek to honor Christ, win the lost, and build the church. Some methods are definitely not scriptural, but there is plenty of room for variety in the church.