Sermon Tone Analysis

*1 Peter 4: 12 *Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

*13 **But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ*, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

*14 *If you are *insulted* because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

*15 *If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

*16 *However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

*17 *For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? *18 *And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

*19 *So then, *those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good*.

*John 16: 33 *“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

*In this world you will have trouble*.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

* Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering

 

Trouble comes!

There is nothing you can do about it.

But you can do something after they come!

*What kinds of suffering will come?

*

 

* (if you suffer as a Christian) Insults, misunderstandings, lies, accusations, and attacks, because of the name of Christ.

Does that only mean when we are witnessing?

No, also when we are attempting to live right to honor Jesus.

* Only from non-Christians?

NO!

 

* If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler

* *

*The decision*

 

When trouble comes to our lives, we can do one of three things:

* *Endure it *

If we only endure our trials, then trials become our master, and we have a tendency to become hard and bitter.

* *Escape it *

If we try to escape our trials, then we will probably miss the purposes God wants to achieve in our lives.

Don’t look at the problem as the enemy, look at what is happening in you and what is coming out of you.

* *Use it *

But if we learn to use our trials, they will become our servants instead of our masters and work for us; and God will work all things together for our good and His glory

* *

*Another kind of suffering that we need to see in these verses!

Suffering according to God’s will!*

* For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God (If it is hard for the righteous to be saved)

* Judgment?

Yes, God is changing us!

He is discerning what in us has to go and what has to be changed

* Commit yourselves to God (God you know what has to be done and the best way to do it)

* Continue to do good (Don’t get mad, discouraged and give up)

 

* *

*Romans 8: 28 *And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

*Isaiah 40: 31 *but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

*They will soar on wings like eagles*; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Tell the story of the eagle.

How he uses the storms of life to take him higher.

He can see far in the distance.

* *We need to have eyes of faith and allow the storms of life to lift us, not defeat us.*

How many have experienced God’s wonderful working through terrible experiences?

Some have gone through it!

Marget, Tomas, Zdenek, Andela, Ulrike, Roman,

 

Some are still going through it.

Christina, Dana