Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction (10 min)

Jab 1: Read story of Sara.

2017

Right Hook: Life is so uncertain isn’t it?

But in the midst of the uncertainty we can know that God reigns and He is good.

Even in this tragedy, Sara give praise to Jesus and knows that God’s plan is being worked out in her life.

She is a wonderful example of someone with joy in the midst of persecution.

That’s what we are looking at in this series.

As we continue in our series through 1 Peter this morning my prayer is that we will continue to see that joy is possible in all aspects of life.

This morning I pray that you will see the benefit that each and every one of you have by simply being together in this life by the unity Jesus calls to have.

Pray

Read:

Explanation (10 min): There are many directions that we could take this passage.

For example, we could talk about the individual and their responsibility to long after God’s Word and continue to allow God to build them up as they recognize that they are holy.

This would certainly be true.

But, I want to keep in line with what I believe is the overall theme of scripture.

You see rarely in scripture is God addressing just an individual in their own personal faith.

Most often the audience addressed is a group.

Yes, you do have a personal faith, you do have personal responsibility.

But it all is to be lived out in the context of the church.

In this passage Peter seems to be running through a theme of unity.

This unity is the type that I believe Jesus intended the church to have from the beginning.

When the church is one, I believe it enables those who are being persecuted the opportunity for joy.

Obviously, it is Jesus who is our joy in all things, however, when the church is what it is supposed to be then it is easier to have joy in hardships because you know you have the support of your brothers and sisters.

So as you face the world remember that...

Application (10 min):

We are One Church

All God’s children live under the reign of one King, Jesus Christ.

All of us who are in Christ make up His church.

Peter says we are like living stones being built up as a spiritual house.

We all serve Jesus, who is the cornerstone.

I love what Paul writes about this, ,

​ ESVTherefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Think about that for a moment church.

What a beautiful picture of what the church is supposed to be.

Peter wrote this letter to Christians in five different provinces yet he helps them see that they all belong to the same body.

So, whether or not we can agree on certain things or not, all true believers in Jesus are one church.

Think about it this way.

When a couple gets engaged they immediately start planning for their wedding.

They make all the necessary preparations for their big day.

It would make no sense to show up to your wedding day having made no previous plans.

This is the same in our faith we live each day in anticipation of Jesus’ return in Glory.

When we can set our minds on the things above and live that way then we can escape the many worldly temptations and desires.

Church, when we are looking forward to the glory of God then we are more likely to live in a manner that is holy.

Jesus is coming!

Are you ready?

Does your life reflect His holiness and glory?

Peter describe the risen Jesus as a living stone that was rejected yet was chosen by God.

He goes back to and to prove his point.

Jesus was not the kind of savior that had expected so many people missed the truth and stumbled.

They refused to accept the Word and God’s promises.

However, those who acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and accept His amazing Grace are part of Him and become living stones.

“Believers are living stones in His building.

Each time someone trusts Christ, another stone is quarried out of the pit of sin and cemented by grace into the building.

It may look to us that the church on earth is a pile of rubble and ruins, but God sees the total structure as it grows.”

Warren Wiersbe

We all are Ministers

We all are Ministers

As we understand that we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house, we must take hold of our responsibility.

You see we are all priests.

In other words, we are all ministers in the church and Jesus is our High Priest.

We serve together under Jesus.

He is our access to God.

In the OT God’s people had priests, as God’s people now we are priests.

All the priests in the temple during the old covenant had different jobs and responsibilities but they answered to one high priest.

Today as ministers of the Gospel we all work together to accomplish the mission of the church and we all answer to Jesus, our High Priest.

​ ESVAs obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Being a priest or minister gives us the ability to come before God.

We have direct access to Him.

However, we also have a responsibility to give our spiritual sacrifices as well.

We should everyday be giving our bodies, our praise, our good works, our money, even the people that we win to Christ.

As says,

Since He has called us to Himself, He has called us to be holy.

True salvation results in obedience.

says.

The world, in their quest to be different, just ends up imitating each other, while the children of God do not conform but are transformed by God as they pursue Holiness.

As ministers we must work together as we commit to spreading the gospel.

We need to get the idea of lone Christianity out of our minds.

Being a minister for the gospel does not promote individualism.

Yes, we have a personal faith but we are to minister together for the sake of the Kingdom.

​ ESVthrough whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

We are Citizens of a Holy Nation

We are Citizens of a Holy Nation

says,

This is the same description given to Israel in and .

God’s grace and love shines through as we are a chosen race.

He has set us apart as His people as He has made us a holy nation.

Since He purchased us with His blood, for those who believe has become His people.

​ ESV

Because of His amazing love we can be citizens of a Holy Nation.

All of this carries an awesome responsibility to reveal the living God to a sinful world.

Each of us bears responsibility to spread the love of Jesus and each of us is a living example for the Grace of God.

This is done as one.

The church works best when we are one.

When we are one then Christ is glorified.

When we are on holy nation then we have each other’s backs in the midst of pain and heartache.

We are to celebrate together.

We are to mourn together.

We are family, God’s family.

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.