Culture Shifter

Intro:

Passage Context:

talks about our privileges in Heaven that we have as Children of God.

If you can take away one thing from this weekend, it would be to serve God with eternity in mind.

1 Peter was written to a people under persecution, likely under the reign of Nero. Peter calls the Church to persevere under trials because eternal life awaits them. He encourages them that God’s promises to His people will endure and should be the basis of their hope.

Read:

1 Peter 2:9–12 HCSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.

Message Points:

1. Chosen (v.9-10)

1 Peter 2:9–10 HCSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter

God wants us to know that we are not a mistake, and that we do not have a life that is void of purpose.

Atheists believe that there is no God and that we are here by accident.

Agnostic people believe that their is a greater power but all roads lead to heaven

Christians believe that there is one God who created everything and is alive today.

You are not an accident, you are not a mistake, you are not unlovable.

Jeremiah 1:5 HCSB

5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

You ARE made on purpose for a purpose.

Simon Peter writes about being chosen to a people (Gentiles) who had not been “chosen” and had been looked down on until Christ came.

God calls us out of darkness, out of depression, out of anxiety, and into life abundantly

Several years ago, an auction was held that focused on sports memorabilia. Dan Quayle’s little league uniform was up for grabs, as were Michael Jordan’s running shoes. Although in themselves these items were of little value, they were sold for incredible amounts of money simply because of who had owned them. Peter’s repeated emphasis with the term people is that as a believer I may be a very ordinary person, but I acquire an immense new value because I belong to God and am possessed by him.

I’ve said it already, but I will say it again, in and of ourselves, we bring little value to the world, it is through the embrace of our purpose that we step in to the fullness of our value.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude B. Beginning to Grow up Together (vv. 4–10)

The answer to our search for ultimate meaning lies in declaring the excellencies of God, for he alone is worthy of glory. Salvation is ultimately not man-centered, but God-centered. To declare God’s excellencies is to speak of all he is and has done … This purpose is too often thwarted by our silence or pride, but even brief associations with a Christian whose speech fulfills this purpose invariably refreshes our spirits

Walls, D., & Anders, M. (1999). I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude (Vol. 11, p. 31). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

2. Called (v.11-12)

1 Peter 2:11–12 HCSB

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.

God calls us to abstain from looking like the world, while there is a full attack on us for control of our hearts.

Ephesians 6:11–12 HCSB

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Ephesians 6:

Because you are not a mistake, you have a purpose. You are called to something that is far greater than JUST you.

John 14:6 HCSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

There is no way to God or Heaven accept through Jesus.

Matthew 10:33 HCSB

33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Matthew

Response Time: