Spiritual Transformation - Sharing Our Hope

Share the hope?!?!?!

1 Peter 3:15 NET 2nd ed.

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

You already know what is necessary, and you have examples...

The Samaritan Woman

John 4:28–30 (NET 2nd ed.)

Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can’t be the Messiah, can he?” So they left the town and began coming to him.

The Overjoyed Leper

Mark 1:40–41 NET 2nd ed.

Now a leper came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “If you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said. Moved with indignation, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!”

Mark 1:42–43 NET 2nd ed.

The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean. Immediately Jesus sent the man away with a very strong warning.

Mark 1:44–45 (NET 2nd ed.)

He told him, “See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” But as the man went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still they kept coming to him from everywhere.

Andrew

John 1:40–42 NET 2nd ed.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ). Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Be the message...

1 Peter 3:8–9 NET 2nd ed.

Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:10–12 NET 2nd ed.

For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.

1 Peter 3:13–14 NET 2nd ed.

For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.

1 Peter 3:15 NET 2nd ed.

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

1 Peter 3:16–17 NET 2nd ed.

Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:18 NET 2nd ed.

Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

1 Peter 3:19–20 NET 2nd ed.

In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison, after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

1 Peter 3:21 NET 2nd ed.

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 3:21–22 NET 2nd ed.

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

Epitaph - setting the bar

When making final preparations, John Wayne requested a specific phrase in Spanish to be engraved on his tombstone. The tombstone, to this day, reads, “Feo, Fuerte y Formal.”

The phrase means “ugly, strong, and dignified.” We couldn’t think of anything that better fits John Wayne if we tried.

2 Timothy 4:5–6 NET 2nd ed.

You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NET 2nd ed.

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.

Testimony

Acts 20:7 NET 2nd ed.

On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight.