Becoming Disciples

1 Peter 1:1–12 ESV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Kids Become Like Parents - Players Like Coaches - Student Like Teachers

• This is the most basic picture of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus

• When Jesus called His disciples, it was usually 2 words - “Follow Me”

• When a rabbi had a disciple (Hebrew = Talmid), it was the job of that disciple to learn everything about the rabbi & do everything like his rabbi

• A rabbi’s talmids followed the rabbi wherever he went - why?

• B/c they believed that his way was the best possible way to live

• So they wanted to do everything just like their rabbi

• You’d eat what your rabbi ate, you’d go wherever your rabbi went

• There are even stories of talmids following their rabbis into restrooms b/c rabbis had prayers for everything – there were even restroom prayers that thanked God that all the parts were working

• That’s why Jesus’ Disciples asked Him to teach them to pray – remember why? B/c John the Baptist taught his Talmids how to pray

• They wanted to pray just like Jesus b/c that was the goal of their lives - to be just like Jesus

• John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

• If you’re a Christian, that should be the goal of your life as well

• we can learn to live like Jesus & imitate Him in our lives

• That’s what the apostle Peter wants to teach us in the opening verses of his book of 1 Peter - how to be like Jesus as we walk w/ Him

• We started this series last week called “Becoming” by introing Peter … bold, brash, lots of mistakes … but in the process becoming like Jesus

• We may want to, but often we don’t know how to get from here to there … how to I look less like Jerry … more like Jesus

• That’s what 1 Peter is all about - it’s about the transformation of the heart

when a person becomes a Christian & God is at work in them

• So Peter opens his book w/ 3 qualities of a disciple of Jesus & this is so huge for U b/c it’s the foundation of how we get from here to there...

----(v. 1-2)----

#1 - Disciples Understand their Position

• What position is that? The position that as Christians we’ve been chosen by God - verse 2 says that we are elect - that means God chose us

• Remember elementary school … there were two kinds of birthday parties

everyone got invited, the whole class

the exclusive party, where not everyone got invited … friends, the cool kids

• I think a lot of people believe God loves them like this - like God loves/invites them b/c God loves/invites everyone, but if He had to choose to love us, He wouldn’t

• But here’s what I want U to know - God picked U - He chose U

• That’s what verse 2 says - that we’re elected by God

• It says He chose us according to His foreknowledge & election

think that U came to this church & responded to the Gospel & chose God - and from your perspective that might be true

• Here’s what the Bible teaches - God chose U - it was His decision

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

• stay with me and remember elementary school 2 people were captains & they picked people according to their abilities & how good they were

• What the Bible teaches is God picked U - but He didn’t pick U b/c of how good U were - He picked U “according to His grace”

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

• according to the riches of his grace … as a reflection, showing off his grace … his abundance … not our loveliness

• We experience forgiveness, redemption, & grace b/c it’s given according to the riches of His grace - that’s how gracious God is, that he’d be willing to forgive people like us

• Love was God’s motivation for choosing us - this is a freeing truth

• The day U begin to understand that it changes everything - it shows us how valued we are by God & God’s love isn’t some generic love

• Instead, God’s love for U is very specific - He loves U personally & He likes U - That’s why adopted U to be His son or daughter like we read

• This is the position we live in as a disciple of Jesus … we operate from a position of chosen … one of my favorite truths … God is the one who actually knows us best, and loves us the most

• This is so important b/c too many people are trying to earn God’s love or God’s favor in their lives

• Stereotype of people …

most men choose a wife and want her to stay the same

most women choose a husband and want him to change into someone

But God chooses you, exactly as you are, the previous version, this version, and the one you are becoming

----(v. 3-5)-----

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

#2 - Disciples Look to the Future

• I love what Peter says - that we have a living hope to an inheritance

• What kind of inheritance? 1 that’s imperishable = can’t be destroyed, wrecked, or ruined

• Undefiled = not polluted/ “doesn’t fade away” = can’t decay

• Every earthly inheritance is subject to corruption, pollution or decay

earthly inheritances - they break, they rust, they fade - our eternal inheritance doesn’t fade

• Think about this - when U get to heaven, you’re going to get a brand new body - some of U may not think that’s a big deal

• Others of us know the importance of that - why? B/c your earthly body is falling apart - It’s getting wrinkles & getting gray & stuff starts to hurt

• We have the hope that this life isn’t all there is - Instead, eternity is real & we know that b/c Jesus rose from the dead

Biblical hope isn’t a wish … this is a living hope, a promise made by Jesus … the Jesus who rose from the dead to prove that He does impossible stuff when He says He is going to do it

• We say, “I hope it doesn’t rain” or “I hope the Browns aren’t completely horrible this year”

• It’s more of a wish we’d like to see happen, but it’s not reality

Peter hopes because of who Jesus is …

• He said that the Father had sent Him to save the lost.

• He said that He was the water of life, that if you would just drink the watervthat He gives, you would never thirst again.

• Jesus said He was the Bread of Life. If U ate of Him, U would live forever

• He said He was the way, the truth, and the life.

• He said He was the resurrection and the life, that whosoever lived and believed in Him would never die.

• All of these statements inspired hope, but all hope died when Jesus died - remember last week … Peter had gone back to his former life … he was fishing

• But when the resurrection happened, all of those hopes were awaked all of those claims were confirmed

• That’s why disciples of Jesus can look to the future w/ hope, purpose & direction - b/c the power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in U

Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

• This is why every Christian should be filled w/ hope - b/c the power working in us - the spirit of God - is that same power that raised Jesus

• So what does that mean for your words? If the spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in U, then your words can impact & influence

• So use words that speak hope & life into people by the power of God

• So what does that mean for your problems? They don’t stand a chance

• You’ve got the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead living inside of U - that means there’s a future & a hope for U

• What does that mean for your future? It means the future is bright

• It means that b/c the power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in U & wanting to work through U - it means you’re an agent of hope

• That’s why we’re so passionate about reaching people at Journey

• B/c we live in a world w/o hope - but Jesus rose from the dead to give us life & hope & peace & forgiveness

• This is why we can live w/ joy in a joyless world b/c we have a living hope

----(v. 6-9)----

1 Peter 1:6-9 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

#3 - Disciples Rejoice in Trials

• Here’s the reality - trials & challenges are part of the Christian life … trials & challenges are a part of everyone’s life

• The question … most fundamentally is what do I do with them … how do I see them

- Why? B/c this is where faith gets formed

• U don’t learn to trust God until U actually have to trust God

• When U go through a difficult season, God is forging your faith

• That’s why Peter says that faith is found genuine when it’s tested by fire - the dross gets burned out

When a metal refiner works with gold and silver, he repeats the smelting process over and over. Each time he raises the heat, he skims away more dross and increases the quality and purity of the refined metals. When God turns up the heat in our lives, and we experience a particularly fiery trial, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s refining fire is removing the dross in our lives for a good purpose. The Lord is refining us according to His holy will, and His goal is purity:

“This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God’” - Zechariah 13:9

• The only way my faith is strengthened is when it’s tested

• Watching someone else’s faith won’t do it/ hearing stories of someone else can encourage U, but that alone won’t do it

• It’s like working out or exercise or home improvement shows

we can enjoy someone else’s achievements and hard work … but it isn’t ours, we aren’t getting the same benefit

• I’ve never sat there on my couch w/my coffee & a donut & watched them & got healthy

• It doesn’t work that way - the same is true when it comes to faith

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• So that problem you’re facing - it’s not God trying to wreck you

• Instead, it’s God building U up b/c there are greater things He has planned for U & it’s going to take greater maturity to handle it

• That circumstance where that’s causing U to think, “Why has God left me?” - He hasn’t left U - He’s walking through it w/ U building your faith

• Listen - the circumstance you’re in hasn’t caught God by surprise

• It’s what He’s using to grow your faith so U can become the person He wants U to be

& the person U ultimately want to be

• So where are U today? Are U trying to do life on your own?

• Are you trying to figure out your problems by yourself?

• Here’s what I know - you’re getting tired of trying to move the mountains in our life - so here’s what I’m submitting - let God move the mountains

• God wants to build a faith in U that can move mountains & that begins w/ knowing God & walking w/ Him

• I believe today is the day U can make a decision to walk w/ God & be His disciple - to learn from Him how He wants U to live

• To embrace the forgiveness & love of Godin your life b/c Jesus died for U& loves U - today is your day if you’re ready...

• Sometimes we’re walking through a tough time & we say, “If God really loved me, He would take this away.”

• Maybe a difficult circumstance is what brought U here & U wouldn’t have come to church today to seek God w/o that circumstance

• Maybe that thorn in your side is what God is using to draw U to Himself so He can show U how strong He is & how amazing He is

• Could it be that everything is going according to plan & God’s desire for U is to take a step in His direction today

• U might be here & you’re a Christian, but you’ve walked away form the Lord - today is your day to come back to Him b/c He loves U

• U might be here & you’ve never opened your heart to God

• You’ve never invited Him to come into your life to forgive U of all your sins

• Listen - every single 1 of us is a sinner - we’ve all fallen short of God’s standard - but God loves U so much He sent Jesus to die for U

• That’s radical, scandalous love & it’s available to U today

• You’ve wondered “Where is God?” - He’s right here, right now & He’s calling U & inviting U to come back to Him

• God wants to forgive U - He wants to set U free of all the things that are holding U back

• He wants to give U new life eternally starting right now

• Jesus wants to set U free of the hurt, anger & bitterness you’re living with

• Jesus didn’t wait for U to do something - He did something - He came to earth, He hung on a cross - He paid the price - He died for U