Greetings my friends. It is Sunday November 06TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.
In the days after I preached my sermon – “Give & Take” – to my brothers and sisters of my church family – I began writing my next sermon which I’ll be preaching in December. I was originally looking to preach on Obadiah. He was a prophet of Judah very soon after Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar and his army destroyed Jerusalem.
I couldn’t set a direction or a theme for that sermon, so God led me away from that idea, and I ended up creating, starting, and actually finishing my next sermon in less than 7 days on Titus on the island of Crete. That sermon is tentatively titled “Paul & Titus”, and I actually cover Paul’s entire letter to Titus (all 46 verses). I know that you can easily create 2, 3, or even 4 sermons from Titus. I elected to do it in 1.
Last Sunday morning I was asked about my availability for 2 Sundays in a row in December. I’m available to preach. I’ve always wanted to do a traditional Christmas sermon, so I’m planning to do that on the Sunday before Christmas. I’ll work on Obadiah for February 2023.
Here on #SundayScripture I continue presenting my September 18TH 2022 sermon – “Good & Evil” – in its original written form. It’s based on 1 Peter 3:8-4:8, and it effectively wraps-up my First Peter message series which I began in 2021. Here’s Part 5:
Now – who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good ? But even if you suffer for doing what is right – God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. (1 Peter 3:13-14)
Suffering is the overall theme of Peter’s first letter to the persecuted Christians. His point is that – as Christians – we will suffer for doing good. See we’re not doing what the world is doing. We’re not blending in with the world. We’re different. We’re counter-cultural. And the culture – the world – reacts with hostility. That’s mockery. That’s discrimination. That’s violence. That’s death in many places around the world – including right here in the U.S.A.
That’s a lot of evil to go around against Christians. You know our God suffered. Christ suffered on the cross – for us. He suffered, and then He was glorified. We suffer, and then – we will be glorified.
The Bible says that since we are His children – we are His heirs. We are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory – we must also share His suffering. (Romans 8:17)
For the more we suffer for Christ – the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5)
I absolutely love this next verse from Peter’s first letter, and I often quote it in preaching – like right now:
You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer – always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. (1 Peter 3:15-16a)
Now that part right there – about doing it in a gentle and respectful way. That’s actually the start of the 16TH verse of 1ST Peter Chapter 3 – in my favorite New Living Translation. But in most of the other popular translations of the Bible – it’s a continuation of the 15TH verse. These are the things that I look out for when I study the Bible and various popular translations of it. I’ve been told that I’m a Bible nerd. And I’m proud of that.
As Christians we must know what we believe in, and when someone asks us what we believe in – we must be ready to explain it – in a gentle and respectful way.
Other Bible translations use these words – with gentleness and respect – with gentleness and fear – with meekness and fear – with gentleness and reverence – in meekness and in reverence – with humility and fear. Give a kind and respectful answer – with modesty and fear – with courtesy and respect – modestly and cautiously.
In other words – if someone wants to know about the God that you know – then be ready to tell them, but don’t offend them. Don’t tell them what they’re doing wrong. Don’t tell them where they’re going. Tell them all about the God who loves you. Tell them all about the God who loves them. Tell them all about the God who’s waiting for them with open arms. Tell them all about the God who lifted you out of the pit of despair – out of the mud and the mire.
(End of Part 5)
If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !
Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:
The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
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