Manuscript Template
Title: What do you do with suffering?
Problem to be solved: Suffering in the world
Focus Statement:
Main Text: 1 Peter 1:3-12
Supporting Text:
Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus): Mark 10:17-31
Benediction: James 1:2-4 / Romans 5:3-5 / 2 Corinthians 4:17 /
WELCOME
Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.
Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.
And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.
ME/INTRO - Tension
Have you thought you knew a fact that was true but turned out to be wrong?
Wyatt has all types of random fact that he tell us. Most of them relate to animals.
Most of them he hears from other kids that we need to fact check and end up not being true.
But it serves as a good lesson to, “Be careful what you believe and who you are putting your trust in.”
That being said, growing up I always thought the great white sharks were the apex predator of the ocean.
Then Wyatt came home one day and challenged that belief.
He said that Orca whales were the top predators of the ocean.
So we did some research; we found a YouTube Video and it turns out he is partially correct.
Orca whales are known as the wolves of the ocean.
They are super smart, hunt in packs, and actually kill great white sharks just to eat their livers.
I had to concede that round to Wyatt.
But then the other day a video popped into my YouTube feed about Sperm Whales being the apex predator of the ocean.
Sperm Whales never crossed my mind as being anything other than huge. So I watched the video.
Turns out
[Image: Marguerite Formation]
You might be questioning what this has to do with anything at this point...
After convincing me that both Wyatt and myself was wrong...
The video ended by explaining the sinking of a whaling ship in 1820 called the Essex
[Image: Essex Whaling Ship Map]
This is where the story peaked my attention and where I think it applies to us
Here is AI’s attempt to visualize the choice these sailors had to make.
[Image: Essex Life Boat Map]
Choose to stay at sea, suffering terribly from dehydration and starvation for months, rather than risk their safety at the many islands they passed along the way.
In case you’re curious, this is the true story that inspired Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby Dick
WE - Tension
Could you imagine being one of those sailors?
What would you do if faced with the choice between being eaten by potential cannibals on nearby islands, or knowingly face starvation and dehydration for 3 months to get back to a place you know is safe?
Could you choose to suffer because you know the destination is worth it?
Last week we started a new series on 1 Peter where we looked at the first two verses.
In those two verses Peter showed us the IDENTITY we have when we put our faith in Jesus as our LORD and SAVIOR.
Peter wrote that we are...
Peter ended with a choice that we all, at one point or another, have to make.
To remain loyal to God no matter what culture is pressuring us to do or what compromises were are tempted to make.
Or…to give in, abandon God, and transfer our loyalty to a culture that thinks, values, and acts differently than we are called to as Christians.
This week were going to look at the next section of 1 Peter, 1 Peter 1:3-12.
Peter takes us one step further, showing us what the NEW BIRTH we receive by believing in Jesus will lead to,
but also the costs associated with that choice.
What Peter shows us is that, just like those sailors, the best route in live is not the easiest or without suffering.
Please join me as we look at 1 Peter 1:3-12 and see the three things that God promises every believer in Jesus Christ will receive when they put their faith in Jesus and get BORN AGAIN.
If you missed the previous messages, please feel free go to our website, TheLightKC.org, to catch up.
As we begin, please turn with me to [1 Peter 1:3-12: Sanctuary Bible Page # 980]
We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.
AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.
Let's dive in.
GOD - Text - HEAD
A New Birth
Please join me as we read 1 Peter 1:3–5:
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, to be a Christian, to enter the Kingdom of God, you need to be BORN AGAIN.
It is not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual rebirth.
When we repent of our sins, and put our faith in Jesus as our personal LORD and SAVIOR, we are given the HOLY SPIRIT.
The HOLY SPIRIT of God, takes residence within us and gives us this SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.
This is what Peter is describing.
And Peter elaborates by listing three things that result from this SPIRITUAL REBIRTH; Living Hope, an Inheritance, and Salivation.
So today, let’s journey with Peter as we explore these three promises of God and what they mean for us.
Living Hope
The first thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive a LIVING HOPE.
The LIVING HOPE that we receive is not, how we typically describe hope.
The LIVING HOPE that God gives us is not wishful or positive thinking.
And because Christ
We have a LIVING HOPE that we too can
Romans 6:4–5 puts it this way:
“4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Christian hope is not just a feeling, it is an objective reality.
It is more than wishful thinking because it is a settled expectation that is rooted in the unwavering faithfulness and unchanging promises of God.
Without the risen Christ there is no hope.
But because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we not only have hope we have a LIVING HOPE that we will spend eternity with God in heaven, but that we can live the Kingdom Life God created us for here and now on Earth.
So if you’re honest with yourself what hope do you have?
Do you have a hope better defined as wishful thinking?
Do you have a passive hope where you are waiting for good to just happen?
Or, do you have a LIVING HOPE anchored in the historical truth of what Jesus did?
That He lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again on the 3rd day.
Do you have a LIVING HOPE that you too can die to sin, raise to a new life here on earth, and live eternally with God in heaven?
Inheritance
The second thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive a HEAVENLY INHERITANCE.
Inheritance, as I think about it is the sum of all the stuff that a person accumulated here on earth but never used.
Depending on what it is, relatives either fight over getting it, or fight over who has to deal with it.
But the reality of all things on earth is that they will either wear out or have to be dealt with by our kids when we die...
because we can’t take anything with us.
Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus teaches:
“19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
That point that both Peter and Jesus are making is that anything we can accumulate here on earth is temporary.
But, when we put our faith in Jesus and are BORN AGAIN, we receive a HEAVENLY INHERITANCE that will
So what is this HEAVENLY INHERITANCE that Peter promises
So what inheritance are you waiting for?
Salvation
The final thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive SALVATION.
And this is where we need to make sure we are clear.
SALVATION is a gift from God.
SALVATION is not something we can earn, it is only something we can only accept.
We can never be good enough to earn our SALVATION.
Jesus died on the cross to take the consequences of our sin upon Himself, so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.
If there was any other way, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die.
Jesus prayed the night of His death in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God the Father if there was another way, and there wasn’t.
It is only by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR and receiving the SPIRITUAL REBIRTH of the HOLY SPIRIT residing within you, that you will be SAVED from the consequences of your sin.
So do you believe in Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR?
Have you been BORN AGAIN?
Have you been SAVED by GRACE through FAITH from the consequences of your sins?
If not, what is stopping you?
If you are struggling to take that step or have questions, please come see me, I’d love to talk.
Purification Through Trials
But Peter is a realist.
In the next few verses he does not mix his words.
Putting your faith in Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR does not guarantee a pain free life, in fact Peter says the opposite.
The life of a Christian will include suffering, you will have to endure trials, but there is a reason for it.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:6–7:
“6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Peter here is saying that as we mature spiritually our faith will deepen. But it deepens through suffering and trials.
Peter writes that suffering and trials will prove the genuineness of our faith.
The term genuineness is the Greek word dokimion which means approved after being tried
The analogy Peter makes to gold is apt.
We purify gold with fire by literally burning the impurities out of it.
Our faith is purified and deepened through suffering and trials in the same way.
The pain and suffering we feel is the disconnect between who we are and who God wants us to be.
Pain is the parts of our life that do not honor God getting spiritually burned out of us.
Suffering is not an obstacle to salvation but its salvation’s proving ground
Suffering and trials are the arena where faith demonstrates its authenticity and believers develop the spiritual resilience that secures their eternal inheritance.
Suffering is the pathway to a godliness that passes the test on the last day.
Choose Joy
And that is why Peter ends this section by saying that despite the suffering and trials we will undoubtably face, as believers in Jesus Christ we are called to live with JOY.
1 Peter 1:8–9 says:
“8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
So how do you respond to life’s challenges?
YOU - Takeaway - HEART
Like the crew of the Essex you can make the choice to endure suffering and trials, knowing the destination is worth it in the end?
What I find interesting is the way that Herman Melville adapted the story of the Essex into the book Moby Dick
For those that are not familiar with the classic novel of Moby Dick
Instead of writing a story of survival and enduring suffering to save the lives of the crew...
Herman Melville wrote a story of revenge
How often are we like Captain Ahab?
WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action - HANDS
I want to close with a story of a man who approached Jesus with a question about eternal life.
In Mark 10:17, the man asks Jesus:
“17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?””
After Jesus telling him to follow the 10 commandments and the man replying that he already does, Jesus says this.
Mark 10:21–23
“21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!””
This story has always been one of those stories in the bible that stops me.
I think to myself, what I would do if Jesus asked me to give up everything.
Where do I put my hope?
Where do you put your hope?
The truth is that all these earthy things will not give you what you are searching for.
To be BORN AGAIN, to have a LIVING HOPE, an INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN, and to be SAVED from the consequences of your sin...
...There is only one way.
You need to put your faith in JESUS.
And if you hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whispering in your ear that today is your day, I ask you to pray the following prayer with me silently in your head.
Altar Call Prayer:
Can everyone bow your heads with me?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Today I come to You just as I am.
I confess that I have tried to live life on my own terms.
I have sinned against You, and I cannot save myself.
Thank You for loving me before I ever loved You.
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to take my place on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven and I could become part of Your family.
Today I place my trust in Jesus Christ.
I receive Your grace.
I receive Your forgiveness.
And today, I receive Your invitation to become Your child.
Thank You that I no longer have to live as a slave to fear, guilt, or shame.
Thank You that You call me Your son.
Thank You that You call me Your daughter.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Teach me to know You as my Father.
Help me to trust You.
Help me to obey You.
Help me to become more like Jesus every day.
When I doubt Your love, remind me whose I am.
When I stumble, remind me that Your grace is greater than my failures.
When I feel alone, remind me that I belong to Your family forever.
From this day forward, I want to live not to earn Your love, but because I already have it.
Thank You for adopting me.
Thank You for calling me Your own.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior,
Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer, please fill out the contact card in the seat in front of you and place it in the offering boxes in the back.
We want to help you as you start your journey as a BORN AGAIN Christian.
CLOSING / Communion
During the final song we will observe the sacrament of communion.
We observe communion to remember everything Christ has done for us, how He loved us so much that He stepped down from heaven, become one of us, suffered everything the world could throw at him, yet did not sin, chose to die on the cross, taking the consequences of our sin upon himself, and by rising from the dead on the 3rd day, giving us hope for a new life now and in eternity with Him in heaven.
We take bread to remember that Christ allowed His body to be broken for us.
We take wine (or grape juice) to remember that Christ allowed His blood to be spilled for us.
As part of the Wesleyan denomination we practice an open table. You don’t have be a member of the Wesleyan church to partake in communion here. You just have to have accepted Jesus as you LORD and SAVIOR, earnestly repent of your sin, and empowered by the Holy Spirit do everything you can to follow the commandments of God.
* You can take of the elements from your seats, we will not be taking them together.
**Children may partake at the discretion of their parents.
***Gluten free options are available on left side of the stage
Before you partake, I encourage you to come up front and spent some time with God. (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
Take as much time as you need.
You can come as you are ready.
PRAYER
Will you join me in prayer...
SONG
As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who feels God calling them to respond to today’s message.
BENEDICTION
Romans 5:3–5
“3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
This week...
Quick reminder...
I hope you have a great week.
Go in peace.
You are dismissed.
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)
How does understanding our new birth in Christ influence our daily decisions and actions?
In what ways can we actively choose hope despite the challenges we face?
What steps can we take to ensure our hope is rooted in the promises of God and not in our circumstances?
How can the concept of a heavenly inheritance change our perspective on earthly possessions and wealth?
How can we support each other in choosing joy during difficult times as a community of faith?
What does it mean to you to have a 'living hope' in your daily life?
How can you encourage a friend who is struggling to see hope in their life?
What are some practical ways you can show your faith and hope in God at school or in your friend group?
How do you handle peer pressure to conform versus holding on to your Christian identity?
In what ways do you think suffering can help you grow in your faith and character?
Title: What do you do with suffering?
Problem to be solved: Suffering in the world
Focus Statement:
- Our hope isn't based on what we think will happen; it's based on what God has already done.
- Christian hope is not just a feeling, it is an objective reality. It is more than wishful thinking because it is a settled expectation that is rooted in the unwavering faithfulness and unchanging promises of God. Without the risen Christ there is no hope.
- Choose Hope
- Choose Joy
- Choose to endure life’s temporary suffering and trials
Main Text: 1 Peter 1:3-12
Supporting Text:
Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus): Mark 10:17-31
Benediction: James 1:2-4 / Romans 5:3-5 / 2 Corinthians 4:17 /
WELCOME
Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.
Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.
And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.
ME/INTRO - Tension
Have you thought you knew a fact that was true but turned out to be wrong?
Wyatt has all types of random fact that he tell us. Most of them relate to animals.
Most of them he hears from other kids that we need to fact check and end up not being true.
But it serves as a good lesson to, “Be careful what you believe and who you are putting your trust in.”
That being said, growing up I always thought the great white sharks were the apex predator of the ocean.
Then Wyatt came home one day and challenged that belief.
He said that Orca whales were the top predators of the ocean.
So we did some research; we found a YouTube Video and it turns out he is partially correct.
Orca whales are known as the wolves of the ocean.
They are super smart, hunt in packs, and actually kill great white sharks just to eat their livers.
I had to concede that round to Wyatt.
But then the other day a video popped into my YouTube feed about Sperm Whales being the apex predator of the ocean.
Sperm Whales never crossed my mind as being anything other than huge. So I watched the video.
Turns out
- The largest recorded whale was 65ft long and weighed 45 tones, but historical reports say they can grow; much bigger
- They can live anywhere on earth, even the cold arctic waters
- They dive 2.5 miles deep in the ocean to hunt and kill giant squid
- They use sonar to hunt those squid that is 236 db loud; for reference a Jet engine is only 120-140 db
- They have a 17.5 lb brain, the largest on earth (for comparison our brain is 3 lb).
- This means they are very smart and even have developed separate languages for each pod consisting of sequences of 3-40 clicks. I recently saw they’re trying to use AI to translate this language.
- They not only hunt and eat giant squid but they use their huge heads to ram and kill any orcas that challenge them
- They have a very organized / structured matriarchal society that cooperatively raise the calves
- To protect their young they form a defensive formation called a Marguerite formation and use their tales to beat the orcas away
[Image: Marguerite Formation]
You might be questioning what this has to do with anything at this point...
After convincing me that both Wyatt and myself was wrong...
The video ended by explaining the sinking of a whaling ship in 1820 called the Essex
[Image: Essex Whaling Ship Map]
- This was a whaling ship from Nantucket, Massachusetts
- It was whaling 2,000 miles off the coast of South America in the Pacific Ocean
- A 85 foot sperm whale rammed the ship twice, sinking it
- 20 members of the crew got into 3 small life boats
This is where the story peaked my attention and where I think it applies to us
- The 20 men in the life boats had plenty of islands they could stop at, that were close to the ship wreck
- But they had heard that these islands were populated by cannibals
- Instead of taking the easy route to land by stopping at any of the multiple islands they could have, they chose to spend 3 months traveling the 2,000 miles back to Chile even though they knew that their decision would mean they would suffer starvation and dehydration
- They chose to suffer because they had hope of arriving back in Chile where they knew they’d be safe
Here is AI’s attempt to visualize the choice these sailors had to make.
[Image: Essex Life Boat Map]
Choose to stay at sea, suffering terribly from dehydration and starvation for months, rather than risk their safety at the many islands they passed along the way.
In case you’re curious, this is the true story that inspired Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby Dick
WE - Tension
Could you imagine being one of those sailors?
What would you do if faced with the choice between being eaten by potential cannibals on nearby islands, or knowingly face starvation and dehydration for 3 months to get back to a place you know is safe?
Could you choose to suffer because you know the destination is worth it?
Last week we started a new series on 1 Peter where we looked at the first two verses.
In those two verses Peter showed us the IDENTITY we have when we put our faith in Jesus as our LORD and SAVIOR.
Peter wrote that we are...
- God’s elect - chosen to be part of God’s family, but given the free will to accept of reject that invitation
- A people in exile - living in a world that is drifting farther and farther from God, yet called to live lives loyal to the teachings of Jesus
- A scattered people - commissioned to be witnesses to the Love and Grace of God to a culture that doesn’t know Him
Peter ended with a choice that we all, at one point or another, have to make.
To remain loyal to God no matter what culture is pressuring us to do or what compromises were are tempted to make.
Or…to give in, abandon God, and transfer our loyalty to a culture that thinks, values, and acts differently than we are called to as Christians.
This week were going to look at the next section of 1 Peter, 1 Peter 1:3-12.
Peter takes us one step further, showing us what the NEW BIRTH we receive by believing in Jesus will lead to,
but also the costs associated with that choice.
What Peter shows us is that, just like those sailors, the best route in live is not the easiest or without suffering.
Please join me as we look at 1 Peter 1:3-12 and see the three things that God promises every believer in Jesus Christ will receive when they put their faith in Jesus and get BORN AGAIN.
If you missed the previous messages, please feel free go to our website, TheLightKC.org, to catch up.
As we begin, please turn with me to [1 Peter 1:3-12: Sanctuary Bible Page # 980]
We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.
AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.
Let's dive in.
GOD - Text - HEAD
A New Birth
Please join me as we read 1 Peter 1:3–5:
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, to be a Christian, to enter the Kingdom of God, you need to be BORN AGAIN.
It is not a physical rebirth, but a spiritual rebirth.
When we repent of our sins, and put our faith in Jesus as our personal LORD and SAVIOR, we are given the HOLY SPIRIT.
The HOLY SPIRIT of God, takes residence within us and gives us this SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.
This is what Peter is describing.
And Peter elaborates by listing three things that result from this SPIRITUAL REBIRTH; Living Hope, an Inheritance, and Salivation.
So today, let’s journey with Peter as we explore these three promises of God and what they mean for us.
Living Hope
The first thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive a LIVING HOPE.
The LIVING HOPE that we receive is not, how we typically describe hope.
The LIVING HOPE that God gives us is not wishful or positive thinking.
- It is not a blind faith that things will work out eventually
- It is not passively waiting for events to unfold
- It’s not a feeling
- It is anchored in the truth of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection
- It is based on the actual historical events of Jesus’ life
And because Christ
- Lived a sinless life
- Died a sacrificial death on the cross for our sins
- Came back to life on the 3rd day
We have a LIVING HOPE that we too can
- die to sin
- raise into a new life
- live eternally with God in heaven
Romans 6:4–5 puts it this way:
“4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Christian hope is not just a feeling, it is an objective reality.
It is more than wishful thinking because it is a settled expectation that is rooted in the unwavering faithfulness and unchanging promises of God.
Without the risen Christ there is no hope.
But because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we not only have hope we have a LIVING HOPE that we will spend eternity with God in heaven, but that we can live the Kingdom Life God created us for here and now on Earth.
So if you’re honest with yourself what hope do you have?
Do you have a hope better defined as wishful thinking?
Do you have a passive hope where you are waiting for good to just happen?
Or, do you have a LIVING HOPE anchored in the historical truth of what Jesus did?
That He lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again on the 3rd day.
Do you have a LIVING HOPE that you too can die to sin, raise to a new life here on earth, and live eternally with God in heaven?
Inheritance
The second thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive a HEAVENLY INHERITANCE.
Inheritance, as I think about it is the sum of all the stuff that a person accumulated here on earth but never used.
Depending on what it is, relatives either fight over getting it, or fight over who has to deal with it.
But the reality of all things on earth is that they will either wear out or have to be dealt with by our kids when we die...
because we can’t take anything with us.
Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus teaches:
“19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
That point that both Peter and Jesus are making is that anything we can accumulate here on earth is temporary.
- wealth is fleeting
- houses rot
- cars rust
- health doesn’t last
- the list goes on and on...
But, when we put our faith in Jesus and are BORN AGAIN, we receive a HEAVENLY INHERITANCE that will
- not perish
- not spoil
- not fade with time
So what is this HEAVENLY INHERITANCE that Peter promises
- Titus 3:7 - An eternity with God in heaven
- Philippians 3:20-21 - A resurrection body
- Galatians 4:7 - Standing within God’s Kingdom as a child of God and co-heir with Christ
So what inheritance are you waiting for?
- The check from your rich uncle (assuming we all have one) :)
- Or the promised inheritance that will never wear out or go unused in Heaven.
Salvation
The final thing Peter lists that will result from our SPIRITUAL REBIRTH is that we will receive SALVATION.
And this is where we need to make sure we are clear.
SALVATION is a gift from God.
SALVATION is not something we can earn, it is only something we can only accept.
We can never be good enough to earn our SALVATION.
- Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
- Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Jesus died on the cross to take the consequences of our sin upon Himself, so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.
If there was any other way, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die.
Jesus prayed the night of His death in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God the Father if there was another way, and there wasn’t.
It is only by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR and receiving the SPIRITUAL REBIRTH of the HOLY SPIRIT residing within you, that you will be SAVED from the consequences of your sin.
So do you believe in Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR?
Have you been BORN AGAIN?
Have you been SAVED by GRACE through FAITH from the consequences of your sins?
If not, what is stopping you?
If you are struggling to take that step or have questions, please come see me, I’d love to talk.
Purification Through Trials
But Peter is a realist.
In the next few verses he does not mix his words.
Putting your faith in Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR does not guarantee a pain free life, in fact Peter says the opposite.
The life of a Christian will include suffering, you will have to endure trials, but there is a reason for it.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:6–7:
“6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Peter here is saying that as we mature spiritually our faith will deepen. But it deepens through suffering and trials.
Peter writes that suffering and trials will prove the genuineness of our faith.
The term genuineness is the Greek word dokimion which means approved after being tried
The analogy Peter makes to gold is apt.
We purify gold with fire by literally burning the impurities out of it.
Our faith is purified and deepened through suffering and trials in the same way.
The pain and suffering we feel is the disconnect between who we are and who God wants us to be.
Pain is the parts of our life that do not honor God getting spiritually burned out of us.
Suffering is not an obstacle to salvation but its salvation’s proving ground
Suffering and trials are the arena where faith demonstrates its authenticity and believers develop the spiritual resilience that secures their eternal inheritance.
Suffering is the pathway to a godliness that passes the test on the last day.
Choose Joy
And that is why Peter ends this section by saying that despite the suffering and trials we will undoubtably face, as believers in Jesus Christ we are called to live with JOY.
1 Peter 1:8–9 says:
“8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
So how do you respond to life’s challenges?
- How do you react when you face trials in your life?
- How do you react when you’re in the midst of a period of suffering?
- Do you try to escape it?
- Do you turn to God to teach you, refine you, purify you through it?
- Do you CHOOSE JOY in spite of it?
YOU - Takeaway - HEART
Like the crew of the Essex you can make the choice to endure suffering and trials, knowing the destination is worth it in the end?
What I find interesting is the way that Herman Melville adapted the story of the Essex into the book Moby Dick
For those that are not familiar with the classic novel of Moby Dick
Instead of writing a story of survival and enduring suffering to save the lives of the crew...
Herman Melville wrote a story of revenge
- Captain Ahab lost his leg in a Sperm Whale attack, and vowed vengeance upon the whale MOBY DICK
- He traveled the world searching for the whale, ignoring his duties as captain
- When he finally finds MOBY DICK, the whale attacks the ship for 3 days and eventually sinks it
- Captain Ahab harpoons Moby Dick, but gets tangled in the line and is brought down to the depths of the sea where he dies
How often are we like Captain Ahab?
- Losing sight of the path we are created to travel in this life?
- Seeking personal desires and forgetting about others?
- We too can get tangled in the consequences of our choices and die an eternal death, never knowing the life that God created us to live
- We can live the life of Captain Ahab, following our own path, never trusting Jesus as the only one who can give us a new birth, saving us from an eternity separated from God.
- Or, we can make the choice of the actual crew of the Essex,
- choosing temporary suffering,
- avoiding temptation to take the easy way out,
- confident that the destination that God offers, an eternal life with Him in heaven, is worth whatever temporary suffering we experience in this life
WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action - HANDS
I want to close with a story of a man who approached Jesus with a question about eternal life.
In Mark 10:17, the man asks Jesus:
“17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?””
After Jesus telling him to follow the 10 commandments and the man replying that he already does, Jesus says this.
Mark 10:21–23
“21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!””
This story has always been one of those stories in the bible that stops me.
I think to myself, what I would do if Jesus asked me to give up everything.
Where do I put my hope?
- This man put it in his money and couldn’t get himself to part with it
Where do you put your hope?
- In money
- In people
- In yourself
The truth is that all these earthy things will not give you what you are searching for.
To be BORN AGAIN, to have a LIVING HOPE, an INHERITANCE IN HEAVEN, and to be SAVED from the consequences of your sin...
...There is only one way.
You need to put your faith in JESUS.
And if you hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whispering in your ear that today is your day, I ask you to pray the following prayer with me silently in your head.
Altar Call Prayer:
Can everyone bow your heads with me?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Today I come to You just as I am.
I confess that I have tried to live life on my own terms.
I have sinned against You, and I cannot save myself.
Thank You for loving me before I ever loved You.
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to take my place on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven and I could become part of Your family.
Today I place my trust in Jesus Christ.
I receive Your grace.
I receive Your forgiveness.
And today, I receive Your invitation to become Your child.
Thank You that I no longer have to live as a slave to fear, guilt, or shame.
Thank You that You call me Your son.
Thank You that You call me Your daughter.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Teach me to know You as my Father.
Help me to trust You.
Help me to obey You.
Help me to become more like Jesus every day.
When I doubt Your love, remind me whose I am.
When I stumble, remind me that Your grace is greater than my failures.
When I feel alone, remind me that I belong to Your family forever.
From this day forward, I want to live not to earn Your love, but because I already have it.
Thank You for adopting me.
Thank You for calling me Your own.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior,
Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer, please fill out the contact card in the seat in front of you and place it in the offering boxes in the back.
We want to help you as you start your journey as a BORN AGAIN Christian.
CLOSING / Communion
During the final song we will observe the sacrament of communion.
We observe communion to remember everything Christ has done for us, how He loved us so much that He stepped down from heaven, become one of us, suffered everything the world could throw at him, yet did not sin, chose to die on the cross, taking the consequences of our sin upon himself, and by rising from the dead on the 3rd day, giving us hope for a new life now and in eternity with Him in heaven.
We take bread to remember that Christ allowed His body to be broken for us.
We take wine (or grape juice) to remember that Christ allowed His blood to be spilled for us.
As part of the Wesleyan denomination we practice an open table. You don’t have be a member of the Wesleyan church to partake in communion here. You just have to have accepted Jesus as you LORD and SAVIOR, earnestly repent of your sin, and empowered by the Holy Spirit do everything you can to follow the commandments of God.
* You can take of the elements from your seats, we will not be taking them together.
**Children may partake at the discretion of their parents.
***Gluten free options are available on left side of the stage
Before you partake, I encourage you to come up front and spent some time with God. (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
- Take some time to pray
- Repent of the ways that you have strayed and receive the peace only God can give knowing that you are fully forgiven
- Seek God’s guidance for the next steps you are about to take
- Are you choosing to suffer; allowing God to purify your faith
- Are you avoiding suffering at all cost; remaining immature in your faith
- Are you living with the inexpressible and glorious joy, knowing you follow a God that loves you
Take as much time as you need.
You can come as you are ready.
PRAYER
Will you join me in prayer...
SONG
As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who feels God calling them to respond to today’s message.
- Maybe as you think about ..having a LIVING HOPE, maybe you need to
- Admitting that you are a sinner and need forgiveness
- Verbalizing your Belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who died on the cross paying the penalty for your sins, and rose from the dead on the third day giving your hope of an eternal life with God in Heaven.
- Confessing that Jesus is your LORD and SAVIOR
- ASK to be united with Christ in His life, death, and resurrection
- Maybe as you think about ...an ETERNAL INHERITANCE, you need to come up and repent of all the ways that you have sought the comforts of this world and put your trust in material possessions
- Maybe as you think about ...SALVATION, you need to come up and thank God, praising Him for the free gift He offers each and every one of us.
BENEDICTION
Romans 5:3–5
“3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
This week...
- Let’s stop living like the world lives
- Giving in to every temptation to take the easy way out of trouble
- Avoiding suffering at all cost
- Putting our faith in stuff
- Let’s live a BORN AGAIN life
- Having a LIVING HOPE that is anchored in the truth of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection
- Going after an ETERNAL INHERITANCE that will not perish, spoil, or fade with time
- Accepting God’s free offer of SALVATION,
- Putting our faith in Jesus as our LORD and SAVIOR
- Accepting the SUFFERING and TRIALS that will purify and prove our faith
- Choose to live a life of JOY, knowing that we are destined to spend eternity with God in heaven
Quick reminder...
- Join a Group
- Men’s Group Tuesday at 7 PM
- Young Adults Group - Wednesday at 6:30 PM
- Discipleship Group - Daring Faith - Wednesday at 6:30 PM
- Women’s Group - 2nd and 4th Thursday at 6 PM
- If you’re new, please fill out the card in the seat back and stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.
- If you’d like to get more information about taking your next step of faith, fill out the card in the seat back and give it to me or turn it in to the info desk.
I hope you have a great week.
Go in peace.
You are dismissed.
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)
How does understanding our new birth in Christ influence our daily decisions and actions?
In what ways can we actively choose hope despite the challenges we face?
What steps can we take to ensure our hope is rooted in the promises of God and not in our circumstances?
How can the concept of a heavenly inheritance change our perspective on earthly possessions and wealth?
How can we support each other in choosing joy during difficult times as a community of faith?
What does it mean to you to have a 'living hope' in your daily life?
How can you encourage a friend who is struggling to see hope in their life?
What are some practical ways you can show your faith and hope in God at school or in your friend group?
How do you handle peer pressure to conform versus holding on to your Christian identity?
In what ways do you think suffering can help you grow in your faith and character?