Sermon Central
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1 Peter
Contributed by D Marion Clark on Jul 25, 2012 (message contributor)
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1. Three For All
Contributed on Jul 25, 2012
Presents the work of the Trinity in bringing salvation
Introduction What I will first note is that we are reading an epistle. An epistle is not, as one young student guessed, the wife of an apostle! It is a letter. This letter, as with most of the letters or epistles, starts off with the standard form of address. We begin with “Dear… ...read more
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2. The Living Hope
Contributed on Jul 27, 2012
Explores Peter's doxology regarding the salvation we have in Christ.
In the first chapter, I noted that the New Testament epistles follow the basic form of letter writing of that day. There is nothing significant about the form. What is significant is how the NT writers make use of the form to express their Christian content. What is the form? There are ...read more
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3. The Glorious Joy
Contributed on Jul 27, 2012
A presentation of the glorious joy that awaits believers.
In our previous chapter we looked at the living hope into which Christians are born. That hope is possessing the inheritance of the kingdom of God, of dwelling with God forever – a day that will come when Christ returns. Peter reflects further on what this inheritance entails and how it ...read more
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4. The Wondrous Grace
Contributed on Jul 27, 2012
The prophets of old and even the angels of heaven sought eagerly to see what we possess.
We have learned some great news in just the first nine verses of 1 Peter. What have we learn? We are God’s elect for whom all three persons of the godhead have actively worked for our salvation. We have been born again into a living hope of an inheritance of eternal life that we cannot ...read more
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5. The True Good Life
Contributed on Jul 28, 2012
In lights of the hope we have, we are now called to live the true good life - one that is holy.
Up to this time, Peter has eloquently laid before his readers the glorious blessings of God that have come to them. What truths has Peter already expressed? Who we are – God’s elect and strangers in the world. What has been done for us – given new birth into a living hope of an ...read more
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6. Redemption Paid
Contributed on Jul 29, 2012
Presents the great value of the redemption we have.
Let’s review Peter’s letter. Remember, he is following the ancient letter form. In verses 1,2 he identifies himself, then his readers and adds a greeting. He next writes a thanksgiving covering verses 3-12. In verse 13, he begins the body of the letter, which goes through ...read more
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7. Redemption Applied
Contributed on Jul 30, 2012
Presents how Christ's redemption works in us.
In our previous passage, we looked at the subject of redemption, specifically what it means and how it is made. It means to make a ransom payment, to buy one’s freedom. In our case, a payment is made to free us from the slavery of sin. This payment was made by the blood of Christ. He ...read more
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8. Stones And The Stone
Contributed on Aug 3, 2012
What it means to be building stones of the house of God.
The moment of truth arrived one day in the life of Jesus and his disciples. They had been with one another for a couple of years or more, had seen his miracles and heard his teaching. So, one day he asked them: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ...read more
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9. Out Of Darkness
Contributed on Aug 4, 2012
We have been brought out of darkness to show forth the glory of God.
I opened the last chapter describing the watershed interaction between Jesus and his disciples, which culminated in Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In a similar manner God and his people, the Israelites, had a watershed experience in which their ...read more
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10. Alien Life
Contributed on Aug 5, 2012
How should Christians respond to persecution and to suffering in the world?
This passage introduces the epistle’s section on Christian living and its overall theme. To borrow from Francis Schaeffer, it is “How Should We Then Live?” How should Christians conduct themselves in a world that is nonChristian, i.e. where the citizenry do not acknowledge Jesus ...read more
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11. How To Live
Contributed on Aug 6, 2012
How are we as Christians to live under nonChristian authority?
Introduction Peter is writing to several communities of Christians scattered about in northern Asia Minor, which today is the country Turkey. These bands of believers are living in precarious circumstances. They are a decided minority who are misunderstood, and, as a result, face slander and ...read more
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12. A Life To Commend
Contributed on Aug 7, 2012
Always take time to consider how your behavior is honoring or dishonoring God before the world. That’s what matters. You are not your own persons. You are servants of God. That leads us into our next passage, verses 18-25, in which Peter directly addresse
Introduction We continue to step through our minefield of authority. Peter has moved from his encouragement section of his epistle to practical instruction and exhortation. His topic is how Christians are to live in the world, and he approaches the subject in terms of how they are to regard the ...read more
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13. A Life To Respect
Contributed on Aug 9, 2012
What is the proper framework for a marriage?
Introduction I said before that the subject of authority itself is a minefield because of the emotional reaction we have towards the subject. Even the most conservative of us recoil at the idea of ourselves being under authority. We may acknowledge that we are under authority in certain cases, ...read more
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14. A Life Of Harmony
Contributed on Aug 9, 2012
How we are as a Christian community and as individuals to live in a hostile world.
Introduction The topic of Peter’s epistle since 2:11 has been “How to Live in a NonChristian World.” We’ve treaded through the minefield of authority in civil life, the workplace and campus, and in marriage. The directive was the same in each category – submit to ...read more
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15. A Life Of A Clear Conscience
Contributed on Aug 10, 2012
How do we live in an unjust world?
Introduction Peter’s epistle begins in such a nice way. He tells of all these wonderful blessings we have, how we are such special people; then, just when we are feeling so great about the Christian life, he throws these water balloons at us, that splash us with sobering exhortations. ...read more
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16. The Baptized Life
Contributed on Aug 13, 2012
Remember in the midst of your trials who your savior is. Jesus Christ is the victorious Lord. Through his death he broke the bondage of sin; he conquered death itself. Through his resurrection he has subdued the evil powers so that they cannot harm his
Introduction We are at a passage that remains one the most complicated passages in the Bible to understand. Not just each verse, almost every phrase is ambiguous. Let me give a few examples. Is Peter saying Christ was raised by the Holy Spirit or simply that he was alive in spirit? Does ...read more
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17. Living For The Will Of God
Contributed on Aug 13, 2012
Live for the will of God and not for our own sinful pleasures.
Introduction “What does God want me to do?” “Why has he put me in this school…in this dorm, this job, this neighborhood?” “I’m surrounded by people who give me a hard time? Why?” “What is it that I am suppose to be ...read more
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18. Living To The Praise Of God
Contributed on Aug 14, 2012
We’ve been learning about how to live in a nonChristian world. Our present text instructs us on how to live in a Christian community. Peter denotes both the activities and the attitude necessary for Christian community that glorifies God.
Introduction We’ve been learning about how to live in a nonChristian world. Our present text instructs us on how to live in a Christian community. Peter denotes both the activities and the attitude necessary for Christian community that glorifies God. Alert Prayer The end of all ...read more
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19. Living Through Suffering
Contributed on Aug 16, 2012
We look now at a passage, which is startling in both its sobering and exalted view of Christian suffering.
Introduction We look now at a passage, which is startling in both its sobering and exalted view of Christian suffering. Recall once more the context of the letter. The Christians of the scattered churches in northern Asia Minor are facing trials placed on them by their neighbors. Some form of ...read more
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20. A Leader’s Life
Contributed on Aug 17, 2012
This passage gives us insight into the life of church leaders.
Introduction This passage gives us insight into the life of church leaders. Having instructed the churches on how to respond to persecution, Peter now addresses the church leaders. He first establishes the basis by which he instructs the elders. He then exhorts them to be shepherds with a ...read more
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21. A Humble Life
Contributed on Aug 18, 2012
What the humble life looks like.
Introduction Humility is not a minister’s favorite subject. How can you exhort others to be humble with a clear conscience or presume to know what you are talking about? You would have to be humble; yet, believing yourself to be humble is not being humble. But if you are not humble, how ...read more