Contrary Christianity Series

Contrary Christianity

1 Peter 3:7

Rev. Brian Bill

November 29-30, 2014

Offering: He’s Always Been Faithful/Great is Thy Faithfulness

Aren’t you glad we can count on God’s faithfulness? Wow, what a week! There are lots of lessons to be learned from what happened in Ferguson, but at its core we see deep fractures and fissures in our country. I call upon Christ-followers to be biblical peacemakers. I posted a prayer I wrote this week and I’d like to pray it right now: “Jehovah Rapha, we pray for Ferguson…we ask that you would bring your Shalom to a very difficult situation. May your Son be magnified and glorified. We pray for our entire country and ask that you would mobilize your church to be peacemakers and that you would draw people to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.”

I was struck by Abraham Lincoln’s leadership when he spoke these words during his second inaugural address in 1864, when our country was in danger of coming apart at the seams during the Civil War: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

Let’s give attention to the passage that comes right after our text for today. Turn to 1 Peter 3:8-12 as we allow God’s Word to speak into our world right now: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.’”

Here’s where we’re headed in our preaching menu in the coming months. We’re launching a Christmas series next weekend called, “Christmas According to…” as we take a look at how each of the gospel writers communicated the message of Christ. We have invite cards available for our Christmas Eve services at 4 and 6 p.m. If you’re looking for a way to prepare your family for Christmas, Ray Pritchard has just released an Ebook devotional called, “Why He Came” that has daily readings from December 1st through December 25th. It’s free on Amazon Sunday through Thursday this week.

In the midst of all the busyness coming up, can I encourage you to keep living on mission? I was struck by what Adam and Ashlee Haynie did on Thanksgiving Day. Here’s how Ashlee described it on Facebook – “I’m doing something different this year...I’m running around providing others with the things they need for Thanksgiving. It’s living on mission that Jesus wants us to do so that’s what I’m doing. I cleaned out my pantry, freezer, and closets and am giving it to a beautiful family. I’m thankful I have everything I want and need! God is good. Happy thanksgiving all!”

During the first two weekends in January we’ll come back to our vision – Gather, Grow, Give and Go. As a way to consecrate ourselves in 2015, we’ll be celebrating communion January 3-4. Then, beginning in mid-January we’ll kick off a series called, “Counter-Cultural Christianity” as we study what the Bible has to say about Abortion, Homosexuality, Racism and Suicide. We’ll then dive back into 1 Peter, finishing right before Easter, Lord willing.

I decided to keep the title (“Contrary Christianity”) that I had originally chosen for this sermon even though it will really be part two of “Help for a Hurting Marriage” as we focus on how husbands are to live out their roles. Actually, when husbands (and wives) practice what God prescribes it often does feel contrary to what we think, and certainly to what our culture teaches.

If you missed last week’s message directed to wives, I encourage you to pick up a free CD at the Welcome Center, use our free app or go to edgewoodbaptist.net and listen to it. I received an encouraging note this week: “I want to say thanks for putting those messages and your sermon on Facebook [and your] website. I look forward to watching them. I haven’t been able to come lately [because] my kids have been sick. Hopefully this month will be better. Thanks again.”