The Glory Road Series

Dear Discouraged – Part 8

“THE GLORY ROAD”

1 Peter 4 (NASB)

Dr. Randy Deal

Review:

Part 1: Remember God’s amazing grace!

Part 2: Dare to be different!

Part 3: Remember who GOD says you are!

Part 4: Our integrity will be tested by how we respond to temptation, authority and suffering!

Part 5: Have the courage to glorify God by giving up our rights to meet another’s needs!

Part 6: Pursue relational harmony instead of hostility!

Part 7: Set apart Christ as Lord in our heart!

Today’s Big Idea:

MAKE YOUR STORY ABOUT GOD’S GLORY!

“so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,” (v. 11b)

1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8

How? Arm yourselves with the purpose of Christ…

1. RESIST anything that distracts you from living FOR THE WILL OF GOD!

(vv. 1-7)

• Cease from sin. (v. 1-3) 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:5-7

• Don’t run with “Gentiles.” (v. 4-6)

• Be clear minded & self-controlled. (v. 7) 1 Peter 1:13

Our primary weapon here is prayer. (v. 7) Psalm 51:17b

2. RESPOND with a FERVENT LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER! (vv. 8-11a)

Our primary weapon here is love. (v. 8) Matthew 18:21-22, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:16-18

• Be hospitable. (v. 9) Hebrews 13:2

Share: Join a Home Group! (Front Porch begins April 19th)

• Employ your spiritual gifts, of speaking and serving, in serving one another. (v. 10-11a) Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 13:3-9, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians

Serve: Live generously with your time, talent, treasure & testimony!

Why? “So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,” (v. 11b)

1 Corinthians 10:31

The Narrow Road vs. The Wide Road – Matthew 7:13-14

BENEDICTION (vv. 12-19, NLT)

Dear Discouraged – Part 8

“THE GLORY ROAD”

1 Peter 4 (NASB)

Dr. Randy Deal

Opener Video: Live on Purpose (3:03) from “Facing the Giants”

What’s the purpose of THIS team, the Rock Point team? What’s OUR main goal? Life is NOT about US! God put us here for Him! To love God and to love others! Jesus DIED for US, so we could LIVE for Him! WIN or LOSE, will our actions and our attitudes PRAISE Him? What are we living FOR? Are our lives about our own glory or God’s glory?

Today…week 8…series through 1 Peter…“Dear Discouraged.”

A letter written, TO BELIEVERS, by that great fisherman and disciple of Jesus…

• A man who like us - knew both the thrill of victory & the agony of defeat…

• A man who knew what it was like to walk on water – and who also knew what it was like to sink into the crashing waves…

• A man who Jesus called the “rock” – and who sliced off the servant’s ear when Jesus was being arrested in the Garden…

• A man who was an EYE WITNESS to the sufferings of Christ…

• A man who refused to pick up a towel & wash Jesus’ feet…

• A man who knew what it was like to leave everything to follow Jesus and who also knew what it was like to deny even knowing him…

• A man who loved Christ and loved his church so much that he was crucified - upside down…

Turn to 1 Peter 4…Therefore…(what’s the therefore there for?). Therefore….if we’re going to suffer for the right reason…if suffering is going to make sense…if we’re going to truly understand the purpose of our trials, our tribulations, our struggles, our challenges, our discouragement, our suffering, if we’re going to…

Part 1: Remember God’s amazing grace!

Part 2: Dare to be different!

Part 3: Remember who GOD says WE are!

Part 4: respond to temptation, authority and suffering WITH INTEGRITY!

Part 5: glorify God by giving up our rights to meet another’s needs!

Part 6: Pursue relational harmony instead of hostility!

Part 7: Set apart Christ as Lord in our heart!

1THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME PURPOSE (NIV: ATTITUDE), …SO THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO WHOM BELONGS THE GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN. (NASB)

Today’s Big Idea is in v. 11: MAKE YOUR STORY ABOUT GOD’S GLORY!

SO THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST,

Jesus Christ suffered for us! He literally “suffered death.” Goes back to 3:18…18For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Since Christ suffered for us, just as He suffered for those persecuted Christians to whom Peter wrote this letter, there are TWO THINGS things we’ve got to do when faced with hardship, when faced with discouragement. Peter chose words that would cause his readers, and us today, to be moved to action!