Embracing God's Grace: A Call to Living Hope

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of being known and loved by God, a reality that can sometimes feel overwhelming yet deeply comforting. As we sang of God's holiness, we recognized that our very existence is rooted in His grace, allowing us to approach Him without fear or shame. This grace, extended through Jesus Christ, invites us to participate in God's kingdom work, surrendering our anxieties and fears to His unyielding purposes. We are reminded that our hope is not in the transient things of this world but in the eternal victory of Christ over sin, Satan, and death.

We delved into the book of 1 Peter, a letter written to early Christians scattered across the world, emphasizing that Christianity is not tied to a place but to a person—Jesus Christ. This revolutionary idea transformed the gospel into a global message, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. Peter's words remind us that the gospel provides a worldview through which we interpret our lives and the world around us. This worldview offers peace in unsettling times, assuring us that God's story and outcomes are never in doubt.

As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, we are called to be influencers, not by conforming to the world's standards but by embodying a living hope. This hope is rooted in our new birth through the resurrection of Jesus, freeing us from the constraints of our earthly identities and empowering us to engage with culture without fear. We are displaced yet deployed, called to influence the world with the hope and freedom found in Christ.

Our faith, more valuable than gold, is being refined and guarded by God's power, ensuring our ultimate salvation. This faith allows us to face trials with joy, knowing that our inheritance is secure in heaven. We are reminded that our joy in Christ is unthreatened by worldly circumstances, as we are witnesses to the reality of His resurrection. As we worship, we join with believers past and present, proclaiming the glory of our risen Lord.

Key Takeaways:

- The Transformative Power of Grace: God's grace allows us to approach Him without fear, inviting us to participate in His kingdom work. This grace is not just for Sundays but extends into our daily lives, providing a lens through which we view our circumstances. [00:00]

- A Revolutionary Gospel: Christianity's detachment from a specific place and its attachment to the person of Jesus Christ revolutionized spirituality. This global message transcends cultural boundaries, offering new life and freedom from sin and shame. [24:57]

- Worldview as a Lens: The gospel provides a worldview that offers peace in unsettling times. It assures us that God's story and outcomes are never in doubt, allowing us to rest in His purposes and engage the world without fear. [31:06]

- Living Hope in Christ: Our new birth through Jesus' resurrection frees us from earthly identities, empowering us to engage with culture without fear. We are called to be influencers, embodying a living hope that transcends worldly constraints. [42:58]

- Faith as Our Greatest Wealth: Our faith, more valuable than gold, is being refined and guarded by God's power. This faith allows us to face trials with joy, knowing our inheritance is secure in heaven, and our joy in Christ is unthreatened by worldly circumstances. [53:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Opening Prayer and Reflection
- [02:00] - Invitation to Worship
- [03:30] - Introduction to 1 Peter
- [05:00] - The Revolutionary Gospel
- [07:00] - Understanding Our Worldview
- [09:00] - Living Hope Through Resurrection
- [11:00] - Engaging Culture with Hope
- [13:00] - Faith as Our Greatest Wealth
- [15:00] - Joy in Trials
- [17:00] - The Call to Influence
- [19:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:2-12

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Peter mean when he refers to believers as "exiles" and "strangers" in the world? How does this relate to the idea of being "displaced yet deployed"? [35:10]

2. How does Peter describe the inheritance that believers have in Christ? What are its characteristics? [38:14]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the gospel being a worldview? How does it help believers interpret their lives and the world around them? [31:06]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of faith in facing trials and challenges? How is faith described as more valuable than gold? [53:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "known and loved by God" challenge or comfort believers in their daily lives? [49:33]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gospel transcends cultural and geographical boundaries? How does this impact the way believers engage with the world? [24:57]

3. How does the sermon describe the tension between being in the world but not of the world? What practical steps can believers take to live out this calling? [35:10]

4. What does it mean to have a "living hope" through the resurrection of Jesus, and how does this hope empower believers to engage with culture without fear? [42:58]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the world's circumstances. How can the understanding of God's grace and the eternal victory of Christ help you find peace in such times? [49:33]

2. The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of grace in our daily lives. How can you intentionally incorporate this grace into your interactions with others this week? [00:00]

3. Consider your current worldview. How does it align with the gospel worldview described in the sermon? What changes might you need to make to see the world through the lens of God's story? [31:06]

4. Identify an area in your life where you feel constrained by your earthly identity. How can the concept of a "new birth" through Jesus' resurrection free you from these constraints? [42:58]

5. Think about a trial you are currently facing. How can you view this trial as an opportunity for your faith to be refined and strengthened? [53:04]

6. The sermon calls believers to be influencers in the world. What is one specific way you can influence your community with the hope and freedom found in Christ this week? [42:58]

7. Reflect on the idea that your faith is your greatest wealth. How can this perspective change the way you approach material possessions and worldly success? [53:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Grace as Our Approach to God
God's grace is a profound gift that allows us to approach Him without fear or shame. This grace, extended through Jesus Christ, is not limited to our moments of worship but permeates every aspect of our lives. It invites us to participate in God's kingdom work, surrendering our anxieties and fears to His unyielding purposes. As we embrace this grace, we find a new lens through which to view our circumstances, recognizing that our hope is not in the transient things of this world but in the eternal victory of Christ over sin, Satan, and death. [00:00]

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to let go of fear and embrace God's grace more fully today?


Day 2: The Global Message of Christianity
Christianity's detachment from a specific place and its attachment to the person of Jesus Christ revolutionized spirituality. This revolutionary idea transformed the gospel into a global message, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. The gospel offers new life and freedom from sin and shame, inviting people from all walks of life to experience the transformative power of Jesus. As we delve into the book of 1 Peter, we are reminded that Christianity is not tied to a location but to a relationship with Christ, which unites believers across the world. [24:57]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you share the global message of the gospel with someone from a different cultural background this week?


Day 3: The Gospel as Our Worldview
The gospel provides a worldview that offers peace in unsettling times. It assures us that God's story and outcomes are never in doubt, allowing us to rest in His purposes and engage the world without fear. This worldview is not just a set of beliefs but a lens through which we interpret our lives and the world around us. As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, we are called to be influencers, embodying a living hope that transcends worldly constraints. [31:06]

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)

Reflection: What specific situation in your life can you view through the lens of the gospel today, and how might it change your perspective?


Day 4: Living Hope Through Resurrection
Our new birth through Jesus' resurrection frees us from earthly identities, empowering us to engage with culture without fear. We are called to be influencers, embodying a living hope that transcends worldly constraints. This hope is not based on our circumstances but on the reality of Christ's resurrection, which assures us of our secure inheritance in heaven. As we live out this hope, we become witnesses to the transformative power of the gospel in our lives and the world around us. [42:58]

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the living hope of Christ in your interactions with others today?


Day 5: Faith as Our Greatest Wealth
Our faith, more valuable than gold, is being refined and guarded by God's power, ensuring our ultimate salvation. This faith allows us to face trials with joy, knowing that our inheritance is secure in heaven. We are reminded that our joy in Christ is unthreatened by worldly circumstances, as we are witnesses to the reality of His resurrection. As we worship, we join with believers past and present, proclaiming the glory of our risen Lord. [53:04]

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What trial are you currently facing, and how can you find joy in it by trusting in the security of your faith and inheritance in Christ?

Quotes

"And yet we know, Lord, that as we sing of your holiness, we are fulfilling the reason for our birth, the reason for our creation. And we are doing it on the basis of your grace through the Lord Jesus, that we can come into your presence without fear, without shame, knowing that you are a holy and righteous God who has demonstrated and declares a deep love for us, your children." [00:18:36] (31 seconds)


"So as we seek in these moments to just rest in the knowledge of your grace, would you remind us that that grace extends into the rest of the week? That that gospel, your gospel, would be the means by which we filter our situation and the circumstances going on all around us. And in so doing, you would remind us that you have delivered us from all of our enemies." [00:20:17] (26 seconds)


"Throughout kind of the known world at the time. See, what had happened was that the church, the Christianity, was a religion that was attached to a person and not a place. And that was revolutionary for that time. That when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, he spoke through the disciples the gospel in a whole bunch of languages." [00:24:57] (26 seconds)


"Peter wants them all to know that what God is doing in their midst, in those moments, is what history has been leading to. Talking about this salvation in 1 Peter 1 verse 10, he says, Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. He's referring to all of those who came before speaking God's truth." [00:26:43] (29 seconds)


"See, what the gospel has done for us, this salvation has done for us, is it's done more than just given us the promise of heaven. It's given us more than just connection with other believers. It's given us more than just a reason beyond existing just in the flesh in our 75 years on the earth. It's given us a worldview." [00:29:49] (28 seconds)


"That we are not attached to the things of this world because we have been called to a greater identifier. Greater identifiers. He says you're exiles, strangers, sojourners, pilgrims over the whole earth speaking that gospel. And this is consistent of how God even moved in the Old Testament. And speaking about Abraham, the book of Hebrews says, By faith, Abraham, when he heard the call of God, was obedient to go to a place he did not know." [00:34:33] (33 seconds)


"That the work of God is not just in placing us in a space, but it's working in us to prepare us for why he has us there. That we're chosen by God for these times, but we're changed by God for this place. That what God is doing in your life, he is wanting to do, think about this, for greater Victoria in 2025." [00:37:44] (30 seconds)


"Peter is just trying to build them up, pump their tires. Don't you understand? You've been reborn. You're not defined by time, place, circumstances. You're not defined by gender, race, or socioeconomic status. You're free from those things. And you get to take that into the world that you live in. That, my friends, is how the worldview moves within us." [00:41:50] (28 seconds)


"To not get consumed with everything else that's going on and not fall into the traps of progressivism or protectionism, which are the predominant worldviews of our day. And in fact, we can see that because we look through the lens of the gospel. We can look and we can try to understand why people are reacting the way they're reacting." [00:42:46] (20 seconds)


"Christians are displaced yet deployed to influence culture. How? With a living hope. With a living hope. With being a people who say, I am not defined by the pollers. I'm neither right nor left. You know why? Jesus was neither right nor left. You're like, what? Jesus wasn't a capital C conservative? No. No. His economic agenda was very, very liberal, if you will." [00:46:51] (27 seconds)


"Our faith is being guarded by God's power through salvation that will be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials. That's the hope. That's what the world is looking for. That's what they're consumed with. How do I know I'm going to be safe? How do I know I'm going to be secure?" [00:50:50] (19 seconds)


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Transcript
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