Embracing Our Responsibilities as Beacons of Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in the Church

In a world that is increasingly divided, the church is called to be a beacon of unity. This unity is not about agreeing on every single issue but about rallying around the core truths of the Gospel. True unity reflects God's love and grace, making the church a light in a fractured society. The early church, under the oppressive rule of Emperor Nero, faced far greater challenges than we do today, yet they were called to maintain unity. This unity is essential for reflecting God's love and grace to the world. It is a responsibility that goes beyond our natural inclinations and requires us to be committed to the core truths of the Gospel. [25:09]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Think of a recent disagreement you had with a fellow believer. How can you focus on the core truths of the Gospel to foster unity in that relationship?

Day 2: Bless, Not Curse

One of the most challenging aspects of our faith is to bless those who persecute us. Our natural inclination is to seek revenge or harbor bitterness, but we are called to reflect Jesus' love and grace even in the face of injustice. This is not about lying or ignoring the truth but about responding with a heart rooted in God's love. When we are wronged, our response should be driven by our secure identity in Jesus, allowing us to break the cycle of retaliation and division. [41:17]

Romans 12:14-16 (ESV): "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight."

Reflection: Think of someone who has wronged you recently. How can you bless them today, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus?

Day 3: Share the Hope in Christ

Our lives should be so saturated with the hope and love of Jesus that it makes people curious. This doesn't mean forcing our beliefs on others but living in such a way that our hope is evident, inviting others to ask about the source of our peace and joy. Our identity and security are found in Christ alone, and this should be evident in how we live our lives. When we are slandered or wronged, our response should not be driven by a need for human approval but by our secure identity in Jesus. [03:43]

1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

Reflection: Think of a way you can live out your hope in Christ today that might make someone curious about your faith. How can you be prepared to share the reason for your hope?

Day 4: Operate from a Place of Security in Christ

Our identity and security are found in Christ alone. When we are slandered or wronged, our response should not be driven by a need for human approval but by our secure identity in Jesus. This allows us to respond with grace and love, breaking the cycle of retaliation and division. Jesus' example on the cross shows us how to respond to false accusations and slander with grace and love. [47:30]

Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt the need for human approval. How can you shift your focus to your secure identity in Christ and respond with grace and love?

Day 5: Embrace Responsibility as an Opportunity

Responsibility in Christ is not a burden but an opportunity to reflect God's glory and love. Whether it's in our personal lives, our church, or our society, embracing our responsibilities allows us to grow in faith and become beacons of hope and unity. By embracing these responsibilities, we not only grow in our faith but also become beacons of hope and unity in a divided society. [01:08:31]

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Reflection: Identify one responsibility you have been avoiding. How can you see it as an opportunity to reflect God's glory and love today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Risen Church. Today, we find ourselves in a moment of heightened tension and division, especially in light of recent events like the assassination attempt on former President Trump. This incident is a stark reminder of the deep-seated anger and frustration in our society. As followers of Jesus, we must ask ourselves how we should respond to such evil and chaos. Our natural impulses may lead us to anger and fear, but we are called to a higher standard rooted in God's Word.

We are currently studying the book of 1 Peter, which offers profound insights into how we should live in a divided and hostile world. Peter wrote to a first-century church under the oppressive rule of Emperor Nero, a situation far more severe than our own. Yet, his message remains relevant: we have responsibilities as Christians that go beyond our natural inclinations.

First, we are responsible for unity in the church. In a world that values personal autonomy and independence, the idea of responsibility is often overlooked. However, true unity in the church is essential for reflecting God's love and grace to the world. This unity is not just about agreeing on everything but rallying around the core truths of the Gospel.

Second, we are responsible to bless, not curse. This is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of our faith. When we are wronged, our natural inclination is to seek revenge or harbor bitterness. But Peter calls us to bless those who persecute us, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus even in the face of injustice.

Finally, we are responsible to share the hope we have in Christ. Our lives should be so saturated with the hope and love of Jesus that it makes people curious. This doesn't mean we force our beliefs on others but live in such a way that our hope is evident, inviting others to ask about the source of our peace and joy.

In summary, our responsibilities as Christians are not burdens but opportunities to reflect God's glory and love in a broken world. By embracing these responsibilities, we not only grow in our faith but also become beacons of hope and unity in a divided society.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Responsibility for Unity in the Church: Unity in the church is crucial, especially in a divided world. This unity is not about agreeing on every issue but rallying around the core truths of the Gospel. True unity reflects God's love and grace, making the church a beacon of hope in a fractured society. [25:09]
2. Bless, Not Curse: One of the most challenging aspects of our faith is to bless those who persecute us. Our natural inclination is to seek revenge or harbor bitterness, but we are called to reflect Jesus' love and grace even in the face of injustice. This is not about lying or ignoring the truth but about responding with a heart rooted in God's love. [41:17]
3. Share the Hope in Christ: Our lives should be so saturated with the hope and love of Jesus that it makes people curious. This doesn't mean forcing our beliefs on others but living in such a way that our hope is evident, inviting others to ask about the source of our peace and joy. [03:43]
4. Operate from a Place of Security in Christ: Our identity and security are found in Christ alone. When we are slandered or wronged, our response should not be driven by a need for human approval but by our secure identity in Jesus. This allows us to respond with grace and love, breaking the cycle of retaliation and division. [47:30]
5. Embrace Responsibility as an Opportunity: Responsibility in Christ is not a burden but an opportunity to reflect God's glory and love. Whether it's in our personal lives, our church, or our society, embracing our responsibilities allows us to grow in faith and become beacons of hope and unity. [01:08:31]
### [68:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Current Events and Societal Tensions
[03:24] - Anger and Frustration in a Fallen World
[05:06] - Rooting Our Responses in God's Word
[06:41] - Introduction to 1 Peter
[08:11] - The Importance of Responsibility
[09:54] - Societal Drift from Responsibility
[11:28] - Responsibility in Church Life
[12:54] - The Value of Commitment
[14:46] - Higher Standard of Responsibility in Christ
[16:08] - Three Responsibilities in Christ
[17:33] - The Power of Responsibility
[18:59] - Jordan Peterson on Responsibility
[20:36] - Responding to the Gospel
[22:07] - Addressing Specific Groups in 1 Peter
[23:39] - Identity in Christ
[25:09] - Responsibility for Unity in the Church
[26:44] - Unity in the True Church
[28:14] - Top Tier Unifiers in the Church
[29:47] - The Apostles' Creed
[31:10] - The Universal Church
[32:57] - The Gospel Message
[34:03] - Local and Universal Gospel Family
[35:12] - Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Issues
[35:42] - The Danger of Divisiveness
[36:20] - Brotherly Love and Humility
[37:22] - The Importance of Unity
[38:33] - God's View on Divisiveness
[39:16] - Necessary Factions for Truth
[39:49] - Unity in the Church
[41:17] - Responsibility to Bless, Not Curse
[42:50] - Practicing the Way of Jesus
[43:51] - The Acid Test of Spiritual Formation
[45:22] - The Real World vs. The Fallen World
[46:14] - The Trap of Retaliation
[47:30] - Security in Christ
[48:14] - Jesus' Example on the Cross
[48:53] - Slander and Lies in the Early Church
[50:04] - Responding to False Accusations
[50:47] - The Deeper Battle
[51:19] - Romans 12: Love and Blessing
[52:21] - Humility and Honor
[52:52] - God's Vengeance
[53:31] - Forgiveness and Justice
[54:03] - Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation
[55:06] - Intentionality in Blessing
[55:37] - Turning Away from Evil
[56:10] - The Danger of Perpetuating Evil
[56:44] - Quick to Forgive
[57:16] - Microaggressions and Insecurity
[57:49] - The Abundant Life in Christ
[58:23] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[58:56] - The Beauty of Grace
[59:27] - Zealous for Good
[59:56] - A Story of Zealous Goodness
[60:59] - Living from a Place of Security
[61:36] - God's Pleasure in Our Obedience
[62:08] - Sharing the Gospel
[62:38] - Beholding God's Pleasure
[63:11] - Responsibility to Share Hope in Christ
[63:43] - Always Prepared to Share
[64:13] - Living Out Loud with Hope
[64:44] - The False Gospel of Works Righteousness
[65:18] - Creating Curiosity Through Hope
[65:51] - Bringing Up Jesus in Conversation
[66:25] - Living Lives Saturated in Hope
[66:57] - Honoring Christ as Holy
[67:27] - Gentleness and Respect
[67:59] - Responsibility as an Opportunity
[68:31] - Rest in Christ
[69:03] - Overcoming Overwhelm
[69:33] - Trusting God in Difficult Circumstances
[70:05] - God's Bigger Plan
[70:39] - Trusting and Following God
[71:00] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the specific responsibilities Peter outlines for Christians in 1 Peter 3:8-17?
According to the sermon, what is the significance of unity in the church, and how does it reflect God's love and grace? [25:09]
How does Peter suggest Christians should respond to evil and reviling, and what is the intended outcome of such a response? [41:17]
What does it mean to be "zealous for what is good," and how does this concept play out in practical terms according to the sermon? [59:27]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter emphasize the importance of unity in the church, and how does this unity serve as a witness to the world? [25:09]
How does the call to bless those who persecute us challenge our natural inclinations, and what does this reveal about the nature of Christian love? [41:17]
In what ways does living a life saturated with hope in Christ create curiosity among non-believers, and how should Christians be prepared to respond? [03:43]
How does operating from a place of security in Christ enable Christians to break the cycle of retaliation and division? [47:30]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you experienced division or conflict within the church. How did you respond, and how might you apply Peter's call for unity in a similar future situation? [25:09]
Think of a time when you were wronged or persecuted. How did you respond, and how can you practice blessing instead of cursing in such situations moving forward? [41:17]
Identify one person in your life who is curious about your faith. How can you live in such a way that your hope in Christ becomes evident to them, and what steps can you take to be prepared to share the reason for your hope? [03:43]
Consider an area of your life where you feel insecure or prone to retaliation. How can you root your identity and security more deeply in Christ to respond with grace and love? [47:30]
How can you embrace your responsibilities as a Christian not as burdens but as opportunities to reflect God's glory and love? Think of one specific responsibility you can focus on this week and share your plan with the group. [01:08:31]
Reflect on the concept of being "zealous for what is good." What practical steps can you take this week to actively seek out opportunities to bless others and do good? [59:27]
How can you cultivate a habit of quick forgiveness and intentional blessing in your daily interactions, especially in small, everyday situations? Share a specific example of how you plan to do this. [57:16]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Something has gone wrong. Sin has entered this world. And in so many ways, I think that type of anger in so many ways is warranted. But I think it's also really important to temper that anger with wisdom, like to take it to God and to ask him how he was. What is our responsibility in this moment? What is our, as the grace-bought, spirit-filled believers, sons and daughters of the Most High King, Christians, the church, what's our responsibility in this type of environment?" [03:24] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "In Christ, not only have you been given the ability to respond with grace in this world, but also the responsibility to do so. If you've experienced grace, if you've been given the ability to respond with grace in this world, if you are rooted in this grace of God, if you've been saved, redeemed, filled with His Spirit, grace bought, if you have been identified as a beloved child of the Most High King, you have not only been given the ability to respond to the fallenness and graceless and hopeless nature of this world, but you've also been given the responsibility to do so." [16:08] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "All the truly good things in life, though. I mean the really good stuff. The rich, God-glorifying, meaningful, purpose-filled stuff, man. That God's greatest blessings to his people often, if not always, flow through very real commitment and the faithful acceptance on our end of responsibility. Think about this. Marriage, family, church. Friendships, even careers. All of these things come with so much meaning and significance because of the commitments they carry and the roots that they establish in your heart and in society." [12:54] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you had to summarize Christ-like character in one word, there would be no competition. Love. Love is the acid test of spiritual formation. The single most important question is, are we becoming more loving? Not, are we becoming more biblically educated or practicing more spiritual disciplines or more involved in church? Those are all good things. but not the most important thing. If you want to chart your progress on the spirituality journey, test the quality of your closest relationships, namely, by love and the fruit of the Spirit." [43:51] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus didn't come to offer you an annoyed life of irritation and entitlement. He came to bring us life more abundant. To live in the fruit of the Spirit, right? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And in this society, man, those things are hard! You all need to understand there's a mirror in this congregation. I'm preaching right to it. None of us have arrived here. Right? But that's the beauty of the Gospel. That's the beauty of grace." [58:23] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "You are responsible for unity in the church. You, you are responsible for unity in the church. So am I as the pastor. But it's not just me. It's all of us. And so, in a world full of division and retaliation and cancellation and argumentative self-promotion, this is the society we're swimming in. But you, church, are called to unity. And listen, in a divided and polarized nation, it's all of us. And so, in a world full of division and it needs a unified church." [25:09] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You are responsible to bless, not curse. So, you are responsible to bless, not curse. And again, I know how this sounds, right? Like, I know how this sounds. You're responsible to bless, not curse. I mean, you know, but what does it really mean? Well, in the Greek, again, the original Greek, what it really means is the exact same thing, right? Like, you can't get around this. No matter how much we want to, no matter how much this grates on our personal opinions about how life should operate and what they deserve, and they need to get what they deserve because they hurt me or they hurt someone close to me, and I gotta, oh, over and over again, repay evil, do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling. But on the contrary, bless, bless, not curse, that's tough." [41:17] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You are responsible to share hope in Christ. So, continuing verse 14 says, Therefore be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. Be fixated on him, enamored by him. And then, now, always, say always, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that's in you. But give them a reason. Live in such a way that you're like that construction worker just waiting for an opportunity to talk about Jesus." [01:03:11] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When you are hurt, wounded, and treated unjustly, as we all are, are you finding yourself increasingly able to emotionally release the bitterness, to absorb the pain and not give it back in kind? To pray for and even bless those who curse you? If not, then no matter how well you know the Bible, how many books you read, how many insights you amass, or how many practices you build into your rule of life, you're not on track. Because the telos, or the end, ultimate end of the spiritual journey, the point is to become like God, and God is love." [44:43] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So, I want you to think about it, though. All the truly good things in life, though. I mean the really good stuff. The rich, God-glorifying, meaningful, purpose-filled stuff, man. That God's greatest blessings to his people often, if not always, flow through very real commitment and the faithful acceptance on our end of responsibility. Think about this. Marriage, family, church. Friendships, even careers. All of these things come with so much meaning and significance because of the commitments they carry and the roots that they establish in your heart and in society." [12:54] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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