Renewed in Manner and Mission: Living 1 Peter's Call

Devotional

Day 1: Unity, Sympathy, Love, Tenderness, and Humility as Our Witness

The Christian community is called to be marked by unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind—not just for the sake of harmony within, but as a living witness to the world of the transforming power of Christ. This unity is not about sameness, but about orienting all our differences around Jesus, sharing in each other's burdens, loving as a true family, responding with gut-level tenderness, and seeking to understand rather than to prove ourselves right. When these qualities are lived out, they become the foundation of our manner and mission, showing the world a different way of being together that reflects the heart of Christ. [41:45]

1 Peter 3:8 (ESV)
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Reflection: Who in your church community do you find it hardest to feel unity or tenderness toward, and what is one practical step you can take this week to move toward them in love?

Day 2: Bless, Don’t Retaliate—The Call to Radical Grace

Followers of Jesus are called to refuse retaliation and instead respond to evil and reviling with blessing, settling scores with generosity and kindness rather than vengeance. This way of living is excruciatingly difficult yet utterly simple, flipping the script on evil and allowing the power of Christ’s love to conquer where revenge would only perpetuate harm. Blessing those who hurt us is not passive; it is an active, countercultural strategy that brings us into communion with God and opens us to receive His blessing as we become agents of His mercy in the world. [45:47]

1 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you were wronged or insulted—how could you actively bless that person this week instead of seeking payback or harboring resentment?

Day 3: The Good Life—Turning from Evil, Seeking Peace

The good life, according to God’s Word, is not found in comfort or the pursuit of the American dream, but in keeping our tongues from evil, turning away from wrongdoing, doing good, and seeking peace with determination. God’s eyes are on those who live this way, and He hears their prayers, especially the prayers of repentance and peace. This life of blessing, peacemaking, and integrity is not a suggestion but a calling, and it is through these practices that we experience God’s nearness and become a light to the world. [47:12]

Psalm 34:12-16 (ESV)
"What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth."

Reflection: In what area of your speech or actions do you most need to “turn away from evil and do good” this week, and what would pursuing peace look like in that specific situation?

Day 4: Zealous for Good—Mission in the Face of Suffering

Christians are called to be zealous for doing good, even when it leads to misunderstanding, opposition, or suffering. Our mission is not to win arguments or gain status, but to bring good to our neighbors and glory to God, participating in the flourishing of our communities and standing for justice, mercy, and truth. Even when our zeal for goodness brings trouble, we are not to be naive or fearful, but to persist in doing good, knowing that suffering for righteousness’ sake is a blessing and a powerful witness to the hope within us. [55:49]

1 Peter 3:13-14 (ESV)
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled."

Reflection: What is one good work or act of justice you feel called to pursue, even if it might cost you comfort or approval, and how can you take a step toward it this week?

Day 5: Hopeful Defense—Gentleness and Respect in Witness

Believers are to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within them, but to do so with gentleness and respect, maintaining a good conscience even when slandered or misunderstood. Our manner—marked by humility, kindness, and respect—must match our message, so that our defense of the faith is not about winning arguments but about displaying the beauty and importance of Jesus to the world. In this way, our lives and words together become a compelling witness, inviting others to see Christ through our hope-filled, gracious presence. [57:48]

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: When was the last time someone noticed your hope or your way of living—how can you prepare yourself to share the reason for your hope with gentleness and respect if asked this week?

Sermon Summary

Christianity in the West faces a public relations problem, not because of poor marketing, but because we have lost sight of the manner and mission to which we are called. Peter’s words remind us that our witness to the world is rooted in a radically different way of being—a community marked by unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, and humility. These are not just ideals for our life together, but the very foundation of our public witness. We are called to orient all our differences around the crucified and risen Christ, to share in each other’s burdens, and to live as a true family, bound not by blood but by new birth in Jesus.

This way of life is excruciatingly difficult and yet utterly simple: never retaliate, always bless. In a world that expects reciprocity and revenge, we are called to flip the script—to respond to evil with blessing, to settle scores with generosity, and to kneel before those who injure us. This is not passive resignation, but active, belligerent blessing. It is the way of Jesus, and it is the way we obtain blessing ourselves. The good life, as Peter describes, is not the American dream, but a life of seeking peace, resisting evil, and watching our tongues. God’s face is toward those who live this way, and he hears their prayers, especially when they are misunderstood or slandered.

Our disposition toward fellow believers, especially those who frustrate us, must be marked by unity on the essentials, humility, and a willingness to be gently corrected. Truth and cruelty cannot coexist; fighting for truth in a manner unworthy of Jesus is not truly fighting for truth at all. We must resist arrogance, embrace humility, and trust in the Spirit’s power to transform us and those around us.

Mission flows from this manner. Our purpose is not to win, but to bring good to our neighbor and glory to God. We are called to be zealous for good, even if it leads to suffering. Early Christians disrupted the social order by doing good, and we are called to do the same—participating in society, seeking justice, and always being ready to give a reason for our hope, with gentleness and respect. Our manner and mission are inseparable; the way we do good is itself a witness to the world. Love is the absolute power that transforms both us and our enemies, because God is love and has shown us the way in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Unity, Sympathy, Love, Tenderness, Humility: The Christian community is called to a radical unity that does not erase differences but orients them around Christ. Sympathy and brotherly love mean sharing in each other’s burdens as a true family, while tenderness and humility require a gut-level kindness and a posture of understanding rather than proving others wrong. This is the foundational “play” for our life together and our witness to the world. [39:03]
2. Bless, Don’t Retaliate: The call to never repay evil for evil but to bless those who wrong us is both simple and excruciating. Retaliation is the world’s way, but blessing in the face of injury is the way of Christ. This flips the script on evil and allows us to experience the power of Christ’s love conquering evil, both in us and through us. [44:56]
3. The Good Life Redefined: The good life is not found in comfort or the American dream, but in seeking peace, resisting evil, and blessing others, especially when it costs us. God’s favor rests on those who live this way, and he hears the prayers of those who turn from evil and pursue peace. Our daily choices in speech and action are the true markers of a life blessed by God. [47:12]
4. Humility Over Arrogance: Arrogance, especially when we think we are right, is a deep danger in the Christian life. True unity and mission require a willingness to be gently corrected and to correct others with kindness and humility. Every Christian will find themselves repenting of misunderstandings about God; humility is the only way to grow together in Christ. [52:18]
5. Mission as Goodness and Witness: Our mission is not to win arguments or gain power, but to bring good to our neighbor and glory to God. Zeal for goodness may lead to suffering, but it is the way of Jesus. We are called to participate in society, seek justice, and always be ready to give a reason for our hope—with gentleness and respect—so that our manner itself becomes a witness to the transforming love of God. [57:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:28] - Christianity’s Public Relations Problem
[36:17] - The Foundation: Peter’s Call to Renewal
[36:55] - Hearing and Meditating on God’s Word
[39:03] - The Huddle: Unity, Sympathy, Love, Tenderness, Humility
[41:08] - What These Qualities Really Mean
[42:33] - Tenderness and Humility Explained
[44:14] - The Play: Never Retaliate, Always Bless
[44:56] - Flipping the Script on Evil
[46:35] - The Good Life According to Peter
[47:12] - God’s Favor and the Practice of Blessing
[49:14] - Unity and Humility in the Church
[52:18] - The Danger of Arrogance
[53:49] - Mission: Zeal for Goodness
[55:49] - Suffering for Doing Good
[57:08] - Participating in Society for Good
[57:48] - Always Be Ready to Give a Reason for Hope
[59:11] - Manner and Mission United
[60:37] - Love as Absolute Power
[62:08] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 3:8-17 (ESV) —
> 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 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, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Observation Questions

What five qualities does Peter list as foundational for Christian community in verse 8?
According to Peter, what is the Christian response to being wronged or insulted? ([44:14])
What does Peter say is the result of blessing others instead of retaliating? ([44:56])
In verses 13-17, what does Peter say about suffering for doing good?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter connect unity, sympathy, love, tenderness, and humility to the church’s public witness? How might these qualities impact how non-Christians view the church? ([39:03])
The sermon says, “Retaliation makes great TV. It just makes bad Christianity.” Why is blessing those who wrong us so central to the way of Jesus? ([44:56])
How does Peter’s definition of “the good life” differ from what our culture often promotes? ([47:12])
The sermon warns that “truth and cruelty cannot exist together.” What does it look like to stand for truth with humility and kindness, especially when correcting or being corrected? ([52:18])

Application Questions

Think about a recent conflict or disagreement you’ve had, either inside or outside the church. Did you respond with blessing or with retaliation? What would it look like to “flip the script” and bless instead? ([44:56])
Of the five qualities Peter lists (unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tenderness, humility), which one is most challenging for you to practice? Why? What is one step you could take this week to grow in that area? ([39:03])
The sermon describes Christian community as a “family of new birth.” How does this change the way you view other believers, especially those you disagree with or find frustrating? ([41:45])
When was the last time you were misunderstood or slandered for your faith or for doing good? How did you respond? How might you respond differently in light of Peter’s instructions? ([47:12])
The sermon says our mission is not to “win” but to bring good to our neighbor and glory to God. Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on winning than on doing good? What would it look like to shift your focus? ([53:49])
Peter calls us to always be ready to give a reason for our hope, “with gentleness and respect.” Is there someone in your life who is curious about your faith? How can you prepare to share your hope with them in a gentle and respectful way? ([57:48])
The sermon ends with the idea that “love is the absolute power.” Who is someone in your life that is hard to love? What is one practical way you can show them Christ-like love this week? ([01:02:08])

Sermon Clips

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless because you're called to this. That you may obtain a blessing. And so he says, look, never retaliate and always bless. Refuse reciprocity. Bless belligerently. Pay back as a standard in this Roman world where it's just the way you're supposed to do things to gain honor. But we don't give anyone a taste of their own medicine. Revenge is a dish best unserved. Retaliation is lazy grief and it's kingdom short-sightedness. We don't do that. Look, retaliation makes great TV. It just makes bad Christianity. [00:44:23] (57 seconds) #BlessDontRetaliate

We respond with blessing. We do not strike back. We serve. We don't bless them out. We bless them. We settle scores with generosity. We don't take it lying down. We stand up and then kneel before the person who has injured us. We are doing evil against us. Y'all, this is absolutely excruciating and it's utterly simple. Absolutely excruciating and utterly simple. And it will take you a lifetime to lean into this play. [00:45:30] (47 seconds) #ServeWithGrace

Peter is saying that the good life, the good life is not the American dream. The good life, is having your head on a swivel to bless, especially when you're cursed, to resist evil, to watch your tongue, to give good when you get bad, to look for peace and then go for it. And he's not offering a suggestion here. He's saying that the practice of retaliatory evil, the practice of your tongue reviling, the practice of our deceit, God's face is against that. [00:47:29] (42 seconds) #TheGoodLifeInChrist

Your faith must pour out toward a unity with your fellow believers on the essential things, which includes the manner and the mission of Jesus. I said the manner, not just the truth claims. Because fighting for truth in a manner unworthy of Jesus is not fighting for truth. Truth and cruelty cannot exist together. [00:49:31] (32 seconds) #SpeakUnityNotDivision

Every theological error is not a heresy. You will repent, no matter what you believe, when you get to glory, you will repent of something that you misunderstood about God. Or He's not even God. He's just a manageable deity. You can hang up in your whatever room. I am never more brash when I think I'm right. So we have to embrace, gently correcting and being gently corrected with kindness and tender guttedness with a 50-gallon drum of humility. [00:52:09] (43 seconds) #GoodnessAndGlory

They're in the same play every time because their purpose isn't to win. It's to bring good to their neighbor and glory to their God. Good to their neighbor and glory to their God. That's the mission. [00:54:14] (19 seconds) #FaithfulInTrouble

And so we do these good things because goodness is a gateway drug to God, that they may see him. I mean, a good drug. That's what we're doing. That's why he says, always be prepared. It's for anyone who asks for the reason that the hope that is within you. [00:57:29] (21 seconds) #MannerAndMission

We do not baptize evil in the name of Jesus, because his manner, his message is always before us. And this brings glory to Jesus and a witness to the world. [00:59:10] (15 seconds) #LoveTransformsAll

It's better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will. He's not like, go out and try to suffer. Don't go out and just get in trouble. Go out and do good, and that would be good trouble. [00:59:25] (17 seconds)

Love is the absolute power. And that is true, because God is love, and he sent his son to show us this way, not as just an example, but as a way to show us that to transform us by that love, with his power and forgiveness, that we might love in the same vein. [01:02:11] (23 seconds)

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