Sermon Nuggets Mon Aug 3
Theme – Righteousness-A Better Way
Verses- 1 Pet 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (NIV)
Righteousness -A Better Way
After discussing marriage Peter continues on the important theme of unity and Harmony, not only in the home but among one another as believers in the Lord. This serves as a witness to the neighborhood and community around us. We as Christians live in a world that is filled with disharmony, selfishness, greed, pride, insults, lies, and attacks against others.
But there is a better way to live. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit changing our nature from self to righteousness and godliness.
Since the world is in conflict with the righteousness of Christ we will experience the temptations to do things like the world, as well as the pressures to follow our natural inclinations instead of the promptings that come from the Spirit of truth. Prepare yourselves by trusting Christ for Peter knows there will be more difficulties that you will be facing. Prepare yourself by getting into the Word, by praying, by being holy and living a God pleasing life.
Now if God's desire is harmony and unity what will Satan and his evil forces seek to do? They will seek to disrupt, cause divorce, cause church splits, cause disharmony, cause in fighting and cause hatred to develop. Does that happen among Christians? All the time! There is just above every imaginable reason to get angry and offended.
Judi came home from choir practice one Wednesday a few years ago and told me two people are arguing. I thought, “oh no.”
Then she said, "I heard them yelling at each other." I thought, “No, No please. Where are they?” I asked her.
She said, "In front of the bar I could hear them all they way from here.” Relief came over me. It's o.k. to have adverse publicity in front of a bar, I was afraid she was talking about two choir members going at it in the parking lot.
Have you ever heard it said that you can find more love and acceptance in bars than in many churches? Don't believe it! Watch the police reports and find out how many times they are called to bars for fighting and how many times they are called to churches for fighting. Yet people are quick to pick up on churches that are in conflict. Why? Because we claim to be followers of one who said that he wants us to live together in unity and harmony and we didn't live up to what our leaders want us to live.
In the next 5 days (this will spill over into Saturday) Peter lists for us important reminders that follow the path of righteousness. Vs 12 is the summary of his challenge, which is taken from Psalm 34- The prayers that are answered are by righteousness people. The New Testament fulfillment comes by trusting in Jesus for our salvation and living in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be attentive today how often unity with God and others will be challenged by things that are done and said. Center your peace on the Lord.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 4
Verse- 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Harmony & Humility
Harmony and Humility become the bookends of this verse. Since the theme of Peter is getting along in marriage, at work, with those in authority over us in government, it is also our goal in a church and among brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Harmony is best illustrated when people sing different parts in a duet, trio, quartet, or choir. The idea of harmony in music is complementary notes that sound good together. There is a blending together of voices, or instruments to give a pleasing sound.
Harmony in relationships among Christians is recognizing the same goal and going in the same direction which is to seek to glorify Jesus. Cooperation for the same purpose is what allows us a common mind.
What is the thing we should be single minded about at Stanchfield? It is to be God's people in our community that together we can carry out the mission-to glorify God outreach, discipleship, and worship. We do that in submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus and the obedience to his spirit. How we do that certainly can rise differences of opinions. At that point it isn’t that we agree but are not disagreeable to our main goal. Harmony comes by working at it and sorting out God’s will together.
But one thing we can be sure of, it is the will of God that we work together according to His truth. What gets in the way? Pride, differing opinions, selfishness, envy, various theologies? That is where humility comes in. It is not that we aren't unique or different, but we are giving up our ideas, rights and privileges to the Lord and to one another.
Harmony has to do with oneness of attitude. Harmony is created when the various parts of an organization are properly related to the other in pursuit of common goals. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit.” In the gospel of John Jesus prayed for His people that they might all be one; even as He and His Father are one. Over and over again Paul exhorts men to his unity and oneness. He prays for it. The church is not honoring or obeying the Lord if there are serious divisions in it.
We saw that Peter tells his readers they should be willing to suffer wrong if needs be in order that Christ's kingdom might be continued.
Humility means to be humble in spirit. As sinners we come humbly before our Lord in confession and repentance. We recognize it is not our own works of righteousness, wisdom or understanding whereby we are saved, but fall on the mercy of a righteous God to forgive us of our sins. It is He who lifts us up and makes us His children by the cleansing that comes from faith in the crucifixion of Jesus for our sins.
Many struggle with low self-esteem. Many feel they do not match up with others in gifts or talents and us that feeling of inferiority to be inactive in church. But the focus of our attention with both pride and low self esteem is still us. ME. Humility is an attitude that we get when we get an awareness of our Creator and our relationship to Him. That's humility. If we are doing what God has gifted us to do, even if it is in a leadership role, humility allows us to still do our best as a servant to the Lord and one another.
When I went to a Gaither concert recently there were gifted singers. At times each one was highlighted for their talent. The purpose of the concert was to worship the Lord with their various gifts. As some sang together balance came when each did his or her part. They did not shine out, but played supporting parts. Some never sang lead. Even the sound board person was added as part of humor to show the importance of his part that he played in making the sound as it should be. The first time I ever saw the sound person recognized during a concert, but how important each one is to the whole.
The Christian is humble because he is aware of his dependence on God and because he constantly remembers that of himself he can do nothing. It comes, also from the fact that the Christian has new standard of comparison. It may well be true that when he compares himself with his neighbor, he is as good as any man. But the Christians standard of comparison is Christ and when he compares himself with the sinless perfection of incarnate love divine, he has every reason to be humble.
The disciples were full of divisiveness and selfishness and ambition and rivalry. That's the effect that being a special disciple and an apostle can do. Each was a specially chosen one. They were glowing in their call and began to wonder which ones were the special of special. Jesus gave them a lesson the least one of you is the greatest. Such a one is most like a child, dependent, and desirous of trusting me for everything. The greatest is one willing to be a slave. Such a one is in a better position to achieve harmony together.
Ambition is at the heart of many leaders. The temptation is to use people to achieve one's own personal agenda. Jesus example shows we do not have to be successful from man’s view, only yielded to God.
Today note area when pride or low self esteem crop up in our mind. Let the feels of discontent help you evaluate your part in working together with others in harmony. Recall the reasons if they are of the Lord or not. Seek the righteousness laid down for us by our Lord.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Aug 5
Verse- 1 Pet 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Sympathy, Brotherly Love, Compassion
Righteousness is not just a position we have, clean before God, but a demonstration of Christ-likeness in the world around us.
These characteristics mentioned are not possible without relationships. We need other people to be affected by your sympathy, love, and compassion.
Sympathy means to feel with another. It is entering into their feeling world in joy and in sorrow. We send sympathy greetings when we hear of someone’s loss. Why? We are seeking to let someone know we care. We feel saddened with them in their sadness. We might join with others in celebration at a wedding or graduation. We want to help them in encouragement with their experience of joy. The closer we get to someone as a friend the deeper the feelings. Love does that.
When I serve as a chaplain I may not know the person I am visiting. I can sympathize in their loss only as I recall the pain of anyone losing a loved one. But each responds in different ways to loss. As a pastor, meeting in the home of folks I am close with, I understand better the dynamic of the relationships and life history and how it affects the family to see that person suffer or die. I sympathize in a much deeper level. Keep things surface and you will have little trouble getting along. Conversations that are limited to "Hi How are you"? allows little room for disagreement.
Wm. Barkey says "Sympathy and selfishness cannot co-exist. So long as the self is the most important thing in the world, there can be no such thing as sympathy. Sympathy depends on the willingness to forget self, to step outside self, and to identify oneself with the pains and sorrows of others. It is only when we die to self that we can live to others. Sympathy comes to the heart when Christ reigns within the heart.”
To be sympathetic with one another means that we must try to understand the world of others before we judge, or be critical. When one is going through difficult times, or problems do not be quick to condemn or criticize, but rather love them and sympathize.
We cannot feel with another very well without Brotherly Love. Let’s face it. Our relationships do not enter into a deep love for everyone, but certainly a human fondness and affection to those we know is a deeper level than just chit-chat. Remember the new commandment Jesus gave to his disciples. It is the command to love one another. “If a man says ‘I love God’ and hates his brother he is a liar."
I was talking to a pastor who experienced problems in his church because of the introduction of praise choruses in worship. People are not sympathizing and showing compassion to one another. They were gathering into groups to argue with one another according to their styles and tastes of songs. Some were threatening to leave a church because the leader used a guitar and not a piano. I have to wonder if they love the church and the brothers in it, or a form. We have problems if we let such issues get in the way of seeking to understand one another with whom we differ. People that love one another, and have the other’s interest and spiritual growth in mind seek harmony and humility.
I was so glad to hear some of our own older members say to me when we had some praise choruses, “Pastor I don't personally like it but if it does help some people to worship I'll support it.” Amen. That's maturity. That is of the Spirit. It is not of the Spirit to say if you don't do it my way that there is something wrong with you.
Compassion moves the attention to those who need encouragement and demonstration of love. Giving to the needy, helping the orphan, providing food to the hungry, giving a cup of cold water to those in need, visiting the sick, and helping those who need help are practical ways to show compassion. When someone loses a home, or job, or has an emergency compassion seeks to join with them in their need. That's what Jesus did.
As we prepare later this month for the great Stanchfield Give away, or hosting to those who are homeless as they live in the church for week, we can help with giving items away, or providing a meal. But we can also forget these acts are centered on lives in various stage of need. Too may people tell me they leave some churches feeling as if they are looked down upon and dirty. “Those people” is a term often used to separate us from them. Being compassionate is not just the activities we do, but the sharing of acceptance, especially among the brothers and sisters in the love that are one in the Spirit. If we treat others as family members, that is the image Peter presents as living righteously.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 6
Verses 1 Pet 3:9-10
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. (NIV)
Restraint
What is your response when someone insults you? What is your response when someone does something against you that is wrong? The natural instinct is to strike back. Retaliation is so easy and justified if we think we have been wrong. Yet Jesus taught non restraint from our feelings to give insult and speak negatively against another. Peter teaches not to return insult for insult which is contrary to feelings, but isn't that the essence of Christian conduct acting contrary to our old and fallen nature?
I read in one of the Daily Bread devotionals of a man who was a Christian and bought a farm, his neighbor said you have bought yourself a lawsuit. "What do you mean?" "Well, it's this way. Your fence is 10 feet too far over on my side and I'm taking the matter to court to prove it." "Oh, don't do that," said the new neighbor, "if the fence is in the wrong place, we'll move it to where you claim it should be."
The unbeliever was completely disarmed. "Do you really mean that?" "Well, of course I do. The Lord tells me to live peaceably with all men and I intend to follow His orders." The gruff man smiled and said "I'm sorry. Let’s just leave the fence where it is."
Do you ever think when you find a quarrel some individual to be willing to suffer loss for the sake of Christ if necessary? A loving attitude will bring God's approval.
Special attention is given to the place of the tongue. It is impossible to tame according to the book of James. He says, it is "a restless evil full of deadly poison.”
Jesus taught that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks Mat 12:34. The tongue gives expression of the inner man. to control the tongue one needs to have God change the inside. Deceitful speech is the means of lying. There are many ways to lie. The whole intend of deceitful speech is to confuse people into believing something that is not true. However one construes that.
Matt 12:36,37 "I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. "
My father used to enjoy writing poetry. He wrote one entitled Destroying Tongues
The wagging tongue is sharper far than any surgeons' knife,
Cutting deep in human hearts and killing precious life.
The gossip and the scandal that it tells of noble folk
Has wrecked fine lives of splendid worth, and many a home has broke.
"I saw so and so go out with someone else's wife."
And "Did you hear that poor dear tried hard to end her life?
Faster than the telegraph, or fire spreads the news,
That some poor soul, on tongues did roll, a martyr of wrong views.
The ringing of the telephone brings quick and hurried thrills.
As small and narrow neighbors all the rotten gossip spills.
"Say did you know that Mrs. B. Has to the gutter sunk."
"And that pious Richard V. came home gain dead drunk?"
Why not stop this monster that is smashing peoples lives.
By holding tongues and helping those who for life's comeback strives.
Then proud you'll feel and happy be to know you did your part,
To bring back peace and joy again and happy make some heart.
by Harold Cope
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Aug 7
Verses- 1 Pet 3:9,11-12 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Blessing and Peace
Not only does the Christian refuse to retaliate but he also takes this positive step of repaying insult with blessing. To call down God's blessing even upon his enemies is a true spiritually led individual. I haven't reached that point yet in my own life. There are times God reminds me how much He blesses me when I don’t deserve it. Then I know He isn’t done working with me yet.
I remember the controversy it brought in seminary when a classmate of mine posted the verses of praying for your enemies and doing good to those who persecute you. On his pre-computer blog, called the Wittenberg Door, he posted a prayer for the Viet Cong to bless them and make them successful. We were in the midst of the Viet Nam war at that time. It was offensive to most who read his remarks. His political views and appropriateness of the verses were debated.
It was then I realized the best prayer for blessing is to seek to see an enemy be saved, repent of their sin and become brothers and sisters in the Lord. I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said the best was to eliminate an enemy is make them a friend. The prayers for the enemies that are the best peace-seeking kind is when their spirit is renewed to its Creator. There is no other heart changing experience anyone can have.
But what if that person who insults, ridicules and does evil toward you is already a Christian? Of course, not everyone who calls himself a Christian is one. Not every church goer is a brother or sister in Christ.
But it is a fact that we sin. We do evil to one another. The answer from Peter’s letter is the same. Pray for them. Bless them so as to take away feels of retaliation and revenge. Realize God knows the whole story and is working on them as much as he is working on you. Give them to the Lord and seek reconciliation.
Peter knew the injustices his friends were suffering. He knew the persecutions were
unjustified. It was to only the loving acceptance of personal abuse is strong enough to overcome evil that prompts it. But this is the way that we will also inherit a blessing. the blessing that comes is from God if we act the way we are suppose to act and not act the way we feel like acting. God delights in bestowing his favor on all who gladly obey him, if not now then there is reward to come.
The man or woman who desires oneness and harmony desires to live according to God's perfect will. The passage Peter quoted was from Psalm 34. That was his Scriptures. It is also our Scriptures. David was fleeing Saul’s attacks as a background to his situation. He desire was not to fight King Saul but bless him and befriend him. He knew his heart was right before God. Even though Saul insulted him, sought to kill him, and persecute him, his desires was to respect his King as God’s anointed and not seek retaliation.
This is the reminder that the Lord is looking with favor upon those who seek to obey Him. God ears are attentive to their prayer. God listens. He listens to the prayers of the righteous.
David also knew that God actively pursues the welfare of the righteous his face is set against those who do evil. The person who has decided to do evil rather than pursue good has placed himself beyond the help of God.
Being a seeker of peace begins with the Lord. It is a spiritual decision that says, "Oh God, I have been one who has not sought oneness with brothers and sister in Christ. I have not watched my tongue, but said things that should not have been said. I need forgiveness. I need harmony. I need be sympathetic and seek to be loving and compassionate. Lord, I need to not put myself first, but You and Your glory and let you work in the lives of those around me as I pray for your work within my heart. Help me to watch my tongue, my attitude, my resentments and turn those over to blessings for the sake of peace.” Amen
Pastor Dale
