Sermon Tone Analysis

*SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD*

October 2, 2005

1 Peter 3:8-12

 

Peter knew that the believers would soon face persecution so he reminded them that they would need unity, and love and support from one another.

Peter also assured the believers that no matter what sufferings they might have to face, God would vindicate them and punish their enemies.

So, let’s read this passage together:* **/“/*/Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.

Don't repay evil for evil.

Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you.

Instead, pay them back with a blessing.

That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.

For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.

Turn away from evil and do good.

Work hard at living in peace with others.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns/ /his face against those who do evil."/

In verse 8, Peter says:* /“/*/Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.”/

In saying /finally,/ Peter was obviously not concluding the epistle; rather, he was summing up a series of exhortations concerning submission (which began in 2:18).

After speaking to slaves (2:18-25), wives (3:1-6), and husbands (3:7), Peter next turned back to /all of you,/ referring to his audience of all believers (1:1-2; 2:11).

Peter listed five building blocks for Christians who lived in this pagan culture.

These blocks will build relationships among any group of believers.

First: Live in harmony/,/ or “be of one mind”, or"have unity of spirit," refers to working together for the common goal of spreading the gospel, having common attitudes and ideas.

While there were many types of Christians from many types of backgrounds in Peter's audience, Peter knew that harmony would be possible.

Just as different notes form chords to make beautiful harmonies, so different people can live and work together for God.

If we read Romans 12:16, we will see that Peter and Paul are in clear agreement.

The New Living translation says it this way/: “Live in harmony with each other.

Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people.

And don't think you know it all!/

And Romans 15:5:/ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other/.;

Philippians 1:27 and 2:2 continue with this theme of unity.

I won’t read them now, but you can look them up for yourselves later if you wish.

In Jesus final prayer for all believers in John 17:20-26, He asks the Father to make us one As They are one, so that the world may believe He was sent.

Jesus knew the power of oneness.

He wanted us to be one flock and He the One Shepherd  

/Secondly, he wants us to be sympathetic./

That means being willing to share in others' needs and being responsive to their feelings, having sensitivity toward others.

The believers to whom Peter wrote, although scattered across the world and unknown personally to one another, lived and worked in "sympathy"; that is, they understood and appreciated one another because of their mutual relationship with Jesus Christ.

Again, Peter affirms Paul’s message in Romans 12:15: /When others are happy, be happy with them.

If they are sad, share their sorrow./ 1 Corinthians 12:26; Hebrews 4:15 affirm this teaching that we are to be full of sympathy as well as unity.

Third, love as brothers means loving fellow      Christians (brothers and sisters in Christ).

The Greek word is philadelphos, referring not only to family love, but to the special love that should draw all Christians together.

One of the things that attracted Marcy and I to this body is the love you obviously had for each other.

We thank God each day for showing us that same kind of love.

You’ve made it pretty easy for us to respond in the same way because you guys are a pretty easy bunch to love.

When iron is rubbed against a magnet it becomes magnetic.

Just so, love is caught, not taught.

One heart burning with love sets another on fire.

The church was built on love; it proves what love can do.

/Frank C. Laubach/

 

4.

/Be compassionate (the NLT says “be tender-hearted while the NKJ uses “compassion” instead of sympathy and tender-hearted),/ like "sympathy" (above), means to be conscious of others' needs but includes a drive to alleviate the need in some way.

The Greek word eusplagchnos comes from splagchna, literally the internal organs, and refers to one's deepest feelings.

Believers ought to be deeply touched and moved by the hurts, pain, needs, and joys of fellow believers and then act to help them.

Is not his what Debbie and Paul do through Divorce Care?

Isn’t this what you ladies do with your friends and neighbors.

You show the compassion of Christ, which shows you are living what you believe.

We should be affectionate and sensitive, quick to give emotional support.

/5.   //Besides being unified, sympathetic, compassionate, and loving we are to be Humble.

/ This means having an honest estimate of ourselves before God.

Humility does not negate our worth or abilities, nor does it inflate them.

Instead, a humble Christian can honestly view his or her characteristics and abilities with thankfulness to God.

Do not think of yourselves more highly than you should, says Romans 12:3.

Have you ever noticed that the Scripture never says, “do not think so lowly of yourself”?

It warns us of our tendency toward arrogance, because that is a common problem of mankind.

Matthew 11:29 says, /“Take my yoke upon you.

Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”/

Ephesians 4:2 adds, /“Be humble and gentle.

Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.”

/Jesus is our example of humility.

In summary, if you remember these five things – love, humility, sympathy, and compassion are the building blocks of the church – not the building – the church – us – our relationship to one another*.

We are the church, the body of Christ!* Peter developed the qualities of compassion and humility the hard way.

In his early days with Christ, these attitudes did not come naturally to his impulsive, strong-willed personality Remember Mark 8:31-33:* **/“/*/Then Jesus began to tell them that he, the Son of Man, would suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.

He would be killed, and three days later he would rise again.

As He talked about this openly with His disciples, Peter took him aside and told Him He shouldn't say things like that.

Jesus turned and looked at His disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, "Get away from me, Satan!

You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's.";/  and John 13:6-9:* **/“/*/When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, why are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You don't understand now why I am doing it; someday you will."

"No," Peter protested, "you will never wash my feet!" Jesus replied, "But if I don't wash you, you won't belong to me." Simon Peter exclaimed, "Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"/

These are examples of Peter's blustering.

You might say that Peter suffered from chronic “foot-in-mouth disease”.

But the Holy Spirit changed Peter, molding his strong personality to God's use and teaching him compassion and humility.

God also chose Peter and others to show what a difference true faith makes in the real world.

So here the once rash, belligerent, domineering, and arrogant Peter bears witness to a life of harmony, compassion, love, and humility.

What a difference God makes!

Amen!

You, too, are God's witness to skeptical people.

Let your life be evidence of God's truth.

Verse* *3:9 says/:* *//”Don't repay evil for evil.

Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you.

Instead, pay them back with a blessing.

That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.”/

* *So,* *after describing how Christians should act toward one another, Peter described how they should act toward those in the pagan culture—a culture that would soon (if it hadn't already) become very hostile toward them.

While it would be most natural to repay evil with evil and to return insult with insul/t,/ Jesus had taught and exemplified otherwise and said, in Matthew 5:39 and 44,* * /“But I say, don't resist an evil person!

If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too.*

*But I say, love your enemies!

Pray for those who persecute you!”/

When Jesus was abused, he did not return abuse, so believers should follow his example of not repaying abuse for abuse or insult for insult.

Peter had already encouraged his readers to follow Christ's example when he said in 1 Peter 2:21:* */“This suffering is all part of what God has called you to.

Christ, who suffered for you, is your example.

Follow in his steps.”

/Believers were not to retaliate, but were to do good, even to those who harmed them.

Proverbs 25:22 says we are to heap coals of fire on the heads of our enemies.