Sermon Tone Analysis

Studying through 1 Peter.

Read the book, not books about the book.

Background: Look in the book to see the following.

(If you cannot find it in the book itself, use a study bible or Bible Dictionary)

Who did the Spirit use to write the book?

To whom were they writing?

When?

What were the circumstances?

Outline: Read it again, and make a general outline:

What are the major sections of the book?

What is the theme of those sections?

Key Words: Read the book and look for words that are used repeatedly.

This will give the major theme of the book.

Pay attention to nouns and verbs.

Read a section.

Ask questions while you read: who is doing what, to/for whom, where, why, how

Add details to your outline.

Nouns and Verbs will generally be main points

Connectors and Prepositions: in, to, for, in order, that, because, therefore; These will show support for the main points

Define important Words/Concepts

Are there cross-references?

Always be looking for application.

When studying God's Word, Context is everything.

We need to read things in context, or we can get really wrong messages.

Like the man who just opened his bible randomly to read,

He didn't really see much application there for himself, so he opened to another passage and read,

Context may be important...

So let's remember the context of where we are in our study of 1 Peter.

We read 1 Peter.

We considered the historic context.

Peter wrote this to believers who were scattered throughout what is modern day Turkey.

They were likely beginning to face persecution, but as you go through the book, we see the contexts of the trials they were facing...

They were facing the trials of sin, wanting to do things, and being pressured to do things by their friends and neighbors that they knew God says are wrong.

Peter encouraged them to submit to rulers, and masters.

He encouraged them to do what was right, and to show proper honor.

Do we ever face the temptation to not show honor to governing officials?

Do we ever face the temptation to not give proper honor and respect to those in authority over us at home, at school, or in the workplace?

Peter encouraged wives and husbands.

Do we ever face trials in our marriages?

Peter then talks about not repaying evil for evil.

Do we face temptations to do unto others as has been done unto us, instead of doing unto others as we would have done unto us?

And then in 1 Peter 4, Peter comes back to suffering as we give up our old lifestyle habits, our wicked desires: debauchery, lust, drunkeness, orgies, carousing and idolatry.

Do we face trials with addictions, sexual sin, putting things before God?

Then, after all these things, Peter talks about suffering because of the name of Christ.

When Peter wrote to these Christians who were facing trials of many kinds, I hope you see that they were facing the same kinds of trials we face.

Trials primarily within with sin, in how we respect authority, how we handle our marriages, how we handle conflict, how we handle our old sinful desires, and if we were to face trials for the name of Christ.

This is REAL life.

It is full of trials of many kinds; both then, and today.

Peter knew the trials they faced, and wanted to encourage them.

We face the same trials, and can find real encouragement for what we face, in this reminder that Peter wrote, which shows us the Gospel for REAL Life.

That is the book we are studying.

Peter let us know who this was for, and then opened with His best encouragement!

You were chosen!

- 1 Peter 1:2

1 Peter 1:2.

God knowing you fully before the creation of the world, chose you anyway.

He worked in you to save you from your sin, all the bad things you desire and do, by the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is working in you to renew your mind that you will obey Jesus, and be forgiven and made clean daily by the sprinkling of His blood!

God has done this.

You were given NEW Birth! - 1 Peter 1:3-12

God gave us a new spiritual birth.

When we were dead in our sins, separated from God, He loved us and Jesus died for us!

This was not because we did anything to deserve it.

It was because of His mercy!

The new birth gives us a living, growing hope, a confident expectation that God is working in us, and will give us that New Inheritance he promised us.

Which He is keeping for us!

He does allow us to go through trials, but that is so that our faith will be shown to be real, genuine faith.

And, so that He can give us praise and honor when Jesus takes us to be with Him.

The fact that God would do all of this for us, is a mystery.

It was something God spoke of to the prophets, but they did not understand it fully, nor know the time God would finally work His plan out an send Jesus.

But it was all being done for us!

Wow!

God doesn't save angels who rebelled, but He loves and saves us.

People.

Descendants of Adam and Eve.

Wow! What a mystery that He would love us so, that He would die for us!

III.

Call to Obey as Children, 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

After rejoicing in all God has done: choosing us before the creation of the world; Sending Jesus to die in our place; Raising Jesus from the dead; Sending the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to believe; Giving us who believe new, spiritual birth--Being made His children, Then Peter tells us that we should, as children, do certain things.

Last week we saw that Peter said,

A. Fix Your Hope

Fix your hope, completely on Jesus, preparing our minds for action and keeping sober in spirit.

So in context, knowing that this is how the Good news of the Gospel is for REAL Life, this is the first command Peter gives.

After looking at all God has done for us in Jesus, and what He has in store for us in Jesus, we need to fix our hope on His grace which is coming.

In this world, we can get so distracted, putting our hope in the government to care for us, our jobs, or wisdom, our hard work.

Government, jobs, wisdom, and hard work are good things.

However, we cannot put our hope and trust in them.

REAL life will happen.

When everything else WILL fail, Hope in Jesus, and what He is bringing will NEVER fail.

So, be aware.

Be on guard.

Keep your head in all situations, and fix your hope on Jesus.

The second command is:

B. Be Holy

Be Holy in all you do, as obedient children, being like 'Daddy'

Our old way of life, the world around us, our old desires fight against us and say be like everyone around us.

But we need to be distinct.

We need to be like our Father who loves us and has done so much for us, and has so much in store for us.

This follows very closely with the next command, which we are looking at more closely today.

We find it in 1 Peter 1:17-21, which though translated into 2 or 3 sentences to make it more acceptable English translations, was really just one sentence in the original Greek when written.