Sermon Tone Analysis

God Expects Us To Serve (4:7-9)

In the Greek is at hand (ēggiken) is almost ‘has arrived’: cf.

esp.

Mk. 1:15; Rom.

13:12.

The conviction expressed was universal in the primitive Church (e.g.

Rom.

13:12: ‘the night is far gone, the day is at hand’; 1 Cor.

7:29: ‘the appointed time has grown very short’; Heb.

10:25: ‘you see the day drawing near’; 1 Jn.

2:18: ‘it is the last hour’), but is particularly intense and vivid in 1 Peter (1:4 f.; 8–12.; 20; 4:17).

The consummation is described as the end of all things because, according to primitive Christian thinking, history would reach its climax and heaven and earth as we know them would pass away.

The prospect has its terrifying aspect, but is full of exciting hope for God’s elect.

Peter’s line of thought here is that the persecution afflicting the church should be viewed as one sign of the world’s imminent end.

Thus, he injects a note of urgency into Christian living.

If the coming of Jesus is near, then Christians must be ready for him.

Those who live lives inconsistent with their faith will experience the coming of Jesus as a dreadful shock (see 1 Thess 5:1–11).

A. “be serious” “be watchful” “be prayerful” (v.7)

Be of a sound mind, sobriety of mind is in view here.

To think and live wisely with self-control over one’s passions and desires, to be reasonable and sensible; don’t let thoughts run in every direction and don’t let your heart wonder, clear minded.

The nearness of the end had caused some to lose their heads and act irrationally, like doing nothing and waiting for the Lord.

It should provoke believers to serve and depend on Him, and this dependence is manifested in “right” praying.

Be of a sound mind, sobriety of mind is in view here.

To think and live wisely

If we are sober-minded, we will “watch unto prayer.”

If our prayer life is confused, it is because the mind is confused.

Dr. Kenneth Wuest, in his translation, shows the important relationship between the two: “Be calm and collected in spirit with a view to giving yourself to prayer.”

The word “watch” carries with it the idea of alertness and self-control.

It is the opposite of being drunk or asleep ().

This admonition had special meaning to Peter, because he went to sleep when he should have been “watching unto prayer” ().

You find the phrase “watch and pray” often in the Authorized Version of the New Testament (; ; ; ).

It simply means to “be alert in our praying, to be controlled.”

There is no place in the Christian life for lazy, listless routine praying.

We must have an alert attitude and be on guard, just like the workers in Nehemiah’s day ().

An expectant attitude toward Christ’s return involves a serious, balanced mind and an alert, awake prayer life.

The test of our commitment to the doctrine of Christ’s return is not our ability to draw charts or discern signs, but our thinking and praying.

If our thinking and praying are right, our living should be right.

B. Love and be Lovable (v.8)

The Greek word here translated “fervent” means literally “stretched out.”

The idea is that of a love that is extended to reach the one loved.

It is the act of one who, instead of living a self-centered life, gives of himself to others.

The word means here, “intent, earnest, assiduous.”

“Have among yourselves” is literally “having (love) toward one another.”

The Greek word here translated “fervent” means literally “stretched out.”

The idea is that of a love that is extended to reach the one loved.

It is the act of one who, instead of living a self-centered life, gives of himself to others.

The word means here, “intent, earnest, assiduous.”

“Have among yourselves” is literally “having (love) toward one another.”

The words “above all” are more properly “before all in order of importance.”

That is, love is a prerequisite to all proper exercises of Christian duty.

Courtesy without love is a cold thing.

Generosity without love is a harsh thing.

Love makes all the other virtues what they should be.

The reason for this exhortation to love one another is that love covers a multitude of sins.

That is, when one Christian truly loves his fellow Christian, he will not publish abroad his failings, but will cover them up from the sight of others.

How much gossip is eliminated when we love each other.

The words “above all” are more properly “before all in order of importance.”

That is, love is a prerequisite to all proper exercises of Christian duty.

Courtesy without love is a cold thing.

Generosity without love is a harsh thing.

Love makes all the other virtues what they should be.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 422.

The reason for this exhortation to love one another is that love covers a multitude of sins.

That is, when one Christian truly loves his fellow Christian, he will not publish abroad his failings, but will cover them up from the sight of others.

How much gossip is eliminated when we love each other.

Christian love is forgiving.

Peter quoted from —“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”

This verse is alluded to in and and 7. Love does not condone sin; for, if we love somebody, we will be grieved to see him sin and hurt himself and others.

Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), .

Rather, love covers sin in that love motivates us to hide the sin from others and not spread it abroad.

Where there is hatred, there is malice; and malice causes a person to want to tear down the reputation of his enemy.

This leads to gossip and slander (; ; see ).

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 422.

gives us a beautiful illustration of this principle.

Noah got drunk and shamefully uncovered himself.

His son Ham saw his father’s shame and told the matter to the family.

In loving concern, Ham’s two brothers covered their father and his shame.

It should not be too difficult for us to cover the sins of others; after all, Jesus Christ died that our sins might be washed away.

C. Be Hospitable (v.9)

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 422.

Hospitality was one of the marks of the Christian community (cf.

; ; ; ).

Hospitality was particularly crucial for the Christian mission in a day when lodging could not be afforded, and hence the advance of the mission depended on the willingness of believers to provide bed and board for those visiting (, ; ; ).

The early church was aware that such hospitality could be abused (cf.

Did.

11:3–6).

Furthermore, hospitality was necessary in order for the church to meet in various homes (cf.

, ; ; ; ).

The words “without grumbling” acknowledge that those who open their homes may grow tired of the service.

Hence, they are exhorted to be hospitable gladly, not caving in to the temptation to begrudge their charity to others.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol.

37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 213.

Peter knows human nature, for he realizes that at times overnight guests take advantage of a host when they prolong their stay or fail to reimburse him.

The apostle encourages the hosts to open their homes to overnight guests and adds, “Do it without grumbling.”

The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers that by welcoming strangers into their homes, “some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (13:2).

Therefore, we must show kindness willingly and cheerfully.

Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude, vol.

16, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 168–169.

Some live by the old Italian proverb: Guests are like fish; after about 3 days they start to smell.

God Encourages Us To Serve (4:10)

We all received gifts a week or so ago., what gifts is the text talking about?

A church’s ministry depends on God’s distribution of spiritual gifts.

The idea is that God equips the members of the church for mutual service rather than that they have natural abilities for these tasks.

The word “gift,” often translated as “spiritual gift,” is derived from the word for “grace,” and not from the word for “spirit.”