THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
It was like standing at a fork in the road, except the road went in a dozen directions. I was preparing to graduate from college and was terrified because I had no idea what to do for the rest of my life. And that was because I had no real idea about who I was up to that point in my life. Throughout my 16-year educational journey, I had learned a lot of things about other people, but almost nothing about myself.
All that changed when I found my identity in Christ.
When I came to Christ, I came to His body, the church. My identity in Christ is wrapped up in my identity with other believers. That’s true of all who follow Christ. We find who we are in Christ, and we live out that identity through our involvement with other Christians.
As you explore an important passage from 1 Peter 4 in this session, you’ll see that to love and serve the body of Christ is to love and serve the Head of that body: Christ Himself.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
1 Peter 4:7
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
If we are connected to Christ, we also are connected to other believers. Scripture describes the church in several ways: the body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 12:27), the bride of Christ (see Rev. 19:7-9), and the family of God (see Eph. 2:19). All of these word pictures convey a key truth about the church: we need to work together.
In our Scripture focus, Peter began by telling believers that “The end of all things is near.” This “end” refers to the end of time when all humanity will stand before Jesus (see Rev. 20:11-12). The last days were inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Christ; the New Testament frequently refers to this period between His first and second comings as the last days (see Rom. 13:11-12; 1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 10:23-25).
Considering the brevity of our time, Peter identified three ways believers can serve one another and, therefore, strengthen the church. First, we’re told to “be alert and sober-minded for prayer.” As a spiritual family, we hold on to each other and hold each other up through prayer. As a pastor, I can’t tell you how important this is for me. I need the prayers of other believers—and so do you.
Jesus didn’t save us so that each of us could be an only child. He called us to love both Him and His family. If we love the church—the family of God—we will pray for her members. By praying for the church, we’re serving other believers. Prayer is dependence on God, and when we take the lives of others before God’s throne of grace, we’re laying their needs before the One who loves, cares, and can fully meet their needs.
Part of discovering who we are is discovering that God made us to be prayer warriors. All believers have a direct connection to God because of our faith in Jesus. Let’s use that connection to bless the church with prayer.
1 Peter 4:8-9
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Even in the best marriages, where two people love each other more than anything else, conflict happens. It’s inevitable. Conflict also happens in the church. And just like in a marriage, Christians are called to respond to that conflict with love.
Peter has already told us that, in light of “the end of all things,” we should pray. For the same reason, the second way Peter taught us to serve our spiritual family was to be filled with a deep love for each other. This is the selfless, benevolent, agape love (or affection) that God bestows on His people.
Such love isn’t automatic or easy. It takes work to maintain love in any relationship. Life among believers is no different—which is why Peter wrote, “Above all, maintain constant love for each other.”
When we work to maintain love for each other, that love “covers a multitude of sins.” Peter wasn’t writing about our sins toward God. Our faith in Jesus Christ covers those. Instead, Peter was referring to the offenses we commit against each other. My love for others leads me to overlook their offenses against me. Love leads us to move past the hurt and see beyond one another’s faults.
The church isn’t filled with perfect people; therefore, it must be filled with God’s perfect love.
Peter gave us a picture of what love should look like. In doing so, he described the third way we are to serve our spiritual family: “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” To be “hospitable” means to be kind and welcoming to people. This is to be a hallmark of the Christian community, otherwise known as the church.
Peter wasn’t the first to elevate the importance of hospitality in the New Testament. Paul called all Christians to pursue hospitality in Romans 12:13, and he listed hospitality among the defining traits of Christian leaders (see 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8).
Such hospitality was especially significant in the early years of the church, when lodging wasn’t affordable for traveling Christians. The advance of the church’s mission in sharing the gospel was greatly aided by believers who were willing to open their homes to travelers.
It’s one thing to share a home or share a meal; it’s another thing to do it without grumbling. We can begrudge our own hospitality if we feel obligated to offer it. But if we strive to maintain an intense love for those who share our tables or lodge at our homes, we can be hospitable without complaining.
Hospitality moves love away from an abstract truth. Indeed, hospitality is love in action.
1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Have you ever wondered why God placed so many different kinds of people within the church? It’s because He has given each different person a different set of gifts.
Every person in the church is a gift who brings gifts to the body of Christ in order to make it stronger. We need all of these members and their gifts, and they need us.
That’s important. Christians know they need Jesus, but we sometimes fail to realize we need other Christians, too. We weren’t made for just ourselves; rather, we were made to serve Christ by serving His body, the church.
For that reason, you are called to use your gifts to serve the Lord and His church. That phrase “Just as each one has received a gift” means you already have a gift from God. Each one who has trusted in Christ has received a spiritual gift—one that is purely a gift of God’s grace. All of these gifts involve serving and helping others, which is why Peter categorized them by a general function of speaking or serving. When we review the other passages where spiritual gifts are listed (see Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-10), each gift can be placed in one of these two categories.
We don’t use these gifts in our own power or for our own benefit. Rather, we do so as people dependent on God. We speak “as one who speaks God’s words,” and we serve “from the strength God provides.”
How has God gifted you? God will awaken you to these gifts by the power of His Spirit, and He often uses two avenues:
1. From others. Many times other believers will see your giftedness before you see it in yourself. Christians around us will help us to discover how we can speak the truth and serve others.
2. From action. God’s giftedness may become clear, not as we seek His gifts, but as we get our hands dirty and begin to serve.
Every believer is called to service, but God will not enable the full potential of your gift until you surrender to Him. He hasn’t given us all the same gift, but He has called us all to the same service. Once you discover your identity as a servant of God in His church, you will understand so much more about who you are as a person—and who you are meant to become.
LIVE IT OUT
How will you love and serve Christ through His church this week? Consider the following suggestions.
- Pray. Make a commitment to pray each day. Prayer is simply talking to God. Pray for your church and those who lead it. Serve them by praying for them.
- Practice hospitality. Identify a way you can show more love and kindness to the people in your church, in your community, and in your family.
- Identify others’ gifts. Every member in God’s church is gifted, but many Christians don’t see themselves that way. Encourage others by pointing out the gifts you see in them. Bless each other with a word of encouragement, a note, a phone call, and so on.
Whether you’ve been a Christian for years, or whether you recently discovered your identity in Christ—you have a vital connection to the church. Don’t miss out on that incredible gift.
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Teacher Notes
LIFE IN THE CHURCH: Why are you here? Why do you come to church?
What does the church mean to you and how is it different from a club, association or team of which you are a member?
- our identity – who we are, who I am – depends on the identity of God’s people: I am a member of Christ’s body; I am part of God’s people; I am a child of God called to love Him and His creation; I am a follower of Jesus because in Him I am fully alive and willing to serve.
- My identity in Christ is wrapped up in my identity with other believers. That’s true of all who follow Christ. We find who we are in Christ, and we live out that identity through our involvement with other Christians.
What are some names for the church you read about in the bible?
1. The family of God (Eph. 2:19) How is church like family?
2. The body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27, Rom. 12:5). How is the church like a body? Work together.
· I am connected in a living way to Jesus.
· I am part of a living organism bigger than myself.
· I have a purpose and function in that body.
3. The bride of Christ (Rev. 19:7-9). How is the church like a bride? Marriage covenant
One of the most radical distinctions of following Christ in our secular society is a commitment to serving one another. We do this in the church.
Our society promotes the individual and for us to look out for ourselves. Christ compels us to respond to the needs of others with the love of God. The church distinguishes itself from the rest of the world by serving each other. Here needs are met, wounds are soothed, hearts are mended, and prayers are answered.
Peter recognized that our time is short—either Jesus’ return or death is imminent—so he gave some practical guidelines for the church to practice. He’s going to talk with us about prayer, love and hospitality, and then the use of our spiritual gifts all of which is to serve one another.
You see, when we love and serve the church, we love and serve Christ.
I. Serve One Another Through Prayer 1 Peter 4:7
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
Peter begins by telling us that we need to Live with the end in view: “The end of all things is near.”
Why does Peter say this and how important is this to us today? How does reflecting on the end times affect the way you live – or does it?
All things are ready for Christ’s return, so don’t ignore or overlook it. Christians are to live godly lives in anticipation that Christ will return. Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in love for God and for others.
Why is prayer so important to serving one another in the church?
- Praying for each other is one of the best ways we can serve one another. Not just saying we will pray, but actually praying for the needs, hurts, concerns, and hopes of those in our church. It shows that we believe in the power of prayer and the One who answers our prayer.
- We hold each other up through prayer. Jesus called us to love both Him and His family. If we love the church—we will pray for her members. By praying for the church, we’re serving other believers. All believers have a direct connection to God because of our faith in Jesus.
II. Serve One Another with Love and Hospitality 1 Peter 4:8-9
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Peter is referring here to the sins or conflicts that arise in the church. He’s talking about how we should relate to different people, even those we don’t necessarily gel with.
How does Peter say we are to respond to these “family members”? What does that look like?
· Love one another. If we respond simply from natural impulses, we’d probably be nice when people were kind. At other times though, we would likely be vengeful, angry, or hurtful. Jesus clearly teaches us to love even when those around us seem unlovable. Look at how Christ loved: Romans 5:8 “Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners.” Surely, out of gratitude for what He did, we can love others. Love is something that we work at, just the way an athlete works on his or her skills. Love is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will. Blessings from loving one another: God is pleased and this should give us joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment; excitement and anticipation for how God will move in the relationship; there is an awareness that the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through a yielded human life. John 13:35 tells us of another important benefit: Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Since unconditional godly love is uncommon in our world, people will notice.
How does love cover a multitude of sins? Love heals…
· Medical doctor Bernie Siegel said, “I am convinced that unconditional love is the most powerful known stimulant of the immune system. If I told patients to raise their blood levels or immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how. But if I teach them to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is, love heals. Remember I said love heals. I do not claim love cures everything, but it can heal and in the process of healing cures occur also.” And, when we love others it covers over or soothes the wounds that have hurt us. Love can change our hearts and in turn change our churches and ultimately change our world. When we have been wounded, and hurt by others to love them often will be a strain. We will have to work at it. It won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.
· Love is the basis for forgiveness. Even in the best marriages, where two people love each other more than anything else, conflict happens. It’s inevitable. Conflict also happens in the church. And just like in a marriage, Christians are called to respond to that conflict with love. Peter taught us to serve our spiritual family was to be filled with a deep love for each other. My love for others leads me to overlook their offenses against me. Love leads us to move past the hurt and see beyond one another’s faults.
Peter gave us a picture of what love should look like: “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”
What does hospitality look like in words? In actions?
· To be “hospitable” means to be kind and welcoming to people. Show hospitality to one another. God is a hospitable God, welcoming the prodigal home and the sinner to His side. Likewise, He expects His followers to show the same practice toward each other. In a time before hotels and motels, travelers had to depend on the generosity of their brothers and sisters when they needed lodging. Today we need to open our homes to those in our faith community to share in meals, laughter, and plans.
What makes complaining so easy—even in the church?
III. Serve One Another Through Your Spiritual Gift 1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
What is the significance of different kinds of people in the church?
· Each different person has a different set of gifts. Every person in the church is a gift who brings gifts to the body of Christ in order to make it stronger. We need all of these members and their gifts, and they need us.
How do we discover and discern the gifts God has given us?
God awakens you to these gifts by the power of His Spirit, and He often uses two avenues:
1. From others. Other believers will see your gift before you see it in yourself. Christians around us help us to discover how we can speak the truth and serve others.
2. From action. God’s gift may become clear, not as we seek His gifts, but as we get our hands dirty and begin to serve.
What is the purpose of a Spiritual gift?
· Gifts are to serve one another. Peter said, “gifts to be put to use in serving one another.” Believers have a spiritual responsibility to use the gifts to serve others. Spiritual gifts like the money we possess have been given to us by God. They are not ours. Our responsibility is to employ those gifts in service to others. As we serve others we are also serving God. The only way to serve God is by serving other people.
· Christians, know they need Jesus, but we sometimes fail to realize we need other Christians, too. We weren’t made for just ourselves; rather, we were made to serve Christ by serving His body, the church. For that reason, you are called to use your gifts to serve the Lord and His church.
· Each one who has trusted in Christ has received a spiritual gift—one that is purely a gift of God’s grace. All of these gifts involve serving and helping others, which is why Peter categorized them by a general function of speaking or serving. When we review the other passages where spiritual gifts are listed (see Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-10), each gift can be placed in one of these two categories. We don’t use these gifts in our own power or for our own benefit. Rather, we do so as people dependent on God. We speak “as one who speaks God’s words,” and we serve “from the strength God provides.”
· Every believer is called to service, but God will not enable the full potential of your gift until you surrender to Him. He hasn’t given us all the same gift, but He has called us all to the same service.
Gifts of Service: Giving, Discernment, Mercy, Administration, Service, Hospitality, Faith
Gifts of Speech: Prophecy, Wisdom, Teaching, Knowledge, Exhortation, Evangelism, Leadership
· God grants to every believer a grace gift to be used for the common good.
· Believers are responsible to be faithful managers of the grace gifts they have been given.
· God gives us the message to declare and the strength we need for service.
· Whether we honor the Lord by speaking His Word or serving others in His name, He is the one to whom all glory is to be given.
Conclusion: Friedrich Nietzsche, the atheistic philosopher, allegedly stated, “Jesus’ disciples will need to look more saved if I am to believe in their Savior.” Nietzsche used the poor witness of some Christians as his excuse for not believing. He makes a good point: the world is looking for Christ’s followers who look like Jesus. The world looks at us not only for right belief, but also for a distinctive Christ-like lifestyle, a faith expressed through action. The world looks at Christ’s followers and says, “Show me your faith by the way you live and serve in this hurting world.” Service exemplifies the way Christianity is supposed to be lived. Believers who visibly and actively serve present Jesus to a watching world.
Hope to see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
