THE
BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Throughout the treatments, I claimed promises from Scripture. Some days, I claimed them while praying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” As I write this, all my scans are clear, and I rejoice in that.
But even more than clear scans, I rejoice in knowing Christ who sees, hears, knows, and cares. It is essential to our faith that we not allow cancer or any other catastrophic or hurtful experience to define us. Christ must be the source and sufficiency of our identity. We can endure because our hope rests in Him.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one
another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult
with insult. On the contrary, repay evil 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 their tongue from evil and their lips from
deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they 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.”
These
verses in 1 Peter 3 are a series of summary statements—maturity checkpoints for
personal evaluation of our spiritual lives. Peter made a passionate appeal for consistency,
faithfulness, and wholehearted obedience.
Question 2:
How do the teachings in these verses compare and contrast
with the values in our culture?
Peter identified
six ways we are to “walk the talk” and live out our faith.
1.
Unity. The command to “be
like-minded” isn’t referring to minutia, but to unity on major points of faith.
Believers reflect devotion to God not in uniformity but in unity. We should not
be petty about peripheral issues. Instead, we should focus on what we have in
common in Christ.
2. Mutual concern. To be
“sympathetic” means to have compassion or to feel with others and suffer
together. This isn’t only related to matters of sorrow, but anything that
affects people and causes them to feel emotion. We rejoice with those who
rejoice, just as we weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). Our concern for
others ultimately outweighs our concern for self.
3. Love. Peter employed the
Greek word philadelphos to convey the Christians’ responsibility to love
one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. We reflect our love for Christ
in how we love the family of God.
4. Compassion. The
church should be a place of compassion where we err on the side of grace and do
too much rather than not enough. Jesus modeled this through His tender ministry
to people.
5. Humility. Peter
knew Christians must have a realistic impression of themselves. We measure
ourselves by Christ’s holiness, and no room exists for pride. We see our level
of humility when criticized or when someone else is honored over us.
6.
Forgiveness. An
unforgiving spirit will disrupt fellowship, destroy joy, and ultimately send
roots of bitterness deep into the heart. Life is too short to maintain a
white-knuckle grip on offenses done to us.
Don’t
miss Peter’s warning in verse 12. Our obedience in putting feet to our faith
directly impacts our prayer life “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.”
1 Peter 3:13-14
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But
even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear
their threats; do not be frightened.”
Our
hope in Christ will carry us through any difficult circumstances or suffering.
We may experience times of unjust suffering because we stood up for what is
right. Nonetheless, when our hope is rooted in Christ, enduring through such
undeserved trials can strengthen us to face other troubling times.
As
Lord, Jesus has universal sovereign authority. All will recognize His lordship
when He returns (Phil. 2:10-11), and His lordship makes it possible for
believers to walk in victory today. We’d certainly like to believe that
choosing what is right would make the path easy before us, and we usually don’t
face persecution because of right choices. However, we’re living in a world
where, increasingly, people suffer for righteous living.
Our
foundation of hope in Christ is secure. He is our rock, our cornerstone.
Therefore, Peter affirmed that we don’t have to fear or be intimidated. The
Greek word translated frightened is tarasso; it means we don’t need to let
others cause us inward commotion or take away the calmness we have in Christ.
SYMBOLS OF ENDURANCE
Draw an image of endurance (or write a description of it)
and describe how it relates to hope in Christ.
How does this image encourage you to hope in Christ?
From what you’ve learned, what would you say to encourage others
to hope in Christ?
“May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you the same attitude of mind
toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”
ROMANS
15:5
In fact, we are blessed to be counted among those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. This should serve to encourage us and strengthen our resolve, not trouble us or shake our calmness of mind.
Question 3:
How can our Christian hope sustain us through difficult
circumstances?
1 Peter 3:15-17
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in
Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s
will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Holiness. Peter recognized that if believers would sanctify—or set apart—Christ as holy in their hearts, we wouldn’t worry about what other people thought. We wouldn’t be intimidated, but would rather be a bold witness to the life-changing power of the gospel.
Holiness has to come first. We will not have readiness in our speech or actions if living holy and set apart under the lordship of Christ is not our priority. The hope of Christ will never work its way out into our life and lips if it’s not in our hearts first.
Question 4:
How can our lives demonstrate to
others that Christ is Lord?
Paul
admonished us: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you
obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an
instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have
been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument
of righteousness” (Rom. 6:12-13).
These
verses teach us that there is a time to decide, a time for action that matches
our belief. If we believe Jesus is Lord, then our actions and attitudes should
reflect that. It means we yield our personalities to Him. Our time becomes His
time. Our money, plans, career, and relationships are no longer ours but His.
Readiness. Once we’ve settled the holiness and lordship issue, we can be ready to give a defense for the reason for our hope in Christ. We can stand confidently in the lordship of Christ because we have settled who we are and whose we are. Peter’s words point to a connection between a person’s lack of readiness to speak about the hope of the gospel and his acknowledgment of the Lord as holy. If we haven’t set Christ apart as Lord—His rightful place—we can easily clam up or change the conversation!
Our
readiness is gracefully tempered with gentleness. Gentleness may also be translated
as meekness and speaks to grace that’s been implanted in us. It’s an attitude
of humility that considers Christ and the other person more important than
self.
Our readiness is also tempered with respect. The Greek word translated respect is where we get our English word phobia. This word signifies a reverential fear of God, which prompts us to choose our words carefully and to seek to honor Christ in all our dealings with other people. When we set apart Christ in our hearts as holy, we will also give a gentle, holy response when defending the hope that is ours because of Him.
Question 5:
What are some ways Christians can help one another endure
during times of suffering?
LIVE
IT OUT
How
will you endure suffering because of the hope you have in Christ? Choose one of
the following applications:
Surrender. Choose to see your life and circumstances from God’s perspective. Acknowledge the lordship of Christ and trust Him regardless of the actions of others.
Bless. If someone has treated you like an enemy or you have treated another person that way, seek to bless that person with love, compassion, and humility.
Defend. Ask the Lord for opportunities to display and defend the hope that is in you. When the Lord opens that door, be ready to verbally testify of your hope in Christ.
Few
words can communicate a lack of hope like “cancer.” But regardless of what form
suffering takes in our lives, we can endure because of our hope in Christ.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher notes:
Click Play to Watch
LIVING
WITH HOPE IN A BROKEN WORLD
The
Basis for Our Hope: Only hope in Christ is a sure thing.
The
Expression of Our Hope: Is a changed life.
The Testimony of Our Hope: Is when our hope in Christ points others to Him.
The Endurance of Our Hope: Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying
When was a time in your life that you “toughed it out” even
when you wanted to give
up?
No one
signs up for pain and suffering – and Jesus doesn’t insulate us from it either.
I learned that first hand in 2016 when I lost my job the first time and then
again in 2019. The job hunt, coupled with the emotional roller coaster, were more than I expected.
· Because
of the prayers of this church, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the grace
of God, I had hope. I had days when I had to choose to believe the promises of God,
even when my feelings were overwhelming me. Throughout the whole ordeal, I
claimed promises from Scripture. Some days, I claimed them while praying, “Lord,
I believe. Help my unbelief!”
· As I
write this, I have been given a new job, and I rejoice in that. But even more
than a new job, I rejoice in knowing Christ gave me the endurance to go through
– to get busy living. It is essential to our faith that we not allow a job
loss, money or any other hurtful experience to define us. Christ must be the
source and sufficiency of our identity. We can endure because our hope rests in
Him.
· Hardships
come in a variety of ways. Temptations, illnesses, lost jobs, broken
relationships, and persecution for one’s faith are all forms of hardship.
Christians should not be taken by surprise when hardships come: Jesus warned
us, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). The good news is that
Jesus followed up His warning with this word of encouragement: “But take heart!
I have overcome the world.” We can endure by His grace.
This lesson
seeks to prepare believers to encounter circumstances that threaten to
undermine our hope. When facing challenges, Christians can remain steadfast and
unwavering in our faith.
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one
another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult
with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you
were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life
and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from
deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace
and pursue it. 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.”
1. Be
ready to encourage others.
What?
The first thing I should do is be ready to encourage others??
Some
of the earliest lessons we learn during childhood relate to using our manners,
sharing with others, and getting along with family and friends. These
attributes should follow us into adulthood. This is even more important for
those of us who are Christians. Our lives should be
marked by the ways in which we better the lives of those around us. We
should seek to get along with one another and show love in a variety of ways.
Humbly considering others as more important than ourselves will motivate us to
act in their best interests. Even if these actions are not reciprocated, we
must do what we know is right. God has called us so
that we may bless others.
How
does this help me endure my hardship?
To
endure is more than just continuing to exist; it is
continuing to exist in the same manner as before the suffering began. If
Paul had lived through his sufferings but at some point, had thrown up his
hands in defeat, stopped being obedient to God, or no longer worked for the
cause of Christ, he would not have “endured.” If he had responded to his
sufferings with an attitude of bitterness, anger, or retaliation, then Paul
could not have said that he “endured.”
We are
called to love and bless even those who intend evil toward us.
· Believers
are to feel and act toward other believers as those who are one in the Lord.
· Believers
are called to love and bless even those who intend evil against them.
What
are the consequences of returning evil for evil?
· Don’t miss Peter’s warning in verse 12. Our
obedience in putting feet to our faith directly impacts our prayer life “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.”
1 Peter 3:13-14
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if
you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their
threats; do not be frightened.”
2. Be
ready to endure suffering.
Very
few people, if any, look forward to hardship. Difficult periods in our lives
can disrupt our plans and upend our vision of the future. In addition, we can
become anxious, depressed, or even angry because of our circumstances. We
should not be surprised, however, when problems come. Facing difficulties is a
part of life (Job 14:1). Sometimes we must endure suffering because we are
doing what is right. Not all problems are forms of punishment. In fact, some
suffering can be a blessing. Even being in the midst of suffering can be viewed
as an enviable position when we remember that God is with us. We need not fear
trouble, knowing that God will work everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).
What
does it mean to you to be ready to endure suffering?
· As
Christians, we should turn to God with our suffering, and He will be faithful
to help us undergo every trial and overcome every temptation. We can learn to
have the same joy as Paul had during trials, knowing that suffering produces
virtues such as endurance, godly character, and
lively hope.
· To
“endure” does not mean simply to grin and bear it. Christians will feel sad,
betrayed, or even angry at times. These emotions in and of themselves are not
bad; they only become sin when we allow them to take root in our lives and
produce bitterness, evil thoughts of revenge, or unforgiveness. Believers must
remember that everything that comes into our lives is under the control of a
sovereign God who has promised He is working all things out for the good of
those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Our
hope in Christ carries us through any circumstances or suffering.
· Those
who have a zeal for the good things of God will be safe and secure from all
harm.
· Those
who suffer for righteousness have no need to fear for they will be blessed.
We’d
certainly like to believe that choosing what is right would make the path easy
before us, and we usually don’t face persecution because of right choices. However,
we’re living in a world where, increasingly, people suffer for righteous
living. Our foundation of hope in Christ is secure. He is our rock, our
cornerstone. Therefore, Peter affirmed that we don’t have to fear or be
intimidated.
1 Peter 3:15-17
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be
ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for
doing good than for doing evil.
3. Be
ready to give a reason for your hope.
Ultimately,
we are able to endure our circumstances by keeping our attention on Christ.
Recognizing His position as Lord of our lives puts everything else in
perspective. When we recall what God has done for us in Christ, we can
confidently testify about our faith. We can do this respectfully, without
arguing with others who may be hostile to what we have to say. Taking our faith
and our responsibility to treat everyone gently and with respect seriously
allows us to have a clear conscience. Even those who would accuse us will end
up being ashamed because their accusations will be without merit. God can take
what others intend for our harm and use it for good (Genesis 50:20).
Why do
you think Peter thought it was important to be ready to be able to respond to
inquirers about hope?
· Believers
are to seize every opportunity to explain their hope.
· The
character of our lives is a stronger testimony than our arguments.
· Those
who falsely accuse and abuse will someday know the shame of the Lord’s
judgment.
How will you endure suffering because of the hope you have in Christ?
Surrender. Choose to see your life and circumstances from God’s perspective. Acknowledge the lordship of Christ and trust Him regardless of the actions of others.
Conclusion:
Trials will come in our lives, whether they arise from circumstances or
interactions with other people. Regardless of the types of situations we
encounter, our focus is to remain the same—the salvation God has given us
through Christ. We know that God has given us hope now and for eternity, and we
should share this hope with others along the way.
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