Love Each Other Deeply

“Three Feet from Gold”

• R.U. Harby discovered trace amounts of gold and began searching for its source. 
• He ended up giving up when he was only three feet from the mother lode.

1 Peter: Don’t Give Up!

• Peter knows how challenging it is to follow Jesus, so he encourages the church to persevere to the end.
• Remember who you are, remember why you’re here, and don’t stop three feet short.

Today’s Message: 1 Peter 4

The church is called to be a place of refuge that we can turn to for love, support, and encouragement from our fellow Christians. 

1 Peter 4:1-6 is a continuation of what Peter began discussing in 1 Peter 3:14. Jesus is our example of how to patiently endure suffering on account of the Gospel.

• 1 Peter 4:1 — “Armed” for battle. Military term, equipping armor and weapons.
• Remember: We don’t fight with the weapons of the world (2 Corinthians 10:4).
• We are to equip weapons of righteousness (2 Cor. 6:7), the armor of light (Rom. 13:12), and the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11).

Are You Armed with Attitude?

• Attitude: The same kind of thoughts, attitude, and resolute mindset that Jesus had.
• Have the same mindset as Jesus (Phil. 2:5); take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5), allow the Spirit to govern your mind (Rom. 8:6).
• We are in a spiritual fight, but many of the battles are fought in our mind.

A New Way of Living

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:2-4

• The church is filled with people who lived sinful, immoral lives before coming to Jesus. 
• They have experienced a fresh start, and so can you! (Compare 1 Pet. 4:2 to 1 Pet. 2:9).
• Peter doesn’t view people in terms of their past sins, but in terms of the grace and mercy Jesus gave them at the cross. 
• The church isn’t just a religious country club for perfect Christians; it’s a place of hope and transformation for broken people who know they need a savior.

When You Live as a Transformed Person:

• Don’t be surprised when people turn on you for no longer joining them in their sinful way of life.
• Strive to be present with the people of the world without participating in the sins of the world. 

God’s Instructions for the Church

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-10

• Be alert and sober-minded (self-controlled) so you can make prayer a priority. 
• Love each other = Agape. Sacrificial, selfless love.
• Offer Hospitality = Loving the stranger. Kind, warm welcome for everyone… but especially those who are excluded.
• Serve others = Use God’s gifts, with the power God supplies, to bless God’s people.

Why are these three things so important? Because Christians weren’t getting much love, hospitality, or service from people in society. They were mistreated, slandered, and marginalized instead.

• That’s why they needed their church family to be a safe harbor.

Remember: Not everyone has the same gifts, but we are all called to use the ones we do have to honor God and serve others (see 1 Cor. 12:4-6).

Important Point: Using our gifts to bless others is an important way we can glorify God (1 Peter 4:11).

The World Is a Harsh Place, And the Struggle Is Real.

• You never know what a person has been through when they come through the doors of our church.
• Chances are, it’s a lot: The spiritual battle all week long, plus the daily stressors of school, work, family, health, relationships, grief, doubt, etc.
• Mental health issues: Growing problems with anxiety, depression, stress, and self-harm over the last 25 years.

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:13. Life as a Christian can feel like a fiery ordeal. That’s why the church needs to be a refuge of love, kindness, and support.

Call to Action:

• Be armed with attitude.
• Love each other deeply, practice hospitality, and serve each other.
• Commit to doing good (1 Peter 4:19)

Study and Reflection

“Satan watcheth for those vessels that sail without a convoy.” -George Swinnock

Read: Galatians 6:1-10

• This passage talks about carrying each other’s burdens as disciples of Jesus. What are some of the common burdens people in our church are struggling with?
• In what way does carrying each other’s burdens “fulfill the law of Christ”?
• Bryan mentioned that the church should be a place of refuge, but Galatians 6:1 reminds us we still need to be willing to challenge people to take sin seriously and live for God. What are some best practices for having those types of challenging conversations?
• Verse 4 mentions the comparison game. Is this something you struggle with? Comparing your life or your gifts to others? Why or why not?
• Paul reminds us that we are in a struggle between living for our flesh and living for the Spirit. How can we stay focused on doing God’s will in a world that makes following Jesus difficult?
• Part of the call to action in these verses is not to grow weary in doing good. How does that relate to the story about stopping three feet short of gold from the sermon? In other words, why is perseverance so important?
• We are commanded to do good to all people, but especially people of faith. What is something you can do to bless another person’s life this week? 
• Today’s sermon focused on loving others, practicing hospitality, and serving each other. Why is it so important for the church to practice those things in today’s world?
• People can’t carry your burdens if you always keep them to yourself. Is there anything you are going through right now that you need to share with your church family? Please reach out to an elder, minister, or trusted Christian friend if so.