The Church, a Body in Covenant: Our Commitments to those who are up close and personal
Series: “The Church, a Body in Covenant”
TITLE: “Our Commitments to those who are up close and personal”
TEXT: 1 Peter 2:1-12
1 So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for ⌊your⌋ salvation,
3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God—
5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!
7 So honor ⌊will come⌋ to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,
8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.
INTRODUCTION:
A. What we have discussed so far…
1. The Basis of our covenant
2. Some initial commitments
B. All of the commitments are based upon scriptural teachings about godly Christian conduct within the body of Christ.
I. PURSUE A PERSONAL AND FAMILY WALK WITH GOD (V. 2-3).
2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for ⌊your⌋ salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.
A. Family Altar
1. Parents must make the decision for the family to serve the Lord.
a) Example of Joshua (Joshua 24:15) )
15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
2. Set aside regular time for family devotions and prayer
(Deuteronomy 4:9) “Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.”
(Proverbs 22:6) “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
B. Personal Quiet Time
1. Make it Priority #1 (Matthew 6:33)
2. Spend time talking to God
a) Example of Daniel (Daniel 6:10) “ When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. “
3. Allow God to speak to you (vs. 2)
a) Through His Word
b) Through conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.”
C. Christian instruction of Children (Ephesians 6:4) “Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
1. Lead them to have daily quiet time
2. Disciple them to the Lord
a) Teach them doctrine and Biblical precepts (Deuteronomy 4:9) “Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.”
3. Teach them to love the family of faith (Psalm 122:1) “ I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
II. SEEK TO WIN FAMILY AND Neighbors TO CHRIST (VS. 9-10).
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
A. Relational Evangelism
1. Live out the life within (Philippians 2:12) “So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
a) Illustration: (Hymn- Living for Jesus)
2. Live a praiseworthy life (Matthew 5:16)
“ In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
B. Verbal Witnessing
1. Share your personal testimony with others
a) Like the blind man (John 9:1-38)
C. Personal Responsibility
1. The Lord gave us all the command to witness (Acts 1:8).
2. We are accountable for witnessing and sharing the Gospel (Ezekiel 3:17-19) 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
18 If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him—you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life—that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
III. LIVE OUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ON A DAILY BASIS (VS. 1,11-12).
1 So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.
A. Just in dealings
1. Do not compromise biblical standards of right and wrong (Malachi 3:6) "For I am the Lord, I do not change;”
(Matthew 5:18) “ For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.”
a) Illustration: “Fresh Fish”
2. Remember that all you do reflects on Christ
B. Faithful in Engagements
1. Faithful to Christ in all relationships
(2 Corinthians 6:14-15) “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
2. Faithful to the Family of Faith (Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our ⌊worship⌋ meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
C. Exemplary in Behavior
1. Seek to be an example of a true believer (1 Timothy 4:12) “Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
D. Self-Controlled
1. With the tongue
(James 3:8-10)- Read
(Proverbs 6:16-17)- Read
2. In expression of emotions
(Ephesians 4:26-32)- Read
(James 1:20) “My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”
3. In fulfillment of physical appetites (Proverbs 20:1; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
E. Zealous for the Cause of Christ
(Titus 2:11-15) “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
CONCLUSION:
A- Summary
B- Invitation
1. Hymn: “I Surrender All”