Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we are continuing our study through 1 Peter, which shows us the Gospel, the good news about Jesus dying to take the punishment for our sin, and rising to give us new life, is the very thing we need as we go through REAL life.

Last week, we looked at the opening of the book, where Peter laid the foundation for all that he will be sharing to encourage us.

The foundation is the New Birth God gave us.

Just as we are born into our lives in this world through our mothers physically, God gives us a new birth, a spiritual birth, into a new life spiritually in this world.

It is a change on the inside!

It is a change in the very core, the very purpose of our lives.

Peter shared how this new birth gives us hope--a living, growing hope.

The new birth gives us an eternal inheritance which cannot be taken away.

This living, growing hope is what we need as we face trials of all kinds.

Hope lets us see clearly through the trial.

Hope lets us see that the trial is temporary compared to eternity where we will no longer face the trials.

Hope lets us see that God can even use the worst of trials to test us.

Not test us to see us fail, but rather test us to see, and to show us, that our faith is real, and that it will result in Him giving us praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed--when Jesus comes back to take us to be with Him!

This new birth, with the new hope, and the new inheritance will fill us with inexpressible and glorious joy as we learn to fix our eyes on Jesus, and what He is doing in us and for us!

Today, we will continue on in our study, looking at 1 Peter 1:13-16.

Here, we will see that the main command is to fix our hope on Jesus.

This is something Christians say alot.

"Fix your eyes on Jesus".

It is even in the songs we sing and love.

But what does that mean?

How do we do that?

That is what we will be talking about today.

As we have been doing this study, the secondary goal I have is to remind us all how to be good students of the Word of God.

How are we supposed to study?

You can come here, and I will share with you what I have studied.

That is good, and needful.

However, we all have the benefit of having God's word available to us, and we should all be studying.

In order to be good students of the Word of God, we must Handle it well, i.e. study well.

How?

How to Study

Read the book, not books about the book.

Background: Look in the book to see the following.

(If you cannot find it in the book itself, use a study bible or Bible Dictionary)

Who did the Spirit use to write the book?

To whom were they writing?

When?

What were the circumstances?

Outline: Read it again, and make a general outline:

What are the major sections of the book?

What is the theme of those sections?

Key Words: Read the book and look for words that are used repeatedly.

This will give the major theme of the book.

Pay attention to nouns and verbs.

Read a section.

Ask questions while you read: who is doing what, to/for whom, where, why, how

Add details to your outline.

Nouns and Verbs will generally be main points

Connectors and Prepositions: in, to, for, in order, that, because, therefore; These will show support for the main points

Define important Words/Concepts

Are there cross-references?

Always be looking for application.

Let's read this passage together.

I will be reading from the New International Version.

Peter begins this section with 'Therefore'.

What he is about to say is based upon God giving us the new birth into the living hope that he talked about back in verses 3-9.

Because of God causing you to be born into this living hope... you are to do something.

What is it we are supposed to do?

There are 3 actions expressed in verse 13.

Two of them are really giving detail on how to do the main command.

The ESV expresses this well...

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The main command here is Completely Set your Hope...

A. Therefore (b/c New Birth) Fix your Hope

As we go through life, we can get our eyes, our focus on a lot of different things.

We place our hope in a lot of different things.

I hope to be there on time.

I hope to have enough gas to make it to the gas station.

I hope that as we approach the end of the month there is enough left in the bank to cover things.

I hope that my spouse will love me and accept me.

I hope that my kids will listen.

I hope that people will think I am good enough.

I hope that they will think well of me.

I hope that my health will stay good/improve, whichever the case will be.

I hope that I will get through this.

I hope... What are you hoping in?

Where we place our hope is what we think will bring peace, satisfaction, joy.

What is it that you hope in?

1. Completely

Totally, entirely, altogether

No room for division, or partial

Hebrews 12:1-3

2. On the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Just like Jesus looked ahead to the joy set before Him...

We need to look forward to the grace, the gift, being brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ!

Being brought - shows assurance that it is coming

It is not just a future 'will be brought'

It is present, He is in the act of bringing it now!

That points to imminence, He could come at any time!

Are you looking forward to it?

He is coming!

He reward is in his hand!

Revelation 22:12

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever we have to do today, let us work with all our hearts, for Him.

He is coming with reward.

This points back to the praise that He wants to give us as we are faithful through the trials and testings He sends our way.

3. Preparing your minds for action

literally, "gird up the loins of your mind"

Exodus 12:11 ready for God to act

It is hard to keep you Hope fixed, if your mind is not prepared to take action.