Sermon Tone Analysis

“What's in a name?

That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”

William Shakespeare uses this line in his play Romeo and Juliet to convey that a name is nothing but a name… OR IS THERE???

Is there something more to this name “Christian”???… follow along as we read from 1 Peter 4:12-19

I read the heading over our passage we’re looking at today and was initially bummed… it read, “Share the sufferings of Christ”

As we have a focus today on our graduates I always strive to focus a little on them in the message.

It’s kind of a bummer to talk about suffering as they start out on their own

Then I thought… what if they really understood who they were well and in understanding this they would be able to face

TEST… TRIALS… able to TRUST God because they understood who they were and who He is???

How cool would that be?!!! Wow… what if we all could do that!!!???

Quickly I grew excited to share with not only our graduates… but each of us in the family of God

It’s true… taxes and death are certainties in life… BUT SO ARE test and trials

JUST AS CERTAIN… we can face these things with the Lord and REJOICE!!!

We are going to look at TEST, TRIALS & TRUST but first I want each of us to have a firm grasp on our IDENTITY!!!

Our Identity

Right away Peter addresses those struggling as “BELOVED”… Peter is writing to the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, the body of Christ, the family of God

BELOVED= to be loved, the object of one’s affection, very dear to someone

Peter had first hand seen the love of Christ

Peter had seen the love even in the midst of his own failure

Peter had declared his love for Jesus knowing nothing he said or did could come close to the love Jesus had for him

Consider this for a moment: There is NOTHING you can do to make God love you less… Equally there is nothing you can do to make him love you more!!!

God demonstrated His love in such a powerful way… and Peter reminds them of this by addressing them as “One’s that God Loves deeply!”

We come today to our passage and we see another identifying term, a name, a title… that used to mean something.

That should still mean something even today!

CHRISTIAN: one who is identified as a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ

First called this at Antioch Acts 11:26 (Little Christ followers/imitators)

A distinct group of people to the watching world around them

Only used 3 times in NT and most likely a derogatory name/title given

Now Christian means quite less...

A religious person

One who believes in God… James says whoop-dee-doo “the demons believe, they even shudder”

A person who goes to a “church” building on Sundays and sometimes even other days

They have a cross on their neck, a fish on their car, a bible in their home, or even religious symbols in their home!!!

OR… they post scripture verses on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Peter is clear what not to be… NOT TO SUFFER FOR!!!! verse 15!

one who busies himself in the affairs of others in an unwarranted manner

However… Consider verse 14 & 16:

You are blessed for being reviled on the basis of His Name Christ

WHY?… because the Spirit of God rest on you

To emulate Christ, follow, believe in and live a life that is in contrast to the world

DON’T be ashamed

Glorify… GOD in this name Christian...

How is it your life is bringing Him glory as those around you know you are a Christian

Are you able to really bear that name?

(only those who have a relationship can or should!)

NO OTHER NAME GIVES OFF THE AROMA AS THAT OF GENUINE CHRISTIAN!!!

Are you a true follower of Jesus Christ?

Are you giving the name Christian more than lip service?

If so… HOW do we glorify God in this name?

Peter has been telling the church this throughout his letter… now he tells us one other significant way… through our response to testing and trials...

Test & Trials

Graduates… ask any adult here.

Just because High School may be behind you, TEST have just begun and most of them will be surprise exams!!!

These Trials are for your testing Peter states in verse 12

to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing—‘to test, to examine, to put to the test, examination, testing

These test are FOR US… consider what James says about these test James 1:2-3

Notice several things:

It is brothers and sisters… the beloved who are tested

It is WITH Christ you go through this testing

Endurance and strength is only produced through frequent use and repetition

Test and trials will come often for you!

BUT Peter and James both tell us how we GLORIFY GOD in these trials and times of testing

REJOICING & JOY!!!

That’s a weird response… EXACTLY!!!

When this is our response we follow in the footsteps of Christ and many other saints before us!

Christ Himself with the cross Hebrews 12:2

Paul and Silas after being beaten and in prison Acts 16:25

Consider the three men cast into an actual fiery trail of flames in Daniel 3:23-26

They chose to stay with the Lord rather than walk out!

Peter shares from personal experience as he and John rejoiced after being flogged for sharing Christ Acts 5:41

I don’t need to go into detail of what trials and testing looks like… it all varies yet it is hard, but you and I because of our IDENTITY… can rejoice… Peter closes this thought with our NEED TO TRUST and two reasons to rejoice and have this attitude...

TRUST GOD!

Consider the focus Peter challenges his readers to have:

1 ) Our suffering is now and temporary… BUT What is coming for the ones in sin?

Verses 17 & 18 state this each as an emphasis

This should burden our hearts for the lost!!!

Our rejoicing should NOT BE that they will get hell for eternity

2 ) When we are in God’s will and suffer… TRUST GOD WHO MADE YOU!!!

You are beloved

You are His, bought with the precious blood of Christ

He IS FAITHFUL… = He will NOT fail you!

Oh church, graduates… may we truly thrive and rejoice in our IDENTITY in Christ Jesus our Lord!

If you have only given Him lip service, today I challenge you to enter into this relationship that brings TRUE JOY and REJOICING… even in our testing and fiery trials!!