RESURRECTING HOPE: THRIVING HOPE

We come to the end of our sermon series, Resurrecting Hope, with the sermon Thriving Hope.  This is where we have been headed over the past several weeks.  We should not be content with a passive, apathetic, pitiful hope.  God wants to share with us a vibrant, energetic, dynamic hope.  It is a hope that does not give in, give up, or give out.  We turn to 1 Peter 3:8-18 to finish this series.  We started with 1 Peter 1, and it seems fitting to finish with 1 Peter 3 because the Apostle continues to share the power of living hope for our lives and relationships.  These words parallel Romans 15 from last week’s sermon and help us to build upon the power of community, unity, and relationships.  Peter reminds us that hope is a witness to the power of Jesus Christ in our actions.  When people ask about our good reactions even when we are enduring hardship and turmoil, we can point to the living hope that Jesus has raised us from death into life!  We pray that you experience this resurrecting hope lifting you from your doubts, difficulties, despair as you read 1 Peter 3:8-18.

1 Peter 3:8-18: 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.” 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.” 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. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.  (NIV)