1 & 2 Peter: Our Living Hope
Pastor Matt Pierson
1 Peter 4
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Living a life of “Your will be done”
Steward: Oikonomos—a responsible slave
1. Opportunity of a Steward
“Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”
C.H. Spurgeon
2. Characteristics of a Steward
Characteristics of a Steward of God’s Grace:
- Self-controlled
- Sober-minded
- Loving one another earnestly
- Showing hospitality without grumbling
- Serving one another with the gifts of Grace
Two manifestations of grace found in 1 Peter 4:11:
- Speaking
- Serving
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
3. Testimony of a Steward
“Real faith is ambidextrous. It can take blessings in one hand and trouble in the other, lifting both in the worship of the God who is worthy of our stubborn trust, complete obedience, and unceasing praise.”
H.B. Charles
“Jesus lost all his glory so that we could be clothed in it. He was shut out so we could get access. He was bound, nailed, so that we could be free. He was cast out so we could approach. And Jesus took away the only kind of suffering that can really destroy you: that is being cast away from God.”
Timothy Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering
Discussion Questions
- Have you experienced what H.B. Charles referred to as ambidextrous faith where you needed – and were able – to “hold blessings in one hand & trouble in the other”?
- Have you had an experience where, though you had to experience suffering, you can now see that it worked for good? Was this obvious in the moment too, or only in hindsight? Given this experience, do you think you might recognize & approach a future instance of suffering differently?
- As we seek to be stewards of God’s grace over the coming week, can you think of two specific things you can do to show God’s grace to people over the coming several days? Try to think of two types of action: something you can say & some act of service you can perform, to follow through in both word & deed.
No one wants to suffer, but when believers do suffer, they can trust God for their own comfort and sustenance, they can bless and comfort others as they themselves have been comforted, and they can make a powerful statement to the watching world that the God who is faithful in the easy places is still faithful in the difficult places, and is worthy of worship in all places.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
1 Peter 4:19