What if God... Uses Sinners? (1 Peter 4:7-11)
Below is the manuscript from Sunday’s sermon. You can catch the audio and video here.
Next week, we’ll resume our study through Galatians. But this morning, I’ll finish up a three part vision series entitled, “What if God…? We’ve been walking through these three questions together:
How do we demonstrate right here - at this moment, in this meeting, that we believe the real ministry of the gospel is one of prayer?
How do we encourage one another - right here, right now - to be God’s means of reaching our neighbors with the gospel?
How can we seize this very moment - as well as the rest of our week - to care with one another through the gospel?
What if we took these to heart? What if God really heard and worked through our prayers? What if He would really use us to reach our neighbors? And, for today, what if He really works and renews our brothers and sisters - through us? What if we really believed all these things - and our lives showed it?
And especially during these days that have been dark. Last weekend, my wife Amy and I had the opportunity to tag along with Bobby and Laura to a Phoebe Bridgers concert. Now, if you don’t know her music, it’s what you’d call gloomy. She writes catchy melodies. But her lyrics can be depressing.
And at risk of painting unfair stereotypes, you could have known that before the show started. It’s like you had to do three things to get in to the show: present your ticket, show your vaccine card, and yes, wear clothing that was ALL BLACK. And, looking around, it seemed like a big part of the crowd were around the age of my almost-16-year-old daughter. But it was a pretty epic show. So no shame here.
Anyway, I was thinking about some of the big hits when I was her age. One was by the band R.E.M. You’ve probably heard it. “It’s the End of the World As We Know it.” Now I could try to chant through it for you now, but I know I’d end up sounding like Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy. A couple of years later, artist Billy Joel rode their coattails with his hit song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” It featured more mindless chanting - although it does make a bit more sense than R.E.M.’s tune. Those were two of the big anthems of my high school days. With pretty much the same theme.
Well, the past couple of years have felt like the end of the world. But I think that may say more about us. If America is having to go through this - if I even have to suffer this way - surely this is all about over. Right? But in a real sense it also rings true. Life is hard - in a fallen world. It seems like everything around us is on fire. Life has been even harder - as this virus has surged across the earth. It’s felt like this is next level. That the end is near.
Notice what the apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 4, verse 7: “The end of all things is at hand.” He says back then - and it still applies today - the end is nigh. And it’s not like he’s saying, “Jesus will for sure show up tomorrow - in glory - in the clouds.” No. And that’s not what we’re supposed to hear, either, today. He’s saying this: everything essential in God’s salvation story has taken place - Christ’s coming, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His outpouring of the Spirit on the Church. It’s all happened. And now we wait - until the day of His return, when He’ll resurrect our bodies and restore our world. He’ll rid the world of all this sickness - of all of this pain - all this darkness. Peter says, right now, we’re living in the last days.
But we don’t just sit there, staring up into the clouds. Do we? How do we live when it’s the end of the world? Peter tells us here what to do. How to live. And it’s kind of shocking - at how simple it is. We care for one another with the gospel. We live as gospel community together.
Now the outline I’ll follow today is similar to the first couple of weeks in this series. We’ll look at what family life looks like in the last days. We’ll talk about why we resist it so much. We’ll talk about what we miss out on as we do. We’ll think about what we need to get back on track. And we’ll close again imagining and praying about what it would look like if we cared for one another in this way.
What Family Life Looks Like
First, what family life looks like in the last days. How should we live? What does Peter, inspired by the Spirit, call us to here? What’s needed - to not just survive but even thrive? There are four things the Lord calls us to. And I’m struck at how relevant they are. And that starts with the first.
First, clear minds. Wow. Timely, huh? Here Peter takes two words here in verse 7 and stacks them upon each other. The first focuses on being reasonable, being sensible. The second emphasizes what it says - not being drunk or foolish. Both words can actually be translated as “self-controlled.” Together, they give this picture of having a clear mind. To love each other well - to serve each other well, we can’t be dazed and confused.
Here Peter gives a reason - “for the sake of your prayers.” If that’s the most important thing we can do - what we talked about the first week in this series - we have to be in the right state of mind to do it well. Having the right priorities. The right vision for what is true, good, and beautiful. The proper understanding of the real needs of our brothers and sisters. To love each other well, we have to have clear minds.
Second, affectionate hearts. Listen again to verse 8. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” What’s important? It’s no surprise. It’s love. Through our actions. Also in our hearts. We’re to love each other “earnestly.” Persistently. Passionately. With perseverance. With intensity.
This statement is also qualified, explained further, by Peter. “Since love covers a multitude of sins.” This is an almost-exact-quote from Proverbs 10:12. Love doesn’t go around looking for things to get mad about. It doesn’t drag things up from the past. It’s eager to overlook offenses. To not even bring them up. Affectionate hearts don’t want to accuse. That’s what Satan does. We want to speak the words of Jesus. Especially now - as tired and weak as we are.
Third, open homes. Verse 9 says, “Show hospitality with one another without grumbling.” Isn’t this striking? It’s the end of the world as we know it. What are we supposed to do? Invite people over. Cook them some good food. Laugh. Pray. Cry. Love.
Peter says, “Show hospitality.” And he says to do it without grumbling. Even on our best days, we have to fight against that. But in days like these, it seems even harder. Because we’re out of practice, aren’t we? We’ve all been closed up for a bit too long. It’s too easy to grumble - especially now. But God calls us away from that - to welcome one another into our homes - in love. Karis, I know we’re all in different places, and this still can be complicated, but we desperately need to be in each other’s presence again. To even take some risks to do so.
Fourth, generous lives. We hear about gifts God has given us in verses 10 and 11. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” The Lord has been so generous to us, hasn’t He? He’s given us gifts - through His grace, it says - His Karis. In fact, the Greek word for gift is karisma. Within the word gift itself is the idea of grace. And we’re meant to pass it to others. To not hoard them for ourselves. But to use those gifts. To serve one another. As, Peter says, we’re “stewards,” we’re managers of the grace we’ve been given.
This grace he calls “varied.” We’ve all been given different gifts. One body - many parts - as we see elsewhere in the Bible. Each gift meant for the common good. We need each other - and the diverse gifts we bring to the table.
But here, really two categories are mentioned. Right? Speaking and serving. Speaking definitely includes what I’m doing now, but I don’t think it’s limited to that. As I speak, or you do, we’re to speak the “oracles of God” - meaning we faithfully proclaim what God says - the gospel - and not just our musings or babblings. When we serve one another, what does it say? We serve “by the strength that God supplies.” Speaking or serving, we rely upon Him.
We all serve. We all speak. But most of us are more inclined toward one more than the other. The point, though - is those gifts are given for one another - and, as it says here, not for our glory - but for His. What are we supposed to do at the end of the world - when things around us look like a dumpster fire? Speak the gospel. Use our words. Show the gospel. Let our deeds speak. That’s what God calls us to do. Our muscles may have atrophied just a bit. But let’s stretch our legs again. And get back to it. He is faithful. He will do it.
So let’s think about this list - clear minds, affectionate hearts, open homes, generous lives. What’s Peter commanding? Normal stuff. The strange thing about them is that they’re not strange. Right? What’s all of this about? We’re caring for one another with the gospel. Aren’t we? We’re seeking to be formed by His Spirit, by His word - getting our minds clear - with turmoil all around us. And we’re trying to live as family together and love each other well. With whatever God has provided - our houses, our muscles. With all our our hearts. This is gospel community. And it’s been a big part of our vision - and experience as Karis - since the very beginning.
Let me tell you what this kind of life looks like. This past Friday, our women had a fellowship night at the Lookout Farm. A few years back, two sisters, Kelly and Kimie, opened up this business. And they, with their husbands, Ryan and Aaron, moved to the country, and began growing lavender. But almost from the beginning it’s been a family business at a whole other level. They both have pretty large, extended families. But I’m talking about the wider Karis family. In the early years, their Karis brothers and sisters were out there, helping out, giving extra hands, words of encouragement, during the busier seasons.
But then, everything seemed to catch on fire. Aaron and Kimie realized one night that their infant daughter wasn’t doing well. They rushed her to the hospital. And before they even knew it, days turned into weeks and into months - eventually a year. Living at at hospital, in Saint Louis, waiting for a heart transplant for baby Jane.
Well, during that time, all sorts of family and friends - and many Karis folks - pitched in and helped. The Missional Communities of both families spent a lot of time out there. Prepping, planting, harvesting - the serving part. But also, the speaking part - cards, gifts, words of encouragement, meals - visits outside at the hospital. Of course, this was also during a global pandemic.
Now I know that this was a dark, dark time for the couple - for the two families - really. But I know they’d say they weren’t alone. Because they were surrounded with gospel family. That’s the vision Peter gives us here. And not just when things are easy. Especially when things are hard.
Why We Resist this Life
Second, I want us to think about why we resist this - and miss out - on this life. I think we could point to at least four things. We first don’t see our responsibility. We think of ourselves as individuals - especially in America. We don’t tie ourselves to a community - where our good rises and falls with the common good. But that isn’t the picture of God’s people we see in the New Testament. It’s definitely not the life the early church lived together. God wants you and I to link up with gospel family and feel ownership, responsibility.
We second don’t look for opportunity. We can be so self-absorbed, can’t we? Stuck in our own worlds. Thinking about our needs. I’m a big basketball guy. You can’t see people open when you’re dribbling with your head down, staring at the ball. The gospel changes our orientation. We become more others-centered and focused. Our eyes are up. And we’re watchful. We’re aware of those around us. And we’re looking for their hurts, for how we can help. We’re thinking about their needs, and how we can meet them.
We third shy away from vulnerability. When we seek to love, we’ll no doubt end up getting hurt. When we open up ourself to be loved, we’ll also for sure experience pain. We’re afraid of that. So we keep ourselves closed off. But I love these words from C.S. Lewis. No possibility of pain - no chance of gain.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” (C.S. Lewis)
We fourth run far from adversity. Loving one another requires sacrifice. It hurts. No doubt. And especially now - when we’re still smarting from the past couple of years. We feel like we can’t handle our own struggles, much less those around us. But God wants us to press through - and to draw upon His strength. Our brothers and sisters around us need us. Desperately.
What We Really Miss Out On
Third, I want us to briefly consider what we miss out on running from this family. Two really big categories. Being formed and deepened. Being known and loved.
Being formed and deepened. Living in gospel family - making ourselves vulnerable, wandering into struggle - that’s how God grows us, how He takes us deeper in the gospel. Not just as we receive from others. But as we give to others. We are stretched. We’re brought out of ourselves and our own resources and into the mercy of God. And ultimately we receive from Him. By missing out on gospel family, we miss out on change.
Being known and loved. This is tragic. We all want to be a part of family. We want - even if it’s really hard - to be fully known - all our hopes, dreams, loves, passions. But even all of our sins, struggles, blemishes, warts. We want to be known - not for who we wish we were or who we hope to one day be. Known for who we are right now. And accepted in that. Loved. Deeply. Passionately. Not feeling like if we don’t keep up the act, people will drop us or move on. Known. Loved. In family. Until Jesus does return.
By not being in gospel community, we rob ourselves of blessing, of joy, of healing, of hope. Here’s one thing I feel that I have to say, and I’ll be saying this to some who’ll just be watching on the screen. Friends, brothers and sisters, I know this time has been hard. But it’s time to come back. Or we’re not going to make it through. This family is God means to make you more like Him, to keep you secure in Him. I know it’s not easy. I know the pandemic’s not over. But for your sake, for our sake, come back.
What We Need to Recover
Fourth, I want to talk about what we need to get back on track. There’s a lot I could say. But how do we get back to the kind of life Peter talks about here? We can yell at ourselves in the mirror. “Get back in church!” We could yell at each other. “You need community!” But that ultimately won’t change our hearts. Here are three thoughts. First, we need to be awakened by the gospel. I talk about this all the time. We need our hearts revived, remembering and really feeling what God has done for us in Christ. We can yell at ourselves all we want, but this has to sink in. And spill out around us.
Think about this. Jesus, the wise one, the most clear-headed man ever and forever, poured out His heart, His whole life, for us. What’s hospitality? It’s welcome. We’ve been welcomed by our Father through Jesus. Hear these words from our “One Read” by Dane Ortlund.
“When we take the gospels as a whole and consider the composite picture given to us of who Jesus is, what stands out most strongly?
Yes, he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes and longings (Matt. 5:17). Yes, he is one whose holiness causes even his friends to fall down in fear, aware of their sinfulness (Luke 5:8). Yes, he is a mighty teacher, one whose authority outstripped even that of the religious PhDs of the day (Mark 1:22). To diminish any of these is to step outside of vital historic orthodoxy. But the dominant note left ringing in our ears after reading the Gospels, the most vidid and arresting element of the portrait, is the way the Holy Son of God moves toward, touches, heals, embraces, and forgives those who least deserve it yet truly desire it.” (Dane Ortlund)
This is Jesus. What He’s done for us. Saw us as His responsibility. Said yes to the opportunity. Showed us what vulnerability looks like. Dove face first into adversity. All for us. We have to pray this would grab and change our hearts.
Second, we need to be shaped by the gospel. One of the best books I’ve read in some time is The J Curve by Paul Miller. He argues in the book that we get justification by faith - that if we trust Jesus, we’re right with Him. We get the substance of the gospel. But we don’t get its shape. We have no idea how to live it out.
Look at Philippians 3, verse 9 and 10.
Phil. 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Phil. 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Miller says we can understand verse 9, justification by faith. Being found in Him. We can believe in the gospel. But he says we have no idea what to do with verse 10 - becoming like the gospel. We can grasp faith. We struggle with love.
He uses the illustration of two historic Christian leaders to make His point. He talks about Martin Luther who understood how we are right with God, who had confidence in Christ and His cross, but who ended his ministry angry and even racist. He talks also about Mother Theresa who poured out her life, giving herself to the least of these, but who suffered from extreme anxiety regarding the state of her soul. Miller says we have to have both - justification by faith. And what He calls the “J Curve.” Faith and love.
The J pictures the act of dying with Jesus and rising with Jesus. This is over a lifetime, but also in a million mini-acts before that day. We take on pain. And we sacrifice ourselves and experience resurrection in Him. We give of ourselves.
Now you need to read the book. And you can guarantee I’ll talk about it more. But our problem is we want to talk about the gospel, but it’s another thing to live it out. We not only need the foundation of justification by faith. We need the J-curve. We need to embrace the gospel’s shape. Community is where that really happens. Where we really learn to love.
Third, we have to be reminded of reality. What has this season taught us? That this could be the end of our time in the world. That we’ve taken life for granted. We’ve bought into this illusion, this delusion, that life isn’t that brief. And that we don’t need to live with much urgency. You and I - we could be in our last days. What should we be up to? The things we see here.
But again, as I started, we’re living in the last days. Peter says, “the end of all things is at hand.” Jesus could return. What does He want to find us doing? The things we see here. Think about this. Peter is writing to believers who are suffering in the Roman Empire. He himself would later die a martyr’s death for our Lord. He’s saying - in these last days - in these tough days - live in the ways we see here. Be gospel family for one another. Peter’s words are built for days like this - for even worse days. In these trials, the answer isn’t to do something extra or more. It’s to get back to these basics - to “gospeling” one another.
We’ve always needed these things. We’ve always been meant to live them out. But we need them more than ever - as do those around us. You might have seen the photo my wife posted on Facebook this past week - the last known photo of a fire truck, Ladder 118 of FDNY, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge toward the World Trade Center.
The photo shows both towers burning. But those firefighters drove toward them anyway. And no one on the truck returned. They perished just minutes later. That’s what Jesus calls us to. To go and die. With the hope of the resurrection. In the darkest hour. When everything is burning. For our brothers and sisters. Church, this is our calling - our calling right now. Today. I know we’ve all felt some emotional motion sickness - in these, the last days. Let’s care for one another.
What Gospel Family in Action Could Look Like
Fifth, what would it look like if we believed this? Now to be clear, God has been so good to us here in Karis. I’ve never experienced gospel family like I have here, and I know many of you would say the same thing. But let’s dream a bit together, especially coming out of this hard season. What would it look like if we cared for one another in the gospel, in the way we see here? Here are some ideas.
Sitting across a table at a coffee shop, listening to someone’s heart and gently reminding them of Jesus and what He’s done.
Texting someone a Bible verse or other word of encouragement - maybe even some snail mail.
Taking a walk on a trail, spending time in God’s creation, and helping carry a brother or sister’s burden along the way.
Seizing whatever life stage God has us in - serving with your free-er time as a single, counseling during playdates as a new parent, modeling grace over dinner as empty-nesters.
Praying through a prayer list and reminding those on the list how much you care.
Finding people sitting alone here in the auditorium, and asking them how they’re really doing.
Staying up late, after your MC gathering, helping a brother or sister navigate a hard situation.
Being the first to confess sin during your DNA group, modeling it to your peers, inviting them to do the same.
Taking advantage of breaks at work or school to call friends and remind them you care.
Utilizing the technology we’ve all learned to use to encourage our family God has taken overseas.
Stopping by the hospital - even if you have to stand outside - reminding a sister that you’re with her and are praying for her.
Giving tired parents a date night, watching their kids, and praying over them when they come home.
Prepping a discussion of our Gentle and Lowly book and sharing it with your MC.
Dropping off a meal - or emailing a grub hub card - to a weary mother, nurse, or student.
Taking along a young brother to do errands - encouraging him with the gospel in the produce aisle.
Just some ideas. Of how we can be more and more about caring for one another with the gospel. What if we really believed this things? And practiced it? Even today?
Dreaming About Gospel Family
Here’s that third question again: How can we seize this very moment - as well as the rest of our week - to care with one another through the gospel? Let’s conclude in the same way we have the previous couple of weeks. Let’s start by doing some imagining. Close your eyes, bow your heads, if you don’t mind.
What would it look like, in your daily life, to be about “gospeling” those around you? And being “gospeled” yourself?
Now think about Karis as a whole. What would it look like if we really believed this? And lived it out? Let’s close with prayer. Let’s ask God to do this work in us.