sermon from September 5

MISSION 1: Hope for Our Lives

I Peter 1:3-13

Series on “Our Mission”

As we begin a new season of ministry, we want to reflect on our mission which is to “live for the glory of God and the good of Taipei.” This means finding a new hope for our lives, our families, our work, our city and for the poor. We desire to be a community that grows as followers of Christ in the world who cultivate this hope. I Peter was written to Christians in the first century who were facing growing persecution. How can we find the hope that sustained them?

NEW BIRTH

• “In his great mercy he has given us new birth.”
• All Christians are “born again”… whether they come from religious or non-religious backgrounds.’ It comes to us as a gift because of “His great mercy.

LIVING HOPE

• Our hope takes place between “the resurrection” and “the revelation of Jesus Christ revealed in the last day.”
• Our hope is largely in the future.

GROWTH AFTER NEW BIRTH

• The good news is so exhilarating that “angels long to look” at it.
• We grow through finding his grace in trials, but also by rehearsing the good news of God’s love in Christ to us in our ordinary days.
• We are also not only saved from something, but to something. Vs. 13: “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.” All of us, no matter what our occupations are called to do this!

HOW WE ARE BORN AGAIN

• Through the word of God, vs. 23
• Through the suffering of another

Note: Some material has been drawn from Richard Bewes “Easter Confidence”; Andy Crouch, “Culture Making”, Tim Keller, “The Gospel, Hope and the World”

TABLE TALK: Over a meal talk about where you are in your relationship with Christ. What does it mean to be born again? Have you been born again? What does it mean to be saved “from” something and saved “to” something? Talk about what this means in your life.

Listen to the sermon online