Faith, hope and Suffering?
Sermon 6: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Open Doors is an organisation that supports the persecuted Church and informs Christians throughout the world about the plight of persecuted Christians. The organize one Sunday a year and ask Churches to pray for the persecuted Christians: Sunday for the persecuted Church.
I support this effort and set this Sunday apart for us to do exactly that.
This morning’s outline is simple and with follow Peter’s discussion of suffering for Christ’s sake in 1 Peter 2:19-25. My outline is simple: It starts with A CHALLENGE 2:11-12, A CONVICTION 2:19-20, and A CALLING 2:21-25.

A Challenge 11-12
Peter calls his reader’s beloved and then points them to consider their walk and God’s calling for them to be strangers (he’s already called them that in chapter 1)... act like it. What is the challenge: let the unsaved see you walk, so that they might glorify God. This is quite the challenge and here is the aim… evangelism. Living life in front of a watching sea of unbelievers.

A Conviction 19-20
Here is the central matter… suffering is evidence of grace. We don’t think like that. But the persecuted Church teaches us to bring things into a proper perspective. Suffering for Christ may not be fun, but it does give you Joy. You don't suffer alone, because the Holy Spirit comforts us when we suffer. Jesus said it and Peter repeats it: blessed are the persecuted… it is a blessing and not a curse. Grace and not defeat.

A Calling 21-25
Walk like Jesus. Where did Christ's walk take him? To the cross. Should we expect anything less if we are following in his footsteps? Pick up your cross, Jesus said.