A Christian is One Whose Life is a Sermon
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesINTRODUCTION: 1 Pet. 2:11-3:7.
1. The purpose of our lesson this evening is to show the importance and power of Christian influence.
2. There is great power in influence for good or for bad.
1) There is power for evil in the wrong kind of influence. It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles?that a man has his father’s wife 6Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1 Cor. 5:1, 6)
2) There is also power for good in the right kind of influence. (Cf. Matt. 5:13-16). Indeed, none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. (Rom. 14:7).
3. The Christian uses his life and influence for the glory of God. Peter says, Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. (1 Pet. 2:12, NRSV
4. This lesson will deal with four areas of life where the Christian preaches by the life that he lives.
DISCUSSION:
I. THE CHRISTIAN ABSTAINS FROM FLESHLY LUSTS–1 Pet. 2:11.
1. What are “fleshly lusts?”
1) “Lust” means uncontrolled desire. James describes what this leads to in James 1:12-16. 12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved (James 1:12-16, NRSV).
2) In Peter’s writings, “flesh” refers to the human nature apart form God. It is life without the standards, help, grace, and influence of the Lord.
2. The Christian will abstain from practices that will lead to the destruction of Christianity in one’s life.
3. The motives for abstaining are several:
1) First, “fleshly lusts” war against the soul. 26″For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 16:26).
2) Second, in Christ we have staked our claim on eternity. John says, 1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3).
a. Since our citizenship is in heaven, we must set our minds on eternal principles–not on earthly things (Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:1-4).
b. Doing this will make us want to be pure, because He is pure!
3) Third, we have already discussed how to stay clean in a polluted world. If you remember, Peter said that we must lead holy lives. That means to be set apart by God for a sacred purpose. 4as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
II. THE CHRISTIAN SILENTLY PREACHES GOOD CITIZENSHIP–1 Pet. 2:13-17.
1. Christians were often falsely accused of being law-breakers. these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king?Jesus.” 8And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. (Acts 17:7-8).
1) Truthfully, however, Christians recognize civil authority as sanctioned by God (cf. Rom. 13:1-7).
2) In order to obey God, one must respect civil authority (1 Pet. 21:13).
3) Submission to civil authority would put to silence such ignorant accusations (1 Pet. 2:15).
2. Christians could not use “liberty” as a license to violate either God’s law or man’s law (1 Pet. 2:16).
1) With liberty there is great responsibility and accountability.
2) “Freedom” is never “free”–somebody pays for it. In this case, Christ paid for it.
3. The Christian always reconizes one law as superior to human authority, namely, God’s law (Acts 5:29).
1) When there is a clear conflict between God’s law and man’s law, where doing the one means disobeying the other, we must take our stand with God’s law.
2) Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:28-29).
III. THE CHRISTIAN’S BUSINESS LIFE IS ALSO A SILENT SERMON–1 Pet. 2:18-24.
1. Though framed in the language of slavery, the principles outlined in the New Testament call for a couple of things.
1) First, there must be respect (1 Pet. 2:18-19).
a. Let employer show it for employee.
b. Let employee show it for employer.
2) Second, there is the dignity of work.
a. All is done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
b. Work is not done for any earthly master, or for personal prestige, or for money; work, by the the Christian, is done for God!!
2. Let both the Christian employer and employee remember the power of a godly life (1 Pet. 2:12).
IV. THE POWER OF THE GODLY LIFE IN THE HOME–1 Pet. 3:1-7.
1. Peter acknowledges the possibility of the wife being unable to teach, by words, her unbelieving husband (1 Pet. 3:1).
1) There is absolutely no hint in this text, or any other, that a woman should not attempt to teach by words. In fact, there is no such thing in the Bible as a totally silent example.
2) It is always lips and lives, preach and practice, walk the talk, etc.
3) Men must obey the word (1 Pet. 3:1; 1:22-25).
4) The wife may not be able to persuade her husband with what she says. In such cases, Peter says that her godly life may do what her words did not do. There is the beauty of holiness!
2. The wife is to be in subjection to her husband (1 Pet. 3:5).
3. The husband is to respect the wife (1 Pet. 3:7).
CONCLUSION:
1. “The best argument for Christianity is a real Christian.”
2. The Christian preaches partly by what he says, and–as we have emphasized this evening–partly by what he does (Matt. 5:16).
3. Poem: “The Gospel According to You.”
You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do,
By the words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true,
Say! What is the gospel,
According to YOU?
4. Jesus stressed the positive effect we can have on others when He referred to Christians as “salt” and “light.”
1) Salt is negative, and keeps things from decay.
2) Light is positive, and enables us to see. Sin blurs the light, and sometimes causes it to go out completely. If so, those we might have influenced for good may drift on in spiritual darkness.
On a dark and stormy night, with waves piling up like mountains on Lake Erie, a boat rocked and plunged near the Cleveland harbor. “Are we on course?” Asked the captain, seeing only one beacon from the lighthouse. “Quite sure, sir,” replied the officer at the helm “Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir.” “Can we make the harbor?” “We must, or perish!” Came the reply. With a steady hand and a stalwart heart, the officer headed the ship toward the land.
But, in the darkness, he missed the channel and the vessel was dashed to pieces on the rocks. Many lives were lost in a watery grave. This incident moved Philip P. Bliss to write the familiar hymn, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.”