Sermon: 1 Peter 5: 1-14 True Grace

What do you find when you open your postbox or stoop to lift the post from the mat at your front door? You’re likely to find a whole series of different items, each sent with a particular purpose.

You might have some of those glossy leaflets showcasing the special offers at a local supermarket - their purpose is to make you buy your groceries from them. You might find an official looking envelope, with a bill inside it - their purpose is to get you to pay up. There might be a postcard sent by a friend from their exotic holiday (which maybe arrived after they’ve got home again!) - their purpose is to let you know that they’re having a great time. And you might have wedding invitations, or birthday cards, or a little hand written note.

This evening we’re coming to the end of Peter’s first letter. And as we’ve been reading along, week by week, perhaps you’ve been wondering what his purpose has been. Why did he write this letter? Well, you don’t need to wonder any more. You see, he tells us there in verse 12: ‘With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.’

In this brief letter he is writing to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God - and therefore stand fast in it. If you’ve been with us over recent weeks, you’ll hopefully have heard and experienced that encouragement. We’ve seen how Peter reminds us that Christians are God’s elect, strangers in the word. We have been chosen by God, made his children, saved by him through Jesus. But that means that we are strangers in the world. We stand out and are different. It can be hard to live like that; the temptation is to blend in. But Peter wants to encourage us in our Christian life. And he does that by confirming that this really is the true grace of God that we need to stand fast in.

Those twin themes of encouragement and true grace have been seen throughout the letter. But they are particularly clear in this final section as Peter addresses the elders, and then the young men, and then everybody. So let’s dive in as Peter turns to the elders, to the leaders of the churches.

‘To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers.’ (1-2).

Peter is speaking to the leaders of the churches, but notice that he doesn’t pull rank here. He doesn’t command them as an apostle speaking down to the elders. No, he appeals to them, on three grounds - 1. ‘as a fellow elder’ - he is also doing the same thing, he is an elder in his local church, so he knows what he’s talking about; 2. ‘a witness of Christ’s sufferings’ - he has seen up close the cost of Christian leadership, seen in Christ’s own sufferings for his people, as he died on the cross; and 3. ‘as... one who will also share in the glory to be revealed’ - he’s encouraging us that hardship now leads to glory then; that the struggle is worth it.

And what are the elders to do? ‘Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers.’ It’s the image of a shepherd with sheep, as he watches over them and cares for them. And Peter then goes on to give some conditions of their shepherding, in a series of ‘not this, but that’:

‘serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.’ (2-3)

So the elders are to serve, not under compulsion because they have to; and not greedy for money; and not lording it over the flock. But rather, they’re to be willing to serve; and eager to serve; and examples to the flock. And notice that church leaders are only undershepherds - not the boss, but working for the Lord who is the chief shepherd.

‘And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.’ What an encouragement to pastors to keep going! It’s not always easy, but that imperishable crown awaits, when the Chief Shepherd appears. Please do pray for me, and for other church leaders - for encouragement, and grace to stand firm in the task.

Young men are to be submissive to those who are older. And that’s ‘in the same way’. But the main word is for everyone. ‘All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ (5-7).

As we relate to one another, we’re not to come across as proud, or put ourselves as high and mighty. Rather, we’re to be clothed in humility. It’s to be a conscious decision, something we do. So, earlier, you decided what to put on, what clothes you would wear. And you’re all looking well! But Peter’s urging us, as you button up your shirt or pull on your skirt, to also decide to put on humility, to be clothed in it.

Why? Because God says in his word that he opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (5, quoting Prov 3:34) God only gives grace to the humble, not to the proud. You see, if you’re proud, you think that you have done it all yourself and you can do it all yourself. You don’t need help, don’t need God. You have no call for grace, if you’re proud. But if you’re humble, if you know your need of grace, then God is glad to give it to you.

We’re to humble ourselves, so that God will lift us up in due time. And we have a great illustration of that tonight as we gather at the Lord’s table. We come humbly, hands open, to receive from God. And we can be confident of God’s goodness. As verse 7 tells us, he cares for us. We can cast all our anxiety (or cares, in the older versions) on him, because he cares for us.

As we look to God, we’re also to be aware of the danger that comes from our enemy. Look at verse 8: ‘Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.’

The devil is likened to a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But we don’t need to be the devil’s devouring. We are to be self-controlled and alert. And we can resist him as we stand firm in the faith. Remind yourself who you are - a child of God; and whose you are - Jesus’ blood bought people.

And Peter reminds us that we’re not alone, not the only ones suffering in this way. The family of God is suffering all over the world. So stand with them. Resist the devil together. That’s why the ending of the New Testament letters are so important. Ofter we might think the last couple of verses have nothing to tell us - they’re just lists of names. But those lists are people sending and receiving greetings; partners in the gospel; sharing together in suffering and encouragement. That reference to Babylon in verse 13 is a codename for Rome, where Peter is, Babylon the name of God’s enemies for a long time.

And the church in Rome, ‘she who is in Babylon, chosen together with you. sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.’ You’re not alone. Christians are in it together, one family, one body, with that one great hope.

And it’s that hope that Peter finishes with. That benediction in verses 10-11 really does summarise the whole letter, as well as Peter’s purpose in writing it. Remember what we’ve seen. Peter is writing to encourage Christians, and to testify to the true grace of God, which we are to stand in. It’s by grace that we are chosen, by grace we are saved, and by grace that we live as strangers in the world. Now listen to the benediction:

‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.’

All grace comes from the God of grace. He has called us to his eternal glory - and so we are his chosen people. but first comes a little while of suffering - because we are strangers. But look at what God will do in the end; how completely we will be transformed; how it will all have been worth it in the end: He will ‘himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’

Stuart Townend sums it up so well in his song ‘There is a hope’. ‘When sufferings cease and sorrows die, and every longing satisfied. Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul, for I am truly home.’

This is the true grace of God. And it’s yours tonight. What an encouragement when life is difficult; when struggles seem unbearable; when you wonder if it would be easier to give up. We have grace now, and grace is our future, because we know the God of all grace.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 21st July 2019.

Sermon: 1 Peter 4: 12-19 Don't be Surprised!

I’ll never forget that night. It was just a normal Sunday evening. My usual routine was to go to the evening service in church, and then cross the street to the church hall where the youth fellowship would shortly begin. But that evening was slightly unusual. The Rector wanted to chat to me after the service. And wanted me to help him clear up. So I chatted, and helped, and then headed over to the hall, a wee bit later than normal. Into the hall, and it was quieter than normal. Opened the door into the room, and got a big surprise. A surprise party for my 21st birthday.

Somehow, they had kept it from me, and I really was surprised. I wasn’t expecting it at all. But imagine the Rector had told me while he was chatting, look, the only reason I’m wanting to talk to you tonight is because I’m stalling you and when you go into the hall there’s going to be a big party - then I wouldn’t have been surprised at all! I would have known what to expect. I would have known what was coming.

In our reading tonight, Peter wants his first readers - and us as well - to not be surprised. But it isn’t something like a surprise birthday party that he’s telling us about. Rather, it’s something much less pleasant than that. Look at verse 12: ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.’

Now, maybe when you hear words like ‘painful trial’ and ‘suffering’, you are surprised. You might think to yourself - this doesn’t sound great. That wasn’t what I signed up for when I became a Christian. I was promised life, and joy, and peace, and hope. Health, wealth and happiness. So why is Peter talking about painful trials that his readers and suffering? And he thinks we shouldn’t be surprised if we’re going through them? He thinks we should think it normal, not strange for these things to be happening? What’s going on?

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working our way through this letter. And the summary of the whole letter is summed up in the second line of 1:1. ‘To God’s elect, strangers in the world.’ The amazing truth is that if you are a Christian, you are God’s elect - you have been chosen by him, and made his child, and you have an imperishable inheritance waiting for you. That’s what Peter tells us about up until 2:10.

But being God’s elect means that we are also ‘strangers in the world.’ And that’s what we’ve seen since 2:11. We are in the world, but we are not of the world; we are different from those around us; and we are to live differently from those around us. We are to abstain from sinful desires, and instead to live such good lives among the pagans. And doing those two things together will mean that we stick out like healthy thumbs in a world of sore thumbs.

And because we are different, and distinct, and because we stick out, the truth is that we may well undergo trials. Painful trials. Various kinds of trials (1:6) And when these trials come along - whether it’s severe persecution as Christians in North Korea might face, or the kinds of things that we might face as believers - pressure, or mockery, or opposition - when these trials come along, we might be tempted to think, I didn’t sign up for this!

But Peter is telling us that suffering goes with the job. To be a Christian is to face some kind of trial or suffering. We shouldn’t be surprised about that. Now, maybe it does seem strange to us because we’ve been living in a strange situation, whereby we live in a so-called Christian country, with the last trappings of Christian privilege. But suffering shouldn’t seem strange to us. And it looks like the UK and Ireland are changing rapidly - bringing in a new state religion of secularism.

Now, why does Peter tell us to not be surprised when suffering comes? You might think he’s a pessimist or maybe even a realist. But his purpose is actually to encourage us in our sufferings. He does it in three ways:

Firstly, in verse 13, he calls us to find joy in our sufferings. It’s not that we like the pain; that we want the misery. But rather that the sufferings point us to future blessing: ‘But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.’

When we participate in the sufferings of Christ, we will also participate in his glory. The pattern of Christ is our pattern too - suffering now, glory later. So when we are going through suffering, we are to keep an eye on the future - the suffering won’t last forever. Jesus will have the last word, when his glory is revealed. So think of the future blessing.

Secondly, in verse 14, we should also focus on current blessings. ‘If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.’

When suffering comes, and when insults and opposition comes, it can seem as if we’re all alone. It might appear as if the whole world is against us. But we are never alone. We have the Holy Spirit with us, resting on us. Even though these people say all kinds of bad things about you, their word is not final; their say does not matter. What matters is God’s opinion - his word is blessing, guaranteed by the gift of the Spirit.

Thirdly, in verses 15-16, we’re to know whose we are. You see, it’s not just any and every kind of suffering Peter is talking about. It would be a disgrace to suffer as a a murderer or thief or criminal, or even as a meddler. But to suffer as a Christian - for that to be the reason you’re passed over for promotion at work; or to be sidelined from your friends; or to be teased (or worse) in the community - this is no disgrace, you shouldn’t be ashamed about that; rather, Peter says, it’s a reason to praise God that you bear that name.

What a privilege it is to bear the name of a Christian; to be united with Christ, to live as one of his chosen exiles. And yet, as we’ve been seeing over these weeks, it’s not easy. The world is watching. We need grace to live up to the name, to show our faith by our deeds.

The story goes of Alexander the Great, the Greek military general who had conquered almost the entire known world by the age of 30, who had a soldier brought before him on the charge of stealing a horse. What is your name, he asked the soldier. ‘Alexander’ came the reply. Here’s what Alexander the Great replied: ‘Soldier, change your name or change your conduct.’ He didn’t want someone to share his name and act in such a way. We bear the name of Christ, we are his - and we need to remember this in our suffering.

When sufferings come, we’re not to be surprised at them. Rather we’re to find encouragement here as we look to future blessing; current blessing; and remember whose we are. And these are especially important when we look around at the world and wonder why things are the way they are. How come Christians are the most persecuted religious group according to the report launched in Parliament the other day? How come those who persecute and oppose Christians seem to get away with it, and might even have a better life?

Peter says that we are already experiencing the testing that all will eventually face. For us, it will be a refining fire (just as he had said back in 1:7) to prove the genuineness of our faith. We already know the outcome of the judgement us sure, because we are God’s chosen. But how will others face judgement?

Can you imagine living a life of ease now, persecuting God’s people, thinking you have it made, thinking you’re on the right side of history, only to discover on that day of judgement that you’ve been wrong; that you missed the path of life - in fact, the very people you were persecuting and opposing were in the right all along?

‘For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it beings with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”’ (17-18)

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been listening in as Peter addresses the theme of living as strangers in the world - what it will look like, and what it will mean for us. We’ll stick out; and we’ll suffer in some way. But Peter gives us the encouragement to keep going; considering the future blessing, the current blessing, and remembering whose we are. And our last verse summarises this whole section:

‘So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.’ (19)

God is faithful. He won’t let you down. He is with you. And on that you can depend. Commit yourself to him; and continue to do good.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 14th July 2019.

Sermon: 1 Peter 4: 1-11 Time's Up

I wonder if you’ve heard of the Time’s Up movement? It was launched in 1st January 2018 by Hollywood celebrities in response to the allegations surrounding the movie director Harvey Weinstein, #MeToo, and the casting couch culture. Over the past year and a half, the campaign has broadened from Hollywood to every sector of society, and every industry. Here’s what they say front and centre on the website: ‘The clock has run out on sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace. It’s time to do something about it.’

We’re familiar with the idea of the clock running out, of time being up - whether it’s on the sports field, or an egg timer, or sitting an exam. When time’s up, then it’s done, finished, completed. And this campaign says that Time’s Up for sexual assault, harassment and inequality. Those bad things shouldn’t happen any more; they should be finished.

That’s what’s driving the Time’s Up movement; and it’s also what is driving our reading tonight in 1 Peter. Long before the Hollywood celebrities were writing their open letter in the New York Times, the apostle Peter was writing his letter to say that the time’s up.

As we’ve seen in recent weeks, Peter’s letter is to people he describes as ‘God’s elect, strangers in the world.’ (1:1) That is, as Christians we are God’s elect, chosen by him, and brought near to him through the death of the Lord Jesus. But as well as being elect, we are also strangers in the world - we belong to a different kingdom, we’re different to everyone around us; we stand out like healthy thumbs in a world of sore thumbs. (h/t to St Helen’s Bishopsgate).

And this whole part of the letter is about living as aliens and strangers in the world. It might involve suffering, but we’re to follow the Lord Jesus’ example; and fear him; and be ready to give an answer for the hope we have - the hope of heaven with Jesus who reigns over all.

So as we get into tonight’s passage, we’ll see how the time’s up for living like the pagans do. But in order to get us there, first Peter gives us the pattern to follow in verses 1-2: ‘Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.’

Jesus is our Saviour, but he is also our example. It’s because Jesus suffered in his body, that we are also to be prepared to suffer in our struggle against sin. Back in 2:11 those sinful desires are warring against your soul; here’s what we’re to arm ourselves with - here’s our weapon against sin - suffering. This isn’t a masochistic kind of thing, as if we enjoy pain; but rather we embrace the cost of following Jesus as we commit ourselves to following him.

And what will it mean to follow Jesus? It means that Time’s Up! Verse 3: ‘For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.’

However much time you devoted to these things in the past, that’s enough time spent doing them. The time’s up - don’t keep doing them the way the pagans continue to do them. And, when you look at the list, it sounds remarkably like our society as well, doesn’t it? The pagans around us choose to do these things, but for the Christian, time’s up.

Here’s another aspect of being aliens and strangers, standing out - because the pagans will notice that we’re not taking part in their activities; that we’re not joining in: ‘They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.’ (4) They notice, they think it strange, and then they heap abuse - all because we don’t plunge into the flood. (Remember he spoke about Noah a few verses before!)

“Come on and join in,” they’ll say. “Sure, why not? Everybody else is having fun. Who do you think you are, all high and mighty? Are you a holy Joe, too good for all this? Who will know? Who will care?”

Peer pressure on children and teenagers can be particularly high, but peer pressure can still affect older people. Maybe we fear missing out on fun. being thought odd, or a loser. Is time really up? Would it really matter, just this once?

‘But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.’ (5)

They might think it strange that you don’t join in; they might heap abuse on you; but they will have to give account for their actions. The judge is ready; the judgement is coming; and everyone will be judged - both those who are living and those who are dead. That’s why it matters; that’s why it’s time up for us as Christians when we have been saved. How could we continue in sin when Jesus has died for us? We will, sadly, often, every day fall into sin. But how could we gladly plunge into it?

Our answer is the gospel, our only hope. And it’s why the gospel, the good news, was preached to those who have now died. ‘So that they might be judged according to man in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.’ (6) Everyone will die, but those who trust in Jesus live according to God. There is life beyond this life, and as we trust in Jesus we will pass through the judgement safe and secure. Jesus, our Judge is also our Saviour who died for us.

So the time’s up for living for sin. In the rest of our reading tonight, Peter goes on to show that time’s almost up. And just in case that wasn’t clear enough, let me say it again - time itself is almost up. Look at how he puts it in verse 7: ‘The end of all things is near.’ Time is almost up for this life as we know it.

Maybe you’ve caught some of the Women’s World Cup matches on the BBC. Lots of goals have been scored in the last few minutes of the games. Why is that? When time is short, it clarifies and concentrates the mind! Or, to something more serious than football - when the doctor says someone has years, or months, or weeks, or days to live, doesn’t it clarify the things that really matter?

That’s what Peter is saying here. Time is almost up; the end of all things is near. Jesus is returning (as we heard this morning). So how should we live, knowing time’s almost up?

‘Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.’ (7-9)

We need to be clear minded (sober minded, as some versions put it), thinking clearly, knowing what’s going on. We need to be self-controlled, not losing the run of ourselves. Why? So that you can pray.

We need to love each other deeply (as he has also said in 1:22 and 3:8), and offer hospitality to one another - without grumbling! Why do these things? Why give ourselves in service to one another when the time’s short? Because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Finally, because my time is almost up, and time itself is almost up, Peter urges each of us to use the gift God has given to us - to serve others.You see, God gives us gifts, not for ourselves, but for each other’s benefit. His gifts are given to build one another up, ‘faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’

He mentions two examples, but there could be many, many more. ‘If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.’

Whatever God has given you, use it for the good of others, and for the glory of God. If that’s speaking, as you share the good news in a growth group or in a youth group or as you stand having a cup of tea after the morning service or when you talk to your nextdoor neighbour - do it as one speaking the very words of God. You are God’s mouthpiece in the situation you find yourself in. You are communicating on behalf of God. So how will you speak? What will you say? Time’s short, remember, it’s almost up.

As you serve, in whatever way that may be here in the church family, don’t just try to do it in your own power. Do it with the strength God provides, for his glory, by his grace. So what are you doing? What could you do? Time’s short, remember, it’s almost up.

What are the opportunities that God is giving you, using the grace gifts he has given you, to make a difference, to share the gospel so that someone else will live according to God when they die? As the summer break continues, and planning begins for the new term, what could you do to build others up and bring others in and stand out like a healthy thumb?

The time’s almost up for life as we know it. Judgement is coming. That must clarify our priorities and hurry us along as we use the grace gifts God has given to us to build one another up. And time is already up for indulging in sin. What do you need to call time on? What do you need to stop? The time’s up. Let’s pray.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 7th July 2019.

Sermon: 1 Peter 3: 1-22 Live in Harmony

The story goes of two young fish swimming along, when they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way. He nods at them and says, ‘Morning boys. How’s the water?’ The two young fish swim on for a while before one of them turns to the other and asks, ‘What is water?’ (David Foster Wallace)

They were living in the water, and swimming in the water, but they didn’t even realise it - it was just so natural and obvious. That story challenges us to think about what we take for granted - the culture and attitudes and opinions we swim in every day, without even realising it. And it’s helpful as a way of reminding us what Peter has been teaching us up to this point.

His letter is all about the fact that Christians are elect strangers; elect exiles; chosen aliens. We are God’s chosen people; but we also find ourselves as aliens and strangers in this world. We belong to another kingdom, another world, and yet we’re remarkably comfortable in the world. But because we are elect, and chosen, we are to live as aliens in the world - to stand out and be different.

Perhaps the best illustration I’ve ever heard was from a preacher from St Helen’s Bishopsgate. You’ve heard of how someone sticks out like a sore thumb. That phrase suggests that a sore thumb is noticeable, that it’s obviously different. But the preacher turned it around - that in a world of sore thumbs, we’re to stick out like a healthy thumb. That we’re obviously different, in a very good way.

Last week, we saw how that is worked out in relation to the state and to our employer/manager. And tonight we see how it makes an impact in our marriages and in our daily life. So let’s look first, at marriage from verse 1:

‘Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.’ (1-2)

Last time, we saw the word ‘submit’ in connection with authority and with masters. And here the word submissive is to characterise marriage. Now, let’s be clear that Peter is not saying that domestic violence or abuse is fine, and he’s not saying to put up with it. Rather, he’s saying that the wife is to submit to her husband, even if he’s not a believer.

It’s obviously better for Christians to marry Christians, but it might happen that the wife has come to faith and her husband hasn’t. What do you do in that situation? Well, what you don’t do is try to nag him into the kingdom - it won’t work! Rather, it’s by winning him to the word without words as he sees your life, characterised by ‘purity and reverence.’

A beautiful life - not skin deep, not focused on externals like braided hair and gold jewellery and fine clothes - but a beautiful inner self, ‘the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.’ (4)

Peter points to Sarah, the wife of Abraham, who was the prototype of this kind of wife. Trusting in God; not giving way to fear. Beauty that doesn’t come from a spa weekend or a salon, but from hope and faith in God.

Now, husbands, if you’ve been daydreaming, the Bible has some words for you too. ‘Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.’ (7)

Remember that Peter was writing in a culture where marriages were probably arranged, almost certainly not for love; where wives may have been seen as property. The Christian husband is to be different - ‘in the same way’ acting considerately (almost submitting, in a sense), loving and respecting them and caring for them. To fail to respect your wife is to hinder your prayers.

Now, maybe some have tuned out entirely, thinking that those verses have nothing for them. Well, here, from verse 8, everyone is in view - this is for you! ‘Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.’ (8-9)

This is how we’re to get on together. Do you see how it’s the same ideas of submitting, loving, being compassionate? We’re to live in harmony with one another. That doesn’t mean we’re all the same, but rather that we fit together, that we ‘gel’ It’s not that we’re all just on one note, but that our notes ‘sing’ together, as we love and care for each other.

Evil will come. Insults will come. The question is - how will we respond to them? Not by returning the same - evil for evil and insult for insult. Rather, we’re called to repay with blessing, seeking the other’s good. We are inheriting blessing, we’re have been blessed - and so blessing is to be our native language. That’s what Psalm 34 directs us to do, it’s how we’re to live out our days.

Why? Because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer. The Lord’s eyes and ears are on his people. He’s with us, and watching out for us as we live for him.

We’re living in this world, in this culture, but we’re to be different, we’re to stick out like healthy thumbs, eager to do what is good. And you’d think that everyone would support your efforts to do good, wouldn’t you? Peter seems to think that as well in verse 13 with that question. ‘But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.’ (14)

You see, when someone has a sore thumb that’s sticking out, or they’re in a support, or in plaster, or on crutches, the normal question is - what happened you? What have you done to yourself? Peter’s saying, though, that we’re to stick out like healthy thumbs in a world of sore thumbs, so that people ask us - why are you like that? How’d you get like that?

We’ll stand out in terms of what we fear. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’ (14) People around us fear all kinds of things - like a bad diagnosis, or death. But we’re not to fear those things - rather we’re to fear God, to set apart Christ as Lord, to live for his honour and glory. And as we do that, we will provoke all kinds of questions.

‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.’ (15-16)

We’re to be ready to give an answer when people ask us about our hope. They’ll see we’re different, and they’ll want to know why. So are you ready with your answer? How come you aren’t afraid of death like everybody else? How come you’re always so joyful? How come you don’t lie and cheat and steal like everybody else in the office?

Now, in case you’re not sure of how you would answer, Peter gives us a reminder in verse 18. For the third time in the letter, he circles round to the cross again. Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. We’ve been saved, and changed. And it’s all because the only good person gave himself for us.

Now, I must confess, that the next few verses are perhaps among the hardest in the New Testament to understand. Commentators and scholars have come up with lots of different possible explanations. Some reckon that that Jesus was opening up heaven to everybody held in prison; or offering another chance. Neither holds any water. The best two options are that Jesus preached through Noah when he was building the ark; or else that Jesus proclaimed his victory (and therefore judgement) in hell between his death and his resurrection, when he descended to the dead.


What is clear is that Noah and his family were saved through water in the ark. And we too are saved through water, in the waters of baptism, when we take hold of the promise by faith. Because Jesus died and was raised, we too live with him. And this is our hope, the hope that sees beyond this life, the hope that affects us in this life; the hope that makes us stick out like healthy thumbs, so that others will be provoked to ask about our hope.

We’re swimming in water; living in a culture we’re very comfortable in, almost entirely unaware of its values and attitudes. But we’re called to be different - responding with blessing and not curse, setting apart Christ as Lord. We may be misunderstood; we may even suffer for it; but this is what we have been called to, because we are inheriting God’s eternal blessing.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 30th June 2019.

Sermon: 1 Peter 2: 11-25 Aliens?

They come in various shapes and sizes and types of life form. They might be friendly, coming in peace; or they might be hostile and dangerous. And they are the feature of many’s a science fiction blockbuster movie. What are they? Aliens. Whether it’s the friendly sort like ET (The Extra-Terrestrial), or the threatening aliens in something like Independence Day, we’re used to the idea of aliens. They are, quite simply, beings who don’t belong, who aren’t from this earth.

I wonder, do you believe in aliens? Do you think that there is intelligent life on other planets? Fairly often, these kinds of surveys are organised, and in one recent one, almost two thirds of people in the UK say that they believe in aliens (of whatever sort they may exist in). Now, whether they’re right or not, I don’t know. But according to the Bible, there is such a thing as an alien, lots of aliens actually, and they are already here. You might be sitting beside one. In fact, you might even be one.

You see, that’s the word that Peter uses to describe the Christians who are reading his letter. Do you see it there in verse 11? ‘Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world...’ Peter is saying that Christians are aliens and strangers in the world. We’re people who don’t quite fit in; different to everyone else; outsiders. We belong to another world, another kingdom, and so we’re seen as alien and strangers.

Now, maybe that seems strange to you, but this is the whole point of Peter’s letter. It’s the reason that he’s writing to Christians - as we see in 1:1. ‘Peter... to God’s elect, strangers in the world...’ Peter is saying that to be a Christian is to be an elect stranger; an elect exile; an elect alien.

Up to this point in the letter, he’s been showing how we are chosen (see 2:9) - how God has chosen us and made us his people and blessed us in so many ways; but from here on he focuses on what it will mean for us to be aliens and strangers in the world. How will we live out our chosenness of God? How will we live in a different and distinct way?

We get the summary statement in verses 11-12, which he then unpacks through the rest of the letter. Here’s what he says: ‘Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’

Because we are aliens and strangers, we are to do two things - one negative, and one positive. The negative: ‘abstain from sinful desires.’ The positive: ‘Live such good lives among the pagans.’

Sometimes in sci-fi films, the aliens are coming to wage war on the earth. And we, as aliens, are in a war - but not against other people, rather our war is against our sinful desires. The particular sinful desires each of us face and fight will be different; but each of us is to fight against them, to abstain from them, to not participate in them. And how do you fight it? You remind yourself of who you are and whose you are - I am God’s chosen child, and have received mercy from him. I am no longer in darkness, but in his wonderful light.

That’s the negative - abstain from sinful desires. And the positive is to ‘Live such good lives among the pagans.’ We’re not to withdraw from society, or become a closed-up community. We’re to be engaged in society, to be out and about among our neighbours and colleagues - living good lives that are seen by them, noticeably different from them - like salt and light, as Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount.

And even if people accuse us of doing wrong, and speak harshly about us, one day they will glorify God - either as they are won to Jesus as God visits them in grace, or as they testify on the day of judgement when God visits them in judgement.

But what will that look like? Peter gives us some case studies, some worked out examples, to show us how to live these good lives among the pagans. The first is in relation to the state.

‘Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.’ (13-14)

So whether there is a king, or parliamentary democracy, or a president, or however the country is organised and ruled, Peter says that we’re to submit ‘for the Lord’s sake.’ The government is there to punish wrongdoing and commend rightdoing, so there should be nothing to fear for the Christian. It is God’s will for us to obey the state, by doing what is right. In this way, we silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Our ultimate loyalty is to God, not to the state. And so, sometimes, there may be things that are legal that are not good; things that the law allows that God doesn’t, and so our loyalty is to God and what he says is good. Do you see that in verse 16? ‘Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.’

And what does God want for his people? For us to show proper respect to all: ‘Love the brotherhood of the believers, fear God, honour the king.’ (17)

From verse 18, Peter turns from our relationship to the state to our relationship to our boss. In the particular culture, the reference is to slaves and masters, but it translates into our working life. So what will it look like to live as an alien in your workplace? ‘Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.’ (18)

At that time, there were obviously different standards in terms of behaviour; slaves were seen as property rather than people; and there weren’t the fair employment and working conditions that we’re used to today. But even now, maybe even in your workplace, there will be good managers and bosses as well as harsh ones. How will we react to them when they mistreat us, or overlook us, or seem to have it in for us?

Peter suggests the way of submission. ‘For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.’ (19=20)

If you’re punished for wrongdoing, then you deserve it. But if you’re punished when you’re done nothing wrong, then how do you react? Rather than running to the papers or the Nolan Show, Peter suggests that you bear it, endure it, because you are conscious of God. God sees, and knows, and commends this type of suffering when it is borne for him, by his chosen aliens.

Now, perhaps you’re thinking to yourself, surely not! I know my rights, and I’m not going to be trodden down by anyone! I’ll not let anyone get the better of me. Quietly suffering? Surely not! You wouldn’t catch me being weak like that.

And in that attitude, we entirely miss the call of God, and the path of Christ. When our world is all about ‘me first’ and ‘my rights’ we’re to stand out and be different, because we belong to Christ Jesus. Do you see how Peter sets out the alternative in verse 21: ‘To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.’

Whatever sufferings we may go through, and however unfair and unjust they seem, none are as unjust as the sufferings of Jesus. Had Jesus insisted on his rights, none of us would stand. But the way of Jesus is the way of the cross - suffering now, and glory later. It’s because Jesus both suffered for us and has given us an example that we hear God’s call to follow in this way, giving up our rights.

To bring out the example of Jesus, Peter quotes directly from Isaiah 53 (in verse 22), but then also paraphrases it in the rest of the chapter. So when Jesus was insulted, he didn’t retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to the just judge, the one who will bring vindication in the end, and right the wrongs we have suffered.

That’s the example we’re to follow, the path we’re to tread. And we’ll find the grace to follow precisely because Jesus suffered for us. For the second time in his letter (1:18-19 and now 2:24-25) Peter focuses in on the cross and reminds us of all that Jesus has done for us.

Paraphrasing Isaiah, he says that Jesus bore our sins in his body on the tree. And what was the purpose? ‘So that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.’ Doesn’t that sound very similar to the summary of verses 11-12 - abstaining from sin and living good lives among the pagans? At the cross we find not just the example of Jesus, but also the motivation of grace in his sacrifice for us. We had been going astray like sheep, but now we’ve returned to the Shepherd.

To see aliens, just look around you. We’re to stand out as we abstain from sinful desires and live good lives - the power comes from the cross of Christ, as we also seek to follow his example.

This sermon was preached in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 23rd June 2019.

Sermon: 1 Peter 1: 1-9 Fruitful - Joy

What do you look like whenever you’re happy? You’ll have a big smile on your face, to show that you’re happy. And what sorts of things make you happy?

There are lots of things that might make you happy:
Not having to go to school tomorrow
ice cream
time with friends
having your favourite dinner
going on holiday
and lots and lots of other things.

So then, what do you look like when you’re unhappy (or sad)? You’ll have a big frown on your face. The smile has turned upside down into a frown. And everyone who looks at you knows that you’re not happy. So what sort of things make you unhappy?

There are lots of things that might make you unhappy:
having to go to school tomorrow
not getting ice cream
having to get a filling in your tooth at the dentist’s
being on your own
and lots and lots of things.

This morning we’re continuing to think about the fruit of the Spirit - the character and qualities that the Holy Spirit is wanting to grow in us. Can you remember which one we looked at last month? It was love.

Today, we’re focusing on joy - not someone you know who’s called Joy - but the character of joy that the Holy Spirit grows in us. Now, when we start to think about joy, we might just think that it’s the same as happiness. Sometimes we use the words in the same way so that you wouldn’t know the difference. But there’s a big difference in the way the Bible thinks about joy.

Have you ever been on a roller coaster? I don’t really like roller coasters, so whenever we went to Alton Towers with BB camp, I used to watch everyone’s cameras and bags and phones and wallets! What happens when you’re on a roller coaster? You go up and down and up and down. And our happiness, our feelings and emotions can go up and down, based on what is going on. You see, happiness depends on what is happening.

So if something good happens, then we’re happy. And if something bad happens, then we’re unhappy. Every day can be like being on a roller coaster. Up and down, happy or unhappy, depending on what happens - what the weather is like, and so on. Have you ever seen people being like that? Changing mood depending on what happens?

The Bible says that joy is different to happiness. Happiness comes and goes, but joy is something that we can have, even when things aren’t going well. So even if bad things happen, and we couldn’t possibly be happy, we can still be joyful.

That’s what we see in our Bible reading this morning. Peter is writing his letter to Christians who are described as strangers in the world - they don’t really fit in, they’re different to everyone else. And that’s what we are like as well.

Yet the mark of being a Christian is to have joy. Why are we joyful? Because of all that God has done for us:

We have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus died for us and rose again to new life, we have the hope of heaven and living for ever with God and Jesus in the new heavens and the new earth. So no matter what might happen in life, we have this hope of eternal life!

We have been given an inheritance - does anyone know what an inheritance is? It’s something that you’re given, that you inherit from a family member. And the inheritance we’ve been given can never perish, spoil or fade. It’s always going to be as good as new! It will never rust away or fade away.

We have been given protection - God shields us by his power in all that we do.

Hope, inheritance, protection - it’s no wonder that Peter says that ‘in this you greatly rejoice.’ (6) We are filled with joy, when we realise everything that God has done for us and given to us.

But Peter says that we can still rejoice, ‘though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.’ (6). Suffering grief, undergoing trials - those sound like the things that would make us unhappy, and you’d be right! But through them, we can still know and experience God’s joy - because even when we go through bad things, God is still with us, and God is still for us.

We are looking forward to the day when we will see Jesus face to face. One day, Jesus will return, and we’ll see him, meet him, and worship him. But we have never seen Jesus. Peter had seen Jesus, and knew him, and spent lots of time with Jesus. But the people who first got this letter, they were in the same boat as us. They hadn’t seen Jesus either.

Yet Peter says something amazing: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.’ (8-9)

None of us have ever seen Jesus face to face. Yet when we love him, and believe in him, we will be filled with this joy: inexpressible - you can’t really explain it, but it’s real, and really inside you, bubbling up out of you, no matter what is going on; and glorious - filled with God’s glory.

You might be the sort of person who feels as if they’re living on a roller coaster; you’re up and down depending on what happens. But God offers us his joy - a constant character of contentment in God, because of all that he has done for us, is doing in us, and will do for us.

You can be happy, and be joyful, but you can still be joyful even if you’re unhappy. Because joy is different to happiness. And joy is what God is wanting to grow in us by his Spirit - as we receive his blessings and promises, and grow in trusting him whatever happens.

This sermon was preached at the Church Family Service in St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday morning 21st October 2018.

Sermon: 1 Peter 2: 4-10 Church is the temple of God

This evening we gather to celebrate the 180th birthday of St Matthew’s. We give thanks to God for his faithfulness, and his steadfast love to this congregation over many generations, with this parish church in the heart of the village being at the centre of peoples’ lives through all those years. The celebrations of Baptisms, the joy of weddings, the grief of funerals; and the regular, weekly gathering of God’s people around his word and his table, bringing prayers and praises.

For 180 years, St Matthew’s has held out the gospel to Richhill and beyond. These stones have echoed with our Saviour’s praise. But if you’re in the main aisle this evening, then these old stones have stood far longer than just the 180 years we’re celebrating tonight. Back in 1752, what is now the main aisle was built as the market house for the village, by the Richardsons of the castle.

When the market ended, it was decided to convert the market house into the parish church for the new parish of Richhill, in 1837. In our first reading, we heard how the Lord Jesus lamented that the temple in Jerusalem, the place of prayer, had become a marketplace, with traders crowding in. Well here in Richhill, we went the other way, with the marketplace becoming a place of prayer.

Tonight we rejoice in God’s goodness in the past; and give thanks to him for all that he has done in and through St Matthew’s over the past 180 years. But we can’t stop at that. We must also consider what God is still doing, and what God will do in the future in and through St Matthew’s. And our second reading, from 1 Peter, shows us that God is in the business of church building.

We’re given a glimpse of the plans, we’re brought onto the building site, in order to see how God is building his church.

And it all begins in verse 4: ‘As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him...’ Now if you go onto a building site, you might see plenty of stones, but you won’t see any living stones (unless the builder’s name is Livingstone!). Stones are just stones.

But this living Stone is described in greater detail by Peter: rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him. He’s talking about the Lord Jesus - who was rejected by men. Do you remember before the crucifixion, the crowd were offered a choice - Jesus or Barabbas? They chose to free Barabbas, and to crucify Jesus. Isaiah 53 says of Jesus, ‘he was despised and rejected by men...’ (Is 53:3). Everyone may have rejected him, but he was chosen by God and precious to him. God showed he was chosen and precious, because he raised him from death, gave him life - made him the living Stone.

Jesus is the living Stone. And Peter remembers a verse of Scripture, from Isaiah, which promises that Jesus would come. ‘See, I lay in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’

Jesus is this chosen and precious cornerstone. Now, what is a cornerstone? It’s the most important stone in the whole building. It’s the one set at the bottom corner, from which everything else is built up - it’s the one that keeps the whole building straight, like a foundation stone.

So what do you do with a cornerstone? You build on it, of course! But it’s not with bricks and mortar. It’s not with stones. Rather, what is the building material? It’s us. ‘As you come to him... you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house...’

Peter is talking about building the church - a spiritual house, a place for God to dwell - but it’s not a parish church, not St Matthew’s itself. We used to sing a song in Dundonald ‘Church is not a building, it’s the people there inside, people who love Jesus and wear his badge with pride...’

We are the building, we are the church, we are God’s dwelling place. We’re each like a stone being fitted into place, being built up together to be the temple where God lives, inside us. I’m a County Down man, and in the mountains of Mourne there are the famous dry stone walls, where the stones are placed together to build the wall, each stone playing its part in forming the wall, whatever shape or size, it fits with all the other stones. It’s like that with us. We are being joined together as God brings us together.

As we come to Jesus, we’re added to his church, we’re built into this spiritual house. But verse 7 reminds us that not everyone comes to Jesus. Peter tells us that we who believe in him know that the stone, Jesus is precious. But some people don’t believe. Some people reject Jesus.

So what about them? What will they do with Jesus, the living Stone? Rather than building on it, instead they stumble over it. The stone is there, to be built on, but they trip over it.

For those who don’t believe, Jesus is the stone that makes them stumble. You may not really believe that Jesus rose again from the dead; you might think it impossible that there is anything after death; you might not think that Jesus is the only way to God. You can’t accept what Jesus says about himself - the way, the truth, the life. Please think carefully - to reject Jesus is to stumble over him and to finally fall.

But the focus here isn’t on those who fall. Rather, the focus is on Jesus, the living stone. Some may reject him, not see what use they have for him, but ‘the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’ - the one that crowns the whole building, that makes the whole thing come together.

Peter reminds us of the change that comes about as we come to Jesus, as we’re built together in him. And he uses some more pictures from the Old Testament to do so.

We are a chosen people; a royal priesthood; a holy nation. We have been brought from darkness to being in the light. We have been brought from not being a people, being on the outside, to now being on the inside, being the people of God. Once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.

It’s what happens as we come into the church - the people of God; as we believe in Jesus and are built up together. And what is our purpose? Why have we been brought together? ‘That you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ We are to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise (5) - not just on Sundays, but on every day, wherever we are.

Maybe this evening you’re in danger of stumbling. Come to Jesus, and be built into his house, his temple. Through his mercy, come into the light.

If you have come to Jesus, if you have taken your place, united and connected with everyone else, then realise that you are a holy priesthood, that you are called to declare his praise. And do it!

So as we celebrate the 180th anniversary of this building being consecrated, we are called to get on God’s church building plans. As we come to Jesus - to be built into his Spiritual house; as we come together in the place God has placed us - so that God dwells within us; as we declare his praises - so that we celebrate what God has done for us; and as we bring others to him - so that they don’t stumble, but are included in God’s temple.

God is building his church. He’s been doing it through St Matthew’s for the past 180 years - may he continue, through to the return of Jesus, for his praise and glory. Amen.

This sermon was preached at the Thanksgiving Service for the 180th anniversary of the consecration of St Matthew's Church, Richhill on Sunday evening 10th September 2017.

Sermon: Cross Purposes - Freedom (1 Peter 1: 13-23)

A few years ago, the Parkham branch of the WI in England were due to have a speaker on the theme of pirates. So, the ladies decided that, to mark the theme, they would all come in fancy dress as pirates. Eye patches, Wooden legs, toy swords, one lady even had a parrot on her shoulder (but it was actually a fluffy chick). It looked like a rehearsal for the musical Pirates of Penzance.

But then the speaker, Colin Darch, started his talk, telling the experience of the time when he had been held hostage by Somali pirates. He had been delivering a tug to Singapore when it was boarded by nine armed Somali pirates, demanding £1.6million of a ransom. After a long period of negotiations, the pirates accepted £437,000 and let them go. The ransom was paid, and they were released - given freedom.

This week we’ve been thinking about Cross Purposes, asking what the cross achieved. And we’ve found that there isn’t just one purpose of the cross - there are many. It’s as if the cross is like a diamond; as you look at it from different angles, the light shines and sparkles in new ways. So far we’ve seen how the cross brings us reconciliation with God, being brought near into relationship with him; and then how, as we’re drawn near to God, we’re also drawn nearer to each other in peace. Last night we looked at the cosmic consequence of the cross, bringing victory against the rulers and powers, Satan and his forces of evil. Tonight, we turn our attention to freedom. And even though it’s difficult, I’m going to try to resist shouting ‘freedom’ in the Mel Gibson as Braveheart Scottish accent!

For a few moments this evening, we’re going to look at the freedom the cross brings. But to do that, we need to ask - what are we free from? How was the freedom achieved? And what are we free for?

So first of all, what are we free from? You might know that the American Declaration of Independence claims that every person has three unalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Back whenever we used to play with friends at school, and someone did something, you might have heard them say ‘It’s a free country, I can do what I like...’ We like to think that we’re free, but the Bible teaches that all of us, by nature and choice, are actually slaves. While we may not realise it, we are held in slavery, captured.

Do you remember in John 8, where Jesus says ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They take the hump and say that they are free, never been enslaved. But what does Jesus say? ‘Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.’ (Jn 8:34).

You see, we think that we’re in control, that we do what we want. Temptation comes along, an opportunity to do a little teeny weeny tiny sin, no one would know - a wee white lie. We can handle it. We’re in control. But then lies build upon lies; or the wee sin we think we can control becomes bigger, and comes to control us - devising ways to do it more often; falling to more and more. Are you still in control? Could you stop any time?

Like the addict, we are addicted to sin; bowing down to it; held by it; enslaved by it. Like the fly spotting a nice flower and landing on it, only to be caught up by the Venus Fly Trap. We’re caught. Slaves to sin.

But the good news is that Jesus came for us. As we heard in Mark’s gospel, ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Mk 10:45). As we heard at the start, the ransom is the payment made for release of captives or hostages. Colin Darch got away with a small payment of £437,000. Seemingly the current rate could be as much as £3million.

Now that’s a huge sum of money to pay to release someone. Just think of trying to raise that amount of money to give someone you love their freedom. It would be almost impossible.

And yet, that’s like a pittance, just small change, compared to the biggest ransom payment ever. As Peter writes: ‘For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.’ (1 Pet 1:18-19).

One of the Psalms says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills; money would be no object to him; but all the tea in China, and all the money in the world wouldn’t be enough to pay the ransom for you to receive freedom from the slavery of sin. As the children’s song goes: ‘I’m special because God has loved me, for he gave the best thing that he had to save me.’ And what was that? ‘His own Son, Jesus crucified to take the blame for all the bad things I have done.’

Peter describes Jesus as the lamb without blemish or defect. He’s describing Jesus in the terms used of the Passover Lamb, the Lamb that died to ransom and redeem the children of Israel when they were slaves in Egypt. We find the details in Exodus - a lamb per household, kill it, and paint the blood on the doorposts and lintel of your house. Roast the lamb, and eat it, ready to move.

Death was coming to every home in Egypt that night. God had said that the angel of death would sweep through the land, killing every firstborn. And it happened. The next morning, every Egyptian home was in mourning, their firstborn lying dead. But in every Israelite home, the firstborn lived. How? Why?

The Passover Lamb, the lamb without blemish had died in place of the firstborn son. The lamb had given its life in place of the firstborn son. The firstborn was ransomed, redeemed, by the lamb dying in his place. Can you imagine being the firstborn son in that house that night. Would you be nervous, knowing that death would sweep through? Imagine eating the lamb, knowing it had died instead of you. How many times would you ask your dad - did you paint the blood on the doorpost? Will I be safe? Are you sure it’s there?

It’s no accident that Jesus and his disciples were sharing in the Passover meal this very night. The disciples knew how the Passover meal worked; they kept it every year. But this night was different. As we’ll hear and see shortly, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and said ‘This is my body, given for you.’ He took the cup of wine and said ‘This is my blood, of the new covenant.’

Jesus is the Passover Lamb, the ransom paid in his blood - his life poured out for us. Have you taken refuge under the blood of Christ? Have you applied that blood to your soul? Have you heard the clink of chains being cut, the voice telling you that you’re free to go?

You’re free from slavery to sin. The freedom was won by the ransom being paid; you have been redeemed, bought back, as you trust in Christ. But what are you free for?

I wonder if you ever heard these words when you were growing up: If you’re under my roof, you’re under my rules. My house, my rules. Peter tells us that we have been brought into God’s family, that we call on God as our Father. In his house, here’s how it goes: ‘As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all your do; for it is written, ‘be holy, because I am holy.’

As Paul says elsewhere, don’t use your freedom as an excuse to go back to sin. You’ve been set free, so don’t go back again to serve sin. Our Father calls us to holiness, because he is holy. We’re called to live out the family likeness, to become more like our Father. You’re free to follow, free to serve.

Once a dad gave his son a gift on his birthday. It was a do-it-yourself little boat. The young boy spent many hours building it into a beautiful little sailboat, crafting it down to the finest detail. He then took it to a nearby river to sail it. He played with it each day after school. One day, when he put it in the water to play, an unexpected wind moved it away from him very quickly. Though he chased it along the bank, he couldn't keep up with it. The strong wind and current carried the boat far away. The heartbroken boy knew how hard he would have to work to build another sailboat.
Farther down the river, a man found the little boat, took it to town, and sold it to a shopkeeper. Few days later, as the boy was walking through town, he noticed a boat in a store window. When he went near, it looked exactly like his lost boat. Entering the store, looking at it closely, he told the owner that the boat belonged to him. It had his own little marks on it, but he couldn't prove to the shopkeeper that the boat was his. The man told him the only way he could get the boat was to buy it. The boy wanted it back so badly that he did exactly that. As he took the boat from the hand of the shopkeeper, he looked at it and said,
"Little boat, now you're twice mine! Once I made you and now I bought you."

‘Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to his feet thy tribute bring - ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who like me his praise should sing?’ In Christ, by his cross, we are free - free from the slavery of sin. Free to be holy, like our holy Father. Freed by the blood of Christ, ‘who loved me, and gave himself for me.’

This sermon was preached at the Cross Purposes Holy Week series in Brookeborough Methodist Church on Maundy Thursday 24th March 2016.

Sermon Audio: 1 Peter 4: 12-19

On Sunday morning I was preaching from 1 Peter 4, as Peter rounds off his section on suffering. His message to us - don't be surprised!

Sermon: 1 Peter 4: 12-19 Don't Be Surprised!

Many, many years ago, I was one of the leaders at our youth group in Dromore. We had an evening service, and then the youth group started shortly afterwards in the hall. One particular night I was still in church, chatting to our minister while he cleared up, and then headed over to the hall. I opened the door, and got a big surprise. There, at youth group, were lots of familiar faces - but extra faces who weren’t normally at the group. My parents and granny, other friends from church... you’re guessed it. The leaders had organised a surprise party for my 21st.

It was a big surprise - I wasn’t expecting it at all. A nice surprise. But sometimes there can also be nasty surprises. Something bad happens, something you didn’t expect, and you’re caught off guard. Unexpected circumstances and suddenly you think - this wasn’t what I signed up for, I want out.

The apostle Peter is writing to small groups of Christians scattered throughout modern day Turkey. Already Peter has reminded them of the immense blessings they have received from God - the new birth into a living hope, an unspoiling, imperishable, unfading inheritance, guarded through faith to receive their salvation. They are God’s chosen ones. And that’s often where we want to stop. All the blessings, it’s all great, give your life to Jesus and you’ll breeze through life.

But as we’ve been following Peter’s letter, we’ve also seen that Christians are chosen exiles. He has reminded us time and again that we’re not home yet, that this world is hostile, that how we live matters as we show what it’s like to be a Christian to a watching world - and last week, that time is short, how we use our time matters, so we don’t want to live according to the desires of the flesh any more, but rather live according to God’s will.

This morning Peter is finishing off this bit of the letter and the big idea is this: ‘Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal... as though something strange were happening to you.’ If we’re exiles, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face opposition. It’s not a strange thing. It’s part of the deal. Now straight away you might be thinking to yourself, persecution, opposition, that’s just something that happens far away to other people. Our culture here is strange - persecution is a normal part of life for Christians. (2 Tim 3:12).

Can you imagine a school teacher who resigned because they didn’t like children and hadn’t realised that the job would entail being around kids all day? Or a man who went into dairy farming but didn’t like cows? Just as those things go with the job, so Peter is telling us that opposition comes with the territory, we shouldn’t be surprised.

Rather, in our reading this morning, he gives us three encouragements to keep going when opposition comes. When you feel like giving up, this is the true grace of God, to help you to stand:

First: Rejoice as you follow the pattern of Jesus. It sounds very odd, doesn’t it, to rejoice when you’re suffering, to rejoice when facing opposition. Is it like telling someone to have fun when they’re going under the dentist’s drill? But look at the connection Peter makes. ‘rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.’

When we’re identified with Jesus, we are following the same pattern - suffering now, glory then. As we were thinking of last week, time is short - suffering for a short time, but an eternity of glory with him. One day we’ll see his glory revealed, every eye will see him, and we’ll shout for joy when we see him (link to 1:8,9).

Second: You are blessed because you have the Holy Spirit. Verse 14: ‘If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.’ Even though they might say all kinds of bad things about you, their word is not final; their say does not matter. What matters is God’s opinion - his word is blessing, guaranteed by the gift of the Spirit.

You have the spirit of glory - the foretaste of the glory to be revealed, God’s Holy Spirit, who helps you through the fiery ordeal.

Third: It’s no disgrace to bear the name of a Christian. You see, it’s not just any suffering Peter is talking about. It would be a disgrace to suffer as a murderer, thief, criminal or mischief-maker. But to suffer as a Christian - for that to be the reason you’re passed over for your promotion at work; or to be sidelined from your friends; or to be teased (or worse) in the community - this is no disgrace, rather, says Peter, it’s a reason to glorify God because you bear this name.

What a privilege it is to bear the name of a Christian; to be united with Christ, to live as one of his chosen exiles. And yet, as we’ve been seeing over these weeks, it’s not easy. The world is watching. We need grace to live up to the name, to show our faith by our deeds.

The story goes of Alexander the Great, the Greek military general who had conquered almost the entire known world by the age of 30, who had a soldier brought before him on the charge of stealing a horse. What is your name, he asked the soldier. ‘Alexander’ came the reply. Here’s what Alexander the Great replied: ‘Soldier, change your name or change your conduct.’ He didn’t want someone to share his name and act in such a way.

Here we have the true grace of God, lots of encouragement to stand when the world is weighing us down - the pattern of Christ’s suffering leading to glory; the blessing of the Holy Spirit; the giving of a new name - that of Christian - from our Heavenly Father. God the Trinity combines to equip us to live as elect exiles as we journey toward home.

And it’s toward home that Peter points in those closing verses. You see, we know that we’re on the way home, along this path marked with suffering. But we know that the outcome of the judgement is sure, we are God’s chosen. Peter asks them to think for a moment - what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Can you imagine living a life of ease now, persecuting God’s people, thinking you have it made, only to discover on that day of judgement that you’ve been wrong; that you’ve missed the path of life - in fact, that the very people you were giving a hard time to were in the right?

With all the encouragement we’re given by our great God, who gives us his grace, therefore, says Peter, ‘let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.’

God is faithful. He won’t let you down. He is with you. And on that we can depend. Whatever you face this week, know this for certain: we have a new name given by God the Father; and the gift of the Holy Spirit as we follow the pattern of Christ - suffering now, but glory in a little while. This is the true grace of God. Stand in it!

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 7th July 2013.

Sermon Audio: 1 Peter 4: 1-11

On Sunday morning I was preaching from 1 Peter 4. In this passage, Peter reminds us that time is short, and how we use our time matters to God.

Sermon: 1 Peter 4: 1-11 Time Is Short

[Did you hear about the man who went to the doctors? The doctor told him that he had just three minutes left to live. ‘What can you do for me, doctor?’ The man asked. ‘I could boil you an egg.’] This morning I’ve got a serious question for you - if you knew that today was your last day on earth, how would you live it? What would you do? What would you do differently?

Last year, the newspapers reported on a palliative care nurse who had recorded the regrets of her patients. What do you think made the top five? ‘I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.’ ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.’ ‘I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.’ ‘I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.’ ‘I wish that I had let myself be happier.’

Perhaps those would be your regrets. Maybe not. Perhaps as you’ve come to trust in Jesus, your regrets are the sins you’ve committed; the ways in which you’ve let down the Lord. It’s as if your past cries out against you, and as you look to the future, it seems as if you’re caught in this cycle - you want to be different, you try to be different, but then you stumble again. The same old sin; it’s much easier to go with the flow.

But in our passage this morning, Peter gives us some much needed encouragement to keep living for Jesus, even when it is difficult. You’ll remember that Peter is writing about the true grace of God, what the Christian life looks like for chosen exiles. Throughout this passage, Peter reminds us that time is short - and how we use our time matters.

First up, we’re given the principle - commit to live by the will of God. Here’s what Peter says: ‘Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention... so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh, no longer by human desires but by the will of God.’ (1-2)

We’re given a reason for doing it - since Christ suffered in the flesh (and some versions include ‘for you’ or ‘for us’) - throughout the letter we’ve seen time and again that Peter returns to the cross and the Lord’s suffering as the key to the Christian life. It’s the same here - Jesus has suffered to bring us to God, so now, follow his pattern by living in the will of God - for the rest of your life.

Peter is saying that there are two ways to go - human desires, or the will of God. You can’t do both, you have to choose - it’s like coming to a fork in the road, you have to decide what way you’re going to go. Have you ever been in a car and two different people are trying to give you directions at the same time? There comes a point when you have to decide who to listen to, who to follow.

Follow God’s will - for the rest of your life. That’s the general principle. Now it might surprise you that Peter has to urge us to do it, but that’s because he knows that we don’t do it by ourselves. ‘You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.’

Do you have a favourite noise? I’m sure it isn’t your alarm clock. Now what’s the point of an alarm clock? What does it tell you? It’s saying ‘it’s time to get up, the time for sleeping is past, it’s time to get up and milk the cows or make breakfast or get to work...’ The sleep time is over, the day is now here. Peter is attempting to be an alarm clock for the Christian - the time for sin is past, so get up, live instead by the will of God.

Do you see what he’s saying - you used to live like this, but no longer. Now, when you don’t join in, people will be surprised. They’ll see that you’ve changed, they’ll malign you, speak evil of you. Around where we grew up they talked about someone becoming ‘good living’ if they stopped drinking and started going to church. Now if you’re facing this, wouldn’t it just be easier to give in and go with the flow?

But like the salmon going upstream, we’re called to be different. The time for drifting is past, we’re now in a new day, as we seek to live by the will of God. And, as Peter reminds us again, time is short. These opponents may give you a hard time now, but ‘they will have to give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead...’

I’ve never been in a courtroom - apart from at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum - but I’ve read enough John Grisham novels set in courts and seen enough TV dramas to hear those words ‘All rise’ - Peter says the judge is about to enter the courtroom. Our words and actions will be weighed and judged - whether we are dead or alive when he returns.

So we’ve seen a couple of times already that Peter talks of time being short - urging us to live the rest of our lives by the will of God; we’ve had enough time living in sin; for the judge is ready. Now in verse 7 he says it again. You simply can’t miss it: ‘The end of all things is at hand’ (or near). So you might be thinking to yourself - what will it look like to live by the will of God?

We’ve had a pen picture of living by human desires - now Peter goes on to spell out what God’s will is for our life together. ‘be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.’ Rather than living for the weekend, we’re seeking after God.

‘Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.’ Why does Peter go on about love so much? Because we’re naturally inclined to not love - we have to be reminded of it, and to keep on doing it. We have a choice to make - to love the church family - and to choose to think of loving them rather than remembering their sin. There’s also the call to be hospitable without complaining - welcoming one another, serving one another.

Finally, Peter urges us ‘like servants of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.’ Do you see what Peter is saying here? It’s not that some people receive God’s gifts of grace and they should use them, but that everyone has received a gift, and they should use it to serve each other. So what gift is it that you have received from God? What are the talents and abilities that you have which you can use to serve the church family?

Peter gives two examples - one specific, and then a call to everyone: ‘Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.’

As one who speaks, folks, this is the challenge - that I don’t just get up and say what I want to say, but rather, that I speak God’s words - I need your prayers as I seek to study and speak. But each of us, whether speaking or serving or reading or praying or catering or weeding or building or teaching or clearing up or welcoming or whatever it is - find your strength in God, and not in your own power. The time is short. The Lord is near. Together we can seek to live by God’s will as we support and encourage each other, as we go against the flow of the world and our desires. Wake up, and live for him.

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 30th June 2013.

Sermon: 1 Peter 3: 1-12 God's True Grace in Families and God's Family

Have you ever realised that you’re being watched? And I don’t just mean your nosy neighbour. They’re not the only ones who are watching your life. While we may not have the paparazzi following our every action, yet there are people who follow what you say and do. How does that make you feel? Uncomfortable? Irritated?

We’re in the letter of 1 Peter, learning about the true grace of God. Peter uses two words to describe Christians: elect exiles. In the early part of the letter he shows how Christians are chosen or elect - receiving the blessings of salvation from God our Saviour, who has given us an imperishable hope by the imperishable blood of the Lord Jesus shed for us, and revealed to us by the imperishable word. We’re chosen, but yet we’re exiles. We’re in this hostile world while we await the day when we will be at home with the Lord. But Peter won’t allow us to sit around waiting. Instead, we’ve seen that he calls us to action.

In 2:11-12 he says this: ‘Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.’ Our honourable deeds will be seen by the world around us, they’re on display, leading to them praising God. We’ve already seen what that looks like in terms of relating to the state, and for slaves.

In this morning’s passage, he moves on to show what that will look like in our families and in God’s family. What will the watching world see as we relate to husbands and wives, and as we relate to each other in the church? What is this honourable conduct? Now in case you think that you’re off the hook, that this doesn’t apply to you - please don’t tune out. If you’re not yet married, this could help in preparing for marriage, as you look for a partner. Or it could be that you can pray for those who are married, for these things.

Just this week there were commemorations of the 69th anniversary of D-Day. As we come to the first verse, it’s as if we’ve landed in the middle of a minefield. [By the way, this is the value of preaching through books of the Bible from start to finish - the preacher doesn’t get to duck the difficult passages or only preach the ‘nice’ bits.] So what does Peter say, and why does he say it? ‘Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands.’

He’s linking what has already been said to this bit about wives - in the same way, accept the authority (or be subject). Now why would Peter say such a thing? Why would we want to read and obey such a command? Doesn’t he realise we’re in enlightened times now, that the feminist movement has brought women’s lib? Isn’t this just outdated nonsense?

Let’s see the reason he gives: ‘so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.’ Peter knows that it’s often likely that Christian wives may have non-Christian husbands. Religion might be seen as a woman’s thing, not something for a real man. The wife’s longing and desire is to see her husband come to faith, but how is that going to happen?

You can try nagging him into the kingdom, but it’s not going to be very successful. There might be some things you get him to do (eventually!), but nagging won’t do it. Rather, Peter says, it’s by your conduct - honourable conduct (2:12) - that they see and are won over. Do you see the pattern at work? As they watch your quiet (indeed, silent) witness over time, they can’t fail to notice your purity and reverence. (link to 2:12)

It’s not just your husband, though, who is watching you. Peter goes on to ask what you’re displaying: ‘Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.’

Peter isn’t saying that you shouldn’t get your hair done, that you shouldn’t have jewellery or clothes. But rather, these shouldn’t be the thing that is most noticeable about you. You see, some give their lives to pursuing trinkets and ornaments - but how valuable are they in the long run? Rather, the gentle and quiet spirit of the inner life is, once again, Peter’s favourite word - imperishable (lasting beauty). Are you becoming eternally beautiful in your spirit, or are you just like a clothes rack? Peter points to an example from scripture - Sarah obeying Abraham, submitting to him.

Now, before the men start to cheer or think that they have it made, Peter turns his attention to you (us). ‘Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honour to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life - so that nothing may hinder your prayers.’

We’re not to lord it over our wives, but rather Peter speaks of consideration and honour. In the things you do, the way you speak to her and of her; in the ways you serve her; do you honour her? You see, it’s not that we’re more important, that we’re of a different order - Peter reminds us that they are ‘also heirs of the gracious gift of life’. It’s not that you’re more chosen than your Mrs. Indeed, it’s so important because God is watching - if we don’t treat our wives with honour, our prayers will be hindered.

(As Peter will go on to quote Ps 34 - God’s ears are open to the prayer of the righteous, but is against those who do evil). So when others at work speak disrespectfully of women, do you join in? Are your eyes only on your wife?

Now in case you’ve drifted off, Peter moves from the specific to the general in verse 8: ‘Finally, all of you...’ How should we relate to each other in God’s family? ‘Have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.’ In any family there are moments of tension, but we’re to still have honourable conduct - so that the watching world sees how these Christians love one another.

Our way of getting on will be startling, it’s not what people are used to - but no more so than how we deal with evil and abuse. ‘Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but on the contrary, repay with a blessing.’ Our natural sinful desire wants to echo back evil for evil - you’ve wronged me, I’ll get my own back. The way of the elect exile is to be different, to repay with blessings, not curses.

Why? Because in Christ, we have been called to be a blessing, because we have inherited a blessing from him. In Christ, we have received the blessing of eternal life; we’ve been made righteous as we trust in him. We have this certain hope. Therefore, we pass on this blessing to others. We’re changed to become more like Jesus, so that the watching world sees what it’s like to live under the lordship of Jesus, that they too will come and share in his blessing. Now, it’s difficult, but on that day, as our neighbours praise God because they’ve seen our honourable conduct, won’t it all have been worth it? To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, forever and ever, Amen.

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 9th June 2013.