Qualities of Live-Giving People
1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were calledso that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Video for this Service can be viewed @ April 24, 2022
“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given,
and then sink yourself into that” (Gal. 6:4 MSG).
Do you think sometimes that you might be asking the wrong question?
I have heard many people ask, “what should I do?”
But the real question that ultimately matters is, “who do I want to become?”
I first became aware or this important question by my high school football coach. In my senior year of high school he asked me to join the football team. I laughed and said, “no way”, because I had never played football in my life. But he said he saw something in me that would help the team this year. He told me that I wouldn’t be in the starting line-up and I wouldn’t play very much each game. He challenged me by asking, “who do you want to be? That guy that gets all the fame or that guy who helped our team succeed? I want you there to motivate others to work hard. Is that the kind of person YOU want to be?”
Little did I know that those words would shape a lot more than one season on the football field.
“Who do you want to be?” is crucial question that the Apostle Peter gets at this week.
He articulates the qualities of a person who has found real hope and purpose in Jesus. He reminds us…
“All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.” I Peter 3:8
Tony Dungy, past head coach of a Super Bowl winning team, learned that, “Building a life of significance, and creating a legacy of real value, means being willing to get your hands dirty. It means being willing to step out in your life and onto the platforms of influence you’ve been given and touch the lives of people in need. Whether it’s in your business, your school, your community, or your family, if you want to make a difference in the lives of the people you lead, you must be willing to walk alongside them, to lift and encourage them, to share moments of understanding with them, and to spend time with them, not just shout down at them from on high.”
This Sunday we will be affirming those new leaders who will be joining the Leadership Team! They are excited about investing their lives in you and who we are in the places God has called us to. The traits listed above are those qualities these leaders strive for.
Join us as we come to celebrate what God is doing in and through all of us!
Grateful to journey this road with you,
Pastor John
“Finding Hope, Sharing Hope” Our Study in 1 Peter
May 1 - "More Quality Traits of a Life-Changing Hope" (1 Peter 3:8-22)
May 8 – "Standing Together in Hope" (1 Peter 4:1-11) (Mother’s Day)
May 15 - "Hope Beyond Trials & Suffering" (1 Peter 4:12-19)
May 22 - "Shepherding & Sharing Hope" (1 Peter 5:1-4)
May 29 - "Finding & Sharing Hope Beyond the Battle" (1 Peter 5:5-14)