Sermon Sandwich

I Peter 1:3-9—Sermon Sandwich

Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
www.trinityedisto.com  843-869-3568
Easter II, April 16, 2023
Holy Eucharist - Renewed Ancient Text; 2019 BCP, p.123

I Peter 1:3-9 Sermon Notes

Intro -  Hope.  

How does the Resurrection become Personal?

“Americans accept historical reality of the Resurrection of Jesus but struggle to make it personal.”  (Mark Kellner, The Washington Times c/o Ann Goddin)

His Resurrection changes my future and my present.  

All human beings are affected by their perceived futures.   

A test for self - evaluation - 

I Peter 1:3 -  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Living Hope - elpis - confident expectation of future good based on Jesus, what He has done and what He will do.

Worldly Hope - is a wish for a uncertain future I have no control over or an uncertain future I can work towards.   A future I wish for or a future I work for. 

“What God made us to desire, and therefore what we do desire if we admit it, is exactly what he promises to those who follow Jesus Christ:  a resurrected life in a resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected Earth.” (Heaven, Alcorn, p.7)

How does this Living Hope affect Believers personally now?

If affects how we handle trials - hard circumstances.

I Peter 1:6-7 - 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Trials - peirasmos - trial, temptation, test - to try and learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting it to thorough and extensive testing.     

Story of the flat tire and the Rev. Terry Fullam 

The Fire - Either Ruination or a Refiner’s Fire?

The Gospel is the Good News of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ by which we become the Righteousness of God.