TWO GUIDING QUESTIONS DURING THIS SERMON SERIES

Are you growing in the knowledge of God?
Are you growing in loving God and loving people?
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MAIN TEXT
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”” (1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV)

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
With the two guiding questions (above) front and center in our thoughts, before we head into our next section of what we believe doctrinally, it would be good for us to stop at a checkpoint together, take a moment to breathe and consider if we’re taking heed to what is being taught.

How should we who believe God’s word to be true, who believe that there is no one like our God, who believe that we exist for him and are to know deep joy in him, who believe that although we have, in our sin, rebelled against God and rightly deserve judgment, we have been bought by our loving God by the blood of Jesus, forgiven, accepted, and adopted as his children…how might these truths not only give us more knowledge of God and growth in our love for God but specifically today, how might these truths grow us in our love for one another?

BIG IDEA
Gospel truth planted in our hearts by the power of the Spirit will bear the fruit of gospel powered relationships. (Gospel powered relationships both in our church family and outside of our church family.)

1. The Fruit of Gospel Powered Relationships in the Church

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. - 1 Peter 3:8

• The Fruit of Living in Humility with One Another
• The Fruit of Living with Compassion Towards One Another
• THe Fruit of Living with Love for One Another

2. The Fruit of Gospel Powered Relationships Outside of the Church

• Being a Blessing to Our Enemies - “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9 ESV)

APPLICATION
At this checkpoint along the road of our sermon series on what we believe, how is your heart? Not just on Sunday mornings, but how is your heart as you parent, as you grow in your marriages, as you work, as you attend school, as you drive, as you vote on Tuesday, as you interact with neighbors, as you interact with the news? Are you truly growing in knowledge of God as evidenced by your increasing love for him and for his people? It’s worth considering at this checkpoint.

Consider going back through the sermon follow ups that are on our website, re-listen to sermons we’ve preached, and consider how it is these beliefs are informing your life and in your relationships in the church, in your family, in your workplace, in your school, in your neighborhood. May you and I not only be hearers of the word, but doers of the word we hear, bearing fruit by the Spirit of God.

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