House Rules - House of Hope...The REASON for Your Hope!

Sermon Title: House Rules: House of Hope
Sermon Text: 1 Pet 3:15 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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, -
Questions to ponder: What do you do when all hope is gone? What do you do when your back is against the wall? Do you have a reason for your hope?

Context: Peter is writing to first century Christians who are being publically and relentlessly persecuted. They are being eaten in the coliseums, burned, and crucified. Caesar is also using the Christians as an excuse for why the economy is bad. Society is looking for a cheap thrill and they are getting them at the expense of the Christians. While the Christians are enduring these things, Peter gives them guidance. The first century Christians are able to apply this information, and subsequently make it through. If they are able to make it through, certainly, we can apply the same information and make it through!

Point 1: React - vs. 14 - 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened
Remember, we must be careful to not have a knee-jerk reaction to everything that comes our way. Given what the Christians are experiencing they have even right to be reactionary, but Peter warns otherwise. Do not become fearful when things happen. When we react out of fear or at the height of our emotions, we often make a wrong decision. Peter reminds us that the fear of the Lord can conquer everything. If we fear God we don’t have to fear anyone or anything else. Romans 8:31 [ More Than Conquerors ] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

• Lord Almighty in Hebrew means He is the Lord of all the armies. We also know that he is our Lord. This means that we have His armies with us and we do not need to have a reaction to everything that happens to us.
Three reasons to not be reactionary (reasons Peter gave to first century Christians):
1. They shouldn’t be surprised they were being persecuted John 15:20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.: The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
2. As bad as it may seem, that was a light affliction. 2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
3. You are suffering for someone else. 2 Cor 1:4 - 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.: Be sure to comfort them with what you have received from God.

Point 2: Respond vs. 15 - 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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,
When we respond, we must be sure to do so appropriately. Respond by letting others know they can have hope. We should seek to be ambassadors in a hopeless world. First century Christians were being killed but there was something on the inside of them that caused them to have hope. The only real hope that exists is the hope of Christ.

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
• Christians are the salt of the earth when they respond appropriately to questions about the reason for their hope.
Two things to remember about salt:
1. Salt makes one thirsty. As Christians, we are salt and we should cause people to thirst for Jesus.
2. Salt also makes things sweeter. People should be amazed at the hope we have. When we respond appropriately, any situation we are confronted with will become sweet.

We should live with such hope that it causes others to thirst for what we have in Christ.

Point 3: Reason - vs. 18 - 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
We should be able to give people a reason for our hope. A reason grounded in facts- not just feelings. We can do this by investing the gospel in people. As Christians, we are investors. Each time we speak, we are investing in others. We either invest into the Glory of God or in the flesh. We do not have time to waste; we must start investing in others today. As with any other investment, once you start investing you will see dividends, including, but not limited to, peace, contentment, and eternal life.

17M people will accept Christ if He is presented to them. 43M are close to accepting Christ. My focus should not be on the millions, but should be on the unbelievers I know.

Conclusion:
Life is tough but we do not have to be reactionary, we can respond because we have to reason for our hope. As Christians, we need to be the salt that makes others thirst for Christ.