Peter ASSUMED that the church (disciples) would live BEFORE the world (displaced yet deployed) in such a way that the world would RECOGNIZE something different (distinct) about them, and that would be what God uses to bring redemption and renewal through to a world desperate for hope – the hope of Jesus.  

1 Peter 3:15
INSTEAD of needing to be RIGHT, we are freed to be HOPEFUL.  

Peter assumes: 

  • others will observe our lives – some will react in fear threateningly and mockingly  
  • life will be hard, our suffering will be identifiable – others will see how we live out our faith with hope through the pain and suffering of life. 
  • our hope will be questioned – they will be drawn with curiosity and questions.  

1 Peter 3:18-22  
We see in the life of Jesus that suffering was a part of the human experience (Heb2:14-16). That in Jesus this suffering went to another level. Jesus’ suffering and his death, although an apparent defeat, was actually the means by which Jesus confronts and defeats evil in all its forms – both physical and spiritual. 

Jesus is always doing more than we know! How have you known that to be true? 

The suffering of Jesus was not merely a means to an end. Our co-suffering Savior - Jesus - demonstrated the radical, empathetic nature of God and his love. Who sees our brokenness, helplessness, despair, disillusionment, distractions, fear, anger, and shame – and he says I’ve got you. Pleadingly he calls to us – ‘come, you who are weary – I have a hope for you that world cannot offer.’ 

God used the suffering of Christ to accomplish so much.   

  • It demonstrated his empathetic nature as he identified with the world and it’s struggle offering us his restorative grace giving presence. 
  • Jesus suffered and was killed for the forgiveness of sin, so that we could be brought to God, once and for all.  
  • By the power of the spirit, he was raised from the dead and proclaimed victory over the powers of evil. 
  • He is exalted on high as the resurrected and ascended Lord exhibiting his rule and reign subjecting all powers and authorities to himself.  

As disciples (the Church), displaced, distinct and deployed - we live and speak the reality of the life-giving hope - the death and RESURRECTION of Jesus… 

  • with each other to God in worship 
  • with each other in community 
  • with each other to the world in witness