After many days go back and take it out see what it looks like This is the word of the Lord You might read that and say wow. Should I go and do that? That's the word of the Lord You might do that without asking well Am I Jeremiah? Is there a reason why I'm being asked to this, you know? Or you may say well, that's the problem with eating the old testament and we turn to the new testament Okay, I really want to read some of my Bible and apply it today So you up and you read say go Get a donkey It's never been ridden before and the full of a donkey Bring them back to the master so you say well, I'm gonna be smart about this, you know I'm gonna bring this forward. I'm not you know There aren't too many donkeys around New York So I'm gonna go and get a car that's never been driven before and And as you're driving it off the lot somebody says you say hey, what where you going with that Ferrari and You say the master has need of it Off you go Okay That's silly obviously you're not you're not paying attention to whom the command was addressed Right, but that's something that we do often as Christians we need to pay attention to whom these commands are addressed here So a lot of things in a Bible that are addressed to specific people you can read a whole letter in the New Testament that are addressed to pastors You got to be careful about taking advice for yourself if you're not a pastor Letter is written to Timothy the letter is written to Titus you want to pay attention to where things are addressed now What we've done today is gone in in our in our quest to explore during this month sort of responsibilities We have to those who are without It's taking some time this month to do that. We've gone to a place Where people are Being addressed. I think who are pretty much like us Hey, we're going to what we call one of the Catholic officials and I said well as that thought this is Presbyterian church Catholic meaning to everybody This was a letter that was written by Peter the Peter to everybody and it was his statement for what People what Christians needed at that time all over the place in the ancient world. It was from the Peter very exciting The Peter Peter would chuckle at that, but it was Peter saying this is what this is what we need to remember And we come to a place where he's actually talking about our Responsibility towards those who are without
Even if you're reading in your Bible and and you look at earlier you can see just back a few verses a verse eight He says This is to all of you now. I was talking to husbands wise now. I want to talk to all of you Okay, so this is what we're doing. We're looking at the kernel of responsibility That a Christian has in relation to the people around him who disagree with them who maybe even our hostile to him and
What he says is all under the heading you see that first verse of sanctify sanctify the Lord
What is he talking about there sanctify Christ as Lord? Okay, uses this word haggie azo. It means It means set apart means put a halo around, you know, and we have this morning Visually oriented church. We have a we have a visual aid this morning that we can use You might notice you look around and we have beautiful stained glass windows here I'm sure you notice you notice every time the sermon gets boring That we have these wonderful. They are gorgeous. So you're sitting with me. Let me sit with you You're sitting here wonder around and right there in front you notice it's beautiful Actually, I think it's Jesus as a child Jesus grown up and you're wondering. Yeah. Yeah, great sermon Why is that circle around his head? What's what's the artist doing the artist is sanctifying Christ? It's hallowing Christ It's setting him apart saying this is different from all other people He's Lord He's he's sanctified. He's set apart. I'm highlighting that with this halo around his head And Peter is saying do that only don't do it on the window do it in a realm of your heart
sanctify him as Lord. So what what this passage talks about is under that heading How do you do that? He says you do it in your relationship to outsider and the way that you Strike a posture to war with him and Peter's Greek here is wild and crazy Peter, you know, we've been looking very closely through going very closely through which I've really enjoyed a letter of The Apostle Paul but today we're reading in Peter and His Greek in terms of his word order. It's just wild He puts words all over the place in the sentence and but you you study in the classics, you know, that's okay It doesn't change meaning. It's just style because Greek is a declinable language You know it doesn't matter the position of the word doesn't determine its function in the sentence and But Peter also it seemed to me Paul put things where you would expect them to go Peter The words are in all different places. I was really puzzling about this and I thought in this first First phrase that he uses here why he was doing it at least in this case Because what Peter says is Kureon, Ditton, Kriston, Hagiatheta Kureon, Ditton, Kriston, Hagiatheta sanctify what he puts the direct objects first Christ as Lord. He said why is he putting these two direct objects first? The big mystery until you realize this is not a common expression people sanctify different things in different places They sanctify people very rare for someone to be sanctifying God setting God apart But Isaiah does Way back Isaiah chapter 8 and in the Greek translation of those Hebrew words from the book of Isaiah What we call the Septuagint we find the same sentence and Guess what the words are in the same order? So what Peter is doing actually is quoting Isaiah, but he changes it So what Isaiah says is Kureon out on Hagiatheta in other words sanctify God himself talking about Yahweh Peter says Kureon, Kriston, Hagiatheta in other words sanctify Christ as Lord. He's calling Jesus Christ Yahweh yet another instance of the Apostle The eyewitness apostle calling Jesus God But more than that Peter is is when he's thinking about your relationship to outsiders He thinks about Isaiah. I find that fascinating because we saw you remember last week when John was looking at what was happening with Jesus and What was going on with Jesus and people rejecting him? What did he think of he thought of Isaiah? Now interestingly Peter Is thinking about your relationship to outsiders. He's thinking about Isaiah again and actually quotes the very next chapter John quoted the call of Isaiah in chapter 7 here Peter's quoting Isaiah chapter 8 and what's he saying? Don't be afraid of the people. Don't fear the people sanctify God as your Lord That's what he's thinking about So we can reach back two thousand years into Peter's mind, I think and see what he was what his concern was He knows that you get into certain situations and you get afraid That you have various reasons various discomfort about this situation your relationship to outsiders So how do we put this halo on Christ then in our hearts? How do you do this says Peter in your relationship to outsiders and you know, I have to use the E word here You know an evangelical church to say this word evangelism and you know people immediately hunch over and guilt Feeling like you know, I really shouldn't be out on the street corner, you know barking at people Or I really should be being more assertive in my in my conversations What I want to get from this passage remember this is addressed This is one of the commands and to address all of us not just leaders in the church It's to tell you that really evangelism is much less than you think It's also much more than you think because it's more than you do it's much less than you think But it's also much more than you do I want to relieve you of a burden and give you back a different one That's easy to bear in Christ and I want to ask you I want to get you to try to prove to you It's less than you think by asking you three questions about this passage three questions First question is this who is initiating the conversation in this passage He gives you a command in your heart set apart Christ's Lord Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have Who's initiating this conversation Yeah, the outsider the one who's without now This tells you something you know you have very few commands That are issued to all Christians in the New Testament telling them they should be out preaching the gospel In their words Even the you know what Christians often go to is what they call a great commission if you don't read that Matthew makes it very clear Very clear that that command Of the great commission is given to the Elevino Apostles makes it very clear. That's the command being given to them So the responsibility to get out there and preach is being laid on a leadership in the church and I wonder if you ask yourself you can find a whole lot in the New Testament commanding all Christians to be doing that Now certainly we have the leadership in the church. I certainly feel a responsibility in the position I have to be out there being very assertive in what I'm doing and And other leaders as well But the responsibility calls on the leaders and falls on the church as a whole it's another great reason why we're doing this Outdoor service because we're not trying to send you out as individuals in this outreach We're trying to just go out as a church as a whole church and carrying out that commission October 5th And what you also find I have to mention just this characteristic of Christian congregations You go to a live Christian congregation. What you're going to find is that there's a small number of people Who also seem to have the knack not necessarily leaders that have a knack for going and talking to people in a very over it way of turning a conversation Into a sharing of their faith We can learn from them, but there's a small number of people in this Congress I know some of you actually are Have that have that call in your life some of you know that you do Some of you are that way and you don't know yet that you do we have to find a way to awaken you to the joy of That calling in your life But I don't expect that of Generally of the whole congregation. I don't expect that because the New Testament doesn't create that expectation in me But I do care and expect something from all of us And at least my second question here Some questions is this what prompts the outsider to ask for this reason What is it that prompts the outsider to ask for this reason comes out especially in verse 16? It's it's something in your life Let me ask for a show of hands here Okay, I know that people in different situations in this room some of you are thinking about Christianity some of you are wondering about it But those of you I want to ask this of those of you who are Christians those who have who have converted to Christianity You say yes, I'm there. I identify myself as a Christian. You identify yourself as a Christian I want to ask you this rate How many people here? Actually were converted to Christianity through In personal means that is you picked up something you read something Maybe it was a Bible, maybe it was some other literature and without the influence of any other Christian in your life you became a Christian just raise your hand. Okay. I see that hand
Now let me ask you the recipe who are Christians How many of you? Were the other way where you actually converted to Christianity through the influence of another Christian in your life raise your hand? Okay, look around Okay, so there's a difference here. I actually saw that asked in in another context of similar results Okay, what does it mean it means that you lead with your life? Let me ask one more question Those of you who just raised your hand How many of you of those who just raised your hand? How many of it your process of you actually coming to accept Christ to embrace this faith? How many of it was how much any interview was it because of something? That moved you in another Christian's life There's something about that person that moved you if that's the case and raise your hand about that too I think that what I see in this Is that you lead with your life
You're leading with your lives. That's what Peter is saying here, and I care very much Along with Peter about you living with a clear conscience in the presence of non-believers Because that's how most of us make a difference in the lives of outsiders living with respect living with humility living before them with a clear conscience And so it's crucial to be living out among them Living out among those people who don't believe as you do This should factor into the decisions that you make Where you shop how you get exercise? You know, I would I would Advise you to make some decisions based on what puts you most into the lives of those who are without Because that's what you have to be to to be leading with your life. You have to be living out among them Leading with your lives now one more question to show you that that evangelism is really less than you think in this passage What are you supposed to be talking about? What are you commanded to talk about? You can call it out. Can I take your eyes off this thing last when they're back down here? What are you supposed to be talking about? Hope, the hope that's in you You're supposed to be talking about what it is that's meaningful to you What it is that makes you get up in the morning. What it is that your goal? What you're working towards? You're supposed to be you're supposed to be talking about what it is that makes you tick Now if that's Christ, I mean if you're a Christian, that's Christ That's the answer. That's what makes you tick But Peter expresses it this way to show that all you should be doing is talking about what's meaningful to you That's all you should be doing Christianity is the champion of connecting your heart to your head and so do your conversation You want to be an authentic individual and start reading the Bible the Bible is a champion of being authentic And that's what Peter is saying here. What he's asking you to do is be authentic talk about the real hope inside of you in other words be sincere Wow What a radical stance be ready to talk about these things in meaningful conversation Talk about that which is meaningful to you. That's evangelism That's what evangelism is So it's less than you think The same time it's more than you do. It's more than you think and you can see that in this in this passage right here because the idea is to live authentically a question is do you? Does it come out in your conversation? What really matters to you and what Peter is asking that asking you to do Well, let's look here when how often I can put it as a question how often does he ask you to be doing this? always Everywhere to everyone be ready. What does that imply? That implies that your relationship to those who are outside is a priority as a Christian that never goes away It's on your mind in other words. We saw Jesus compassion last week. You should always be on your toes when your opinion is welcome now If Christ is Lord to you Then practicing ahead of time What you're going to say it isn't inauthentic It is an artificial if you're trying to be as articulate as you can be for your Lord So this is something that you would think about is something that you would plan for Some of you can practice with your friend To give an answer here is really it's a little bit too weak a word and it's really a defense of Polygias from what from which you get the word apologetics. It means it's think of all the possible reasons for you For that hope that's within you sanctify Christ by getting as good as you can about explaining the faith that you have Why Christ is your hope to give the historical reasons to give the emotional reasons to give the social reasons For you because there are those reasons, you know So you've got to speak about things that have changed your heart You must otherwise you go into contortions and you might think well nobody is really asking my opinion It might seem that way Because you know people People around us are trained to be self-absorbed these days are trained to be self-absorbed But sometimes the question is being asked Without being asked there's an openness to you and you have to be ready in your conversation It's got to be there when you when you talk about things that are meaningful to you You say as a mom. I love this food co-op, you know, but as a single guy I This is a great restaurant to take prospects You think I'm meaningful to you right you should be just as ready to say well, you know as a Christian I Deal with that in the scriptures. You know, I deal with the stress in this job with God With what Christ has done for me should be just as ready to say that. Are you I? Would say a
problem in this church If if you have a problem speaking authentically The problem probably has to do with coolness Okay That's that's our blessing here the village church It's also our curse But I was just talking with a friend this week who once to become a member thinking about becoming a member here and He's very honest fellow So I'm saying what what attracts you to the village church? Well, what attracts me to the village church is that it's so cool The cool place Well Yeah, that's right. They're cool people here. You know, that's fine. Actually, you know, God uses various carrots He goes all of us are sort of like donkeys, you know in our shades and God you you know, we're led around by our desires and God will use that sure. That's okay. But the thing is The questions and you've got to realize this is coming from a guy who Received the definitive analysis in high school that he was not nor would he ever be? Cool, you know, you take your SATs and they determine your destiny, right? You are predetermined in high school By our SAT scores and along with that I received the absolute pronouncement that I was not cool So this is someone who's not talking about me see I can still stand here. I could stand over in the corner here looking at you Well, I could have the cord would reach but I could stand here and Looking at you and I appreciate that coolness is good. I could stand here from afar and admire your coolness You know cool is good because what is it actually? What are we talking about is style coolness is a subcategory of style. What is it to be cool except that you're in style and that's good Don't don't be fooled by the way, but because I dress so well that I'm cool. Okay, it's just a fluke It's a good thing But the question of course comes to your friends When your coolness prevents you from sanctifying Christ as a reward in your heart Because sometimes it is not cool to be a Christian. Have you noticed that? You figured that out yet here in New York. You say it around here. I'm a Christian person says, didn't you go to college?
Sometimes it isn't cool and at those points is your coolness subject to Christ. Can you still follow? When your coolness is threatened, do you act to protect it at all costs? Can it go? This is probably a bigger issue for you and some of you realize This is an obstacle may not go to you being authentic, which is what Peter's cries, and you know, he is looking as Peter is is surely thinking about his own experience here He's looking back on this critical moment When he was called upon to give an answer and he couldn't do it He was he was called upon to say, do you know this guy? He was like, no, don't know him So possibly with tears he is writing this I want you to understand to be authentic Just how you sanctify Christ as Lord and then he gets into at the end of this passage Just how to do that? Because this all might be a downer until you see what Peter's trying to do here See he's trying to get you to identify this process of discomfort Maybe even persecution that you get with something else that happened and it has to do with Jesus The very end last phrase and he says he was put to death in the body, but made alive by the spirit He's trying to contrast there, right? But it's not a contrast thing. Jesus didn't rise bodily from the dead. That's not what he's saying No, he say there's a different dynamic at work. He's making a contrast in dynamics. He's saying, you know, maybe you Talk about Christ You halo Christ in your life in your conversation and you suffer for it. Wow, bad news. You know, that's like dying in the body But there's another dynamic here a spiritual dynamic, which gives you great victory, but in order to tap into it You need to connect you need to identify your experience with Christ
This is all about bringing people to God. Is it not he's telling you to talk to as a way of your relationship outside or to bring them to God In the same way he says here in verse 18 that Christ did something to bring you to God and it was the righteous for the unrighteous Adjust for the unjust Now see what he's trying to do. He is trying to get you to remember your own miracle here That's how you deal with this. That's how you deal with these these frights that you have that prevent you from being authentic He's saying look just just take that phrase the righteous for the unrighteous. Okay, who's the righteous there? Who's the righteous? Easy question It's Jesus Jesus is the righteous. Okay, who is the unrighteous? That's right. Nari said that really loudly me That's right, not you know all of us in general who's the unrighteous me See what Peter's trying to do. He's saying you know I wasn't ready at that critical moment is because I didn't connect my suffering with Christ The way that you do this is you connect to your suffering with Christ you realize that because of what he did for you That's how this whole thing works So any any persecution for identifying with Christ for doing this good is there to remind you of your own salvation It's a happy reminder of how the whole thing works See he's he's talking about the trial of it to get you to think about your own miracle. That's really the main point To think about how you were brought in through Christ's suffering for you Thank the fight Christ as Lord Listen, if you do that by taking your eyes off your own flight and Popular expression goes putting them on Jesus. So that's one of these evangelical expressions. We can fully endorse Put your eyes upon Jesus That's right And in that Understand that we're and as Vito comes to help us celebrate that in the Lord's suffer You will find rest from your soul and you will find the power to live authentic lies and fulfill this word Anything as you come now we come now to the table of the Lord This is not the table of the Presbyterian Church. This is not the table of the village church. This is the table of the Lord Communion is a family meal of Christians and we invite all committed followers of Jesus Christ who are under the oversight of a church That preaches the gospel to join us here at this meal a table that's prepared for six centers for the redemption and health of their souls If you are not a Christian or if you're not prepared to share with us meal and up with us at this time Please use the prayers that you can find in the bulletin to reflect upon the offer of the gospel that extends to all those who are in need all those who are weak a Savior that is strong to save Please rise and join me in the great Thanksgiving which can be found in your bosom The Lord be with you Lift up your hearts Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give you thanks and praise our God and our Lord It is right to give you thanks and praise at all times for your great mercy You gave us your only son Jesus Christ to be born for us By the work of your Holy Spirit He was made human just as we are and by your Holy Spirit He has been unified to us given to us to become the people that we ought to be Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven We glorify you and we praise your name ever more praising you and saying together