WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.680 Well, good morning and welcome to Trinity. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:06.320 My name is Mike, and I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:12.720 And I'd like to invite you this morning to turn in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 3. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:18.800 If you don't have a Bible, please don't hesitate to hop up and grab one from the stack in the back. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:28.559 You can find 1 Peter chapter 3 on page 954 and 955 in the church Bibles. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:31.679 And while you're flipping there, let me ask you a question. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:35.840 How would you describe the good life? 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.200 How would you describe the good life? 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.399 Is it a life where you like your job? 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:44.799 Where you're popular at school? 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:51.759 Perhaps where you don't have to worry much about money, can take fantastic vacations whenever you'd like? 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:59.759 Maybe you imagine the good life when you imagine retirement, a life of ease. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:05.200 Sleeping in, plenty of pickleball, long walks on the beach. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.560 Maybe you imagine time spent with loved ones in a place you enjoy. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:17.519 Maybe you imagine a life with no pain or suffering or heartache. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:25.680 In our text today, Peter asks and then answers this question. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.040 If you've got a Bible open, you can see it right there in verse 10. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:34.400 Do you desire to love life and see good days? 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:39.680 He's actually quoting Psalm 34, which we just read a moment ago. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:45.599 I don't know about you, I certainly would like to love life and see good days. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:48.719 So let's see what Peter has to say about it this morning. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:50.319 But first, let's pray. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:57.359 Gracious God, thank you for this morning for the chance to gather, to worship, to pray, to hear from your word. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:06.799 And I pray now that as my words line up with your words, that they would fall on ears and hearts, ready to receive them and respond. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:13.599 And gracious God, if I say anything that isn't from you, I pray that those words would quickly be forgotten. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:17.840 And I pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:18.800 Amen. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.400 Now, first let me say, how many of you hear the beeping? 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.080 You're not crazy. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:24.639 Okay? 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:29.439 And I know sometimes you can come in, you're like, is that beeping, or is that my hearing aid? 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:30.800 Or like, what's going on? 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:35.039 Yes, this is a rented space from our HOA community center. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:35.680 Oh, my collar. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:36.240 I came on. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:37.759 This is awkward. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.199 You know what? 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:40.960 We're just gonna go. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:43.120 It's hot anyway. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:43.439 Okay. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:48.960 We rent the space from the community, this community center from an HOA, which is not open on Sundays. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:59.919 And from time to time, we arrive here in a Sunday morning, and there's a beeping coming from a closet with a lock on it somewhere in the building. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.439 So, yes, you're not crazy. 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.400 There is a beeping. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:07.680 It's coming from back there, up there in a closet with a key that is not the master key. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:09.759 And let me tell you right now, it could be worse. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:12.560 We've had it happen before from that closet. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.960 So you're not crazy. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.759 We'll just name that, say it right out front, all right? 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:23.120 Now, this Easter season, we've been tracking with the lectionary. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:29.120 It's the assigned seasonal readings that Christians around the world read each week. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:36.080 Last week we looked at 1 Peter chapter 2, and this week it gives us 1 Peter chapter 3. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:44.560 Now, one of the arguments for preaching the lectionary is that it ensures a varied diet, so to speak. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:51.599 It forces a preacher to deal with texts that they might otherwise skip. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:58.879 Mary was making this case to me last week where we're talking about our summer sermon series, and she's like, we should just stick with the lectionary. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:02.719 It forces preachers to preach texts they might otherwise skip. 00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:03.919 And it's true. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:05.199 It does. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:09.520 The lectionary also sometimes picks and chooses of its own accord. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.240 And this is particularly true this week. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:20.800 And so, in order for us to understand what exactly Peter is doing here in chapter three, we need to back it out, zoom out just a bit. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:23.199 If you've got a Bible in your lap, you'll see this. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:33.279 The verses that immediately precede that the lectionary conveniently skips press against our modern sensibilities. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:38.800 But if we're going to understand our assigned text this morning, we need to at least give these verses a flyover. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:45.279 So here are the practical matters Peter addresses, the end of chapter two and the beginning of chapter three. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:53.040 First, end of chapter two, the little subheading that my ESV Bible gives it, submission to authority, everybody's favorite topic. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:05:02.959 He's gonna speak specifically about how we're supposed to interact with and respect the government and our political leaders. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:08.959 And then he's gonna spend some time talking about how servants should interact with their masters. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:15.680 Now, if that's not controversial enough, it was just as controversial in the Roman Empire as it is today. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:22.480 He's actually gonna go on here, look at the beginning of chapter three, my little subheading in my ESV, what does yours say? 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.079 Wives and husbands, that's right. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:38.399 How wives should interact with husbands and husbands with wives, and there's actually a little aside in the middle where he speaks specifically about how women should dress, what they should wear. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:46.000 And the lectionary conveniently slides right past those which this morning I don't hate. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:55.120 I would be happy to get into those conversations with you some other time, preferably on a walk or at bunny man. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:11.199 But what he's gonna do, what he does in these verses is he zooms in on real practical matters that were pressing the churches in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, to which he was writing. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:14.800 That's the context. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:24.240 And it would have been just as controversial or at least uncomfortable for his audience then as it would be for us today. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:31.839 He finishes giving this practical, tangible instruction regarding matters his audience would have been thinking about. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:39.439 And then in verses eight and nine, where our text this morning starts, he sums it all up. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.759 He writes, finally, all of you. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.839 Finally, that's how we know he's summing it up. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:53.920 Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender heart, and a humble mind. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:07:07.040 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. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:28.800 How we live matters deeply to God, and it has a significant impact both on our lives together as a community and our witness to our neighbors. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:45.279 But the primary point isn't a point about braids or gold jewelry, she specifically addresses in chapter 3, verse 3, but about a posture of living that is deeply countercultural. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.639 And that's what we see here in verses 8 and 9. 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:56.079 Peter's describing a way of living, he's describing a posture that is deeply countercultural. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:02.079 And it's just as deeply countercultural today as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:20.319 He's telling his audience, and by extension, us to live lives together marked by unity, sympathy, which actually could be better translated as compassion, brotherly love, tender hearts, and humble minds. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:30.639 And let me tell you, in an age of tribalism, unity of mind is different, isn't it? 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:49.679 In a world where the two options are either consider empathy of any kind to be toxic, or you must be tolerant of whatever someone says is their truth, true compassion, true compassion is different. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:09:00.960 True, brotherly love in a world that is increasingly disconnected, where friendship is reduced to a like on Facebook. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:06.639 True, brotherly love is different. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:22.240 To be tender-hearted towards others in a world that prioritizes self above all else is different. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:29.200 And a humble mind don't even get me started. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:36.879 We live in an information age where everyone is an expert on literally everything. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:44.080 Peter instructs his audience, instructs us to have a humble mind. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:53.279 That sort of posture in 2026 is about as countercultural as it gets. 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:59.039 What he's describing is a way of living that's markedly different from the world. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:01.840 Countercultural to be sure. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:05.200 And it's definitely costly, isn't it? 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:15.919 Friends, is this the sort of posture that one uh is this sort of posture one that others might say describes your life? 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:24.720 Humble, tender-hearted, compassionate, compassionate, one that seeks unity, abounds in love. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:43.120 Frankly, living like Peter describes here doesn't quote unquote drive engagement, it won't garner likes, doesn't win elections, it won't always lead to a larger paycheck or popularity. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.879 But it's the way the Christian is called to live. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:52.480 And it's the best, it's the best way to live. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:11:00.399 And the verses that follow, which themselves quote Psalm 34, Peter tells us why. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:02.240 Listen to this. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:10.960 For whoever desires to love life and see good days, the world would say, if you want to love life, see good days, make a boatload of money. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:18.399 Do whatever it takes to make a boatload of money so that you can be happy and have a life of ease. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.039 Right? 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:25.200 Doesn't matter if you tell the truth or not, doesn't matter who you anger along the way, doesn't matter. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:32.639 Get those likes, drive that engagement, get the votes, whatever it takes, lie against a coworker so that you can get the promotion. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:43.919 The Bible says, whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, keep his lips from speaking deceit. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:47.360 Let him turn away from evil and do good. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:51.759 Let him seek peace and pursue it. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:12:01.039 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:06.480 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:15.759 This way of living, Paul argues, is countercultural to the world, but it is 100% the good life. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:23.759 You want to live life, see good days, live like this, Peter's writing. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:32.879 Keep your tongue from evil, turn away from evil and do good, seek peace in a world that favors, that favors strife and division. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:37.279 May not lead to a bigger house, but it will lead to a good life. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.879 And why? 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.799 Look at verse 12, and this is the crux of Peter's argument here. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:46.960 Because the good life is a life lived with God. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:56.080 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:06.879 A life lived like this, turning from evil and toward good, seeking peace, a humble heart, brotherly love. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.200 It's living life God's way. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.799 And God's way, Peter argues, is the best way. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.200 It's the way that leads to life. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.159 So let me encourage you, encourage, let me encourage us. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:29.039 The way Peter's encouraging his audience, seek God. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.039 Do the right thing every time. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:41.440 Live a life of humble service, be tender-hearted and compassionate towards your neighbors because life is hard. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.120 And everyone's carrying their own stuff. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:51.679 So be patient and kind, open-hearted and open-handed, and love well. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.559 This is how the people of God are called to live. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:02.080 And it is, it is the good life. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:08.159 Now you might say, but Mike, the people I see getting ahead in this world don't live like that. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.120 They're cruel, self-seeking. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:15.919 They'll do and say whatever they need to in order to get ahead. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.159 And yes, that's true. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.360 It's also true that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.039 It's verse 12. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.679 God will deal with it. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:34.799 On the flip side, you might say, but Mike, I really, I really do seek to live life like this. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:41.440 And not only do others get ahead, but my life still seems awfully hard and full of suffering. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.559 Frankly, I don't always love it. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.879 There's plenty of days. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:49.840 It doesn't seem like the good life at all. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.840 Does anybody relate to that? 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.080 And yeah, I get that. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.960 I have those same questions myself. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.759 Especially, especially on the hard days. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.399 And they're hard, there are hard days. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:05.840 It's true for Peter's audience too. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:13.440 If you were here last week, you might remember that 1 Peter was written for a handful of churches in what was modern-day Turkey. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:19.440 And you might remember that those churches were dealing with persecution at the hands of their neighbors. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:24.000 They were dealing with slander, hate at the hands of their neighbors. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:34.720 They, like us, were trying to figure out how to follow Jesus in a world that continued to try to pull them away from the way that Jesus would have them walk. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:45.759 And so here Peter is telling them that to live in a way that was quite countercultural, and he's telling them that living this way is the good life. 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.320 And you can sense their protest. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.559 It's the same as ours. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:57.120 If this is the good life, then why is it still so hard? 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.960 Why are our lives still so full of pain? 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:11.360 It's a question that Peter seeks to answer here in our last few verses. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.759 Starting at verse 14. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.759 Look at them with is addressing this question. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:28.480 But even if you should suffer, for righteousness' sake, even if you suffer for living the right way, you will be blessed. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.840 Have no fear of them nor be troubled. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:36.159 But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:42.080 Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.919 But do it with gentleness and respect. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.600 Here it is again. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.039 You hear those same words? 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.279 The gentle way of Jesus. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.360 And love. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:58.879 Verse 16, having a good conscience. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:08.000 So that when you are slandered, not if, but when those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.759 That is a little bit of indication. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:18.480 For it is better, he writes, to suffer for doing good if that should be God's will than for doing evil. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.720 And now we're getting to the heart of the matter. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:33.279 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:44.000 Friends, suffering is inevitable. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.759 Suffering is inevitable. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:18:00.000 And frankly, whatever other person out there you think of, when you imagine the good life, he or she is suffering too. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:04.160 That's par for the course. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:11.599 The difference is for the Christian suffering isn't meaningless. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:19.599 Suffering is not just pain and hardship, but it serves a purpose. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:28.960 Peter's arguing in these verses that suffering is a gift that provides three unique opportunities for the Christian. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.880 First, it creates an opportunity for witness. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:41.119 In your suffering, verse 15, be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.799 Yet do it with gentleness and respect. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:19:03.279 I've become increasingly convinced that, especially in the suburbs, most true opportunities to share our faith come around suffering. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:14.640 After all, modern life, especially life in the suburbs, is perfectly designed to match the world's vision of the good life. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:24.640 But as Peter well knows, and you and I well know, that illusion falls apart when life falls apart. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:34.960 And suddenly people begin wondering if there's more to life than a stable job, a nice car, good health insurance, and a pension. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:53.119 It's when things fall apart, either for you or for those around you, that there are real opportunities to speak about the hope that we have beyond good health insurance in a 401k. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:11.359 I guarantee I've become more and more and more convinced that the arguments that people made for why trusting Jesus is worth it 40 years ago, they don't work in the same way. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.359 At least not in my experience. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.000 People aren't asking the same questions. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:22.319 In the suburbs, the question arises when things fall apart. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:36.240 And when things fall apart for us, which they will, there's a unique opportunity for us to bear witness to our friends and neighbors. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:46.319 And when things fall apart for them, there's a unique opportunity for us to bear witness to our friends and neighbors. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:50.480 Especially when we've already done so. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.319 When we're in the midst of suffering. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.720 Of course, you've got to know your neighbors well enough to get there, right? 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.559 There's got to be enough trust to get there. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:11.279 But our suffering creates a unique opportunity for witness. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:27.519 And let me tell you, nothing will mess up your life in the best sorts of way as seeing a friend or neighbor, someone you love, come to trust Jesus. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.440 Suffering creates an opportunity to bear witness. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:35.599 Second, suffering creates an opportunity to grow in Christ's likeness. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:38.240 This is the thing you'd expect the preacher to say. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:52.000 But Peter says it right here in verse 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:56.799 The reason preachers say this so often is because the Bible says it so often. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:06.400 Paul says it over and over and over again, and Peter says Says it here too, that suffering forms us into the image of Christ who suffered. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:12.400 And it forms us into the image of Christ who suffered like not much else does. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:20.319 It is awfully hard to grow up in Christ-likeness without ever suffering. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:25.039 Because Jesus himself suffered. 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:28.000 We can't look like him without suffering. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.440 And so when things are hard, we cling to him. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.960 And we receive the hardness as a gift that draws us to him. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:40.480 Which is easier said than done, I know. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:43.440 But it doesn't make it any less true, does it? 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.799 It's the second thing. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:48.480 Suffering creates an opportunity for us to be formed in Christ-likeness. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:54.960 And lastly, a life in Christ full of suffering is still the best life. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.319 Because it's still life with God. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:05.519 A life in Christ full of suffering is still the best life. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.160 Because it's a life with God. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:23.759 Look, when you trust in Jesus, when you walk in his ways, even, and perhaps especially when things go sideways, it's still a life in Christ. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.160 And we see that language in verse 16. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.440 In Christ. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:32.880 It's suffering that's not wasted, but can be found within God's will. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:36.079 That's the language Peter uses in verse 17. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:42.640 And as we just noticed, it can be a tool for forming us in Christ-likeness. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.559 That's verse 18. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.759 Doesn't mean life in Christ will always be neat and tidy and easy. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.039 It isn't. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.240 It isn't. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:24:05.440 I've been doing this work long enough and been let into enough lives to know that everyone, everyone is carrying stuff. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.640 It's one of the unique privileges of being a pastor. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.480 We get let in to people's stuff. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:21.279 And I know, and what I know is only a fraction of what I know you're carrying. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:27.279 The same is true for your neighbors, your friends, your loved ones. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:34.319 The most put together person you know is barely hanging on. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.559 But in Christ, the suffering has purpose. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:50.559 I don't know how many of you in this room have ever spent a significant amount of time away from a life in Christ. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.799 Maybe some of you in this room are there. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.079 It's been a while. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.319 God feels awfully distant. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:02.559 If you have, you know this to be true, don't you? 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:11.920 Life in Christ is still better than a life with it's still the good life. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.559 Because it's a life in Him. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.559 Okay, so what? 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:19.279 Let's sum it up for us here at Trinity. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:33.119 First, there's an invitation here to walk the way Scripture exhorts us together with unity of mind, humility, gentleness, brotherly love and care, tenderness and compassion. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:39.440 Let's be quick to forgive, for that's the good life. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:43.759 A life full of love for God and one another. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:53.119 And it's the sort of life together that's a witness to our neighbors who live in a world that doesn't look at all like that. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:26:02.640 Friends, our neighbors yearn for that sort of life. 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:11.440 Even if they don't know it, they're sick and tired of the enmity they see on Facebook, just like we are. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:21.279 And they're looking for a place to belong, to give love, to receive love. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:25.119 And so let's walk like that. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:32.480 A life lived like that is a witness to a world that doesn't look anything like that. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:45.839 And then, second, when we suffer, which we will, let's walk together in that same way, with gentleness and compassion, always pointing back to Jesus. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:54.079 Friends, it is worth, it is worth letting each other in to your stuff. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.319 It's worth it. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:59.200 I know it's hard and it's scary. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:02.319 We worry that people would think less of us. 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:04.720 Or we think, man, I know they've got their own stuff. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.319 I can't let them into mine. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:22.559 Let's be the sort of people who ask and who listen and meet each other in that with grace, gentleness, tenderheartedness, and compassion. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:28.160 No doubt we will get this wrong, for sure. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:32.720 But let's keep at it because it's the way of Jesus. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:39.759 Let's do it all for the sake of others, that they might come to know Jesus too. 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:42.079 For the glory of God. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.400 Will you stand and pray with me? 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:58.720 Oh gracious God, we need your help to be this sort of people. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:08.079 And so we pray, come, Holy Spirit, even now, would you form us and transform us? 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:14.559 Our hearts are so prone to hardness. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.880 We know the world would pull us that way. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:35.920 And so would you form in us, would you give us, please, soft hearts towards you and one another, and our neighbors. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.799 That our suffering might produce fruit. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:47.519 That in it we might abide in you together. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.359 We pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.720 Amen.