Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 21:06:43
This makes for a nice, neat eight-point sermon (keeping each point short and to the point):
(1) Humble yourselves under God's hand (2) Cast all your anxiety on God (3) Discipline yourself because the devil is after you (4) Resist the devil by remaining faithful
After suffering a little while, you will experience:
(5) restoration
(6) support
(7) strength
(8) being established...at present, I assume this means in God's Kingdom.
When we clear a path for God, Peter seems to be saying, the blessings God wants to give us through Christ come our way.
This comes as very good news to me today. Just some early thoughts.
In Christ, Mark in OH
Date: 06 May 2002
Time: 21:13:25
One other thing. You might be interested in the song by Lost and Found, "Lions."
You can find the lyrics at this link: http://speedwood.com/about/lyrics/lions.php
Mark in OH
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 07:01:10
I'm thinking of using this text Sunday to preach to a congregation that has become so polarized that it is literally dividing into two congregations in a few weeks. (In fact, I'm preaching because the current pastor is not being allowed to preach) We're trusting that God is at work in the midst of the conflict -- and that God will use what is happening for God's own purpose. I can't manage 8 points (like a previous poster) but I think I can talk about working through hard times with 1. Humility (owning one's own role in what has happened. 2. Trust (God's enduring presence) 3.Discipline (resisting the temptations to continue in old patterns of relating and thereby sabatoge the healing) and 4. Community (your brothers and sisters in all the world are connected to your suffering and support your faith -- )
Of course, the note of hope is in 5:10, but I don't think these folks are ready for premature reassurance.
RevEv in Ks
Date: 09 May 2002
Time: 12:23:50
To the Rev in Kansas amid conflict:
I pray and hope that God gives you wisdom this Sunday as you share the gospel. Eugene Peterson, in his translation of scripture called "The Message" - translates verse 12 of chapter 4 "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."
Having been in a congregation amid conflict, there is a certain feeling of God's abandonment that affects the esteem of the congregation; they need to know hope. There is hope in the midst of that conflict, and they should never give in to the conflict as if it is an end in itself. While conflict, on the whole, hurts, it is a "refining" process for the congregation, the conflicted, and the conflictor.
Peter in OHIO