Lectionary Year A
May 12, 2002
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

(JFC) A. DESCRIPTION OF THE AUDIENCE

Small membership Presbyterian Church in a small town with a small United Methodist College and a lot of agricultural and other related small industries. They have had some sensitive and insightful ministers in recent years. I am substituting while they look for an Interim and prepare to call another pastor. They might be unable to support a fulltime pastor in future years. Their worship service reflects thoughtful planning and lay participation in leadership responsibilities.

(JFC) B. INTENDED GOALS

Let's hope we can face our (and the world's) problems realistically and faithfully. Let's try to rely on our Sovereign God as we go on and grow into the future. Let's try to put evil in its proper place and get on with living with and for Christ.

(JFC) C. ADDRESS

Introduction
A culmination of 1 Peter, this passage starts by declaring God's love to recipients of its message. God loves people in Asia Minor in the first century(ies) of the Common Era. God loves us, as well. This text says so.

I. Our thoughts, regarding doing good and suffering and getting renounced, etc. Testing is a strange experience. We mix up the ordinary with the extraordinary. Life gets more confusing than God makes it to be.

II. Humility helps us decipher life as God intends it to be = enjoyed. God's mighty hand, anthropomorphically speaking, can handle our problems. If the battle between good and evil disturbs us, we might find some comfort and hope in God's ability and willingness to share the burden of its weight on us.

III. Discipline and Alertness
Sure, it's gonna take some effort expending on our part. 1 Peter 4 and 5 tell us how. Today's text leads us to resist evil, recognize global suffering and look beyond suffering (it is so temporary) to the God of all grace's calling us and completing us and supporting us, strengthening us and establishing us, too.

Conclusion
God's dominion be acclaimed here and now and everywhere we go all the rest of our lives.



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