Hope & Joy
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
1 Peter 1:2-9 (ESV)
2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Sermon Outline
You should expect the Christian life to be joyful.
1. Where does it come from?
v3 “blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”
v3 “he has caused us… a living hope”
vv8-9 “you love him… you believe in him”
2. How do you sustain it?
v6 “though now for a little while…”
v7 “faith – more precious than gold”
v3 “his great mercy;” “through the resurrection;” v4 “to an inheritance;” v5 “are being guarded;” “a salvation ready to be revealed”
3. What should you do?
v6 “in this you rejoice”
vv8-9 “rejoice with joy…”
Questions for Reflection
Do you expect the Christian life to be joyful? Why or why not?
If Christians should be joyful, how do you understand Jesus’ warnings that following him will include suffering?
What does it look like to pursue joy in God? How do you do it? What challenges will you have to deal with?
Does every experience of happiness have to be “religious”? How do you enjoy life and the things in it in a way that is integrated with faith, and is God-focused?
When do you find it most difficult to be joyful? What outlook can keep you sustained by hope? What can you bring to mind at those times, or what perspective do you need to hold on to?
Is deepening in faith in God a priority for you? If it is, how will this alter your experiences of trials? If it is not, how will trials cause problems for your faith?
Which of the many “benefits” of following Jesus grip you most? What components of the Christian life are most attractive, do you want most, will you seek after most fervently?
How can rejoicing be a more regular practice in your life? What can you do as part of your daily routine to celebrate and give thanks to God?
What Christian song speaks most to you? Why? Identify or find a few songs and make singing them part of your devotional practice.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful Father, our hearts are joyless until they find their joy in you. We have sought joy in the things you have made, but we have not been satisfied. Out of a sense of emptiness we have pursued forms of pleasure that you forbid. In our desperation for happiness, we have done things for our own happiness that have robbed others of joy. In our failure to attain joy we have blamed and resented you. We have failed to recognize and appreciate who you are and all you have done for us. Forgive us, and open our eyes to this living hope, that we would rejoice with a joy inexpressible, filled with glory. Amen.