1 PETER - THRIVING IN FREEDOM FROM MERITED FAVOR
Brad Scheelke - September 2018 - March 2019
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Four Big Words -
community, dependence, meaning and thriving
Two Big Questions -
(1) For you, is Jesus really enough for all of life?
(2) Do you want to learn to see a person as a whole person?
Two Big Principles -
(1) Thriving happens in community.
(2)HOW and WHY questions are your door into thriving.
The big lie of our Roman culture needs to be resisted. It declares:
"Shut up! Don't ask questions! Just do what you are told!"
The Big Surprise -
"My people will be satisfies with my goodness, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 31:14
Unmerited favor is the performance of Christ!
community, dependence, meaning and thriving
Two Big Questions -
(1) For you, is Jesus really enough for all of life?
(2) Do you want to learn to see a person as a whole person?
Two Big Principles -
(1) Thriving happens in community.
(2)HOW and WHY questions are your door into thriving.
The big lie of our Roman culture needs to be resisted. It declares:
"Shut up! Don't ask questions! Just do what you are told!"
The Big Surprise -
"My people will be satisfies with my goodness, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 31:14
Unmerited favor is the performance of Christ!
THRIVING IN FREEDOM FROM MERITED FAVOR
Do you want to learn to thrive in life?
The letter of First Peter is all about learning to thrive.
Satan and the world counterfeit all of God's ways.
If you have been fooled by these counterfeits, would you want to know?
Two hints -
Is Jesus really enough for all of life for you and all others?
Whose faithfulness are you focused on right now?
Do you want to learn to thrive in life?
The letter of First Peter is all about learning to thrive.
Satan and the world counterfeit all of God's ways.
If you have been fooled by these counterfeits, would you want to know?
Two hints -
Is Jesus really enough for all of life for you and all others?
Whose faithfulness are you focused on right now?
CHRISTIANS ARE GOD'S WILDFLOWERS
At Pentecost Jews were gathered from across and beyond the Roman empire.
That day God redeemed Israel from law and poured out his spirit of unmerited favor.
When the law came 3000 died.
When the spirit came 3000 came alive.
Those witnesses to God's goodness went back home.
They were scattered like wildflowers to feed on and declare God's faithfulness, that
Jesus is alive and he really is enough for all of life.
"And my people will be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 31.14
At Pentecost Jews were gathered from across and beyond the Roman empire.
That day God redeemed Israel from law and poured out his spirit of unmerited favor.
When the law came 3000 died.
When the spirit came 3000 came alive.
Those witnesses to God's goodness went back home.
They were scattered like wildflowers to feed on and declare God's faithfulness, that
Jesus is alive and he really is enough for all of life.
"And my people will be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 31.14
SURPRISE! PREDESTINATION IS ALL ABOUT GOD.
Satan counterfeits all God's ways.
If you have bought Satan's counterfeit of predestination, would you want to know?
I have blind spots and am addicted to minimizing their seriousness.
You and all people are like I am on this.
We need each other and we need new questions.
Listen for the new question that removes the 500 year old bitter argument.
Satan counterfeits all God's ways.
If you have bought Satan's counterfeit of predestination, would you want to know?
I have blind spots and am addicted to minimizing their seriousness.
You and all people are like I am on this.
We need each other and we need new questions.
Listen for the new question that removes the 500 year old bitter argument.
HOW DOES THE SPIRIT WORK HOLINESS?
Holiness means to be set apart or different.
Different from what?
There are two spirits at work in this world.
The spirit of the world counterfeits the Holy Spirit of God.
Can you tell them apart?
If you were confused would you want to know?
Hint: whose work or faithfulness does each spirit declare?
Holiness means to be set apart or different.
Different from what?
There are two spirits at work in this world.
The spirit of the world counterfeits the Holy Spirit of God.
Can you tell them apart?
If you were confused would you want to know?
Hint: whose work or faithfulness does each spirit declare?
WHOSE FAITHFULNESS IS YOUR LIFE?
The world counterfeits the meaning of life.
If you were confused, would you want to know?
When you think life, do you think faithfulness of just breathing air?
There are two voices around us - the call of human faithfulness and the call of Jesus' faithfulness.
Which voice motivates you to action?
If human faithfulness is broken, why do we listen to that voice?
The world counterfeits the meaning of life.
If you were confused, would you want to know?
When you think life, do you think faithfulness of just breathing air?
There are two voices around us - the call of human faithfulness and the call of Jesus' faithfulness.
Which voice motivates you to action?
If human faithfulness is broken, why do we listen to that voice?
THRIVING PRODUCES JOY
Humans live from a sense of meaning.
Meaning is about faithfulness.
Satan and the world counterfeit what life is about.
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Are you seeking satisfaction in human faithfulness or God's faithfulness?
Joy in the moment is a natural result of satisfaction with God's faithfulness.
Humans live from a sense of meaning.
Meaning is about faithfulness.
Satan and the world counterfeit what life is about.
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Are you seeking satisfaction in human faithfulness or God's faithfulness?
Joy in the moment is a natural result of satisfaction with God's faithfulness.
I KNOW YOUR ADDICTION. DO YOU?
Where is your hope?
Satan and the world counterfeit true hope.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
You were born addicted to finding hope in human faithfulness?
Are you honest about your addiction?
Where is your hope?
Satan and the world counterfeit true hope.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
You were born addicted to finding hope in human faithfulness?
Are you honest about your addiction?
HOLINESS - REAL OR COUNTERFEIT?
The world counterfeits holiness.
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Two hints:
1- Is holiness about human faithfulness or about Jesus?
2-Is holiness a process or a way of wisdom?
What is you life all about anyway?
The world counterfeits holiness.
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Two hints:
1- Is holiness about human faithfulness or about Jesus?
2-Is holiness a process or a way of wisdom?
What is you life all about anyway?
SURPRISE! SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS SIMPLE.
Do you want to grow as a Christian?
New Christians and seasoned Bible school professors need the same thing.
What is it?
The world has a counterfeit of spiritual growth.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Do you want to grow as a Christian?
New Christians and seasoned Bible school professors need the same thing.
What is it?
The world has a counterfeit of spiritual growth.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
THE SURPRISE OF LEARNING TO READ IN CONTEXT
How do you read life - yours, ours and theirs?
How do you read the Bible?
The world counterfeits all aspects of life and of understanding the Bible.
In the world there are two communities, two voices and two ways of life.
It is easy to get tricked.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
How do you read life - yours, ours and theirs?
How do you read the Bible?
The world counterfeits all aspects of life and of understanding the Bible.
In the world there are two communities, two voices and two ways of life.
It is easy to get tricked.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
SUBMISSION - A SURPRISE IN GOODNESS
In personal relationships, is the word submission attractive to you?
Satan and the world have a counterfeit of submission.
If you have been tricked to distort submission, would you like to know?
There are two alternatives to submission.
Submission is the translation of a compound Greek work meaning to arrange under.
If you don't arrange yourself under, then the options are:
1. arrange yourself equal, or
2. arrange your self above
Can you see how both alternatives are competitive and arrogant?
The surprise is that God arranged himself under you to double honor you:
To enable you to be his adopted child and to be his ambassador of pure unmerited favor.
Wow! What a wonderful experience of goodness.
In personal relationships, is the word submission attractive to you?
Satan and the world have a counterfeit of submission.
If you have been tricked to distort submission, would you like to know?
There are two alternatives to submission.
Submission is the translation of a compound Greek work meaning to arrange under.
If you don't arrange yourself under, then the options are:
1. arrange yourself equal, or
2. arrange your self above
Can you see how both alternatives are competitive and arrogant?
The surprise is that God arranged himself under you to double honor you:
To enable you to be his adopted child and to be his ambassador of pure unmerited favor.
Wow! What a wonderful experience of goodness.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS' EXAMPLE?
What is his example anyway?
Satan and the world counterfeit what it means to follow Jesus' example.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Hint: Is Jesus' example about behavior or about righteousness?
What is his example anyway?
Satan and the world counterfeit what it means to follow Jesus' example.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Hint: Is Jesus' example about behavior or about righteousness?
SUBMISSION - THE LEADERSHIP SURPRISE
The world seeks to con you by tricking you to miss context.
If you have been conned into missing the beauty of submission in marriage, would you want to know?
Submission is the Greek compound word meaning to arrange under.
The World preaches "Lead by bossing! Be competitive!"
Heaven preaches "Lead by winning hearts. Like Jesus, arrange yourself under others."
Leadership and teaching are primarily by modeling.
Two wisdoms are at war.
Do you tend to arrange yourself under others or to compete with others?
The world seeks to con you by tricking you to miss context.
If you have been conned into missing the beauty of submission in marriage, would you want to know?
Submission is the Greek compound word meaning to arrange under.
The World preaches "Lead by bossing! Be competitive!"
Heaven preaches "Lead by winning hearts. Like Jesus, arrange yourself under others."
Leadership and teaching are primarily by modeling.
Two wisdoms are at war.
Do you tend to arrange yourself under others or to compete with others?
ADOPTION - THE BIG CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
Every Christian is an adopted child of God.
What does this mean?
Satan and the world counterfeit what adoption means.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
The key to understanding life with God is in understanding what royal adoption means.
We were all born under obligation to goodness.
The Son of God became one of us, born under obligation, to die our death and carry our obligation.
Hint: Are you free from all obligation to goodness? Why or why not?
What would motivate a person to do good if totally free from obligation?
Every Christian is an adopted child of God.
What does this mean?
Satan and the world counterfeit what adoption means.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
The key to understanding life with God is in understanding what royal adoption means.
We were all born under obligation to goodness.
The Son of God became one of us, born under obligation, to die our death and carry our obligation.
Hint: Are you free from all obligation to goodness? Why or why not?
What would motivate a person to do good if totally free from obligation?
THE POWER OF ROYAL ADOPTION
A Jordanian Muslim attorney friend told me that his impossible dream of adoption into the royal family
would free him from all obligation and from ever doing wrong again. Read his testimony here.
A Jordanian Muslim attorney friend told me that his impossible dream of adoption into the royal family
would free him from all obligation and from ever doing wrong again. Read his testimony here.
SUFFERING WITH CHRIST - A NEW YEAR PRIVILEGE
Why is there suffering?
The world has counterfeits of suffering and of suffering with Christ.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Suffering is the Greek word that means experiencing emotion.
Emotions are a natural part of life, but are not mere physical sensations.
Sensing pain leads to emotional responses which flow out of our understanding of life.
Do you cry out for help or lash out at others?
Jesus saw people as lost sheep and responded in compassion (passion = suffering).
When you see people fail how do you respond?
Do you experience emotion with Christ (goodness) or against Christ?
Why is there suffering?
The world has counterfeits of suffering and of suffering with Christ.
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Suffering is the Greek word that means experiencing emotion.
Emotions are a natural part of life, but are not mere physical sensations.
Sensing pain leads to emotional responses which flow out of our understanding of life.
Do you cry out for help or lash out at others?
Jesus saw people as lost sheep and responded in compassion (passion = suffering).
When you see people fail how do you respond?
Do you experience emotion with Christ (goodness) or against Christ?
ARE YOU DONE WITH SIN?
Does This question lead you to feel confusion, pressure or celebration?
Satan and the world counterfeit all the ways of God, including flesh, sin, suffering and life.
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Two hints: Peter spoke with Jesus' authority and was not confused.
He spoke simply, and clearly but not in our context.
So if Peter's words are not simple and clear to you, who is confused: Peter or you?
Let's admit our addiction to human expectations
and learn to celebrate Jesus' flesh--his expectations--as the only good way of life.
YES, I am done with sin, WHILE I am wearing gospel glasses.
Does This question lead you to feel confusion, pressure or celebration?
Satan and the world counterfeit all the ways of God, including flesh, sin, suffering and life.
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Two hints: Peter spoke with Jesus' authority and was not confused.
He spoke simply, and clearly but not in our context.
So if Peter's words are not simple and clear to you, who is confused: Peter or you?
Let's admit our addiction to human expectations
and learn to celebrate Jesus' flesh--his expectations--as the only good way of life.
YES, I am done with sin, WHILE I am wearing gospel glasses.
WHY DO YOU SIN?
Peter declares that the one suffering in the flesh is done with sin.
Is this your experience? Do you want to experience it?
Satan and the world counterfeit what it means to bear God's image--to be human--in order to confuse you.
To you, is Peter's statement confusing or simple, clear, and delightful?
Curious? Listen for a simple explanation of what it means to experience goodness.
HINTS -
You were created in God's image for relationship.
God is the source of all goodness. All people experience his goodness.
You are valuable but powerless, vulnerable, and dependent.
Satan and the world declare that you are not powerless; you can be a source of some goodness.
This makes life about a checklist, which makes life a comparison of human effort.
In Greek, suffering means to experience strong emotion. (look it up)
Flesh is the realm of human experience, which is about faithfulness to moral goodness.
Whose goodness? Whose faithfulness?
Sin is rebellion against relationship--against powerlessness, vulnerability and dependence.
Sin is put away by experiencing proper understanding of relationship.
JESUS IS THE TWO-SIDED KEY TO EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING -
Compared to Jesus are you faithful?
Did Jesus, by his death, put away all your sin? (Hebrews 9:26)
COUNTERFEITS -
Suffering is about the sensation of physical pain.
Flesh is about your desire to do bad things.
Sin is rebellion against check lists--against doing good things.
Sin is put away by trying, by unsuccessful noble intentions, or by compromising God's expectations.
SUFFERING IS ABOUT IDENTIFICATION -
Do you experience strong emotion with Christ that HIS faithfulness is enough,
or do you experience strong emotion with the world (against Christ) that some human faithfulness is required?
THE WAR RAGES - Heart versus Head--experiencing understanding of relationship versus checklist
Peter declares that the one suffering in the flesh is done with sin.
Is this your experience? Do you want to experience it?
Satan and the world counterfeit what it means to bear God's image--to be human--in order to confuse you.
To you, is Peter's statement confusing or simple, clear, and delightful?
Curious? Listen for a simple explanation of what it means to experience goodness.
HINTS -
You were created in God's image for relationship.
God is the source of all goodness. All people experience his goodness.
You are valuable but powerless, vulnerable, and dependent.
Satan and the world declare that you are not powerless; you can be a source of some goodness.
This makes life about a checklist, which makes life a comparison of human effort.
In Greek, suffering means to experience strong emotion. (look it up)
Flesh is the realm of human experience, which is about faithfulness to moral goodness.
Whose goodness? Whose faithfulness?
Sin is rebellion against relationship--against powerlessness, vulnerability and dependence.
Sin is put away by experiencing proper understanding of relationship.
JESUS IS THE TWO-SIDED KEY TO EXPERIENCE UNDERSTANDING -
Compared to Jesus are you faithful?
Did Jesus, by his death, put away all your sin? (Hebrews 9:26)
COUNTERFEITS -
Suffering is about the sensation of physical pain.
Flesh is about your desire to do bad things.
Sin is rebellion against check lists--against doing good things.
Sin is put away by trying, by unsuccessful noble intentions, or by compromising God's expectations.
SUFFERING IS ABOUT IDENTIFICATION -
Do you experience strong emotion with Christ that HIS faithfulness is enough,
or do you experience strong emotion with the world (against Christ) that some human faithfulness is required?
THE WAR RAGES - Heart versus Head--experiencing understanding of relationship versus checklist
DO YOU WANT TO BE AN IDOL?
All humans are image bearers of God.
This makes us all fully valuable but powerless, vulnerable and dependent.
We all were created to live from the heart in relationship with God and others.
The world pressures us to forget our value and to seek it in human performance.
To do so is to become an image maker--a mask wearer.
Do you have any idols or masks?
If you had any, would you want to know?
The world and Satan counterfeit how to get rid of our idols.
If you have been fooled by this counterfeit, would you want to know?
God promised that he would get rid of our idols.
Listen for the simplicity of freedom from idols in living from the heart.
All humans are image bearers of God.
This makes us all fully valuable but powerless, vulnerable and dependent.
We all were created to live from the heart in relationship with God and others.
The world pressures us to forget our value and to seek it in human performance.
To do so is to become an image maker--a mask wearer.
Do you have any idols or masks?
If you had any, would you want to know?
The world and Satan counterfeit how to get rid of our idols.
If you have been fooled by this counterfeit, would you want to know?
God promised that he would get rid of our idols.
Listen for the simplicity of freedom from idols in living from the heart.
LOVE IS NOT A FEELING, ACTION OR COMMITMENT.
Then what is love?
Hint: Whose love covers all sin?
Peter declares: Right now, love is first.
John declares: Love is from God and is propitiation.
Paul declares:
"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. He who thinks he knows does not yet know as he ought."
Love is about relationship and is solid like a brick.
Knowledge is like blowing up a balloon. It is hollow.
Satan and the world counterfeit God's context and make life a competition of knowledge.
Which are you building in your life: hollowness or solidness--knowledge or propitiation?
Which is more important to you: being right or a vision of propitiation?
Then what is love?
Hint: Whose love covers all sin?
Peter declares: Right now, love is first.
John declares: Love is from God and is propitiation.
Paul declares:
"knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. He who thinks he knows does not yet know as he ought."
Love is about relationship and is solid like a brick.
Knowledge is like blowing up a balloon. It is hollow.
Satan and the world counterfeit God's context and make life a competition of knowledge.
Which are you building in your life: hollowness or solidness--knowledge or propitiation?
Which is more important to you: being right or a vision of propitiation?
LIFE IS THE STORY OF GOD'S LOVE
What is your place in life, in God's story?
You bear God's image and are thus always fully valuable.
But you are not god. You are powerless, vulnerable and dependent.
You thrive by living and loving indirectly.
Satan and the world seek to trick us to think that we can live and love directly.
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
When you seek to live or love directly you treat yourself like an object rather than a person.
Do you like others treating you like an object?
Listen for the simple way to live and love in relationship with God and others.
What is your place in life, in God's story?
You bear God's image and are thus always fully valuable.
But you are not god. You are powerless, vulnerable and dependent.
You thrive by living and loving indirectly.
Satan and the world seek to trick us to think that we can live and love directly.
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
When you seek to live or love directly you treat yourself like an object rather than a person.
Do you like others treating you like an object?
Listen for the simple way to live and love in relationship with God and others.
WHY WERE YOU BORN UNDER JUDGMENT?
Have you ever been troubled by the fact that all humans are born under judgment?
Satan and the world counterfeit God's ways so as to trick us into confusion.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
What is judgment about anyway?
Hint: Would God be good if he had created the moral world without accountability?
Listen for the simple explanation
And for the connection to spiritually death.
Have you ever been troubled by the fact that all humans are born under judgment?
Satan and the world counterfeit God's ways so as to trick us into confusion.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
What is judgment about anyway?
Hint: Would God be good if he had created the moral world without accountability?
Listen for the simple explanation
And for the connection to spiritually death.
HOW AND WHERE ARE YOU LEADING?
The first step in leadership is learning to lead oneself well.
How does one lead oneself?
Satan and the world have counterfeits of leadership.
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Leadership is primarily by modeling.
Modeling works because humans are image bearers of God and
behavior naturally overflows from vision.
Listen to hear what this mean.
The first step in leadership is learning to lead oneself well.
How does one lead oneself?
Satan and the world have counterfeits of leadership.
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Leadership is primarily by modeling.
Modeling works because humans are image bearers of God and
behavior naturally overflows from vision.
Listen to hear what this mean.
DO YOU WANT TO BE HUMBLE?
You sense your need because you know intuitively that God wants you to be humble.
The real question is: Do you want help to be humble?
Satan and the world counterfeit the way to be humble.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Why not pray and ask God for helpers?
This would make all your critics to be an answer to prayer.
You sense your need because you know intuitively that God wants you to be humble.
The real question is: Do you want help to be humble?
Satan and the world counterfeit the way to be humble.
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Why not pray and ask God for helpers?
This would make all your critics to be an answer to prayer.
HOW DOES SATAN TRICK YOU?
Satan is a counterfeit Jesus.
Satan has a counterfeit of his counterfeit.
If you have been tricked embrace his counterfeit counterfeit, would you want to know?
Satan and Jesus always tell you to do good.
Perfection and propitiation are always at the center of Jesus' voice.
Satan distracts you from perfection and propitiation.
When you do good Satan's way, you have bad reactions to seeing human failure.
Satan is a counterfeit Jesus.
Satan has a counterfeit of his counterfeit.
If you have been tricked embrace his counterfeit counterfeit, would you want to know?
Satan and Jesus always tell you to do good.
Perfection and propitiation are always at the center of Jesus' voice.
Satan distracts you from perfection and propitiation.
When you do good Satan's way, you have bad reactions to seeing human failure.
ARE YOU STANDING FIRM IN UNMERITED FAVOR?
Is your hope set completely on Jesus' performance?
The Key of knowledge is the performance is Christ.
This key opens all of life:
every moment
every context
every relationship
every Bible verse
Satan and the world have many keys of human performance with which to trick you.
Why not learn to use the true key that always works?
Is your hope set completely on Jesus' performance?
The Key of knowledge is the performance is Christ.
This key opens all of life:
every moment
every context
every relationship
every Bible verse
Satan and the world have many keys of human performance with which to trick you.
Why not learn to use the true key that always works?
