1 PETER 3
6 Outlines
1 Peter 3:1-7
A MARRIAGE THAT PLEASES GOD
God established marriage and approves of it. - Genesis
2:22-24, Hebrews 13:4
Christians should only marry Christians - 2
Corinthians 6:14-15
God has plans for your marriage.
Christian men will only be truly happy with Christian
women that practice 1 Peter 3:1-6.
Christian women will only be truly happy with
Christian men that practice 1 Peter 3:7
THE CHRISTIAN WIFE - Vss. 1-6
·
EXHORTATION - Vss. 1-2
Women are encouraged to live in submission to their
husbands.
This does not mean that the man is superior to his
wife, but for the sake of God's order, she is to submit to her husband's
leadership.
Husbands need to remember, however, that they are to
help the wives to be submissive by loving them as Christ loved the church.
Ephesians 5:25
Women are also encouraged to win their husbands to a
Godly obedience by their quiet, chaste conversation.
·
EXPLANATION - Vss. 3-4
Peter is not saying that is wrong to fix one's hair,
or to wear jewelry or nice clothes. He
is saying that true adornment is that of a "meek and quiet spirit".
·
EXAMPLE - Vss. 5-6
Sara, and other Godly women of the Bible (Ruth,
Esther, Mary) serve as positive examples for the women
of today.
THE CHRISTIAN HUSBAND - Vs. 7
·
REQUIREMENTS
The husband is to understand his wife.
The husband is to honor his wife.
·
REASONS
The wife is considered to be the "weaker
vessel".
The wife is a "joint heir" of the
"grace of life".
A husband's prayers are hindered when he doesn't treat
his wife properly.
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1 Peter 3:1-9
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
SUBMISSIVE WIVES Vss.
1-6
SUPPORTIVE HUSBANDS Vs.
7
SENSITIVE FELLOWSHIP
Vss. 8-9
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1 Peter 3:8-12
A WONDERFUL LIFE
Many of you have seen
the classic Frank Capra Movie, "It's A Wonderful Life", starring
Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. It is the
story of a fictitious hero, George Bailey, who lived the fictitious town of
Now, It's A Wonderful
life was pure fiction, especially the part about the angel named
"Clarence." But it is no
fiction that countless thousands of Christians have had wonderful lives in
spite of their struggles and hardships.
Think of some of the folks from this church that you know or have
known. They have seen many blessings and
have been a blessing to many of you. Because of their relationship to Christ
they led and are leading wonderful lives.
You might ask the
question, "How can I be sure of having a wonderful life?" As we
examine 1 Peter 3:8-12 we will learn how to be sure of having a wonderful life
despite frustrations, hardships and trials.
To begin with, I need to
remind you that having wonderful life begins at the cross of
Your wonderful life
begins with a faith commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. You can't have a
wonderful life without knowing you have eternal life. That's step #1! (You
might want to take the time to elaborate on Ephesians 2:1-9 here. I did.)
For those of us who know
Christ 1 Peter 3:8-12 shows us how to have this wonderful life. I have summed
up what Peter is saying in three words.
CONDUCT - Vss. 8-9
Here is a list of ways
to conduct ourselves as part of the body of Christ.
I suggest that you
elaborate on each one of them.
CONFIRMATION - Vss.
10-11
When I preach I
constantly quote the Scriptures to confirm that what I'm saying is the truth.
It is not important what I have to say. It is important what God has to say!
Peter confirms that what He is saying is true by quoting Psalm 34:12-16. We
need to note that we are to shun evil actions and words in favor of doing good and seeking peace.
CONSOLATION - Vss. 12
Peter is still quoting
from Psalm 34. We can be consoled that
the Lord is looking over the righteous and listening to their prayers. The Lord is also hardened against those who
do evil, even though He loves them.
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1 Peter 3:7
A GODLY HUSBAND – GOOD FOR MOTHER’S OR FATHER’S DAY
WISDOM - It is the duty of the husband to understand
his wife. He is to dwell with her according to knowledge. Ephesians 5:25
WORTH - The husband is to give honor to his wife. A
Christian Husbands should not be constantly embarrassing their wives. Proverbs
5:15-21
WARNING - A husband who does not obey this verse will
have his prayers hindered. God does not honor the prayers of a man who is
sinning against his wife. Psalm 66:18
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1 Peter 3:14-16
BORN TO FISH!
Fishermen?
Matt 4:18-19 - And Jesus, walking by the sea
of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them,
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Fishermen?
Mark 16:14-15 - Afterward he appeared unto the
eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Fishermen?
Matt 5:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.
Fishermen?
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth.
Fishermen! The Lord Jesus
has called those who know Him as Savior to be "Fishers of Men". We are called to communicate that same great
message of eternal life that saved us to others who have not yet placed their
faith and trust in Christ. That's how the early church grew! Acts 11:19-21
Most of us know that we
should share our faith in Christ.
If John 3:36 is true, and it is, we need to get the message out to everyone!
Basically, we can say, if
we've been born again into the
Let's see from this passage
what fishing entails.
SEPARATION
Vs. 14 - The context in which we find these verses is that of persecution.
Peter tells us here, that if we suffer for the sake of righteousness, we are
happy! We should feel privileged to suffer for the one who suffered for us.
And, we are told that we will suffer for Him as Christians. 2 Timothy 3:12,
Philippians 1:29
The opposition will
come. We are told in our text not to be
afraid or worried when the opposition gives us trouble. There are reasons not to be afraid or
worried.
1. Jesus said "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
2. The worse thing opposition can
do is kill us, and that's an instant ticket to glory.
3. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would give us the words to say when
we are brought before authorities Luke 12:11-12
Instead of being afraid or
worried about opposition, Peter tells us to "sanctify the Lord God in our
hearts” in verse 15.
Christian, you will not be
an effective fisherman for Christ unless your heart is right with God. Your
actions and your words will not be a good testimony for Christ unless your
heart is right with God.
The word
"sanctify" means to "set apart".
Inside your heart, the real
you, the seat of your emotions, and very being, there needs
to be setting apart of the Lord God.
In our text these words
actually mean to set apart God as Lord.
In the Trinity, who is
viewed as the Lord? The Lord Jesus is! Philippians 2:9-11
If you are a born again
Christian, you should set apart Jesus Christ as Lord of your heart!
That means that He is boss.
That means that He is in charge.
That means that He is
worshiped and adored.
That means that He can
direct you to think, to do, and to say anything that he wishes you to think, do
or say.
That's because you have set
Him apart as Lord in your heart. Romans 12:1
When you acknowledge Jesus
as Lord, you are saying, "Lord Jesus I'll go where you want me to go, I'll
do what you want me to do, I'll be what you want me to
be."
Witnessing becomes an act of
obedience to the one I have made King of my life.
PREPARATION
But sanctify
the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason …
HOW CAN WE PREPARE TO
WITNESS, TO FISH FOR MEN?
1. Know what you believe. The word "answer" in Geek is the word
from which we get our English word "apology". This does not mean to
be sorry, but rather to be able to give an apologetic, or a logical defense of
the Gospel.
2. Know the Basic Gospel that a person needs to know in order to be saved.
3. Ask God to give you a burden for the lost.
4. Be willing to witness, and ask
God for opportunities and the Holy Spirit's direction and power.
5. Look for the opportunities that God provides.
EXPECTATION
1 Peter 3:15 - …and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…
The Christian is to be
different!
He is to be a doer of good
works.
He is to be moral.
He is to love his fellow
Christians.
He is to have hope in times
of persecution.
When the Christian is
different, the unsaved will be able to tell.
When you have hope, an
expectation of better things to come, the unsaved will notice.
You will not be anxious.
You will not get as
flustered.
You will take mistreatment
patiently.
You will have joy and peace.
Why?
Because your hope is in the
fact that you've been forgiven!
Because your hope is in
Jesus Christ who is coming again, at any time! Titus 2:13
SPECIFICATION
1 Peter 3:15 - …and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear:
Peter here makes a
specification concerning the attitude for effective fishing for men.
Our attitude is not to be a
cocky, "I'm better than you are" attitude.
It is not to be an abrasive,
unpleasant approach. My Jewish roommate in college was once accosted by a
preacher at a skating rink. That approach totally turned him off.
Instead, we are to are to witness with meekness or gentleness, and fear, or
reverence, or respect.
Beloved, what we say for
Christ is important.
Beloved, how we say it is
just as important!
The person being witnessed
to must be handled gently, often firmly.
He must also sense the fact
that you respect him or her.
Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
PURIFICATION - Vs. 16
1 Peter 3:16 - Having a good conscience;
that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that
falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Your conscience is an inner
witness that tells you when you are doing right or wrong. It is possible to
ignore your conscience and to sear your conscience.
But when you obey your
conscience, you will know when things are not right!
A good conscience is
important in witnessing, because those who don't like your witness will speak
of you as an evil doer.
But when you are doing what
is right, the accusations will mean nothing to you. And eventually, those who
falsely accuse you will be ashamed, if your walk matches your talk.
It behooves us to purify our
lives daily so that we can be the best possible witnesses.
1 John 1:9
When we keep short accounts
with God, our witness will have power.
If you're a Christian,
you've been born to fish, born again to fish for men.
Are you are a fisher of men?
If not, why not?
To be a good fisher of men,
a good witness, practice:
SEPARATION
PREPARATION
EXPECTATION
SPECIFICATION
PURIFICATION
This is a greatly expanded edition of a previously
shared outline.
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1 Peter 3:15-16
AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
We are to be good
ambassadors or representatives of Christ, especially during times of suffering
(Vs. 14). Here is how we can be good ambassadors for Him:
BE SANCTIFIED -
"But sanctify the Lord Jesus Christ in your hearts..."
BE READY - "And be
ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason..."
BE HOPEFUL - "...of
the hope that is in you..."
BE RESPECTFUL -
"...with meekness and fear."
BE CLEAN - "Having
a good conscience..." - Vs. 16
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