Called Back
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Spiritual Vitality
1 Peter 1:1-9 (ESV)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
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
Our spiritual appetites signal we hunger for something that is lacking. We are called by Jesus to return to the place we are longing for.
1. Dispersed
v2 “exiles of the dispersion”
2. Called back
v2 “elect”
v3 foreknowledge/Father
sanctification/Spirit
obedience-sprinkling/Jesus
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, we don’t earn your love, we don’t deserve your love, we are not entitled to your love. Yet, you have loved us. We recognize we are self destructive. We willingly turn from you who gives life and all good things. We resent, we blame, we act with spite, but we don’t take responsibility for our sin. Forgive us as we acknowledge that we have not honored or trusted you. The consequences of life apart from you are too much to bear. Thank you for sending Jesus, who calls us back, and who makes the way possible. We rest in the forgiveness that comes through the sprinkling of his blood. We pray for the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in us. We long to know you more truly and deeply. Thank you for mercy. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What do you long for? What are some of your strongest desires? What things do you pursue to satisfy those desires?
In what ways do our desires point us to a deeper reality? How can we learn from what we desire about what our true needs are?
Why is it hard to be satisfied in God?
How does your life connect with the theme of exile?
Why is it hard to follow Jesus, who presents himself as “the way”? Why don’t you follow him as fully as you should?
How do you respond to the idea of “unconditional election” (God chooses us because God loves, not because of anything in us that earns or draws God’s favor)? Does it make sense? Does it trouble you? Does it help you? What should be some outcomes of understanding this rightly?
Have you fully turned to God? Where are you holding back? Why? Where is Jesus calling you to take another step?
How can satisfaction in Christ make it so that you are more free to enjoy the good things of this world? How can it enable you to serve within this world in a deeper way?