A Second Birth
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
Spiritual vitality results from a work God does in us that Peter likens to being born again.
1. Why you need it
v3 “he has caused us to be born again… from the dead”
v9 “the salvation of your souls” (v5)
2. How you get it
v3 “according to his great mercy”
v3 “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
3. What you do
v8 “you love him”
v8 “you believe in him”
v3 “a living hope”
Prayer of Confession
Our merciful God, look upon us again with compassion and kindness. Don’t treat us as our sins deserve. We acknowledge that apart from your grace we are without hope. By our thoughts, words and actions, we have exposed our spiritual weakness. We have no strength in ourselves, apart from you. Forgive us. Draw us nearer to you. Fill us with your Spirit. Revive our failing souls. We thank you that through the resurrection of Christ, we have new life. We pray in his name. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How does awareness of your mortality affect you? Is it something you think about? Does the future reality of death impact your experience in the present?
When do you feel most alive? What does it feel like? What factors contribute to your feeling that way?
Where do you get energy to face life and its challenges? What do you find to be most draining?
How does a life reframed by what God has done for us in the past (death of Jesus, who loved us) and the promise of what lies ahead (inheritance) create new and better possibilities? What changes in your expectations? Identity? Attitude? Choices?
Do you believe God has loved you in sending Jesus to suffer death so that you can share in his life? Do you believe the resurrection of Jesus means you too will be raised to life eternal? What questions do you have about these things?
What do you find hardest about receiving from God?
Where does “doing” fit in the Christian life? Are we to do anything?
Do you live in the present mindful of God? Do you trust God is with you, and are you walking with God? Are you keeping your eyes open for what God is doing?