10-9-22 Sermon

I Want to Know Him -- Gifted to Give His Grace Away

by Dr. Jon M. Fillipi

1 Peter‬ ‭4:7-10‬‬
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Who do you know right now that is living without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and what are you doing today to reach them?

We have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17-20‬‬
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

3 Key Thoughts...

- new creation

- the ministry of reconciliation

- ambassadors for Christ

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:5-8‬‬
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

We have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:7-10‬‬
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

We have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

Verses 9-10 present three calls to action...

1. Show hospitality
2. Serve one another
3. Be a good steward of God's varied grace

We have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

The motivation for Christian hospitality is love.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:22‬‬
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

‭‭John‬ ‭13:35‬‬
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:39‬‬
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The expression of Christian love is gifted service.

‭‭John‬ ‭15:12-14‬‬
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18‬‬
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:16‬‬
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:10‬‬
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

The focus of gifted loving service is the presentation of the gospel.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10‬‬
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-8‬‬
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬‬
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬‬
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

Who do you know right now that is living without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

What are you doing today to reach them?

You have been gifted by God to serve and to give grace away.

Is that what you are doing?