Everyone has a Everyone has a StoryStory

Others FocusedOthers FocusedSunday, September 16, 2012Sunday, September 16, 2012

1 Peter 4:7-101 Peter 4:7-10

verse 7 verse 7 The end of all things is The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that and of sober mind so that you may pray.you may pray.

Fully Aware of:Fully Aware of:

our our personal condition personal condition and surroundingsand surroundings

the the Kingdom of God is Kingdom of God is the realthe real agenda agenda

the the Lordship of JesusLordship of Jesus

1 Peter 41 Peter 4

verse 8verse 8 Above all, love each Above all, love each other deeply, because other deeply, because love covers over a love covers over a multitude of sins. multitude of sins.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

Not a theological statement; rather, Not a theological statement; rather, an explanation of how the an explanation of how the Body of Body of Christ functionsChrist functions

Authentic Love Eliminates:Authentic Love Eliminates:criticismscriticismsannoyanceannoyance impatienceimpatience

Ephesians 4:32 Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, forgiving one another, just as God through just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Christ has forgiven you.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

Loving deeply is not about Loving deeply is not about excusing sin, it’s about excusing sin, it’s about remembering we too were remembering we too were brokenbroken, had a great , had a great debt we debt we couldn’t paycouldn’t pay, and have , and have received received much forgivenessmuch forgiveness from Jesus! from Jesus!

Luke 7:47 Luke 7:47

I tell you, her sins—and I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows who is forgiven little shows only little love. only little love.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

Jesus loves us—not Jesus loves us—not because we’re good—but because we’re good—but because He’s goodbecause He’s good. . That’s That’s GRACEGRACE..

Romans 11:6 Romans 11:6

And if they are saved by God's And if they are saved by God's kindness kindness [gk.charis=grace],[gk.charis=grace], then it is not by their good then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's works. For in that case, God's wonderful kindness wonderful kindness [grace][grace] would not be what it really is—would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. free and undeserved.

1 Peter 41 Peter 4

verse 9verse 9Offer hospitality to one Offer hospitality to one another without another without grumbling.grumbling.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

Hospitality is Hospitality is love love expressedexpressed practically; is practically; is defined as defined as loving and loving and caringcaring for others. True for others. True hospitality, then, is the hospitality, then, is the highest expression of highest expression of God’s characterGod’s character!!

Others FocusedOthers Focused

Without grumbling… Without grumbling… sharpened focus on others: sharpened focus on others: it’s not about me!it’s not about me!

1 Peter 41 Peter 4

verse 10verse 10Each of you should use Each of you should use whatever gift you have whatever gift you have received to serve others, as received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.grace in its various forms.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

In the Body every part is In the Body every part is designed to have designed to have something something to give / to to give / to support / to servesupport / to serve for for benefit of the whole benefit of the whole body.body.

Others FocusedOthers Focused

God lavishes His love God lavishes His love and Grace all over your and Grace all over your life: you have all the life: you have all the grace you can handle! grace you can handle!

Others FocusedOthers Focused

You are now a manager You are now a manager commissioned to commissioned to distribute that Grace to distribute that Grace to others!others!