2020-09-13在末日的光景中相爱（彼得前书4:7-11）L

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彼得前书4:7-11

万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎警醒地祷告。8 最重要的是要彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮盖许多的罪。9 你们要互相接待，不发怨言。10 你们要作 神各样恩赐的好管家，各人照着所领受的恩赐彼此服事。 11 讲道的，应当按着 神的圣言讲；服事的，应当按着 神所赐的力量服事，为要在一切事上，使 神藉耶稣基督得荣耀。荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远。阿们！

[祷告]天父，我早上的祷告是愿你在一切事上得荣耀。求你传讲你的话语，高举基督，更新我们的情感，使我们越来越像耶稣。现在来吧，在你圣灵的大能中，赐给我恩典，让我像讲神的圣言一样说话，使基督得到一切的荣耀。我们奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们！

[引言：纪念9-11]两天前是9-11事件19周年纪念日，当时美国本土发生了四起协同恐怖袭击。它导致近3 000人死亡，无数人受伤，给很多家庭、社区和城市以及整个国家带来持久的后果。我记得当时我紧盯着电视，看着灾难的发生，还有圣地亚哥上空掠过的喷气式飞机的轰鸣声，他们在为未知的事情做准备。如果你已经过了25岁，你可能还记得你听到911袭击的具体时间。

[9/11之后的日子]在“9-11”袭击后的几天里，全国人民团结起来。全国上下出现了空前的爱国主义和团结局面。面对可怕的攻击，大家都希望展现美国人民的韧性和决心。在袭击现场，在棒球比赛中，在警察局和消防站，自发地爆发了“美国！”的呼声。在考验和挑战中，美国将如何应对？

[过渡到经文]虽然形势和环境截然不同，但摆在我们面前的问题是，在试炼和挑战中，信徒应该如何应对？当恶意、诽谤、苦难、逼迫攻击信徒的时候，我们应该如何回应？

[上下文]上周我们看到，信徒要用基督的心志来武装自己。我们不能像教外人一样生活，因为他们会被神审判。相反，信徒不仅要节制肉体的情欲—罪恶的欲望，而且要为了在一切事情上荣耀神而活着。

[聚焦堕落状态：自我关注或退缩]彼得的读者所面临的非常真实的考验，可能会使他们屈服和妥协，或者逃避社会，或者彼此退缩。我就用我们当前的事件来说明这个问题。

• 在全球大流行的情况下，很多人比以往任何时候都更多地考虑到自己的死亡和健康问题。

• 随着总统竞选如火如荼，很多人都在重新评估自己是住在红州还是蓝州，是住在城市还是郊区，还是在考虑搬到乡下。

• 随着双城暴力事件的激增，枪支弹药抢购一空。很多人比以往任何时候都更多地考虑到自身的保护和安全。

[寻找答案]在这些压力和挑战下，很多人都在为自己寻求出路。如何保护自己、保护资源、保护家庭、保护健康？这不一定是错的，但彼得想提醒他的读者，以及我们今天早上所有的人，我们不应该忽略在信仰的家庭中彼此相爱。

[要点]我们这段经文的主​旨是，信徒要照着基督再来的迫近性，彼此相爱，共同生活。在这样的时刻，不要忘记你的呼召、你的身份和你的目的。在漫长的阴霾和黑暗中，信徒的光要更加耀眼。当前发生的这些事，无论是在彼得的时代还是在今天，对于那些最终盼望是在主耶稣基督里的信徒来说，都不会感到惊讶。

[目的]这段经文的目的不仅仅是改变神子民的态度和行为，而是要让神在一切事上都藉耶稣基督得荣耀（彼得前书4:11）。

[计划]彼得前书4:7-11首先提出了一个惊人的主张（7a节），然后紧接着对信徒的生活方式提出了四个方面的劝勉。

1. 语出惊人：“万物的结局近了”（第7a节）

2. 对信徒的四个劝勉：信徒要...

   1. 谨慎自守（第7b节）

   2. 切实相爱（第8节）

   3. 乐于接待（第9节），以及

   4. 恩典服事（第10-11节）

语出惊人：“万物的结局近了”（第7a节）

[语出惊人]彼得开头一句话言简义丰：“万物的结局近了。”彼得说这是什么意思？彼得认为现在的信徒正生活在救赎历史的最后阶段，这个阶段已经由耶稣的复活和升天开始。我们现在正生活在耶稣第一次降临和第二次降临之间。这就是所谓的“末世”或“万物的结局”。

[2千年过去了]如果有人不理解这句话与彼得写这句话的时候有什么相关，那是很正常的。从彼得写下这些话到现在，大约已经过去了2000年。那么，无论是现在还是2000年前，我们应该如何理解“万物的结局近了”呢？

• 耶稣教导祂的国近了|马可福音1:15说：“时候到了，神的国 近了，你们应当悔改，相信福音。”

• 彼得认识到，神对时间的看法与我们不同彼得后书3:8说：“亲爱的，这一件事你们不可忘记：在主看来，一日如千年，千年如一日。”意思是，神正在耐心地推迟祂的第二次降临，以使更多的人悔改!

[国度已经开始了]彼得和耶稣都是在传达，神的国度已经开始，并且已经落成。惊人的事实是，我们现在正生活在救赎历史的最后阶段。耶稣随时都有可能再来，结局是“很快”，所以我们应该带着这种程度的警戒心生活。耶稣的再来是迫在眉睫的—祂可能现在就回来。

[“快来”]在启示录22:20，即整部圣经的倒数第二节中，耶稣告诉我们祂将在何时回来。约翰写道：证明这些事的那一位说：“是的，我必快来！” 阿们！ 主耶稣啊，请你来吧！（启示录22:20）耶稣自己说祂“快”来了。所以我们可能会问，“多快才算快？”在C.S.刘易斯所著的《黎明踏浪号》中，他在露西和阿斯兰的对话中接上了这个主题和语言。他们正在彼此道别，阿斯兰对露西说：“露西，别这么伤心。我们很快就会再见面的。”而露西则回应道：“拜托，阿斯兰，你说的很快是什么意思？”而阿斯兰回答说：“时间对我来说都是很快。”

[你将如何生活？]我们现在正生活在末后的日子里。而彼得作这惊人之语，是为了激励信徒过敬虔的生活。你的生命只有一次，你的日子已经不多了。你将如何利用你剩余的时间？你是只顾自己，还是遁世逃避，还是作为教会的一员，通过耶稣寻求荣耀神？

[在社区里忠心地生活]如果世界末日来临，就会有一种诱惑，那就是逃避社会，停止工作，停止为未来做准备，跑到南达科他州的某个偏僻的掩体里，停止纳税，退出教会，成为一个末日准备者。但这并不是神的子民所蒙的呼召。相反，他们要在基督即将再来的光景下，继续忠心地生活在团体中。

[过渡]彼得说信徒要做四件事，因为末日近了：谨慎自守（第7b节）切实相爱（第8节）乐于接待（第9节），以及亲切服事（第10-11节）

对信徒的四项劝勉（7b-11节）

#1 谨慎自守（第7b节）

彼得前书4:7b“万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎警醒地祷告。”

[正确地思考]这个劝告要求我们根据救赎的历史，进行正确而清醒的思考。为了你的祷告生活，要警醒和预备。或者说，要严肃认真，小心翼翼。信徒不要从事漫不经心的活动，使我们远离神，特别是我们的祷告生活。如果你沉迷于社交媒体、酒精、阅读阴谋论、看福克斯新闻或CNN，或者不断刷手机，我猜你的祷告生活会受到影响。

[彼得前书中的关联]彼得在1:13中指示他的读者说：“所以要准备好你们的心，警醒谨慎，专心盼望耶稣基督显现的时候所要带给你们的恩典”（彼得前书1:13）。实质上，就是不要像教外人那样喝醉了，而要对基督的事情保持清醒和警觉。后来在彼得前书5:8中，他为这种警醒提供了额外的动力：“你们要谨守、警醒。你们的仇敌魔鬼，好像吼叫的狮子走来走去，寻找可以吞吃的人”（彼得前书5:8）。记住这是彼得，他在客西马尼园与耶稣同在，耶稣曾对他说：“应当警醒、祷告，免得陷入试探”（马太福音26:41）。

[耶稣关于十童女的比喻]耶稣在马太福音25:1-13的十童女比喻中也有类似的教导。十个童女出去迎接新郎。其中五个没有带油，另外五个多带了油瓶。那五个没油了，得去买油，最终被拒于婚宴之外。耶稣用这句话总结这个比喻：“所以你们要警醒，因为不知道那日子和那时间”（马太福音25:13）。要谨慎，警醒！

[与祷告的联系]这种警觉清醒的心态如何与祷告有什么关系？在一个层面上，其实很简单：如果你喝醉了，你就不可能祷告。我猜今天早上醉酒并不是我们中间普遍存在的问题。我的感觉是，科技是让人成瘾的东西，它拉开了我们与宇宙之神对话交流的距离。研究表明，我们的手机会让人上瘾，每一个应用都会让人上瘾，它已经迅速取代了祈祷。祷告和读经不再是我们起床后的第一件事，祷告也不是我们入睡前的最后一件事，现在刷手机才是我们醒来的第一件事，也是我们睡前的最后一件事。

[突发新闻的暴政]现在所有的新闻都很紧急，都是突发。几周前我去度假，我说我最喜欢的一点是我们住的地方没有手机信号。如果你的祷告生活是软弱或贫乏的，让我今天早上向你挑战，戒断你的手机，或在早上9点之前不拿起手机，或在晚上8点把它收起来。要自制，要清醒。

[迫切祈祷]然后让我提醒你，我们所拥有的特权。信徒要这样祷告：“愿人都尊你的名为圣。愿你的国降临；愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上！ ”（马太福音6:9-10）耶稣快回来吧！用你圣灵的大能闯入我生命和我们世界的问题。使我更像耶稣。拯救我那些失丧的家人、邻居和同事。使我们统一在基督的主宰之下!

[回到我们最初的爱]记得当你第一次开始和你的配偶约会时（对于那些已婚的人），或者如果你现在正在约会。你们有说不完的话。那一整天你们说着你们做了什么，总是说不够。已婚的人很多时候需要重新学习如何与对方交谈，而不是把事情当成理所当然。我们与耶稣的关系也是如此。就像以弗所的教会离开了他们最初的爱一样，对我们今天早上的一些人来说，我们呼召大家恢复我们最初的爱。现在彼得转入切实相爱。

#2 切实相爱（第8节）

彼得前书4:8“最重要的是要彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮盖许多的罪。”

[保守爱心]信徒们，不要受诱惑去退缩、逃避，或以自我为中心、以自我为焦点，却要听从命令彼此切实相爱。虽然恶意和痛苦不断加剧，但不要退出基督徒群体。

[遮盖许多的罪？]“爱能遮盖许多罪“是什么意思？彼得知道，只有耶稣能赦免罪孽。彼得引用的是箴言10:12的后半句。”恨能挑起纷争，爱能遮掩一切过失。“彼得在呼唤一种坚忍不拔、遮掩过犯的爱，这爱能饶恕 。如果你被得罪了，圣经说你可以忽略它、遮盖它、原谅它，也可以根据马太福音18章的原则把它带到他们面前。圣经假设基督徒会互相犯罪，这不是很惊人吗？共同生活，意味着我们会在不经意间互相伤害。但当它发生时，不要让它拆散这个耶稣为之而死的家庭。

[保守合一]不能让小小的纠纷破坏祂用血赎来的上帝子民的合一。我们必须切实地彼此相爱。人们常说，教会不是一个充满圣徒的博物馆，而是一个充满罪人的医院。因此更需要爱。一种饶恕、宽容、遮盖（不是掩盖）、维护社区团结的爱。在这个身体中，谁得罪过你？你饶恕他们了吗？你得罪过谁？你寻求他们的原谅了吗？

[例证：伤人的话]就在这个星期，我和一位朋友分享了他们所说的一些话很伤人。要承认他们的话很伤人是不容易的。这不是好玩的。把那朋友拒之门外就容易多了。而上帝在祂的仁慈中让这次谈话顺利进行。恢复了我们之间的爱和团结。也许有一天，我可能会说一些粗鲁或伤人的话，角色就会颠倒过来。目的是维护基督身体中特有的合一和爱（约翰福音13:35）。

[在社区中的应用]我们相信与他人一起参与社区活动是非常重要的。我们的一个重要方式就是参加小组。然而，我知道我们中的一些人曾被信徒同胞伤害过，我们迟迟不敢对别人表现自己的脆弱。也许你觉得自己不被关心，也许你被错误地斥责，也许你不知道自己是否会被接纳。也许别人说了伤人的话。也许是你说过或做过伤人的事。我想鼓励和挑战我们在需要的地方—通过饶恕或与他人交谈—进行和解，而不要忽视基督徒的团体。彼得接着指出，这种热切的爱要表现在款待上。

#3 乐于接待（第9节）

彼得前书4:9”你们要互相接待，不发怨言。“

[什么是接待？]在彼得的时代，接待包括了款待远客，在家中接待教会聚会，为巡回传福音的传道人提供住宿，而且经常涉及到侍奉和提供饭食。那个时代可没有希尔顿或万豪酒店。它也用来满足陌路客、外乡人、穷人、寡妇和孤儿的需求。在希腊罗马时代，教会聚会​通常也是在家里进行，就像今天的小组聚会一样。在举办这些聚会的过程中，由于接待所带来的不便、花费和干扰，很容易让人感到疲惫。

[不惜代价的接待]彼得呼召大家甘心乐意地、不惜代价地接待。信徒们要表现出好客的态度，不要有怨言。尽管给我的生活带来花费、不便和干扰，我们仍要无私地款待别人。为什么？因为我们认识到，无论如何，我们所拥有的一切都属于神。在下一节中，我们看到，我们是神所赐恩赐的管家。我们的金钱、食物、时间和家室都是如此。神把这些托付给祂的儿女，而我们是管理员。当我们正确地思考这一切都是属于谁的，那么我们就可以正确地打开我们的家门，把款待他人当作一种机会，而不是一种负担。

[例证：搬到明州]我记得我也曾受到过这种款待。很多人都知道我们在2017年搬到了明尼苏达州，当时我们一家七口人还没有地方住。在100多天的时间里，我们在双城不断地从一处搬到另一处。我知道一个事实，要接待七个人，就算你的房子再大，也都不是闲庭漫步。那确实是个麻烦，是个烦扰。这些接待者中多数还不太认识我们。我们还有一个会哭闹的婴儿。但我没听到抱怨（至少没当着我面）。

[如何表现出乐于接待？]有谁在你身边，也许离你只有一臂之遥，你能伸出援手吗？你能向谁敞开家门和心扉？也许是寄养儿童？也许是租约之间没地方住的单身人士？也许是一个面临下岗的家庭？也许是需要帮助的单亲家庭？也许是教育上班父母的子女？也许是陪伴老人？神拥有这一切！你的爱有多真诚热切？我们的款待有多亲切？我们在开放家门的时候有多喜乐？然后，彼得在10-11节中从相爱和接待转向使用我们不同的恩赐。

亲切服事（第10-11节）

彼得前书4:10-11“10 你们要作 神各样恩赐的好管家，各人照着所领受的恩赐彼此服事。 11 讲道的，应当按着 神的圣言讲；服事的，应当按着 神所赐的力量服事，为要在一切事上，使 神藉耶稣基督得荣耀。荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远。阿们。”

[使用我们的恩赐]请与我一起注意以下几点：所有的信徒都至少得到了一种恩赐。基督徒要用这些恩赐彼此服侍。所有的信徒都是这些恩赐的管家。这意味着，神赐给他们，是让他们使用，而不是囤积。它们是要为别人所用，而不是为自己所用。彼得用两类作为总括：讲道和服事。这些都要在神的大能中并借着神的大能去做，才能说出神的圣言，靠着神所赐的力量去服侍。就像保罗在歌罗西书3:17中说的那样：“凡你们所作的，无论是言语或行为，都要奉主耶稣的名”（歌罗西书3:17）。

[各人作为管家接受恩赐]我们是这些恩赐的管家。恩赐不是为了我们自我夸耀，不是为了我们个人的造就，也不是为了我们个人的满足。我们是被托付了恩赐的管理者，我们要用这些恩赐来建造别人。[新冠与清洁]重新开放教堂的挑战之一是，明尼苏达州卫生厅新冠防疫指南指出，所有有人接触过的表面都需要清洁。这意味着这些木椅的背面都需要擦拭。我们有志愿者在每一场敬拜之后都来擦拭这些椅子。他们从来没当过清洁工。我们的恩赐是为了在别人的生活中彰显神的恩典。

[照着神所赐的力量服侍]信徒要凭着神所赐的力量去服侍。这里有个发展的过程。神赐恩赐给信徒。信徒使用这些恩赐彼此服侍。当一个人从信徒同胞那里得到那份恩赐，而归根结底是来自于神，神就会在教会中并通过教会得荣耀。那么现在的问题是，这种流动会中止吗？神给了你们恩赐。而教会需要这些恩赐：说话、服侍、爱心、主持、奉献等等。神的诸般恩典是否经过你而流淌进入教会的生活？还是你在某种程度上阻止了神的恩典的流淌，而神的恩典本应该是流经身体的？是的，我们需要儿童教师、小组长、迎宾员、保育员、辅导员、慷慨的奉献者，以及其他所有在这个身体里工作的恩赐。

[这一切的目的]而这一切的爱、款待、服事和讲道的目的，都是为了这个：“为要在一切事上，使 神藉耶稣基督得荣耀”（彼得前书4:11）。这就是我们生命的意义所在，深邃，美丽而隽永。我们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀神而行。

[信徒折射荣耀]当我们成为耶稣的跟随者时，有些奇妙的事就发生了。我们从荣耀的窃取者变成了荣耀的反射者。我们不再渴求认可、赞美和荣誉，因为我们不是出于自己的权能、力量和聪明才智来服侍。相反，我们依靠神的力量，当别人得到帮助时，我们会说“赞美神！”。神得到荣耀，因为祂是能力的源头，力量的源头，恩赐的源头，智慧的源头。信徒将荣耀折射并反射回到神那里，因为只有祂才配得赞美、荣耀和尊贵。这就是神荣耀地设计教会工作的方式。

[总结性颂词]彼得以2:11开始的颂词结束这一部分的教导。再次提醒他的读者，所有的荣耀和主权都属于耶稣，直到永远。耶稣从天上统治和掌权，祂现在正在祂的子民里面工作，并透过祂的子民工作，使祂得荣耀。

应用与结语

[最后的例证]让我用这个故事来结束。在二战后的法国一个村庄里，当时大部分建筑已经被炸毁。村民们一起来帮助重建其中一些被炸毁的建筑。他们从教堂开始，清理了废墟，安装了新窗户，重建了长椅。在废墟中，他们发现了一尊耶稣的大理石雕像，并试图将其重新粘合在一起。但是，他们找遍了所有的地方，也没能找到那双手。尽管如此，雕像还是修复了，放在了原先的位置，一个士兵灵机一动，在雕像下面挂了一块标牌，上面写着：“你们的手就是祂的手”。¹这个故事说明，我们现在就是耶稣的手和脚。我们是基督的身体。我们在这个注视着我们的世界面前代表耶稣。我们有爱、服事、和讲道的特权，是因耶稣诸把般的恩典倾注在我们身上，使神得着一切的荣耀。

[结束语]万物的结局近了，所以，弟兄姊妹们，我们要在结局的光景中去爱、去服侍、去生活。我们有一份不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残的基业，重生获得永活的盼望，所以我们可以献上自己，使用自己的恩赐，奉献自己的资源，彼此建造，彼此坚固。这样做，我们就是在彰显耶稣，荣耀耶稣，因祂把恩典充充足足地赐给我们大家。祂绝不吝啬，而是慷慨地施予恩典，使祂的教会得着造就，世界被唤醒，知道祂无限的价值和权能，耶稣基督得着所有的荣耀。

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讲道讨论问题

讲道标题：在末日的光景中相爱

讲道经文：彼得前书4:7-11

要点与目的：信徒要因着基督再来的迫近，彼此相爱，共同生活，使神在一切事上都能藉着耶稣基督得荣耀。

纲要：

1. 语出惊人：“万物的结局近了”（第7a节）

2. 对信徒的四个劝勉：

   1. 谨慎警醒（第7b节）

   2. 切实相爱（第8节）

   3. 亲切接待（第9节）

   4. 服事上帝（第10-11节）

引言问题：如果你知道你只有三年的生命，这将如何改变你现在的生活方式？为什么？

讨论问题：

1. 彼得说“万物的结局近了”是什么意思？在彼得前书中，他还在哪里提到了类似的主题？

2. 自制和清醒的心态与祷告的有什么关系？它们之间是如何联系的？

3. 爱如何“遮盖”许多的罪？这与基督教团体内部的关系有何关联？

4. 为什么接待是基督教群体的独特特征？

5. 信徒该如何看待和行使自己的属灵恩赐？行使这些恩赐的目的是什么？

应用问题：

6. 你是否经常思考“万物的结局”，这个真理如何影响你对他人的行为？

7. 如果你的祷告生活是衡量你属天心态的标尺，你说说自己的得分有多少？我们如何能够不断成长，更多地祷告，在情感上跟神越来越亲近？

8. 你怎样才能将真诚的爱、喜乐的款待，以及忠心地行使你属灵的恩赐付诸实践，在这个地方教会中建立并祝福他人呢？

祷告焦点：

反思我们生活在救赎历史的最后阶段是多么的荣幸和有福。感谢神赐给我们祂的话语和对基督的生、死、复活和升天的认识。承认面临的所有诱惑，诸如变得退缩，变得自我关注，逃避困难，或者当环境变得困难或试炼似乎很大时，退出基督徒团体。求神藉着圣灵赐下力量，使你能够发挥你的接待、爱心、服侍、奉献和讲道的恩赐，使神藉着耶稣基督得着一切的荣耀。

1阿肯色浸信会，"1961年5月25日"（1961年）阿肯色浸信会新闻周刊. 第69期 (https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/arbaptnews/69).

1 Peter 4:7-11

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[Prayer] Father in Heaven, my prayer morning is that in everything you would be glorified. Cause the preaching of your word to exalt Christ, to renew our affections, and transform us increasingly into the likeness of Jesus. Come now in the power of your Holy Spirit and give me grace to speak as one who speaks the very oracles of God so that Christ might get all the glory. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

[Introduction: Remembering September 11] Twodaysago marked the 19^th anniversary of September 11 where four coordinated terrorist attacks took place on American soil. It resulted in almost 3,000 deaths, countless of injuries, lasting consequences for families, communities and cities, and the entire country. I remember being glued to the television watching the devastation unfold, and the roar of the jets that flew overhead in San Diego as they prepared for the unknown. If you’re 25 years old or older, you probably remember exactly when you heard about the 9/11 attacks.

[Days Following 9/11] In the days following the 9/11 attacks, the country rallied together. There was unprecedented patriotism and unity in the country. There was a collective desire to display the resiliency and resolve of the American people in the face of a terrible attack. Chants of “USA!” spontaneously erupted at Ground Zero, at baseball games, and at police and fire stations. How would America respond in the midst of trials and challenges?

[Transition to Passage] And though the situation and circumstances are very different, the question before us is how should believers respond in the midst of trials and challenges? When maligning, slander, suffering, and persecution assail believers, how should we respond?

[Context] Last week we saw that believers are to arm themselves with the mind of Christ. We are not to live like Gentiles, for they will be judged by God. Instead, believers are to not only abstain from human passions—sinful desires—but to live in order to glorify God in all things.

[FCF: Self Focused or Withdrawal] The very real trials Peter’s readers are facing, could cause them to conform and compromise, or to withdraw and retreat from society and from one another. Let me illustrate this with some of our current events.

• With the global pandemic, many have thought about their own mortality and health more than ever before.

• With the election in full swing, many are reassessing whether they are living in a red state or blue state, in the city or the suburbs, or pondering a move out into the country.

• With the surge in violence in the Twin Cities, there is a shortage of guns and ammunition. Many are thinking more than ever about their own protection and safety.

[Searching for Answers] With these stressors and challenges, many are seeking to look out for themselves. How can I protect myself, my resources, my family, and my health? That is not necessarily wrong, but Peter wants to remind his readers, and all of us this morning, that we ought not to lose sight of loving one another in the family of faith.

[Main Point] The main point of our passage is that believers are to live together and love one another in light of the imminence of Christ’s return.Don’t lose sight of your calling, your identity, and your purpose in such a time as this. The bright light of believers are to shine brighter on overcast days and in prolonged darkness. None of these current events—in Peter’s day nor today—ought to be surprising to believers whose ultimate hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Aim] Theaim of this passage is not just changed attitudes and actions in God’s people, but so that in everything God would be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11).

[Plan] 1 Peter 4:7–11 begins with a stunning claim (7a), and then follows that with four exhortations for how believers are to live.

1. Stunning Statement: “the end of all things is at hand” (7a)

2. Four Implications for Believers: Believers are to...

   1. Think clearly (7b)

   2. Love fervently (8)

   3. Host joyfully (9), and

   4. Serve graciously (10–11)

Stunning Statement: “the end of all things is at hand” (7a)

[Loaded Statement] Peter begins with the short but loaded phrase: “The end of all things is at hand.” What does Peter means by this? Peter has in view that believers right now are living in the final stage of redemptive history, which has been begun by the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. We are right now living in the time between Jesus’ first coming and his second coming. This is called the “last days” or the “end of all things.”

[2000 Years Passed] It would be right and appropriate to wonder how this phrase fits with when Peter wrote this. Roughly 2,000 years have passed since Peter first wrote these words. How then should we understand that the “end of all things is at hand” both now and 2000 years ago?

• Jesus taught about nearness of his kingdom | Mark 1:15 says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

• Peter recognizes that God views time differently than us | 2 Peter 3:8 says, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” The point is that God is patiently delaying his second coming so that more would reach repentance!

[Kingdom Begun] Peter and Jesus are conveying that the kingdom of God has begun and been inaugurated. The stunning truth is that we are right now living in the final stage of redemptive history. Jesus could return at any time, and the end is “soon,” so we ought to live with that level of watchfulness. Jesus return is imminent—he could come back right now.

[“Coming Soon”] In Revelation 22:20, the second to last verse of the Bible, Jesus tells us when he will return. John writes, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Jesus himself says he’s coming “soon.” So we might ask, “how soon is soon?” In the Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis, he picks up on this theme and language in a conversation between Lucy and Aslan. They are saying their goodbyes and Aslan says to Lucy, “Lucy, don’t look so sad. We will meet soon again.” And Lucy responds, “Please, Aslan, what do you mean by soon?” And Aslan replies, “I call all times soon.”

[How Will You Live?] We are right now living in the last days. And Peter makes this stunning statement to motivate believers to live godly lives. You have one life to live and your days are numbered. How will you use the time that you have remaining? Will you just think about yourself, or withdraw from others, or will you seek to glorify God through Jesus as a part of the church?

[Keep Living Faithfully in Community] If the world is coming to an end, there would be a temptation to withdraw from the world, to stop working, to stop preparing for the future, to run off to some off-grid bunker in South Dakota, to stop paying your taxes, withdraw from the church, and to become a doomsday prepper. But that is not what God’s people are called to. Instead, they are to keep living faithfully in community in light of Christ’s imminent return.

[Transition] There are four things that Peter says believers are to do because the end is near: (1) Think clearly (7b), love fervently (8), host joyfully (9), and serve graciously (10–11).

Four Implications for Believers (7b–11)

#1 Think Clearly (7b)

1 Peter 4:7b “therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

[Think Rightly] This exhortation calls for right and clear-headed thinking in light of redemptive history. Be alert and ready for the sake of your prayer life. Or be serious and watchful. Believers are not engage in mindless activities that pull us away from God, and particularly our prayer life. If you’re consumed with social media, alcohol, reading conspiracy theories, watching Fox News or CNN, or constantly scrolling your phone, my guess is that your prayer life suffers.

[Connections in First Peter] Peter, in 1:13, instructed his readers by saying, “preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). In essence, don’t get drunk like the Gentiles, but be sober and watchful towards the things of Christ. Later in 1 Peter 5:8 he gives additional motivation for such watchfulness: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Remember this is Peter, who was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, to whom Jesus said, “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

[Jesus’ on Ten Virgins] Jesus taught similarly in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13. Ten virgins were waiting for the bridegroom. Five had no oil, and the other five had extra flasks of oil. The five that didn’t have oil had to go buy more, and were ultimately shut out of the marriage feast. Jesus concludes that parable with these words: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). Be watchful and alert!

[Connection to Prayer] How does this watchfulness and sober-mindedness connect with prayer? At one level it’s really simple: if you are drunk you are not likely praying. My guess this morning is that drunkenness is not the prevalent issue for many of us. My sense is that technology is the substance of choice that pulls us away from communing with the God of the universe in conversation. Studies have shown that our phones are addictive, every app is addictive, and it has quickly replaced prayer. Instead of prayer and Bible reading as the first thing we do when we wake up, and prayer as the last thing we do before bed, now the phone is the first thing we scroll and the last thing we touch before bed.

[The Tyranny of Breaking News] All news is urgent and breaking now. When I took a vacation a few weeks ago, I remarked that my favorite part was I didn’t get cell signal where we were staying. If your prayer life is weak or anemic, let me challenge you this morning to fast from your phone, or to not pick it up until 9am, or to put it away at 8pm. Be self-controlled and sober-minded.

[Pray Like It Matters] And then let me just remind you the privilege we have. Believers get to pray “hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!” (Matthew 6:9–10). Jesus come back soon! Break into the problems of my life and of our world with the power of your Holy Spirit. Make me more like Jesus. Save my lost family, neighbors, and coworkers. Unify us under Christ’s Lordship!

[Return to Our First Love] Remember when you first starting dating your spouse (for those who are married), or if you’re dating right now. You talked all the time. You talked about what you did that day and couldn’t get enough. Married people very often need to relearn how to talk to one another, rather than to take things for granted. So it is with our relationship with Jesus. Like the Church in Ephesus that abandoned the love they had at first, for some of us this morning, we call being exhorted to recover our first love. Now Peter turns from thinking clearly, to loving fervently.

#2 Love Fervently (8)

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

[Keep Loving] Believers, instead of being tempted to withdraw, to flee, or to become self-centered and self-focused, are instead commanded to keep loving one another earnestly, fervently. Though maligning and suffering intensifies, don’t withdraw from Christian community.

[Covers a Multitude of Sins?] What does it mean for “love to cover a multitude of sins?” Only Jesus forgives sins, Peter knows that. Peter is quoting from the latter half of Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”Peter calls for a persevering, offense-covering love that forgives. If you’ve been sinned against, the Bible says you can either overlook it, cover it over, and forgive, or you can bring it to them according to Matthew 18. Isn’t it stunning that the Bible assumes that Christians will sin against one another? Doing life and community together means that we will inadvertently hurt each other. But when it happens, don’t let it tear apart this family that Jesus died for.

[Preserve Unity] Don’t let minor disputes destroy the unity of God’s people who he purchased with his blood. We must love each other fervently. It’s often been said that the church is not a museum full of saints, but a hospital full of sinners. Thus love is needed all the more. A love that forgives, overlooks, covers over (not covers up), and preserves the unity of the community. Who has sinned against you in the body? Have you forgiven them? Who have you sinned against? Have you asked for their forgiveness?

[Illustrate: Hurtful Words] Just this week I shared with a friend that something they said was hurtful. It was hard to admit that their words hurt. It wasn’t a fun thing to have to say. It would have been easier to just shut that friend out. And God in his kindness allowed that conversation to go well. To restore love and unity between us. Someday, I’ll probably say something rude or hurtful, and the roles will be reversed. The aim is to uphold the unity and love that is distinctive in the body of Christ (John 13:35).

[Word of Application in Community] We believe being involved in community with others is vitally important. A significant way we do that is small groups. Yet I know some of us have been hurt by fellow believers and we’re slow to be vulnerable with others. Maybe you felt uncared for, maybe you were wrongly rebuked, or maybe you don’t know if you’ll be accepted. Maybe others have said hurtful things. Maybe you have been the one who has said or done hurtful things. I want to encourage and challenge us to reconcile where we need to—by forgiving or by talking with someone else—and to not neglect Christian community. Peter next points out that this fervent love is to manifest in hospitality.

#3 Host Joyfully (9)

1 Peter 4:9 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

[What is Hospitality?] Hospitality in Peter’s day included welcoming strangers, hosting church gatherings in one’s home, providing lodging for itinerant ministers of the gospel who traveled from place to place, and very often involved serving and sharing in meals. There were no Hilton or Marriott Hotels. It was also a way to meet the needs of strangers, foreigners, the poor, widows, and orphans. In the Greco-Roman world church gatherings took place in homes, much like small groups do today. It would have been very easy to grow tired in hosting these gatherings with the inconvenience, cost, and disruption caused by practicing hospitality.

[Costly Hospitality] Peter calls for a joyful and costly hospitality. Believer are to show hospitality without grumbling. Despite the cost, inconvenience, and disruption to my life, we are to selflessly welcome others. Why? Because we recognize that all that we have belongs to God anyways. In the next section we see that we are stewards of God given gifts. This is true of our money, our food, our time, and our homes. We are managers of what God has entrusted to his children. And when we rightly think about who owns it all, then we can rightly open our homes to welcome others as an opportunity, and not a burden.

[Illustration: Move to MN] I remember being on the receiving end of this type of hospitality. Many of you know we moved to Minnesota in 2017 and did not have a place to live with our family of seven people. For over 100 days we hopped from place to place across the Twin Cities. I know for a fact that hosting seven people, no matter how big your house is, is no walk in the park. It was inconvenient. It was a hassle. Most of the people didn’t even really know us. We had a crying infant. But I heard no grumbling (at least not to my face).

[How Can You Show Joyful Hospitality?] Who around you, perhaps an arm’s-length away fro you, can you lend a helping hand? Who can you open your home and heart to? Perhaps foster care? Perhaps a single between leases? Perhaps a family facing a layoff? Perhaps a single parent in need of help? Perhaps educating the children of working parents? Perhaps coming alongside the elderly? God owns it all! How earnest and fervent is your love? How gracious is our hospitality? How joyful are we in opening our homes? Peter then turns from love and hospitality, to using our varied gifts in verses 10–11.

Service Graciously (10–11)

1 Peter 4:10–11 “10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

[Using Our Gifts] Notice with me the following. All believers have received at least one gift. Christians are to use these gifts in serving one another. All believers are stewards of these gifts of grace. This means God gave them to be used and not hoarded. They are to be used for others, rather than for ourselves. Peter gives two categories as a catch all for the gifts: speaking and serving. These are to be done in and through the power of God in order to speak the words of God and serve by the strength that God supplies. Much like Paul in Colossians 3:17, he says, “in word and deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17).

[Each Received as Stewards] We are stewards of these gifts. Gifts are not for our boasting, our personal edification, or for our personal fulfillment. We are managers that have been entrusted gifts that we are to use to build up others. [COVID & Cleaning] One of the challenges with reopening is that the Minnesota Health Department COVID guidelines indicated that all touched surfaces needed to be cleaned. That means the backs of these wooden chairs needed to be wiped down. We have volunteers that have wiped these chairs after each service. They’ve never been cleaner. Our gifts are to as a manifestation of God’s grace in the lives of others.

[Serves by the Strength that God Supplies] Believers are to serve out of the strength that God supplies. There is a progression here. God gives gifts to believers. Believers use those gifts to serve one another. When one receives that gift from a fellow believer but is ultimately from God, God gets glory in and through the church. Now the question then is that flow being stopped? God has given you gifts. And the church needs those gifts: speaking, serving, loving, hosting, giving, and so forth. Is God’s varied grace flowing through you into the life of the church? Or are you somehow stopping up God’s grace that is supposed to be flowing through the body? Yes we need children’s teachers, small group leaders, welcomers, nursery workers, counselors, generous givers, and all the other gifts at work in this body.

[Aim of it All] And aim of all of this loving, hospitality, serving and speaking, is for this purpose: “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). That is the deep and beautiful and profound aim of our lives. Whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, that we do all for the glory of God.

[Believer’s Deflect Glory] When we become followers of Jesus, something amazing happens. We go from being glory thieves to become glory reflectors. We no longer hunger for recognition, praise, and accolades, because we don’t serve out of our own power, strength, or ingenuity. Instead, we rely on God’s strength and when others get helped, we say “praise God!” God gets the glory because he’s the source of the power, he’s the source of the strength, he’s the source of the gifts, and he’s the source of the wisdom. Believers deflect and reflect the glory back to God because he alone is worthy of praise, glory, and honor. This is how God has gloriously designed the church to work.

[Concluding Doxology] Peterconcludes with a doxology for this section that begun at 2:11. Again reminding his readers that to Jesus belongs all glory and dominion forever. Jesus rules and reigns from heaven, and he is now at work in and through his people so that he might be glorified.

Application & Conclusion

[Final Illustration] Let me end with this story. In a French village after World War II, when most of the buildings had been bombed out. The towns people came together to help rebuild some of the bombed buildings. They started with the church and cleared the debris, installed new windows, and rebuilt the pews. In the debris they found a marble statue of Jesus and attempted to cement it back together. But they could not find the hands despite searching high and low. Nonetheless, the statue was restored to its normal place, and in a moment of inspiration a soldier hung a placard underneath with the words, “He has no hands but yours.”¹ That story makes the point that we are now the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the body of Christ. We represent Jesus to a watching world. We have the privilege of loving, serving, and speaking out of the multifaceted grace that Jesus pours into us so that God would get all the glory.

[Closing] The end of all things is at hand, therefore, brothers and sisters, we get to love, serve, and live in light of the end. We have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, born again to a living hope, and so we can expend ourselves, use our gifts, and give of our resources to build up and strength one another. In so doing, we magnify and glorify Jesus all sufficient grace that is given to us all. He is not stingy, but lavishes his grace liberally so that his church is edified, the world is awakened to his infinite worth and power, and Jesus Christ gets all the glory.

Sermon Discussion Questions

Sermon Title: Loving in Light of the End

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 4:7–11

Main Point & Aim: Believers are to live together and love one another in light of the imminence of Christ’s return so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

Outline:

1. Stunning Statement: “the end of all things is at hand” (7a)

2. Four Implications for Believers:

   1. Clear thinking (7b)

   2. Persevering love (8)

   3. Gracious hospitality (9)

   4. Godward service (10–11)

Intro Question: If you knew that you only had three years to live, how would that change how you live right now? Why?

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean when Peter says “the end of all things is at hand?” Where else in 1 Peter does he allude to a similar theme?

2. How does self-control and sober-mindedness relate to prayer? How are they connected?

3. How does love “cover over” a multitude of sins? How does this relate to relationships within the Christian community?

4. Why is hospitality a distinctive trait of Christian community?

5. How are believers to view and exercise their spiritual gifts? What is the purpose of exercising these gifts?

Application Questions:

6. How often do you ponder “the end of all things” and how does that truth influence or impact your actions towards others?

7. If your prayer life was a gauge of your heavenly mindedness, how would you say you’re doing? How can we increasingly grow to be more prayerful and Godward in our affections?

8. How can you put into practice earnest love, joyful hospitality, and the faithful exercise of your spiritual gifts to build up and bless others in this local church?

Prayer Focus:

Reflect on how privileged and blessed we are to live in the final stage of redemptive history. Thank God for giving us his word and the knowledge of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Confess any temptation to withdraw, to become self-focused, to flee hardship, or to withdraw from Christian community when circumstances grow difficult or trials seem great. Ask God for enabling strength through his Holy Spirit in order to exercise your gifts of hospitality, love, service, giving, and speaking so that God would receive all the glory through Jesus Christ.

1 Arkansas Baptist State Convention, "May 25, 1961" (1961). Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine. 69 (https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/arbaptnews/69).