Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 PeterServe, Pt. 3 Serve, Pt. 3 (1 Peter 3:1-6)(1 Peter 3:1-6)

ReviewReview

Submission to human Submission to human authority for the Lord's authority for the Lord's sake…sake…

−UsurpUsurp−RebelRebel−DenyDeny−Submit to ChristSubmit to Christ

ReviewReview

Hardship is always an Hardship is always an opportunity for:opportunity for:

−Our growthOur growth−God's gloryGod's glory

• Key- how I handle itKey- how I handle it

ContextContext

Covenant: Karat Berit- "to cut Covenant: Karat Berit- "to cut a covenant"a covenant"

ContextContext

Covenant: Karat Berit- "to cut Covenant: Karat Berit- "to cut a covenant"a covenant"

"May this happen to me if I "May this happen to me if I break this covenant"break this covenant"

ContextContext

A covenant involves the whole A covenant involves the whole person, binding 2 parties person, binding 2 parties together in permanent and together in permanent and unconditional unityunconditional unity

Covenant is action, not Covenant is action, not expectationexpectation

Covenants take priority over Covenants take priority over every other human every other human relationshiprelationship

Headship and mutual Headship and mutual submission mark human submission mark human covenant relationshipscovenant relationships

Contract vs. CovenantContract vs. Covenant

Contract Covenant

End dateEnd date PermanentPermanent

ConditionalConditional UnconditionaUnconditionall

Involves Involves PART of a PART of a

PersonPerson

Whole BeingWhole Being

The Bible and EqualityThe Bible and Equality

There is neither Jew nor Greek, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus - Gal. 3:28Christ Jesus - Gal. 3:28

Supporters, Witnesses, Supporters, Witnesses, Deacons, Prophetess'Deacons, Prophetess'

LikewiseLikewise, wives, , wives, be subjectbe subject to to your own husbands, so that your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the even if some do not obey the word, they may be won word, they may be won without a word by the without a word by the conduct of their wives, when conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and they see your respectful and pure conductpure conduct

Who is the written to?Who is the written to?

……Likewise (in the same way)Likewise (in the same way)

−Human authorityHuman authority−Bondservants and mastersBondservants and masters

• To this you were called, To this you were called, because Christ suffered for because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his that you should follow in his steps…steps…

Be subject=Be subject= hypotassomenai- hypotassomenai- a continuing attitude of a continuing attitude of willful subordination of willful subordination of one’s desires, wants and one’s desires, wants and needs to anotherneeds to another

• Others-centeredOthers-centered

First reason to serve: First reason to serve: husband's need for fhusband's need for faithaith

……so that even if some do not so that even if some do not obey the word, obey the word, they may be they may be won won without a word by the without a word by the conduct of their wivesconduct of their wives

The gospel should be evident The gospel should be evident in both words and actions. in both words and actions. The nature of covenant The nature of covenant relationships demands action relationships demands action over words over words

Wives give wordless sermonsWives give wordless sermons

……when they see your when they see your respectful and pure conductrespectful and pure conduct

Respectful= Respectful= phobos- fear. Of phobos- fear. Of whom?whom?

Second reason to serve: headshipSecond reason to serve: headship

For the husband is the For the husband is the headhead of of the wife even as Christ is the the wife even as Christ is the headhead of the church, his body, of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so the church submits to Christ, so also wives should also wives should submitsubmit  in in everythingeverything to their husbands- to their husbands- Eph. 5:23-24Eph. 5:23-24

HeadshipHeadship

How does Christ treat the How does Christ treat the church?church?

HeadshipHeadship

Who sinned in the garden?Who sinned in the garden?

HeadshipHeadship

Who sinned in the garden?Who sinned in the garden?

Who did God call? Why?Who did God call? Why?

HeadshipHeadship

What does that mean for men What does that mean for men today?today?

Now as the church submits to Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should Christ, so also wives should submitsubmit  in everythingin everything to their to their husbandshusbands

Everything?Everything?

Everything?Everything?

LimitersLimiters−LoveLove−God's WordGod's Word

Be subject toBe subject to

− Unbeliever- unjustUnbeliever- unjust− Believer- headshipBeliever- headship

Limiters: Limiters: − LoveLove− God's WordGod's Word

Set free to be beautifulSet free to be beautiful

Do not let your adorning Do not let your adorning (beauty) be external- the (beauty) be external- the braiding of hair and the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear…the clothing you wear…

……but let your adorning but let your adorning (beauty) be the (beauty) be the hidden hidden person of the heartperson of the heart with the with the imperishableimperishable (unfading) (unfading) beauty of a gentle and quiet beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is spirit, which in God’s sight is very preciousvery precious (great worth) (great worth)

The intended audience should The intended audience should determine a woman’s view of determine a woman’s view of beautybeauty

What determines how we view What determines how we view feminine beauty today?feminine beauty today?

What determines how we view What determines how we view feminine beauty today?feminine beauty today?

• Media: TV, Magazines, Media: TV, Magazines, Movies, ComputerMovies, Computer

• MenMen

• Other womenOther women

• InvolvesInvolves::

• LipsLips• HairHair• EyesEyes• BodyBody

•ShapeShape•SizeSize•ProportionProportion

• Leads toLeads to::

• ComparisonComparison

• Feelings of inadequacyFeelings of inadequacy

• Great expense and timeGreat expense and time

• Leads toLeads to::

• Never feeling like you “measure Never feeling like you “measure up” up”

• ResentmentResentment

• Pressuring daughters to do the Pressuring daughters to do the samesame

• In the extreme, cutting, eating In the extreme, cutting, eating disorders and surgerydisorders and surgery

Could it be that this view of Could it be that this view of beauty is wrong?beauty is wrong?

Your beauty Your beauty should not comeshould not come from outward adornment…from outward adornment…(NIV)(NIV)

Who is your audience?Who is your audience?

If it’s other men, what does If it’s other men, what does that say about me?that say about me?

If it’s other women- trying to If it’s other women- trying to make them jealous- what make them jealous- what does that say about me?does that say about me?

Who is your audience?Who is your audience?

What should they see?What should they see?

the the hidden person of the hearthidden person of the heart with the with the imperishableimperishable beauty beauty of a of a gentlegentle and and quietquiet spirit spirit

−Gentle- Gentle- humble, nothing to humble, nothing to proveprove

−Quiet- Quiet- peaceable peaceable

(cf. Prov. 25:24; 11:22)(cf. Prov. 25:24; 11:22)

I want you to want meI want you to want me

Pressure to conform= "accept Pressure to conform= "accept me"me"

Choosing to serve= "accept Choosing to serve= "accept Jesus"Jesus"

Charm is deceptive, and Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD woman who fears the LORD is to be praised - is to be praised - Proverbs 31:30Proverbs 31:30

Some beautiful women are Some beautiful women are very uglyvery ugly

−And a man who loves Jesus is And a man who loves Jesus is looking for more than looking for more than external beautyexternal beauty

−If he's not…find a different If he's not…find a different guyguy

• Hidden person of the heart Hidden person of the heart - - “concealed heart”“concealed heart”

• If the heart is right, the If the heart is right, the actions will be rightactions will be right

……which in God’s sight is very which in God’s sight is very precious…precious…

True worth or value is True worth or value is determined by God, not by determined by God, not by men, other women or even men, other women or even society. And the monetary society. And the monetary cost is…nothingcost is…nothing

"My wife is the standard of "My wife is the standard of beauty by which all other beauty by which all other women are measured"women are measured"

• And they all fall short by And they all fall short by comparisoncomparison

For this is how the holy For this is how the holy women who hoped in God women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves…used to adorn themselves…

……by submitting to their own by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, you are her children, ifif you do you do good and do not fear anything good and do not fear anything that is frighteningthat is frightening

Do good- Do good- serve, respect, let serve, respect, let your beauty come: from your beauty come: from inside, for God and your inside, for God and your husbandhusband

Applying make-up means Applying make-up means growing in/ following God growing in/ following God and respecting husbandsand respecting husbands

……if you do good and do not if you do good and do not fear anything that is fear anything that is frighteningfrightening

• Of whom? Why?Of whom? Why?

Mother-in-lawMother-in-law

Takeaways:

• Can I serve Jesus by serving Can I serve Jesus by serving my husband?my husband?

• Does covenant describe our Does covenant describe our marriage? Why or why not?marriage? Why or why not?

Takeaways:

• Who is my primary audience? Who is my primary audience? Why? Why?

• Where does my sense of Where does my sense of beauty and worth come beauty and worth come from? Do I need to make a from? Do I need to make a change starting today? Will change starting today? Will I?I?

Takeaways:

• ““Nothing to prove,” Nothing to prove,” “peaceable” “peaceable”

Would those who know me Would those who know me best describe me that way? best describe me that way? Why or why not?Why or why not?