1 Peter

The Liberation of St. Peter from prison by an angel

Giovannis Lanfranco

Max Lucado wrote a delightful children’s story a number of years ago entitled: You Are Special. It is the story of the Wemmicks who are small wooden people carved by a woodworker named Eli. Every day, the Wemmicks give each other stickers according to what they think of each other. They give golden star stickers if they like what they see and gray dot stickers if they don’t care for what they see. Punchinello is a Wemmick who has only gray dots. However, one day he meets another Wemmick named Lucia who has no dots and no stars because none of the stickers stick to her. When Punchinello asks Lucia why the stickers don’t stick to her, she tells him it is because she goes to see Eli every day. Thus, Punchinello goes to see his creator, Eli. Eli welcomes Punchinello warmly and tells Punchinello that he shouldn’t care what the other Wemmicks think of him. “Who are they to give stars or dots?” Eli asks. “They’re Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn’t matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special . . . because you’re mine.” Eli goes on to tell Punchinello: “The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers . . . For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you how much I care . . . You are special because I made you. And I don’t make mistakes.”

Spending time with our maker everyday makes a difference; it helps us to remember who we are in Christ. It gives us hope in a hopeless world. That’s what Peter’s first letter is all about.

I have preached on this letter a number of times since it is so filled with hope—something we cannot live without. Here is an outline of its contents….

1 Peter 1:1-2............Your Identity in Christ

1 Peter 1:3-12..........Ten Reasons to Praise God

1 Peter 1:13-16........Become a Holy Copy-Cat

1 Peter 1:17-21........Live in Holy Reverence

1 Peter 1:22-2:3.......Live Out a Life of Love

1 Peter 2:4-10..........Coming to the Rock

1 Peter 2:11-12........How to Live Like E. T.

1 Peter 2:13-17........How to Deal with the Government

1 Peter 2:18-25........How to Deal with Your Boss

1 Peter 3:1-7............Hope for Marriage

1 Peter 3:8-12..........A Summary of Christian Living

1 Peter 3:13-17........How to Handle Suffering

1 Peter 3:18-22........Christ, Our Hope in Suffering

1 Peter 4:1-6............Your Response to Christ’s Suffering

1 Peter 4:7-11..........How to Prepare for Christ’s Coming

1 Peter 4:12-19........How to Handle Suffering (Part 2)

1 Peter 5:1-4............How to Be an Effective Leader

1 Peter 5:5-7............How to Be an Effective Follower

1 Peter 5:8-11..........How to Deal with the Devil

1 Peter 5:12-14........How to Face the Future

If you would like to listen to any of these sermons, click here: http://willvaus.com/1_peter

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