Hungry For Hope

After a few months off preaching amidst Covid-19 and a big piece of work with Alpha, it was great to get back into it, helping Saint Philips continue through 1 Peter. Preaching to camera is definitely a new thing for me, with the steep bit of the learning curve largely still to come!

From 1 Peter 3 verses 8-22, I chose to focus in on:

• The characteristics and attitudes needed for flourishing relationships, with friends and enemies

• The suffering that might come for doing good, and how to continue on through it

• The hope there is in Jesus, and how we might think about sharing it with others

There’s some other things at the end to do with Jesus preaching to ‘imprisoned spirits’, Noah, and baptism, which I didn’t have chance to get into here.

The key thing for me that rose to the surface as I was planning, was to leave people with a sense of hope, and a location for that hope.

Where relationships might have suffered in lockdown, there is hope if we can put these traits on display, and grace from Jesus to help us do that.

Where suffering might have come our way though we only ever intended to bless, there is affinity with Jesus, and an inheritance of his blessing.

Where despair may have crept in through this time, there is hope for a bright future, transformed present, and reconciled past, if we bring it to Jesus.

Where we see others around us hungry for hope in the midst of their trials, Jesus sends his people out to live and proclaim it.

I hope this helps and blesses you!