Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for October 16, 2016

“Armed with an Attitude” 1 Peter 4:1-6 Bible Study 10/16/16

Our passage this morning is an application of the key truths found in 1 Peter 3:18-22. Believers share in Christ’s victory and also share in His sufferings. Believers are enabled to suffer for Christ when they rely on the accomplishment of His death and arm themselves with His attitude. In this rich text we will observe that we should expect suffering if we participate in the Lord’s rescue operation and that we should select suffering for the sake of an authentic Christian testimony.

I. Run to the roar (1)

-Boniface (Seventh Century): “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us neither be dogs that do not bark or silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. Run towards the roar of the lion! Run towards the roar of the battle! That is where Christ’s most glorious victories shall be won.”
-because Christ died
-arm yourselves with a mindset

II. Resist the path of least resistance (1)

-suffering that signifies a clean break
-personal obedience over pain avoidance

III. Refuse to waste any more time (2-3)

-embracing the will of God as the higher value
-you don’t need some more time to sin
-the degradation of the undelivered

IV. Anticipate the accountability of adversaries (4-5)

-their shock and slander
-you don’t need the last word-God has it

V. Anticipate triumph even in death (6)

-gospel not proclaimed in vain to Christians now dead
-alive with Christ
-wherever He leads and whatever the cost

VI. So what?

-fueling the fire for Mission 1:8
-Gen. 12:1-3: called to the unseen
-Gen. 15:1-6: trusting the promise of God
-Gen. 17:1-8: acknowledging your new identity
-Gen. 22:1-18: absolute surrender