As we left our Sunday Gathering last night, I gave a Scripture Candy to everyone. These delicious peppermints are a great witnessing tool because they come in wrappers that have King James Bible verses on them! Another reason they are great witnessing tools is because when you give one to someone they might be so overwhelmed at the mediocrity of the peppermint inside that they ask you where you got it. You could then tell them you got it at a Christian bookstore. They would go to the Christian bookstore, pick up Joel’s newest book, hear about the brutal crucifixion of the Son of God where he bore the wrath and judgment of God in our place…
Okay, end sarcasm.
The reason I gave you the candy is to ask you, “Do you have 1 Peter breath?” Let me explain what I mean.
As I have been studying 1 Peter over the last few months I have become convinced that Peter had been feasting on two sections of Scripture at the time he was writing. There are two sections of the Old Testament that seem to keep sneaking into his writing: Psalm 34 and Isaiah. I want to look specifically at Psalm 34:
1:17 Fear is striking theme of Ps. 34:9, 11
1:18 Redemption is how this section ends, also how Ps. 34 ends, vs. 32
2:3 Check out how Peter rips off Ps. 34:8
3:10-12 is a direct quote from Ps. 34:12-16
Peter had been soaking in Psalm 34. These words, stories, concepts, ideas, illustrations constantly perspire out of him as he writes.
Peter had Psalm 34 breath. Do you have 1 Peter breath?
Earlier when I wrote about the Scripture Candy being “witnessing tools”, I was being sarcastic. I really think that what will draw people in our city to the gospel will not be some new tactic, technique or tool. It will be the people of God (us) living our lives so soaked in the story of the gospel, so intertwined with the grace, glory, hope and love that Peter writes about. When we move in and breathe our 1 Peter breath on people they will smell the aroma.
Do you have 1 Peter breath?
Are you soaked in the story of the gospel so much that it is the aroma of your breath and life?
Are you close enough to people that they would even smell your breath?
November 17, 2008 at 8:39 am
Since we’ve been learning I Peter the last few months I’ve realized how appropriate the message is for our time and place. The concepts, images, and context of the passage really communicate to the place that I’m at and where some of my friends are too. Here are just three of the conversations that I got to breathe I Peter on people with:
1. With a guy who has a ridiculously hard time seeing God as a loving heavenly father not a vindictive, alienating being I was able to breathe I Peter 1.3-8.
2. With another dude who was battling through some hard times with his wife I Peter 2.21-3.7.
3. With a woman who felt she had nothing to offer the church (or the world for that matter) I was able to draw out the metaphor of family from I Peter and show how each brother and sister is equally and deeply loved by the merciful Father who gives us a new identity of infinite value- not because of us but because of Jesus.
anybody else finding the message of I Peter coming out in their conversations and lives?
Kevin
November 17, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I don’t know if I have 1Peter breath yet, but I do know that it was breathed on me last night! Every Sunday night as we explore God’s word together, I see evidence that His word is alive and active and sharper than a two edged sword. I am changed as His word does its work in me. Praise God for a group of believers who desire holiness and know that it can only be found in seeking and sharing the gospel. Praise God for calling up leadership for TCC that ask the real questions so that we can be on mission! -Sandy
November 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I have had opportunity recently to share my gospel breath with a few people in my life, and it has been encouraging. They listen, and understand, and it’s just a matter of time before it clicks. Soaking in 1 Peter has been helpful in drilling home the worthiness of Christ, and from that worthiness comes a desire to share His goodness. We’ve been talking about change from the inside out being the fruit of the Gospel, and I thank and praise the Triune God that I am seeing that happen in me!! Please pray that the Holy Spirit would soften these friends’ hearts and reveal to them the beauty of Christ and the beauty of the Gospel!
November 19, 2008 at 10:43 am
Dangit, Chris! I was getting all revved up to go get the newest Osteen book undoubtedly about becoming the bestest besting of myself until I realized your opening was all in jest…
In all seriousness though, I think 1 Peter breath was showing itself on Sunday in our discussion on why we find it difficult to love others. As one of the “E” crowd, the truth that really hit me hard was that I do find myself predominantly believing and living the lie that God really isn’t gracious towards others. One implication that I’ve found from that realization was that I have made it a practice of loving people differently based on the level of acceptance that I’ve had for them, their actions, their beliefs – foundationally, moral self-righteousness and religious devotion to truths have been significant drivers. Need I mention that hypocrisy couples itself with both of those?
How great is it then to begin to find the freedom in living that, since God is as gracious to me as He is to others, I have the ability to love anyone without impunity, and to share life with them regardless of any potential misalignments of their personal creeds, cultures, and God-given passions. There’s still plenty to work through, but suffice it to say, I don’t think it was unabated love that should have been withheld as a result of my non-acceptance of behaviors or beliefs, but instead that love should be multiplied while still adhering to the truths that God has so magnificently shown and provided to us through His character, His creation, His fathership, His Spirit, and His Son.
November 20, 2008 at 5:41 am
its so funny, i can totally tell who is the author of each post. i’m really feelin it breathed on me as of currently. its so refreshing to be an elect exile. i say that not to speak of the comfort of the position or the warm fuzzies, but the realization that this isn’t all there is. there is more to come. shalom will finally happen. i’m so ready for the salvation to be revealed in the last time and when i look in my 2 inch bubble of a universe, were i occupy all the space, it gets pretty gloomy; but when god breaks in and tells me that i’m not seeing everything and that we haven’t fully realized our inheritance that won’t perish or fade away, i breathe a little easier and my breath becomes a little more minty (if peppermint is KJV then spearmint has to be NASB and the ESV is wintergreen and the message is prolly an Andes mint that kevin dropped on the kitchen floor).
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p.s. if we really want to get more interaction we should add a 4th circle to the venn diagram that says ‘blogging’ to go with communion, community, and mission; just a thought…