6th Sunday of Easter (Year A - Lutheran Service Book readings)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
These are the notes/outline for my sermon. A major portion of this sermon was shaped by the answers that people gave--either by raising their hand to speak or by sending me a text during the sermon.
• 1 Peter says: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
• What if you. . .
o Had 3 minutes in an elevator to tell someone about your faith?
o Made a 30-second commercial about Jesus?
o Wrote a song about Jesus?
o Had 140 characters on Twitter to say something about your faith?
o Had as long as it takes to make your grande double shot mocha to tell the person next to you why you’re smiling on a rainy day?
o Wanted to explain your hope in one text?
• What would you want to make sure you said?
Raise your hand or text me
• That’s your 140 characters of hope.
• What does Peter make sure he says in our passage?
DIED FOR ALL: For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
BAPTISM: Baptism that now saves you also.
RESURRECTION: It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• My Biblical Identity Statement & ReFocusing Story
I am a forgiven child of God, snatched from the fire of doubt, and given the most holy faith. (93 characters)
• According to the passage from 1 Peter, what do we need to remember when we’re sharing with someone about the hope we have?
But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
• How could you be in line for coffee and NOT be gentle or respectful as you talk about your faith?
• When you realize that you haven’t been very gentle or you’ve been disrespectful, how does the message help you?
When you get in your car, holding your coffee, and you reflect on how that conversation just went, how does the message help when you realized you could’ve handled that better?
• Those 140 characters of hope are 140 characters for you.
• That short message, that’s the hope you have. That’s where it begins. Your message gives you that hope. It’s 140 characters of hope for you.
• My Biblical Identity Statement—forgiven, snatched, given
• And those 140 characters of hope call me back to wanting to share that story in a way that others can hear.
• What do you want to share with others? What’s your story? It’s 140 characters of hope for you and hope for others.