W E E K T H R E E | April 10th–16th
The Hope of a Proven Faith
Sermon Outline
1 Peter 1:6–12
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though
now for a little while you may have
had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven
genuineness of your faith—of greater
worth than gold, which perishes even
though refined by fire—may result in
praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have
not seen him, you love him; and even
though you do not see him now, you
believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for
you are receiving the end result of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the
prophets, who spoke of the grace that
was to come to you, searched intently
and with the greatest care, 11 trying to
find out the time and circumstances to
which the Spirit of Christ in them was
pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories
that would follow. 12 It was revealed to
them that they were not serving them-
I. INTRODUCTION
A. We grow when we are stretched and tested and that’s especially true when
it comes to our faith.
B. God doesn’t want us wondering if we have relationship with Him or if our
faith is real so He proves our faith genuine through trials. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
C. Those trials deepen our faith and give us a real hope.
Christians can rejoice even in their trials with the hope that comes from a
proven faith.
II. WHAT IS THAT HOPE THAT A PROVEN FAITH
BRINGS?
A. Trials produce a proven faith that brings the hope of a glorious future. (1
Peter 1:6-7)
1. What we suffer now sometimes makes no sense, but someday it will.
2. Trials deepen our faith, refine us like gold and prepare us to bring
glory to God and to share with Him in that glory. (1 Peter 1:6-7;
Romans 8:14-19)
3. Our faith will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed.
a. That’s our hope. (Romans 5:1-5)
b. Our trials are producing for us an eternal glory. (2 Corinthians 4:6-18)
c. Trials refine us like gold. (Job 23:10)
B. Trials produce a proven faith that brings the hope of a present joy. (1 Peter
1:8-9)
1 Peter
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The Hope of a Proven Faith
selves but you, when they spoke of the
things that have now been told you by
those who have preached the gospel to
you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these
things.
Sermon Notes
1. This joy is God-given. A sheer delight when we realize God is working in our trials to complete the salvation inheritance He promised.
2. It is an inexpressible and glorious joy to experience right now, even
in the midst of trials.
3. The joy stems from knowing that the salvation process is working in
you to produce the desired end result: the salvation of your soul.
a. We have been saved from sin’s penalty.
b. We are being saved from sin’s power.
c. We will be saved from sin’s presence.
4. This is the salvation the prophets have always spoken of and written
about, and angels long to look at. (1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:19-21;
Ephesians 3:8-11)
III. CONCLUSION
1 Peter
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The Hope of a Proven Faith
WA R M U P
All God plans and performs here on
earth is preparation for what He has in
store for us in heaven. He is preparing
us for the life and service yet to come.
Nobody yet knows all that is in store for
us in heaven; but this we do know: life
today is a school in which God trains
us for our future ministry in eternity.
This explains the presence of trials in
our lives: they are some of God’s tools
and textbooks in the school of Christian experience.
• Share about a time when you had to endure a difficult situation. How did you
respond in the moment?
• Now that you’ve had a chance to distance yourself from that experience, how
has your perspective changed over time?
—Warren Weirsbe
DIG I N
Read
1 Peter 1:6–12
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though
now for a little while you may have
had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that the proven
genuineness of your faith—of greater
worth than gold, which perishes even
though refined by fire—may result in
praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have
not seen him, you love him; and even
though you do not see him now, you
believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for
you are receiving the end result of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the
prophets, who spoke of the grace that
was to come to you, searched intently
and with the greatest care, 11 trying to
find out the time and circumstances to
which the Spirit of Christ in them was
pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories
that would follow. 12 It was revealed to
them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the
things that have now been told you by
those who have preached the gospel to
you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these
things.
1 Peter
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The Hope of a Proven Faith
R EFL EC T IONS
1 Peter 1:6–12
• In the message Sunday, Pastor Larry gave the analogy that we can stay in
the shallow end of the pool and never grow in our faith, or we can let God
grow us to swim with Him in the deep end. How would you describe your
faith response when it comes to handling trials, shallow or deep? Explain
your answer.
• Peter said, “These trials have come.” How does it affect your approach to
trials when you know God brings or allows the various trials of life for an
eternal purpose that cannot be achieved any other way?
• Read Philippians 2:12-16. In the process of our working out this salvation
with God (who wills and acts for His good purpose), why would grumbling
and complaining be forbidden? What does grumbling and complaining
about life’s trials, annoyances and injustices reveal about our faith in God’s
purpose?
• In 2 Corinthians 4:6-18, Paul relates how our “light and momentary
troubles are producing for us a glory that far outweighs them all.” So he said,
“we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen.” What do you think
that means, why is it important and how do you think you actually do it?
• Why do you think knowing this truth about trials proving the genuineness
of our faith is so vital to giving us a living hope? Romans 5:1-5 is valuable in
helping us understand trials as they relate to hope.
TA K E I N
Ask Yourself…
• Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. How does Peter’s message in 1 Peter 1:6-12
help you understand Paul’s message to the Thessalonians?
1 Peter
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The Hope of a Proven Faith
PR AY U P
Ask God…
• To help you see that He is totally aware of all your current circumstances.
• To give you a heart of joy in the midst of whatever trial you may be facing in
your life right now.
• To strengthen your faith through the trials.
• To give you an eternal perspective on your situation.
Prayer Requests