This was the final sermon on 1 Peter, so I opted for more of a summary, or at least two main points of running themes in 1 Peter. The third point was really a short final thought, rather than a more developed third point. Interestingly, at an installation service for a colleague Sunday afternoon, the charge to the minister was based on 1 Peter 5. I could have focused the sermon on leadership using 1 Peter 5 as the sole text, which would have included the humility section I had in this sermon. But I wanted to mention suffering again, since that has been a major point throughout 1 Peter. So, once again, the sermon had multiple ideas instead of focusing on one. That seems to be a recurring issue in my preaching these days.
You will see in my sermon notes below that I used AI in my sermon preparation. I've been experimenting with how to use AI. So far, I have found it helpful in doing the background work on the sermon text, but I have included in the query the resources I want it to check (New Interpreter's Bible and Feasting on the Word, typically). I have also done word search queries, which have been helpful. I have discovered that AI generates a lot of information, much of it interesting, but then I have to be careful to avoid just sharing interesting info about a text, instead of crafting a sermon that grows out of the text.
“Some Final Words” I Peter 4: 12-19; I Peter 5: 1-11; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; May 10, 2026; Post-easter Peter series
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,[a] not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it,[b] not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5 In the same way, you who are younger must be subject to the elders.[c] And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,[d] will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power[e] forever and ever. Amen.
Introduction: This is our Final week in 1st Peter.
It is possible to take chapter 5 and use it as an overview of Christian leadership - it has some great insights, so you might take time to reread it later today or this week from a leadership standpoint,
But in this last week in I Peter, I want us to reflect more broadly on some final words from this letter.
Move 1: we begin with the word suffering.
a. We cannot escape suffering in 1st Peter.
1. Some biblical scholars tell us that 1st Peter was written specifically to encourage early Christians who were being persecuted.
2. If you word search “suffer” or variations of the word in the five chapters of 1 Peter, you would find it anywhere from 16-21 times, depending on what English translation you check.
3. The Greek verb pascho, which means “to suffer,” is used 12 (twelve) times in 1 Peter (gemini.com search of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible)
4. The Greek word pathema, which is the noun for "suffering," is found 8 times within 1 Peter. (gemini.com search of The Englishman's Greek Concordance)
5. If you are doing the math, that’s about 4 references to suffering in each chapter, and frankly the chapters are not that long!
6. Six times, 1st Peter refers to Christ’s suffering and 10-14 times refers to suffering the early Christians might face (gemini.com search of Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (1 Peter) by Wayne Grudem or the New American Commentary by Thomas Schreiner)
b. We cannot escape suffering in 1st Peter
which makes the point that just because someone is a Christian, it does not mean they can escape or are immune to suffering.
1. As you might imagine, when these early Christians found themselves suffering, those non-believers around them were ready to question them and challenge them about their god.
How can your God be sovereign if you are suffering?
How come your God can’t keep you from suffering?
Why if your God loves you and cares for you, do you find yourself suffering?
if you are so faithful, why are you suffering?
2. We recognize those questions because too often we hear them from others,
and sometimes we think them ourselves.
How easy it is to view the validity of one’s faith with how well one’s life appears to be going.
3. Certainly, the prosperity gospel we hear preached and taught in our world today promotes the idea that if you are faithful to God,
then your life should be full of riches and good health,
that our lives should be problem-free.
3. I Peter challenges that assumption.
in fact, this letter suggests that in our suffering,
when others turn against us,
when we struggle,
we are joined with Christ, whose power and glory is found in his suffering on the cross.
4. Not that we should go out and look for ways in which we can suffer, as if suffering is the goal of following Christ.
Not that we should encourage suffering or support the suffering of others.
5. But, when we find ourselves suffering,
and suffering is part of the human experience - I suspect none of us will move through our lives without experiencing some suffering along the way,
it is not a sign of separation from God
it is not a sign of God’s anger,
6. In fact, in our suffering we find ourselves connected with Christ, who came and suffered for our sake.
As followers of the resurrected Christ, we may lay claim to God’s power to resurrect,
but the path to resurrection goes through the suffering of Christ on the cross.
As we finish 1st Peter, we are reminded that in this time between Christ’s resurrection and his return we look toward,
we may suffer, but Christ joins us in our suffering.
Move 2: A second word is humility - I Peter also finishes by calling us to humility
a. “Clothe yourselves with humility.”
1. In the Greek (egkomboma), “clothe yourself” literally means “put on the apron worn by household slaves.”
Since many of those hearing this letter in its original were household slaves, it is an image they know well.
Most days, they put on this white apron or cape to cover their clothes and keep them clean.
the apron clearly identifies them as household slaves.
the apron reminds both the one wearing it and the people being served by the one wearing it
that the job of those wearing it is to serve others.
2. I suspect that those hearing the call to put on the apron not only understand it in their context,
but it also reminds them of the stories they have heard about Christ, who did things like put on a towel and wash the feet of his disciples,
or told people that he came to serve and not to be served.
in so many ways, Jesus himself had put on the apron and served others.
3. this is not a new idea for God’s people - after all, the letter quotes a passage from Proverbs,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
4. But this letter takes this proverb and connects it with Christ and the humility with which he came to serve others,
and in doing so, points the followers of Christ down the same path of humble service.
b. I am reminded of a story told about Francis of Assisi.
Someone asked him how he was able to accomplish so much.
He replied, "This may be why: The Lord looked down from Heaven and said, 'Where can I find the weakest, littlest man on earth?' Then He saw me and said, 'I've found him. I will work through him, and he won't be proud of it. He'll see that I am only using him because of his insignificance.’"
1. The I letter of Peter calls us to act with humility and reminds us that following Christ is not about seizing power,
or controlling others,
or building up one’s own kingdom or riches.
2. Discipleship is about humbly serving others, just as Jesus did.
1st Peter leaves us with a word about suffering and a word about humility.
Move 3: Then, we finish where we started - with God, who is much more than any word can define - and a reminder of our relationship to our sovereign God.
a. As you may recall, the letter began five chapters ago by addressing those “who have been chosen and destined by God”
and now the letter finishes with these words:
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,[d] will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power[e] forever and ever. Amen.
1. God the creator, who called us into being
is also God the chief shepherd, who calls us into relationship,
is also the one who calls us to eternal glory.
2. From life to death,
and in all places and moments in between,
God has claimed us.
2. Those early Christians reading this letter may feel like their world is spinning out of control,
they may feel helpless because of their place in life
they may be suffering,
But God has claimed them as God’s own.
3. We who read this letter today may feel like the world is spinning out of control,
we may feel helpless because of our place in life
we may be suffering,
But God has claimed us as God’s own.
b. as I read these final words of this 1st letter of Peter, I was reminded of the opening of the Heidelberg catechism:
Question: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. . . . Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him (Book of Confessions, 4.001).
1. This letter finishes with that affirmation,
that hope
that call.
2. We lay claim to that same affirmation
that same hope,
that same call.
Conclusion: We humbly serve God, even in our suffering, because God has already claimed us. Amen.
I Peter 4: 12:19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[a] which is the Spirit of God,[b] is resting on you.[c] 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.[d] 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.[e] 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust their lives to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
