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1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I. FIND GOOD FRIENDS
A. Find friends with whom you share a common commitment to Jesus.
B. We identify a common commitment to Jesus by a common belief in the same doctrine.
C. A common commitment to Jesus will keep our friendship going even during the tough times.
D. A common cause is what binds us together as a church and in friendship.

II. FORGIVE OTHERS EASILY
A. Vengeance belongs to Jesus. Revenge does not belong to us.
B. Let God punish sin and just seek peace with others.

III. BE A BLESSING
A. Rather than retaliation we seek to bless others.
B. We seek to bless those who curse us because that is who God has been to us in the Gospel.
C. Not only do we bless with what we do, we don’t tear down with what we say.

IV. LIVE AS IF GOD IS WATCHING
A. What we do either tells the world the truth about God or a lie.
B. Knowing that God is watching keeps us from going off the reservation.
C. Knowing that God is watching brings us comfort & hope.

APPLICATION

V. HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER
A. The good life does not come to those who are good. It comes to those who have God as their Father.
B. Jesus offers us the good life, His life, by gifting His goodness to us.

VI. THE TRAGEDY OF A WASTED LIFE
A. To not have God as our Father is a wasted life.
B. The difference between the good life and a wasted one is a choice.