Abundant Life Sermons

Suffering for Righteousness – 1 Peter 4:12-19The Church has always been refined in the fires of persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12, Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.How to suffer for righteousness…1)Be ready. 1 Peter 4:12, Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.We should prepare to be persecuted for our faith as Christians. Persecution should be seen as the expectation, not the exception. 2)Rejoice. 1 Peter 4:13-14, But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.When you suffer for Christ, rejoice that God has granted you the privilege of suffering for His name. Matthew 5:10-12, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…3)Be right. 1 Peter 4:15-16, But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.When you suffer make sure it’s for doing what is right and not for what is wrong. Be wise. Matthew 10:16, Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.4)Rest. 1 Peter 4:17-19, For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.Rest your life on the cross in the middle of the chaos. Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

How Now Shall We Live? 1 Peter 4:7-11Suffering is a catalyst God uses to grow us into Christlikeness so we can bring Him greater glory! The Apostle Peter is writing to a suffering Church in the first century. His words are more relevant than ever to the Church of the 21st century.How Now Shall We Live?1)Live with urgency. 1 Peter 4:7, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”Christ’s return is nearer than it has ever been! 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9, “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation’…But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” We should be living with urgency for the things of eternity. Find your “one.” Suffering and crisis create opportunities for gospel conversations!2)Love fervently. 1 Peter 4:8-9, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”The early Christians were living proof of a loving God to a watching world. And the ancient world was changed by what they saw!Emperor Julian wrote in A.D. 362 to pagan priests complaining about the growth of Christianity and blaming it on the Church’s “benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead…it is a disgrace that the impious Galileans [Christians] support not only their own poor but ours as well.”3)Serve sacrificially. 1 Peter 4:10-11, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”The world kingdoms rise and fall, but the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will last forever! Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Right Thinking, Right Living - 1 Peter 4:1-61 Peter 3:18-19, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.”1 Peter 4:1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.To make war on sin demands we arm ourselves with the mind of Him! 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”If you don't make your mind a battleground, Satan will make it his playground.2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,Right thinking leads to right living. Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”1 Peter 4:1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.To think like Christ is to think about a cross. To be delivered from sin’s penalty, Christ died. To be delivered from sin’s power, you die. (See Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Romans 12:1-2) Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.If you follow Jesus, you will suffer. If you follow sin, you will suffer more. Sin’s short-term gratification will one day bring long-term devastation. 1 Peter 4:3-7, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”We are living in the end of The End. But the end is only the beginning. Are you ready for eternity? Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

What To Do When You Suffer1 Peter 3:18-221 Peter 3:18,” For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”1.Remember the Gospel.“Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardener.”George Herbert1 Peter 3:19, “by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah.”“A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.”Martin Luther“Spirits” in the New Testament always refers to nonhuman spiritual beings unless qualified.2 Peter 2:4, For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment. Jude 6, And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.2. Relish in the victory. Colossians 2:15, Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 1 Peter 3:22, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”Jesus declares his dominance to the demons.1 Peter 3:20-21, “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”3.Respond to the rescue.1 Peter 3:22, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.4.Rejoice in Jesus. Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

The Crucified Life, Part 4The cross is not only the power of God to save us but God’s power to us who are saved! (See 1 Corinthians 1:18)The Three Crosses of Christianity…1)The cross on which Christ was crucified for you. Galatians 3:1, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?”2)The cross on which you were crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”3)The cross on which the world was crucified to you. Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”Four Steps of the Crucified Life...1)Know what God says. Know that as a child of God, your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ so that it no longer has dominion over you! (See Romans 6:6-7)2)Believe what God says. You appropriate all the promises of God by believing what God says no matter what you see. It does no good to know what God says if you don’t believe it. (See Romans 6:11-12)3)Submit to what God says. In the heat of temptation, you will either submit to sin or submit to Him. If you will submit to Him, you CANNOT submit to sin. (See Romans 6:12-13)4)Do what God says. You must learn to “walk out” the crucified life with every decision. It’s not enough to merely believe the Word of God. You must obey the Word of God! (See Romans 8:1-2)Romans 8:1-2, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.Chain of Command of the Spirit-filled Life!SPIRIT/spirit↓Soul↓BodyThe Spirit-filled life is found in releasing control of your life to God’s Spirit in every decision, thought, and emotion. Galatians 5:16, I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.Crucified Life → Spirit-filled Life → Abundant Life Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

The Crucified Life, Part 3 - Romans 6The cross is not just God’s power to save us but the power of God to us who are saved. 1 Corinthians 1:18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.To follow Jesus demands we take up our cross. Luke 9:23, Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Four steps to the crucified life…1)Know what God says. Know that as a child of God, your old, sinful nature was crucified with Christ so that it no longer has dominion over you! (See Romans 6:6-7)Romans 6:6-7, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.2)Believe what God says. You appropriate all the promises of God by believing what God says no matter what you see. It does no good to know what God says if you don’t believe it. (See Romans 6:11-12.)Romans 6:11, Likewise you also, reckon [consider] yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.3)Submit to what God says. In the heat of temptation, you will either submit to sin or submit to Him. If you’ll submit to Him, you CANNOT submit to sin. (See Romans 6:12-13.)Romans 6:12-13, Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.You will serve one of two masters—God or Sin. Submit to Him, and you will not submit to sin! James 4:7, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.You will either be mastered by Jesus or mastered by Sin. When you submit to sin, it leads to captivity and slavery. But when you submit to Jesus it leads to freedom and liberty!You can’t suppress your sin. In the heat of temptation, submit to Him! Apart from the cross, you are too weak to do God’s will but not weak enough for God to do it through you. The key to victory is NOT DOING BUT DYING!Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.By dying daily through our co-crucifixion, we begin living in the power of the resurrection!Luke 9:23-26, Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.Jesus’ invitation is to come and die. Only once you die are you fully alive! Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

The Crucified Life, Part 2 - Romans 6The cross is not just God’s power to save us but the power of God to us who are saved. Key concept of the Cross…The blood is for our forgiveness. The cross is for our deliverance. The blood forgives us of sin’s penalty (Ephesians 1:7). The cross delivers us from sin’s power. (Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23)Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Luke 9:23, Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”Four steps to the crucified life. 1)Know what God says. (See Romans 6:6-7) You must know that spiritually you were in Christ when He died. Because you were in Him you also died with Him. Your “old man” or your sin nature was crucified to that sin, and it has lost dominion over you!Romans 6:1-7 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.You need to know you were crucified with Christ so that sin no longer has dominion in your life. Christ’s finished work on the cross not only forgave you of sin’s penalty but also delivered you from sin’s power!2) Believe what God says. (See Romans 6:11) It’s not enough to know what God says if you don’t believe what God says. Romans 6:11, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”You appropriate the promises of God by believing what God says no matter what you see. It’s choosing to believe divine facts no matter how you feel.Whatever you believe you will obey. You will either believe and obey God or believe and obey your flesh. Romans 6:12 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

The Crucified Life, Part 1 - Romans 7Jesus said He came to give us life abundantly, yet most Christians live consistently in inconsistency if not complete captivity. This is the problem the Apostle Paul articulated in Romans 7:7-24.Romans 7 is the Apostle Paul’s personal story of futility in fighting his flesh—his sinnature. Paul’s story is the story of all of us. We all go through the same “stuff” because we’re all made of the same “stuff.”More religion, determination, and self-discipline cannot bring our sanctification—the victorious life in Christ. Colossians 2:20-23, Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP (KJV), false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.The flesh cannot be disciplined into submission. It must go through a crucifixion. The cross is the way grace, not works, overcomes the flesh—your sin nature. (See Galatians 2:20)Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Romans 7:1-6, Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.To be delivered from sin’s penalty, Christ had to die. To be delivered from sin’s power, you must die. 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I die daily.”Romans 7:24-25, O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.Matthew 11:28-30, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”The yoke of Christ is the cross. The invitation is to come and die. But in dying, you live. (See Matthew 11:28-30) Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

No Fear, Know Freedom - 1 Peter 3:13-17No fear is to know freedom. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”How do you live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward the Gospel?1) Be Fearless. 1 Peter 3:13-14, And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”God has called us to be more than bleating sheep. He has called us to be roaring lambs! Proverbs 28:1, The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.The gospel should make us bold, courageous, and fearless. Acts 5:29, But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s the absence of self. To the degree you are selfless, you will be fearless.2) Be Focused. 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”The way to overcome a cowardly faith is to set your heart apart for God. 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” When you live in the fear of God, you will fear no man.Your level of preparation reveals your level of expectation. 1 Peter 3:15, “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”3) Be Flawless. 1 Peter 3:16-17, “having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”The most important part of our Christian witness is not what we say – it’s what people see.Philippians 1:27-29, Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.This world is full of suffering. Choose to suffer because you live for Him instead of living for sin.  Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/

Having Healthy Relationships – 1 Peter 3:8-12Humility is essential to have true, biblical community. Humility eliminates rivalry, and mutual submission eliminates competition and fighting for position.1 Peter 3:8-9, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.1. Humility leads to relationships lived in unity. 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind…”Being of “one mind” doesn’t mean we can’t differ on personal convictions and opinions. Being of “one mind” means we are united in our vision and our mission. Being of “one mind” demands we are thinking with the mind of Christ! Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”2. Humility leads to relationships lived compassionately. 1 Peter 3:8 “having compassion one for another…”The Greek word translated as compassion is the same word in English for sympathy. Sympathy is the ability to feel the pain of others.3. Humility leads to relationships lived with loyalty. 1 Peter 3:8 “love as brothers…”Our loyalty comes from being born of the same Father. We are members of the same Family.4. Humility leads to relationships lived graciously and tenderly. 1 Peter 3:8 “be tender hearted, be courteous…”Tender-hearted, courteous people make others the priority.5. Humility leads to relationships lived with forgiveness and mercy. 1 Peter 3:9, “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit blessing.” We should give away to others the same mercy that God has given us.6. Humility leads to relationships lived with honesty and integrity. 1 Peter 3:10-11, “For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain 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.”1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”Humility is the first step to a right relationship with God. Humility admits God is right and sin is wrong. Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://livingproof.co/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://livingproof.co/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://livingproof.co/