Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

1 Peter 3:8-91 Peter 3:8-9

1 Peter 3:8-91 Peter 3:8-9

Living In HarmonyLiving In Harmony

We Are Truly Family At We Are Truly Family At SouthsideSouthside

•We have all things good families We have all things good families have:have:

•Love, fellowship, fun, joyLove, fellowship, fun, joy

•Also sometimes stress, Also sometimes stress, difficulties, differences of difficulties, differences of understanding.understanding.

•Our 40Our 40thth anniversary created an anniversary created an atmosphere that brought up some atmosphere that brought up some feelings which led to this sermon.feelings which led to this sermon.

A Sermon About FamilyA Sermon About Family

• An exploration of the relationships we share An exploration of the relationships we share in this family.in this family.

• A sermon about what we must never let A sermon about what we must never let happen if we are going to remain a family.happen if we are going to remain a family.

• Some of it is ugly.Some of it is ugly.• I hope the overall result will be a greater I hope the overall result will be a greater

appreciation from all of us as to just how appreciation from all of us as to just how wonderful a family we have here.wonderful a family we have here.

The Ugly Face of PrejudiceThe Ugly Face of Prejudice

Prejudice – A definitionPrejudice – A definition

•preconceivedpreconceived judgment or opinion (2) judgment or opinion (2) :: an an adverse opinionadverse opinion or leaning formed or leaning formed without just groundswithout just grounds or or before sufficient before sufficient knowledgeknowledge bb :: an instance of such an instance of such judgment or opinion judgment or opinion cc :: an an irrational irrational attitude of hostilityattitude of hostility directed against an directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristicssupposed characteristics

A Christian ConcertA Christian Concert

• Created negative feelings in some members Created negative feelings in some members here at Southsidehere at Southside

• Some were unable to enjoy worshipping the Some were unable to enjoy worshipping the Lord for concerns about what others were Lord for concerns about what others were thinking or how they perceived they were thinking or how they perceived they were actingacting

• What was the source of those negative What was the source of those negative feelings – and what should we do about it?feelings – and what should we do about it?

Exploring PrejudiceExploring Prejudice

• Prejudice is a dangerous word and Prejudice is a dangerous word and a dangerous concept that needs a dangerous concept that needs careful consideration.careful consideration.

• We must also explore other possibilities:We must also explore other possibilities:– Cultural conditioningCultural conditioning– Personal comfort zonesPersonal comfort zones– Personal preferencesPersonal preferences

The Day Peter Stood CondemnedThe Day Peter Stood Condemned

• Galatians 2:11-14

• A racially diverse congregation at Antioch• A difference in worship styles and attitudes• Different cultural conditionings

• The problem came when Peter and others refused to intermingle with the Gentile Christians.

Why Was Peter Condemned?Why Was Peter Condemned?

•Condemned for prejudice – he Condemned for prejudice – he allowed his personal feelings to allowed his personal feelings to separate him from other Christians.separate him from other Christians.•Condemned for hypocrisy – he was Condemned for hypocrisy – he was different from the “average Jew” – yet different from the “average Jew” – yet lets his race prevent him from true lets his race prevent him from true fellowship in Christ.fellowship in Christ.•Condemned for behavior unbecoming Condemned for behavior unbecoming a Christian – he showed such distaste a Christian – he showed such distaste for the situation that he removed for the situation that he removed himself from fellowship.himself from fellowship.

A Celebration of Diverse CulturesA Celebration of Diverse Cultures

•We are each We are each culturally conditioned.culturally conditioned.•We are each capable We are each capable of learning countless of learning countless new behaviors and new behaviors and attitudes.attitudes.•We each control our We each control our response to different response to different experiences and new experiences and new opportunities.opportunities.

We decide how we will react to new We decide how we will react to new situations!situations!

A Fellowship That Transcends Human Culture

Galatians 3:28-29Galatians 3:28-29There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one free, male nor female, for you are all one

in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs you are Abraham's seed, and heirs

according to the promise.according to the promise.

Our fellowship transcends Our fellowship transcends any earthly divider.any earthly divider.

Our New Nation

• 1 Peter 2:9 -- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

• We are a common people with a common cause.

How do we serve one another?

• Romans 12:10 -- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

• Romans 13:8 -- Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Romans 14:13 -- Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 15:7 -- Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Ephesians 4:2 -- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Hebrews 3:13Hebrews 3:13

But But encourage one another dailyencourage one another daily, as long , as long as it is called Today, so that none of you as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

•If we take this passage to heart, we will If we take this passage to heart, we will have no prejudice or division in our have no prejudice or division in our body.body.•This commandment brings me so close This commandment brings me so close to all my brethren that I truly transcend to all my brethren that I truly transcend all human boundaries.all human boundaries.•To truly encourage, we must be one!To truly encourage, we must be one!

And Above All Else:

1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

How Do We Live In Harmony?How Do We Live In Harmony?

•Be eager to associate with all members of Be eager to associate with all members of the family.the family.

•Learn as much as possible about our Learn as much as possible about our divergent cultures.divergent cultures.

•Be willing to try new things, explore new Be willing to try new things, explore new areas, expand our own cultures.areas, expand our own cultures.

•NEVER LET A COMFORT ZONE BECOME A NEVER LET A COMFORT ZONE BECOME A COFFIN!COFFIN!