NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - April 7, 2024

Sermon Title: "Christ our Suffering Servant, our Shepherd, and the Overseer of our Souls"

Summary:

Peter continues the theme of Christian submission authority in this passage. Having dealt with the Christian's relationship to the state, Peter begins to address relationships within the household. Peter will later address Christian wives and husbands, but he begins by addressing the most vulnerable members of the household and society - slaves. Slaves were to respect their masters, even the ones that treat them harshly. It is pleasing to God when we are able to endure suffering that we receive unjustly. Peter identifies Jesus as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who suffered unjustly for us. He is our example of enduring unjust suffering and we should identify with him in times of suffering. Just as Jesus entrusted himself to "him who judges justly" (verse 23), so also believers must entrust themselves to God when they suffer unjustly. God has not forsaken you in your suffering, but your suffering is evidence that he has chosen you. Do not wander away from Christ because of your suffering and do not doubt his plans. Jesus is also the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. We can trust in him.