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It is a joy to be with you. To Pastor Jim, to my pulpit and pastoral associates this morning who have all made me feel welcome this weekend, thank you for this special opportunity to fellowship with you this morning.

[Yolanda here plays “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”] The Apostle Peter knew the challenges and difficulties - the ups and downs of ministry first-hand. He knew what it felt like to have everybody on one accord, and he knew what it felt like to have Christians in the church family scattered, detached and distressed under the influence of sin and evil in the world. Peter was the one who proclaimed Jesus Christ is Lord. And Peter, the same man, was the one who denied knowing Christ just to save his own life. He knew firsthand the inner struggle you and I experience when we let our guard and our God down when our faith weakens. But he also knew the power of rededication and restoration. Peter reaffirmed his love for the Lord and nothing and no one could shake his confidence in the risen Lord, our savior Jesus Christ. Peter, my beloved friends, had a “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” attitude about his faith in Christ.

So, it is this same Peter we turn to for instruction and for wise counsel this morning. The Book of 1 Peter is filled with “how to” guidance for Christians living in difficult times. This letter written to Jewish Christians more than 50 years after the resurrection of Christ speaks to us today. Peter offers encouragement and reminds believers in Christ, past and present; that we must endure adversity. Trials may come our way, but they refine and deepen our faith in the Lord.

When you make a commitment here at Northminster to go after the lost at any cost, you must be ready to endure persecution and difficulties along the way. Spreading the Good News about the unconditional love and gift of salvation of Jesus Christ is not an easy job. For us, reaching the lost is a non-negotiable mission. And the Apostle Peter reminds us that we are to live and serve to carry out God’s will and God’s purpose in spite of the hardships along the way.

To live the rest of our earthly lives; to glorify God; to obey God in what we think, say and do; to move beyond the past mistakes, deeds undone, unforgiveness, sinful old habits; old playmates at the old playground; to let it all go; to release it all, to bury it and move forward, open and available to God’s will - this is our mission. To surrender to God completely and let God take us and our gifts to advance the Kingdom of God; we cannot compromise telling others about the salvation invitation that Christ offers to all.

We cannot transform a lost world except we do it God’s way. This is the message of 1 Peter 4:1-11. We cannot transform high school and college students and their families who struggle with the temptation of “meth” and sex before marriage... everybody gone wild on Spring Break and Senior Trips in Caribbean playgrounds. We’ve seen these struggles portrayed in news reports. We’ve gone through the horror and shock right here at our own Centennial High School and where I work, in the Georgia Department of Corrections. Girls ages 17, 18 and 19, young white women, all strung out on meth; faces disfigured, teeth falling out; no hope, no sense of mission, no presence of Jesus Christ at work in their lives.

And Peter reminds us that we cannot change these situations or the attitudes of detached, depressed and devalued individuals in the surrounding community, in your neighborhood, except by you and I surrendering totally to do God’s will. It’s time, my friends, for each of us to stand  up and shout out to God – as the Motown music reminds us: “Here I am, Jesus - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”

Yesterday, we watched a film clip from the movie “Two Weeks Notice”. Sandra Bullock’s character was an attorney who was determined to protect a local community center from demolition. She wanted to “save” the building for the people in her old neighborhood. She took her fight to the streets. In the tradition of the prophet and judge Deborah, following in the footsteps of Queen Esther, she had an “up front” attitude about  her mission and was pressing her way forward. Nothing could shake her confidence. She was willing to lie down and risk her comfort and safety to take a stand for what is right.

God needs us to go out into the community and take a stand for what is righteous. God needs us to take control and use the blessings we have already received. Hurting people need our presence, our skills, our know-how, our care. People need our prayers and the touch of our hands willing to hold their hand and offer encouragement. Hurting people, confused people, poor in spirit people are lost and want to be found. They are waiting to be noticed, valued and invited to join the fellowship and joy of Christ that prevails in this place we call Northminster Presbyterian Church. Yesterday, Dave noticed me and asked me “where did you grow up” - a great question for making me feel valued and welcomed in his church home. His  question reminded me of the scene in one of the film clips we watched yesterday: “Imitation of Life.” Two mothers are meeting for the very first time. They question each other and find out what they have in common. It is what they have in common that serves as a tie to bind them together, not their differences. They focus on what they have in common and one of the mothers invites the other to stay in her home.

We need to invite people outside to come into our church home. Not the building, not to the service, but to join us in our church home. This is HOME, where we experience the love, care and nurture of God’s Holy Spirit. This is HOME for those who are spiritually homeless. The movie Imitation of Life reminded us of how easy it is to be in a crowd outside and still be homeless, to be in the crowd and still be lost; to be surrounded by people - yet completely detached. Like the student at Centennial High School. He wanted friends, not rejection; he wanted acceptance, not isolation.

1 Peter 4:1-11 sums it up for us in eight steps. Strategies and tactics for a church family on the move, growing and serving God as passionately as you are here at Northminster.

Step One: Above all, love. Who?? Each other and how, above all, deeply. Mount Everest is the highest peak, the highest point as far we know above sea level, some 28,000 feet above. The Dead Sea is the lowest point below sea level on the earth. Our first step is to love, to share agape, mutual love with one another. Fellowship the way Christ-centered believers should act towards one another.

Step Two: Ungrudging hospitality. Making the needs of others your priority. Do something, say something, give something, sacrifice something to benefit somebody else.

Step Three: Use your gifts to serve others. Ordinary and extraordinary, all gifts are needed. Don’t conform to the world’s “what’s in it for me” attitude. Instead, use your gifts, skills and talents to serve others. How many individuals can point to you and say  you made a difference in their lives... your time, your presence and your wisdom. This is not just about money. Your gift of encouragement today, comforting words, a pat on the back, maybe a dose of tough love, can help save somebody, uplift someone right now.

Step Four: Faithfully administer God’s grace. Treat your neighbors, that would be everybody, with grace. The Greek word  for grace we know is “Charis” and we understand it means “to do that which causes joy, pleasure and delight for others; goodwill without expecting anything in return.” God’s grace causes us to feel joy, pleasure and delight when we are blessed regardless of our sin, regardless of our disobedience. God still blesses us anyhow, not expecting anything in return. Grace gave you a job, a good home. Grace fixes your problems and God, the source of Grace knows not to expect anything from us in return.

Step Five: Speak God’s Word. Pray before speak. Ask God to fill your thoughts with right words for the right  person at the right time. As Leviticus 19:1-2 instructs, “be holy” and that applies to what we say, because what we say reflects what we think and feel. Thinking controls behavior. Our comments reflect the thoughts in our minds, reflect our attitudes. So remember, God desires to use you to reach people - to speak joy, encouragement and salvation into their lives. Spend time in prayer quietly reflecting and listening for the Lord to guide you in how you should speak and witness to others. If God did not say it, then why are you saying it?

Step Six: Pray for God’s Strength. Psalm 27 reminds us that the Lord is our Strength, the strength of our lives. Don’t try to grow this church and carry out your mission without seeking the strength to do it that can only come from God. Strength for witnessing, praying, worship and service.

Step Seven: Praise God in all things. When things are going well and not so well, praise God. There is no room for pride, lust or ostentation. Christ-centered believers must give all credit to the Lord. We are always dealing with the Lord; we are never detached from God except we walk away. And even then God lingers near, awaiting our return.

Step Eight: Finally, please remember this - the assignment is Forever. Praising God and serving the Lord is forever. The commission does not stop. Once you get one person, go back out and start working on another. Find one family and start looking for another one. In the Hebrew language, the word “o-l-a-m” means forever, continual... never ending. El Olam, God wants glory all of the time. God wants all of us moving through life every day with a “Signed, Sealed Delivered I’m Yours” attitude thriving inside of us, inspiring us to glorify the Lord, forever. And the people of God said,  Amen!