HOW TO BECOME AN AMBASSADOR OF HOPE
Real Hope In Real Times - Part 1

Text - 1 Peter 1:1-2

Introduction

A man went to his office building and discovered that a hurricane had knocked some bricks off the top.  So he rigged up a beam with a pulley and hoisted up a barrel full of bricks.  After he had fixed the building, there were a lot of bricks left over.  So he went back down and untied the line.  Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than he was, and before he knew what was happening the barrel started down, jerking him off the ground.  He decided to hang onto the rope and halfway up he met the barrel coming down which hit him very hard on the shoulder.  He continued to the top, banging his head against the beam and jamming his fingers in the pulley.  When the barrel hit the ground the bottom broke, allowing all the bricks to fall out.  Now he was heavier than the empty barrel and so started coming down at an ever increasing rate of speed.  Halfway down he met the barrel coming up which hit him in the shins.  When he hit the ground, he landed on the pile of bricks causing several cuts and bruises.  At this point the man was so dazed that he let go of the rope.  The barrel came back down again, hitting him in the head and putting him into the hospital.

Have you ever had one of those days when it seemed like Murphy's Law had taken over?  All of us have had at least one real bad day in our life and more than likely, some of us have had more than our share of bad times.  That’s why we need hope!

Today I am going to begin a new series of sermons from the book of First Peter called “Real Hope In Real Times”.

This morning our text is in 1 Peter 1:1-2 and the title of my message is, "How To Become An Ambassador Of Hope."

Peter was God’s ambassador of hope for people who needed to know that there is more to life than difficulty, pain, trouble, problems and misery.

As we examine the introduction to this book, I would like us to understand how we can become ambassadors of hope for God.

1 Peter 1:1-2  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen   2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.  (NASB)