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, . God Provides Hope
Lesson Scripture: I Peter 1:3-12
Lesson Aims: To understand
the importance of encouragement
to believers, to identify the role of
hardships in the Christian's life,
and to be courageous in the face of
adversity and despair.
Background: The year begins
with a study of Peter's epistles to
"scattered" believers. This writing
fulfills Christ's commission to him
in Luke 22:31-32. The letter is
dated A.D. 64.
He is the apostle of hope and
sets forth the doctrines of grace.
During this era of persecution,
Peter is led to explain the role of
suffering in the Christian journey.
The persecution begin? because
Christianity has now become a
legal religion (A.D. 65) and the
" fcmperor Claudius* begins THTs*"
era and Hero (half- mad) increases
the intensity by torturing and
executing thousands It is against
this backdrop that Peter pens
encouragement in the midst of
suffering. While this type of
persecution isn't an issue in
America, each of us faces some
pressure in our daily lives Be it
family, friends, jobs, and/or
sicknesses and the like, we need to
be familiar with the;source of
hope. >
Lesson: The Greeting for
, chapter 1 is omitted but deserves
Sunday School Lesson
Mildred Pepperi
\ t 'J
mention This circular (a letter to
be circulated) is addressed to
"God's elect." This term refers to
those who have experienced
salvation through faith in Jesus.
Because of their faith, they are
set apart by the Spirit and
sanctified because of His blood.
Verses 3-5 are praises to a living
God for providing everlasting
hope This testimony is evident in
the resurrection, and the
protecting power of God. Simply
put, this hope doesn't wither or
fade away.
In response to sufferings
according to Peter, is to also have
joy. The suffering here refers to
remaining true to God's word.
Believers are to rejoice because it
lasts for a while (a season) and
then there is victory These trials
also burn off the impurities and
makes one stronger.
These trials, tribulations,
and/or sufferings should be viewed
r
as the tests to be endured
faithfully, thus bringing honor and
glory to God. Peter commends
them for their faith because they
didn't "walk" with Christ, yet they
believed. The last verses today (10
12) center on God's salivation.
This second major theme in this
epistle highlights the prophesies of
old and the fulfillment.
The prophets investigated what
were obedient in their writings.
Peter tells the believers that this joy
is richer because they are
experiencing what the prophets
foretold. Their salvation
(deliverance from sin) is complete
in Jesus.
Application: Suffering for the
sake of Jesus is noble, it is
rewarding and yet it is also
frustrating. If there is one among
you that stands for what is right
and just, there are some long days
ahead. These days, however,
should not be viewed with despair.
In the face of trials, there are
two responses, positive and
negative. Despair is the negative.
So what is positive? Hope is the
positive response.
As believers we must be able to
visualize the victory. This
Christian hope encourages us to
remain steadfast even though
appearance would lead you to run.
At times we need to encourage
each other along the way. Hope is
also the positive tesponse because
it allows us to experience joy in the
midst of the struggle.
No, most of us wouldn't ask
God for trouble, but believers
know that it is just around the
corner. Believers also understand
that these various tests make us
stronger and our faith deeper,
iherpfftti' io ttv* <nintu"l siPnse.M'*
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will get the glory ( Remember the
song "The Battles Not Yours. It's
the Lords").
Once on the other side of the
suffering there is joy, rejoicing at
times words are futile to express it.
You and other believers as well can
share in that knowledge and there
is celebration. The hope in the
lesson today isn't based on man's
skill, intellect, or technology but
his faith in a Risen Savior who is
Christ the Lord. Let's continue to
thank God for his mercy and grace
and commit to His will in 1998.
ear, retrace his steps I
in rememlrance, reflection,
and recommitment.
On Apnl 3-5. 1998, individuals
of goodwill from all walks of hie
and all parts of the world f^SBI
will reconvene in Memphis I
to remember the man. I RV
to reflect on the message. I(9
..? ti'H in wtomiBii In the IH
* 'KtoSQ WflK'fi IIH1BI
m our ongoing fight for I
individual nghts
lake your pboc among today* leaden
for speeches, symposiums, films, and
^ music honoring Dr Martin
^ Luther King. Jr While
ft.? through panicipation and
. , " respect - and the promise
I Js (o dp more as individuals
^ 1 i
k .1 to achieve the ultimate
j dream Equality.
?
I Three Ways. Three Days.
April 3,4,5,1998 ? Memphis, Tennessee
To register or (or more informal ion. call The Commemorative Commission Connecting Community I
at 901-527-7277, or wme to the CCCC at PO Bo* 3050. Memphis. TN 38173-3050
info@pilgtunagememphts.oig
Local teen to compete in
Miss North Carolina pageant
April Astrop. daughter of
Kelvin and Sharon Astrop of 2913
Weisner Court, has been selected
as an entrant in the 1998 Miss
North Carolina Teen All
American Pageant to be staged in
the Grand Ballroom of the Adams
Mark Hotel on Jan. 10-13.
This event will select North
Carolina's representative to the
Twentieth Annual Teen Ail
American Pageant to be held in
Miami in August,
Astrop wit be competing with
young women from all over the
state for the title. She attends
Parkland High School, where she
participates in? varsity
cheerleading, the Parkland Gospel
Choir, Prym Mifverz Dance Club,
and Ebony Pride. ' .
Her other activities include
babysitting, choreography and
reading teen magazines.
April Astrop
Minority scholarships
at Duke will triple
DURHAM (AP) ? While the
states public university system is
reviewing the validity of ? its
affirmative action programs, Duke
University is tripling the amount
of its primary minority
scholarship program for 1998.
"We think this is the right thing
to do," said Judith Ruderman, vice
provost for academic services.
"The chips will fall where they
may. We're committed to doing
this at Duke." '
Tfie 21-year-old Reginaldo
Howard Scholars program, named
for the first black person elected
student body president at Duke,
offers $6,000 annual scholarships
to about seven incoming black
freshmen each year.
Beginning next fall, the annual
award will jump to 75 percent of
tuition for both freshmen and
upperclassmen. who receive
Howard scholarships With tuition
now topping $21,000, the
scholarship's value would be
almost $16,000 a year. But the
number of four-year scholarships
offered annually will drop to five
from seven.
"We've been looking at
African-American recruitment for
a while," Ruderman said. "We
don't want to lose African
American students for reasons of
money. We want to reclaim our
lost ground."
The announcement comes after
the president of the 16-campus
UNC system ordered a review of
all race- and gender-preference
policies. Earlier this fall, the
UNC system began assessing its
scholarship prografn to make sure
it complied with a 1994 decision by
the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals. The court struck down a
state scholarship program for
black students at the University of
Maryland at College Park.
Black students make up about
8 percent of Duke's 6,200-student
undergraduate enrollment. The
university has seen a recent drop in
the number of black high'school
seniors applying for, and
accepting, admissions offers. ? ^
A survey of black students who
turned down Duke and current
scholarship recipients revealed
concerns about the Howard
Scholars program, Ruderman said.
Many of those questioned said
. they had received better
scholarship and financial aid offers
from other schools.
Duke officials last increased the
Howard award ? to $6,000 ? in
1984, when yearly tuition was
about $7,500, Said James Belvin
Jr., dir-ctor of undergraduate
financial aid. The new award will
increase as tuition rises.
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