信徒的准备
彼得前书四章7至11节
7万物的结局近了。所以，你们要谨慎自守，儆醒祷告。
8最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。
9你们要互相款待，不发怨言。
10各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服事，作神百般恩赐的好管家。
11若有讲道的，要按着神的圣言讲；若有服事人的，要按着神所赐的力量服事，叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀。原来荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远。阿们！
信息分享
初期教会的信徒经常思念着主耶稣基督的再来。因此，使徒的书信便不断呼吁信徒要作好准备，随时迎接主的再来。
彼得劝勉各信徒要：
谨慎自守──7节。
恒切祷告──7节。
彼此切实相爱──8节。
在家中彼此款待──9节。
运用神给我们的恩赐──10节。
一切都为荣耀神而作──11节。
留意第9节。彼得教导我们要怀着一颗喜乐的心，开放自己的家来款待弟兄姊妹。这是信徒相交生活的一部分。初信者尤其需要亲切的接待。他们因信主的缘故，可能与昔日的一些坏朋友断绝交往；如果他们不能获得信徒群体的亲切接待，他们会有甚么感觉呢？你有否让主使用你的家呢？
此外，我们也必须运用神分给各人的恩赐。我们各人都是以管家的身分来运用这些恩赐，为的是让我们建立教会和彼此服侍。信徒绝不可将恩赐留为己用，用来满足自己。
例如，拥有讲道恩赐的人，并不是为了使自己扬名或受人赞赏，反之，是为了带领众人来到主的面前。总而言之，我们事奉神绝不是为了要赢得别人的感谢和欣赏，而是为了让人认识神。
反思：
我们是否太忙，以致极少在家中接待弟兄姊妹或朋友？
WHAT WE ALL NEED
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Message
The second coming of Christ was never far away from the minds and hearts of those in the early church. It was repeatedly used to urge the Christians to live as they should for Christ, in case he should return that day.
Peter says to us all:
1. We need a balanced mind-verse 7.
2. We must pray continually-verse 7.
3. We must love each other warmly-verse 8.
4. We need to share our home with others-verse 9.
5. We must use the gifts God has given us-verse 10.
6. We must do all things for the glory of God-verse 11.
Notice verse 9. We are to keep open house for all with a glad heart. That is part of Christian fellowship. New Christians in particular need help. They have been separated from their former friends. How will they feel if their new friends (the Christians) do not warmly welcome them? In what ways are you using your home for the Lord?
Equally important is the need to be faithful in exercising our God-given gifts. Everyone has a gift. Everyone should be using it. We are only stewards of these gifts. God has loaned them to us to be used for the benefit of the whole church and for the blessing of everyone. They are never just for ourselves.
Preaching is not done so the preacher may be seen or heard, but so that men and women might be brought face to face with God. We should never serve God so we will receive thanks from people, but so that we will turn others toward God.
A QUESTION:
How long is it since anyone found real help and fellowship in your home? Are you too busy for that?