1 Peter. Stand Firm. 1 Peter. 9 & 10 30am Gatherings INTEGRATED BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Transcription

1 1 Peter Stand Firm 1 1 Peter 9 & 10 30am Gatherings INTEGRATED BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

2 2 1 Peter 1 A Good Sense Of Identity 1 Peter 1:1-12 Getting Started 1. If you had to identify the most important event, person or experience that has shaped you as a person, what would it be? (leave aside conversion, God, or some other Christian experience for the moment) Digging Deeper 2. Peter identifies his readers in two different ways, "God's elect" and "strangers in the world, scattered...". What is Peter conveying to his readers by calling them these things? (cf 2:4-6 & 9) 3. What is exciting in verses 3 5 for us as strangers in this world?

3 1 Peter 3 4. What distinguishes Christian hope from vague wishful-thinking about the future? 5. Peter seems to be telling his readers to feel two different emotions at the same time (verse 6 and verse 8-9). Is that possible? Has this been true in your experience? If so, in what ways? 6. What, according to Peter is the result of suffering? (verse 7). From your own observations, does suffering refine faith, or cause God's people to become embittered? 7. What further cause is there for rejoicing? (verses 10-12)

4 4 1 Peter How Does This Apply To Us? 8. Peter speaks of the privileges and benefits of being a Christian. But the unbelievers around us don t perceive us as lucky. -how are you viewed by your not-yet-christian friends? -what don t they get about the benefits of being a Christian? -how does the way they see you make you feel? 9. We are saved now, but in verse 5 Peter talks about the salvation that is ready to be revealed. How does this present/future salvation work? How does it strengthen us as believers? 10. In 1 Peter 5:12 we read...this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. How does 1 Peter 1:1-12 describe the grace of God? How do we stand fast in it?

5 1 Peter 5 2 Clarity of Purpose 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 Getting Started 1. All of us are shaped by our family of origin. Sometimes the impact is very positive and for others it is negative. What are some of the ways you have been influenced by your upbringing? Digging Deeper Read 1 Peter 1:13 2:3 2. Which bit(s) of 1:3-12 does the therefore in verse 13 refer back to? 3. In verses 13 & 14, the 4 responses to being saved are: preparation for action; self-control; hope; and refusal to conform to evil desires. What do each of these mean? 4. What is the motivation for holiness? (verse 16)

6 6 1 Peter 5. There is a strong emphasis on family language in this section. Look at the following verses and identify the family language and its purpose. Verse Image Purpose 1 Peter 1:2,3,17 1 Peter 1:8 1:14 1:22 1:3,23 2:2 God as father Image conveying identity, affection, loyalty 6. How could Peter s original hearers have felt when they read/heard verses 17-21? 7. What things do verses say about Jesus? How Does This Apply To Us? 8. We often read sections of the Bible that say death is defeated or that we will not die (e.g. John 11:26; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 55).Yet you probably know Christian people who have died. How does 1 Peter 1 help us to understand what our hope is?

7 1 Peter 7 9. In verses 1 and 17 we are called strangers (or foreigners). What does it mean to be a stranger in the world? Would it be a good idea to set up Christian communities? Why or why not? 10. The chief motivation for our holiness here is God s holiness. That must surely require us to cherish this aspect of God s character. In what ways does his holiness make him desirable to you? 11. In what ways do you need to be more of a non-conformist?

8 8 1 Peter 3 Living Stones 1 Peter 2:4-12 Getting Started 1. Have you ever started a building, landscaping or renovation project and not finished it? 2. What caused you to abandon it? 3. How do you feel when you think about or see the half-finished project? 4. What do you value most about being together with God s people? 5. If a friend asked you to describe what it means to become a Christian, what would you say?

9 1 Peter 9 Digging Deeper Read 1 Peter 2: What does it mean today to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (verse 5)? 7. Read Exodus 19:1-6. Given this background read 1 Peter 2:4-12 and describe the meaning and significance of each of the following phrases in a few words: A chosen people A royal priesthood A holy nation A people belonging to God That you may declare praise Called out of darkness Once not a people 8. Which of these expressions speaks most clearly to you of our collective identity? Why?

10 10 1 Peter 9. Are any of these hard for you to accept or hard to live in response to? 10. Read the Old Testament verses quoted here, in their original context. What are these passages saying to their original readers? -Isaiah 28: Psalm 118:5-25 -Isaiah 8: What is Peter trying to communicate by quoting these Old Testament passages?

11 1 Peter 11 How Does This Apply To Us? 12. From these verses what is God s purpose and intention for us? 13. How is our temporary residence (verse 11) a motivation for behaviour? 14. How might you use these verses to encourage another Christian who is discouraged in their Christian life? 15. How do your way of life, priorities and desires compare to God s intention expressed in this section? 16. How will the expressions in verses 9-10 shape you life this week? 17. How will the experience of Jesus (verses 6-8) shape your life this week?

12 12 1 Peter 4 How To Have An Impact On Unbelievers 1 Peter 2:11-3:7 Getting Started 1. If you were asked to come up with a marketing plan to make our church popular with unbelievers, what strategies would you use? (assume for the sake of answering this question that popularity is the goal not consistency with the Bible). 2. How would you have to modify the plan in question one given what the Bible says? Digging Deeper Read 1 Peter 2: How does the readers relationship with God shape their relationship to worldly authorities? 4. How do we live as free people (verse 16) but still submit to those in authority over us?

13 13 1 Peter Read Acts 4: Is Peter s behaviour here consistent with his advice in 1 Peter? How can submitting to authorities include disobeying them? 6. What reasons are given for submitting to those in authority? For slaves submitting to their masters? 7. Slaves in the Roman Empire included those who enjoyed working conditions comparable to modern-day employees, through to those who were cruelly oppressed and mistreated. In what specific ways is Christ an example for slaves? 8. More generally, how is Christ s suffering an example for all Christians? 9. Why do you think Peter gives these instructions to slaves, rather than focusing on things like encouraging them to seek their freedom?

14 14 1 Peter Read 1 Peter 3: What are the characteristics of a wife who is pleasing to God? 11. How would you explain this section: -to a teenage girl? -to a young mum? -to an older woman? 12. What are the characteristics of a husband who is pleasing to God? 13. How else could you describe someone who has a gentle and quiet spirit? 14. How do the instructions to wives (verses 1-6) help them live according to the command of 2:16? 15. How to the instructions to husbands (verse 7) help them live according to 2:16?

15 1 Peter Where would you turn in the Bible for an answer if you were asked, Are men more important to God than women or vice versa?? How Does This Apply To Us? 17. What are the comparable contemporary situations or relationships where the general principles laid down in verses 11 & 12 apply? 18. Who are the authorities you need to submit to in your every day life? 19. How might the instructions in 3:1-7 shape your life, whether you are a husband, a wife or a single person? 20. How can you pray for Christians who live under oppressive governments or other rulers?

16 16 1 Peter 5 Expect To Suffer 1 Peter 3:8-4:19 Getting Started 1. Read Matthew 5: The encouragement to turn the other cheek seems to take it to extremes. When can we justify ourselves (as Christians) defending ourselves or doing to others as they have done to you? Digging Deeper Read 1 Peter 3:8 4:19 2. What are some of the distinctive characteristics of life together for Christians in chapter 3 verse 8? How are we to deal with evil when we come across it (verse 9)? Why? 3. In 3:10-12, Peter quotes from Psalm 34. What point is he making? 4. What answer might you give to the (rhetorical) question in verse 13? What point is he trying to make about God? (Hint: don t neglect what it says in verse 14).

17 1 Peter In verse 15, Peter calls for two responses, one of the heart, and one of the mind. What are they? What difference will this make? 6. How does verse 18 clinch the argument? 7. Verses are tricky to understand and easy to get bogged down in. Assuming it means that Christ has had some out-of-the ordinary ministry that points us to the saving of Noah and his family from the flood, what does it say to us about being made clean? (Hint: notice that conscience appears in verses 16 and 21). 8. To help pull together what Peter has been saying, try restating the conclusions he draws in 4:1-6 in your own words. 9. In 1 Pet 4:7, why do you think that the end of all things being near makes prayer so important and urgent? Why does he mention clearmindedness and self-control? 10. In 1 Peter 4:12-19 our suffering is linked into Christ s suffering in what ways? When we suffer because of the name of Christ why should we rejoice?

18 18 1 Peter How Does This Apply To Us? 11. This section (3:8-4:19) seems to be controlled by the idea of doing good even when we are badly treated. -what do you think is the key motivation for doing this? -how do you stop becoming bitter when you are mistreated-and instead rejoice? 12. Are there situations or relationships where you are struggling to do good? e.g unbelieving family, colleagues etc. How can you think and act differently to change what you are doing? Peter 3:15 says Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. Discuss real people and scenarios in your life and how you might respond to their interest in what you believe. You could try this as a role-play 14. Re-read 4:7-11 and discuss which of these areas you believe you and your small group do well in. Perhaps give the group an opportunity to offer suggestions for how to meet these challenges

19 1 Peter 19 6 Standing Firm To The End 1 Peter 5:1-14 Getting Started 1. What would you say are the important characteristics required by Christian leaders? 2. How does your list from question 1 differ from how our secular world thinks is important for leadership? Read 1 Peter 5: What is the key leadership motivation highlighted in verses 1-5? 4. The elders or leaders are called to be shepherds of God s flock. What are they to do? What are they not to do? How does this compare with the conduct of those who are shepherds over you at church or home group? 5. What does it mean to be humble? (v 6) What is to sustain our humility each day? 6. Why should we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God? (v6) What does the Bible teach us about His mighty hand and how this should help us to be humble before Him? (See Exodus 3:19; Deuteronomy 9:26-29) 7. According to v7, what is the very special relationship a Christian has with God the Father? Do you have this relationship?

20 20 1 Peter 8. According to Peter, how does Satan attack our faith? (vs see also Mark 8:31-33) How then can we resist him? Are you aware of being attacked in your faith? What are you doing to resist this? 9. Why should we be encouraging our brothers and sisters who are suffering in other parts of the world? In what ways can you and your home group or church be doing this? 10. What particular risks do leaders face in our church? How can we encourage, support and uphold the leaders around us? 11. How can Peter describe his many years of suffering for Jesus as a little while? (v 10) How is this an encouragement to us when we suffer for being a Christian? 12. Look back over the studies from 1 Peter. What are 3-4 main things you ve been encouraged or challenged by? How is your life being changed by them? What will you do differently as a Christian? Pray for yourself and each other.

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23 1 Peter 23 H o l y T r i n i t y A d e l a i d e 8 7 N o r t h Te r r a c e A d e l a i d e S A t : f : o f f i c t r i n i t y. o r g. a u w w w. t r i n i t y c i t y. o r g. a u