1 Peter. Union Lake Baptist Church. Adult Sunday School. Reading Schedule & Discussion Questions. 3 rd Quarter (9 Weeks)

Transcription

1 Union Lake Baptist Church Adult Sunday School The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (Rembrandt, 1633) 1 Peter Reading Schedule & Discussion Questions 3 rd Quarter (9 Weeks)

2 ULBC Sunday School Page 2

3 Week 1: Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, January 28, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 1:1-2 B. What do we know about the author from the first verse? C. Peter is a major character in the New Testament. What do we know about him from the following passages that might prove helpful in understanding the apostle s perspective in this letter? 1. Matthew 4: Matthew 16: Matthew 26:31-35, Acts 4: Acts 5: Extra Credit: What other information/experiences can you remember about Peter (from other passages) that inform us about the author? D. Why do you think Peter refers to the recipients of his letter as exiles (note: also translated aliens )? (Hint: Read Acts 8:1) E. Who chose (or elected ) Peter s readers to be exiles? ULBC Sunday School Page 3

4 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 4

5 Week 2 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, February 4, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 1:3-12 B. What words or phrases throughout our text are used to emphasize life in God? C. Look at v3. In simplest terms, why does Peter say God should be blessed (or praised)? Follow-up question: Using only v3, what did God do and what did Peter and his audience do? D. How does Peter describe the believer s inheritance in v4? Given his readers situation, why do you think he included this in his letter to them? Follow-up question: Unlike their inheritance, what is described as capable of being destroyed? ULBC Sunday School Page 5

6 Week 2 (continued) E. In vv10-12, how does Peter say that their salvation was planned by God? (Bonus: Where else is this theme mentioned in the letter?) F. Extra Credit: Faith is an important idea in this text. Where do you see it mentioned (or described)? Why do you think faith is repeated in the text? Are there different descriptions or reasons that its repeated? ULBC Sunday School Page 6

7 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 7

8 Week 3 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, February 18, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 B. Last week we saw a contrast between the perishable and the imperishable. How do we see those ideas contrasted again this week? C. Another idea that resurfaces in our text is exile (or alien ). Where does it show up in our text? Why does Peter remind them again of their status of exile? In other words, what is his purpose in this text for bringing it up again? D. What is the first thing Peter tells them to do? Related question: How many words or phrases do you see in our text that is related to behavior? ULBC Sunday School Page 8

9 Week 3 (Continued) E. Contrast the inheritance in v4 with the inheritance spoken of in v18. F. How is the word of God described? ULBC Sunday School Page 9

10 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 10

11 Week 4 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, February 25, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 2:4-10 B. How is it that God accepts worship from sinners? C. Two groups of people are being described in our text. How do the two groups differ in the way they see Jesus? D. What results when Jesus is rejected? Related question: Does rejection of Jesus stop Him from fulfilling His mission? Explain. ULBC Sunday School Page 11

12 Week 4 (Continued) E. The wonderful foreknowledge of God shows up again this week. What do we know about God s plan from vv8-9? F. What different ways does Peter describe those who trust Christ? G. List the actions of God in our text. ULBC Sunday School Page 12

13 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 13

14 Week 5 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, March 4, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 2:11-3:12 B. Back in 1:9, we read that the outcome of faith in Jesus is the salvation of your souls. But in our text a war against our souls continues. Describe this ongoing struggle. C. According to 2:12, why is it important how Christians live? Follow-up question: Is the command in 2:12 (and the reason for the command) similar to those in 2:13-15? Explain. D. List all of the commands to be submissive. Are there any exceptions to submission in the text? ULBC Sunday School Page 14

15 Week 5 (Continued) E. How is a Christian supposed to respond when others do evil to him? Follow up questions: What does God think about His children s unjust suffering? Does this mean that God will not answer evil? What example of this unjust suffering is provided? What good comes from unjust suffering? F. A number of times in our text, the will of God regarding His children is mentioned. List each instance and put in your own words what they are called to. ULBC Sunday School Page 15

16 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 16

17 Week 6 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, March 11, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 3:13-22 B. Verse 13 sounds like Christians will not suffer persecution if they live morally upright lives. From this week s passage, how do you know this is not what Peter is conveying to his exiled friends? Use the text! (Consider also the end of last week s text.) Follow-up: To help you, read Isaiah 50:6-9; Psalm 56:1-4 & Romans 8:31. In light of these other passages, put the meaning of v13 in your own words. ULBC Sunday School Page 17

18 Week 6 (Continued) C. Look at vv What should Christians be prepared to do? In what manner are they to do it? What does this tell us about how we should approach arguments and debates about religion, etc.? D. Verse 14 promises blessing (cf. 3:9) for those who suffer for righteousness sake. List all of the blessings mentioned in this week s passage. E. Identify all of the phases of Christ s saving work in the text. How would this serve to encourage Peter s readers who were suffering for their faith? F. We have seen the idea of submission (or subjection) a number of times in this book already. How is it used differently in our text? ULBC Sunday School Page 18

19 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 19

20 Week 7 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, March 18, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 4:1-11 B. What do all of the sins listed in v3 have in common? C. What will surprise the opponents of the church? D. What references to judgment are seen in the text? Follow-up question: How is the judgment of the opponents (e.g., see v5) a word of encouragement for the readers of this epistle? ULBC Sunday School Page 20

21 Week 7 (Continued) E. What are Christians stewards of? Follow-up questions: How are they to be good stewards? Are there different categories of gifts? Explain. What examples of Christian love are given? F. Extra Credit: 4:1 can be misunderstood to mean that those who suffer persecution become sinless ( ceased from sin ). Rather it means that Christians are no longer enslaved to sin and have been freed to live holy lives for God (cf. Romans 6:8-12). Does what you read in vv2, 3 & 7 support this? Explain. ULBC Sunday School Page 21

22 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 22

23 Week 8 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, March 25, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19 B. Given what you have already read in this letter, why should Peter s friends not be surprised at their suffering (v12)? Follow-up questions: What is the purpose of suffering according to v12? In answering, compare v12 with Peter s earlier words in 1:6-7. Also consider James 1:2-4,12. Verse 19 puts a forward-looking emphasis on suffering through trials. Explain how it provides hope to those in trials. C. What two kinds of suffering in this week s text are contrasted? Explain. ULBC Sunday School Page 23

24 Week 8 (Continued) D. Verse 13 is a rich, encouraging verse for those who are being mistreated by those who oppose the gospel. Compare this to Philippians 3:8-11. Then re-write v13 in your own words. E. Look at vv We have already seen (from v12) that trials are meant to judge God s people in order to refine them and show that their faith is genuine. What is the contrasting way God s judgment will work on others? ULBC Sunday School Page 24

25 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 25

26 Week 9 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, April 8, 2018 A. Read 1 Peter 5:1-14 B. In v1, Peter instructs church elders how to behave. But he also describes himself. 2 questions: What does he say about himself? And why does he say it? C. What are elders warned not to do? D. What should motivate elders as they serve God s people? E. Why do you think Jesus is called the Chief Shepherd in v4? ULBC Sunday School Page 26

27 Week 9 (Continued) F. Submission is again spoken of in this closing passage. 1. What relationships are mentioned that require submission? 2. Is there a call for submission in this text that is different than in previous ones? Explain. G. How is God described in a way that is encouraging to those who are suffering and perhaps afraid? ULBC Sunday School Page 27

28 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 28