1 & 2 Peter

1.When was a time when life has gone differently than you expected or wanted? How has that season impacted your relationship with God?

2. Why do you think that Peter talked about the reality of suffering, but not how to avoid it?

3. What does it look like for you to arm your mind with the same way of thinking as Jesus?

4. Have you ever been maligned because you chose to live differently because of Jesus? How does 1 Peter 2:11 encourage you in these spaces?

5. What does 1 Peter 4:7 say about what must be true of believers as the end of all things comes near? Why do you think Peter puts such an emphasis on our ability to be prayerful here?

6. Peter challenges us to not forget three things: to arm your mind, remember the just judge, and to check the clock. Which of these reminders is especially helpful for you today?

7. In light of the end of all things, Peter gives some simple and practical direction on how to live in verses 8-11. How does this simplicity challenge today? 

8. 1 Peter 4:12-18, reminds us that all suffering is normal and is a chance to bring glory to God. How does this reminder encourage you today?

9. In regard to the suffering that we experience and witness in our world, how does the following quote from Tim Keller encourage you?

“If we ask…Why does God allow evil and suffering to continue? And we look at the cross of Jesus, we still do not know what the answer is. However, we know what the answer isn’t. It can’t be that he doesn’t love us.” Tim Keller – Reason for God

10. How is God inviting you to entrust your soul to a faithful Creator today?

11. How is God encouraging you to “do good” this week as you follow and trust him?

Read 1 Peter 1-3

1.What does this text tell you about the character of God?

2. Where do you see God’s love at work in the midst of these verses?

3. What section or verses in the text speak most personally to you? 

Reflect on the verses in the middle of the text, verses 8-18 & answer the following questions. 

4. Peter writes now a third time about suffering, and he calls for the Church to remember Christ in the midst of suffering. Why does he repeat himself? 

5. In the middle of the text Peter quotes Psalm 34.12-16. Why does he include this particular Psalm? 

6. In the midst of suffering, what passages of Scripture bring encouragement?

7. When you are ministering to others who are suffering, what passages of Scripture do you share?

8. In verse 15 writes, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” What’s your answer? What is the reason for the hope that you have?

9. When was the last time you shared your “reason for hope” with another?

10. How does your hope get expressed in your everyday, ordinary life? 

Reflect on the last few verses of chapter 3.19-22 and answer the following questions. 

11. Why does Peter point back to Noah when talking about baptism?

12. Where else in his letter to refer to Old Testament patriarchs?

13. Why is this “pointing back” important? 

14. Peter calls on followers of Jesus to remember the importance of their baptism.

15. How do you view your own baptism?

16. How is your baptism significant to you today?

17. Describe the “lived nature” of your baptism today.

Read and reflect on Mark 1.1-11 and answer the following questions.

18. Why did Jesus get baptized? 

19. How does the blessing of Jesus get transferred to all those who believe?  

Read and reflect on Acts 8.5-38 and answer the following questions. 

20. What speaks most personally to you here?

21. How do you see Peter and Phillip integrating the teachings of Jesus in their lives?

22. How does this text invite all people into the family of God? 

Read and reflect on 1 Peter 3.1-12 and answer the following questions. 

23. Marriage is the most intimate of all earthly relationships, how do these verses underscore that truth?

24. How does our belief about marriage, and our conduct in marriage reflect our individual relationship with God?

25. The lived nature of baptism begins at home. How do these verses specifically call you to live and love at home?

26. What does the text mean when it talks about equality in a home?

27. In your own words define honor.

28. How would your spouse, or if not married your best friend say you honor them?

29. What would it feel like for you to be honored by your spouse, or best friend?

30. How do you bless those in your home? Be specific.

31. How do you experience blessing in your home? Be specific. 

Reread Psalm 34.

Give God praise for His love for you. Rest in His love today.  

Read 1 Peter 1-2

1.What does this text tell you about the character of God?

2. Where do you see God’s love at work in the midst of these verses?

3. What section or verses in the text speak most personally to you? 

4. The first two verses of 1 Peter invite us into a posture of blessing. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” How are you experiencing His grace and peace in abundance?

5. Where, if any, is there a place of longing for His grace and peace to be more fully experienced?

Reflect on 1 Peter 2:9-10, answer the following questions:  

6. What is the purpose of these specific verses? 

7. In what ways do you see the Church as a fulfillment of these truths? 

8. In what ways do you see yourself as a fulfillment of these truths? 

Review Exodus 19:3-6, answer the following questions: 

9. The Israelites were called to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.”

10. Why does Peter now say these new converts to Christianity are “God’s special possession?” 

11. What is the role of a “priest” in the Old Testament?

12. How is that role the same or different today? 

13. Why does Israel ultimately reject God? 

Read 1 Peter 1:15-16 & 1 Peter 2:11-12, answer the following questions: 

14. How specifically is Peter calling the church to live? 

15. In what ways do you experience a “war against your soul?” 

16. Peter calls the church to live “good lives”. For what is he advocating? 

17. How do these verses correspond to the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 5:14-16? 

Read and reflect on the following letter that was noted on Sunday in the sermon. 

“I want you to be someone I want to grow up to be like. I want you to step up and live by the Bible’s standards. I want you to be inexplicably generous, unbelievably faithful, and radically committed. I want you to be noticeably better person than my humanist teacher, than my atheist doctor, than my Hindu next-door neighbor. I want you to sell all you have and give it to the poor. I want you to not to worry about your health like you’re afraid of dying. I want you to live like you actually believe in the God you preach about. I don’t want you to be like me; I want you to be like Jesus.  That’s when I’ll start listening.

18. How does this letter encourage you, convict you, inspire you?

19. In light of the text how does this letter call you to live, and call you to love? 

Read and reflect on 1 Peter 2:13-20

Peter advocates for the church to live holy lives in the midst of suffering.

20. How has God used the faithfulness of others in the midst of their suffering to encourage you?

21. How often do you share your suffering with others?

22. Describe the last season of suffering and with whom you shared it. 

Read and reflect of the last verses of 1 Peter 2:21-25

Jesus suffered and His Word to His followers is clear, we too will suffer.

23. How does His example, and His strength compel you to trust Him in the midst of suffering? 

24. How does God’s eternal plan, your eternal homecoming, encourage you to persevere in the here and now? 

Spend some moments giving Him praise for His prevailing love.

 

— Watch the overview of 1 Peter by the Bible Project

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/1-peter/?utm_source=web_social_share&medium=shared_video

— Read 1 Peter 1

1.What does this text tell you about the character of God? Where do you see God’s love at work in the midst of these verses? What section or verses in the text speak most personally to you? 
How do you see a maturity in the life of Peter from when you first met him in the Gospels to reading this letter? 

2. Who is the letter written to, and why does Peter write it? 

3. Peter says we’ve been given three things. 

• a new family centered around Jesus, 
• a new identity as God’s beloved children
• a new hope of a world reborn by God’s love when Jesus returns as King.

4. What do these gifts mean to you in your everyday ordinary life? How do these gifts encourage you in seasons of struggle or suffering? How are you growing in these three gifts? 

— Reflect on verse 3-12 and answer the following questions 

5. What would suffering have looked like for these first Christians? 

6. How would they be encouraged by reading these words from Peter? 

7. In what ways have you seen the truths of these verses encourage you in the midst of suffering? 

8. In your own words, define “salvation.” How is your salvation being lived out in your world? 

9. Notice the language in verse 9, Peter writes, “You are receiving.” What does Peter mean by this phrase specifically as it relates to your salvation? 

— Reflect on the phrase, “This salvation” (10) and on the comments of J.D. Walt

This salvation doesn’t begin with original sin but with original glory. It doesn’t begin with the fall from grace but the glory of Eden. It doesn’t begin with the problem of sin but with the power of God. Before there was ever a sinner there was already a Savior. 

This salvation does not just save sinners from the penalty of sin, it delivers saints from the power of sin. This salvation is a comprehensive, full-throated, sin has lost its power and death has lost its sting.

This salvation recognizes you are created in the image of Almighty God. Darkness corrupted and sin distorted this image beyond recognition, but grace restores it utterly and completely.

This salvation is not merely a spiritual solution. This salvation is the totalizing cure, as in the blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, lepers cleansed, dead raised, poor hear good news.Verse 12 references the Holy Spirit and His active work in the life of all believers. Look back on the past week, where have you seen and experienced the Holy Spirit at work in you, and how have you experienced Him at work through you? 

— Reflect on verse 13-21

10. In your own words define “holiness.” What does Peter mean when he says, “be holy in all you do.” 

11. Describe the difference between an “empty way of life” and a life of holiness.

12. How are you learning to grow in the holiness that has already been given to you? How does being holy affect your obedience? 

— Read 1 Peter 22-25 and John 15.9-13

13. How do you see Peter’s words advocating for us to live out the words of Jesus? 

14. Peter says, “Love one another deeply, from the heart.” What does it feel like when someone loves you “deeply?” What does it cost you to love someone “from your heart?”

— Spend some time giving God praise for His love for you.