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Living Godly lives in a pagan society

1 Peter 2: 11-25

  • Session: 4
  • Week: 1
  • Day: 4
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Introduction

In this session, we focus on 1 Peter 2: 11-25 to understand how growing in the grace of God would enable believers in the hostile zone to use its strength, overcome its limitations, take advantage of its opportunities, and thrive amid its threats. These verses encourage the minority Gentile background believers to live godly lives in the majority pagan society

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Discussed the four questions each born-again believer should answer to give him freedom to grow in a strange wilderness of hostility
  • Listed three ways that Jesus becomes an example to copy when unjustly treated in foreign countries
  • Described how born-again people ought to snatch opportunities to influence the nations for Christ by their victorious living in a hostile environment by comparing them 1. to the family of God, 2. to living stones for the house of God, 3. to chosen, holy priesthood, 4. to foreigners and exiles, and 5. to workers in a foreign country.

Outline

  • The community of faith influencing the world
  • The grace of God for growth
  • What to stop doing and what to start doing

Group Study Time

1 Peter 2: 11-25

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • As born-again people in a strange world, you are faced with four questions that the GRACE of God would help you to live victorious and be productive in a wilderness of hostility, namely: 1. How can grace help you in the areas of your limitations? 2. How can grace help you in the areas of your strength? 3. How can grace help you in the areas of your opportunities, and 4. How can grace help you in the areas of your hostilities and threats?
  • Read 1 Peter 2: 11- 17. As foreigners and exiles, list five ways you should live uniquely different as an opportunity to cause the hostile neighbors to glorify your God and silence their ignorant talk?
  • Read 1 Peter 2: 18-21. As workers in harsh environments in foreign countries, list four things you should do to change your employers and their households.
  • Read 1 Peter 2: 21-25. List three ways that Jesus becomes an example to copy when unjustly treated in foreign countries.

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Living Godly lives in a pagan society

1 Peter 2: 11-25

1 Peter 2:11-25

Context

  • Peter encourages believers living in pagan societies facing persecution to grow in God’s grace for victorious living, abstaining from sinful desires and submitting to authorities.
  • Emphasizes following Christ’s example in suffering to silence critics and glorify God.

Living Godly Lives Among Pagans (1 Peter 2:11-25)

  • Abstain from Sinful Desires: As foreigners and exiles, abstain from sinful desires warring against the soul; live good lives among pagans so, though accused of wrongdoing, they see good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits.
  • Submit to Authorities: Submit to every human authority for the Lord’s sake—whether king or governors sent to punish wrongdoers and commend right; as God’s servants, do good to silence foolish ignorance.
  • Live as Free People: Live freely but not using freedom as cover for evil; serve God, show respect to all, love fellow believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
  • Slaves Submit to Masters: Slaves submit respectfully to masters, not only kind ones but also cruel; endure patiently when suffering unjustly for doing good, as this finds favor with God.
  • Follow Christ’s Example in Suffering: Called to do good even if suffering, as Christ suffered—leaving an example to follow; He committed no sin, no deceit, did not retaliate when insulted or threaten revenge, but entrusted Himself to God who judges justly.
  • Christ’s Sacrifice: Christ bore sins in His body on the cross so believers die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds healed; once straying sheep, now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of souls.
  • Purpose: Live as examples in pagan societies, submitting and enduring unjust suffering like Christ to glorify God and influence others.

Application

  • Abstain from sinful desires, live good lives to silence critics, submit to authorities, endure unjust suffering patiently, and follow Christ’s model of non-retaliation, entrusting to God for healing and righteousness.
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How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!