Praise to God for Living Hope
Introduction
Outcomes for the Letter by Peter.
Standing firm with confidence by overcoming external persecution (1 Peter), and internal Perversion (2 Peter), in the Race of Hope through biblical response.
Apostle Peter wrote this letter from Rome, the capital city of agents of persecution. Peter wrote from a life experience after denying Jesus three times and being restored and commissioned to feed the flock of Jesus.
1st Peter was written to minority believers from non-Jewish backgrounds scattered among the majority Roman and Gentile unbelievers who were going through severe persecution because of their choices in following Jesus. They were encouraged to remain faithful followers of Jesus in their response to persecution. This letter reminded these Gentile background believers of three truths as they navigated the race of hope. 1. Who they were before they began race, not a people, no hope and dead and lost without Christ. 2. Who they are now, – a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, declaring the praises of who called them from darkness into marvelous light. 3. Who they would become through the new living Hope when Jesus comes again. He pointed out that Jesus the Messiah suffered faithfully, and many believers throughout the world were facing the same challenge.
2nd Peter was written to minority believers from non-Jewish backgrounds scattered among the majority Roman unbelievers who were going through severe perversion (wrong doctrine) to counter their choices in following Jesus. They were encouraged to be mature followers in their response to the false teachers. To grow in the grace of our lord Jesus Christ. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the early church victoriously overcame persecution but was defeated by perversion and false teaching (the yeast of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod).
Introduction
In this session, we focus on understanding what God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have done in making them believers (1 Peter 1:1-9). We also see why a loving Father would allow his children to go through persecution. We further understand the appropriate ways believers would live in the face of persecution.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Described the present state of the believers who received a letter from Peter by listing them down from the verses given
- Understood the principles of birthrights by comparing the first birth and the second birth
- Appreciated why your good Loving Father in heaven would allow brief suffering for your faith by listing his intentions
- Listed appropriate ways believers would live, considering the promised inheritance and within the brief suffering of their faith
- Understood the difference between suffering and Persecution by listing them from the bible
Outline
- Physical Birth rights and spiritual birth rights
- Suffering and persecution
- Why does our loving father allow the pain of his children
- Response when suffering
Group Study Time
1 Peter 1:1-9
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
- Who wrote this letter? What is said about him? 1 Peter 1:1
- Read 1 Peter 1:1-2. Who were the recipients of this letter? What is said about them? How are the recipients of this letter related to God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and God the Son?
- What is being born again? How can one be born again? What is the difference between the first birth and the second birth? What is the hope of the first birth from the father? What is the Hope of the second birth from the Father?
- Read 1 Peter 1: 3-6; 18-19; 23-25. What is revealed about being born again? What is the living hope of the second birth? What keeps you until you receive your living hope (inheritance that can’t fade away or perish)
- How should you live considering the promised inheritance and the presence of suffering of that hope? 1 Peter 1: 6.
- What is the difference between suffering and Persecution?
- Read 1 Peter 1: 6-9. Why would a good Father allow suffering for your Faith? What is the end of your faith?
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!
Praise to God for Living Hope
1 Peter 1:1-9
Audio Summary
1 Peter 1:1-9
Context
- Peter, writing from Rome as a pillar of the church, addresses Gentile believers scattered and facing severe persecution for leaving pagan beliefs.
- The letter encourages standing firm with confidence in God’s grace amid trials, assuring that persecution is temporary and part of God’s plan.
Greeting and Praise for Living Hope (1 Peter 1:1-9)
- Greeting to God’s Elect: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to God’s elect exiles scattered in various provinces—chosen according to God’s foreknowledge, through the Spirit’s sanctifying work, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood; grace and peace be multiplied.
- Praise for New Birth and Inheritance: Praise God for giving new birth into a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead; an inheritance in heaven that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept for believers who are shielded by God’s power through faith until the coming salvation ready to be revealed.
- Rejoicing Amid Trials: In this inheritance, greatly rejoice, though now for a little while suffering grief in various trials; these prove the genuineness of faith (more valuable than gold refined by fire), resulting in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Faith and Joy in the Unseen Savior: Though not having seen Jesus, believers love Him; though not seeing Him now, believe and are filled with inexpressible, glorious joy, receiving the end result of faith—the salvation of souls.
- Purpose: Trials refine and prove faith, leading to ultimate salvation and joy; God is involved in the process, ensuring the inheritance remains secure.
Application
- Stand firm in persecution, rejoicing in the living hope and imperishable inheritance; love and believe in the unseen Jesus for inexpressible joy and soul salvation amid trials.