Rock Solid Hope - A Study of 1 Peter Lesson 1 - Hope As God’s Elect Strangers 1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1. Why care about something a guy named Peter wrote many years ago? 2. The words “elect” and “stranger” usually don’t appear so close together. (Same with “scattered” and “chosen”) Why does Peter say that someone who is elect by God is also a stranger? 3. When do you forget that you’re a stranger and scattered? 4. When do you forget that you’re elect and chosen? 5. Which one is better (and why): - You were made to be happy. - You were made to obey Jesus. 6. So if obedience to CHrist is important, how do you actually obey him? 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
7. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for us? Sometimes we struggle to flesh out the implications of that monumental event. Peter shares his perspective. Jesus’ resurrection means: - New birth. - Living hope. - A safe and imperishable inheritance. 8. Your faith shields you until Jesus comes. When do you need a shield and how does faith act as a shield? 9. Salvation will come, it will be revealed in the last time. Do you ever wish you could see Jesus? What do you think is the first thing you will say when you see him? 1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life, so you better have something that makes the suffering tolerable. What would you say to someone who is suffering grief in all kinds of trial, but is not able to find any reason to rejoice? 11. Is it really possible that someone could greatly rejoice while suffering grief-filled trial? What about some of the worst kinds of suffering you can imagine? 12. Suffering comes so that your faith is refined and results in praise, glory, and honor. Who gets the praise, glory, and honor for your faith - you or God? 13. How can you love someone you don’t see? How can you be filled with joy because of someone who is invisible?
14. I thought salvation was something we’d receive later on, after this life is over; why does Peter say that you are now receiving (present tense) the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 15. People from all cultures in some way search for God for salvation. How do you explain that? 16. This particular story of salvation through Jesus had been talked about and searched out for thousands of years. Even angels longed to know how God’s salvation plan would play itself out in real time. Why do we sometimes get bored with looking into the “same old story” about Jesus when angels apparently do not? 17. The prophets were not just serving themselves but you. Agree or disagree: When you study God’s Word, the primary reason is to benefit yourself.