Rock Solid Hope - A Study of 1 Peter Lesson 5 - Hope Lived Out in Relationships 1. Quick summary of where we’ve been: -
In Christ, you are resident aliens in this world.
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You deal with suffering, but along with it, you have the knowledge that you are the people of God. In him you have undefeatable hope.
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On that basis, you are able to submit in all kinds of relationships: submit to your government, submit to your bosses and masters, submit even when suffering unjustly.
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Today we’ll consider what that Christ-centered identity and submission looks like in marriage and other human relationships.
1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, in the same way, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they might be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your respectful and holy behavior. 3 Do not let your beauty be something outward, such as braided hair or wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather let your beauty be the hidden person of your heart—the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5 In fact, this is also how the holy women of the past who put their hope in God made themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You are her daughters if you do what is good and do not fear anything that is intimidating. 1. “Wives, be submissive to your husbands.” What kind of submission is he talking about? What kind of submission is he not talking about? 2. Some marriage advice goes like this: “Don’t think you can change the other person. Trying will only lead to frustration.” But in these verses, Peter mentions a wife changing her husband by her attitude and actions. So which is it: should wives try to change husbands, or not? (Same question would apply to husbands changing wives).
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How can things like submissiveness, respect, and holiness from his wife change a man?
4. Outward female beauty v. inward female beauty. On a scale of 1 to 10; how hard is it for a woman in our culture not to be overly concerned with outward beauty? 5. How does a woman know if she’s being appropriately concerned with her physical appearance; or if she’s being too concerned with how she looks? 6. A gentle and quiet spirit, is that all there is to inner female beauty? What if a woman’s natural personality type is not necessarily “gentle and quiet”? 7. “Do what is good and do not fear anything that is intimidating.” What could possibly be intimidating about a woman saying, “I’m going to be submissive to my husband”? 8. Can you think of any examples of Sarah being submissive to Abraham without fear? 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, continue to live with your wives with the knowledge that, as the wife, she is the weaker vessel. Also continue to accord them honor as fellow heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 9. What in the world does it mean that the wife is “the weaker vessel” in the marriage relationship? 10. What are some ways a husband can treat his wife as co-heir of the gracious gift of life?
1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another. Show sympathy, brotherly love, compassion, and humility. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, speak a blessing, because you were called for the purpose of inheriting a blessing. 10 Indeed: Let the one who wants to love life and to see good days keep his tongue from evil and his lips from saying anything deceitful. 11 Let him turn from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their requests. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 11. “Live in harmony with each other.” Seems simple enough. Is it? Why or why not? 12. Why are insults so infuriating at times? 13. What’s Peter’s advice about how to respond to insult with blessing? 14. Who doesn’t love life, who doesn’t want to see good days? What do you think of the advice to keep your lips from speaking evil, turning from evil and doing good, seeking and pursuing peace? 15. Why are God’s eyes on the righteous and his ears attentive to their cry? 16. Why does God set his face against those who do evil?