“Shame is the world’s weapon we turn on ourselves.”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter  3:8-17
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A paragraph (in Scripture or any document) that begins with the words “to sum up” deserves special attention.  How well have we understood the first two and a half chapters? Peter wants to be certain that we have followed his thinking so far. We want to be sure we haven’t missed his main point by following some tangent of our own.  Such a summary would be helpful in the original context of a letter.  As we have studied short sections spread over seventeen weeks, the review is especially valuable.  What do we need to remember from the first half of his letter?  What is our starting point as we continue into the rest of his inspired instructions? Continue reading →

“What’s in my heart when life is hard?”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 3:1-7
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Listen to 1 Peter 1-2

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Our last discussion on 1 Peter was four weeks ago.  Various circumstances (sickness, travel, and time spent in soul-care conversations) affected our Sunday morning routine (always very flexible).  In order to remind ourselves of Peter’s writing, we listened to an audio recording of the text from the beginning of the letter (1 Peter 1-2).

The text emphasizes the many things that God has already done for us, and the glorious future He has for us.  The history of what He has done, and the eternity awaiting us are the motivation Peter provides for believers’ perseverance.  Listening to (or re-reading) that beginning provides a foundation for the culturally challenging instructions in this week’s section.  That would be a good refresher before you read this blog (see the link above). Continue reading →

“We can only pretend to be nice for so long.”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 2:9-28
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

One of the goals of inductive Bible study is to understand the thought process of the inspired authors.  Those writers often provide help to readers with connective words – “because,” “therefore,” “in order to,” etc.  In this passage, Peter uses a phrase indicating purpose four times: “so that.” Continue reading →

“I thirst to be made more thirsty still”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:22-2:10
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

One notable feature of this section of Peter’s first letter is his use of multiple images and figures of speech interspersed with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures.  We spent at least part of our time together exploring how the different illustrations express his ideas. Continue reading →

“Affliction doesn’t feel momentary, and it doesn’t feel light.”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:1-25
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

This week’s discussion looked back at the entire first chapter of 1 Peter.  After several discussions, sometimes separated by several weeks, it seemed appropriate to put the details of those discussions together.  We are reading a letter.  Particular ideas need to be understood in the overall flow of the writer’s themes.  Studies of shorter passages benefit from occasional reminders of the broader context. Continue reading →

“You will be holy”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:13-25
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Our discussion began with one person’s observation that the passage describes a flow: prepared (v. 13), purified (v. 21), and born again (v. 23).  Indeed, that flow describes three themes that Peter repeats throughout this passage and through his entire epistle. Continue reading →

“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:4b-13
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

Using a single translation in a group Bible study has a benefit and a limitation.  One translation shared by all (as on a prepared handout) makes it easy to focus on the wording of the text and think together about the meaning.  A common starting point avoids the distraction of differences in wording among various versions.

That benefit is also a limitation.  Comparing translations can be a distraction (or even a competition).  But comparing translations can provide insight by provoking questions. Continue reading →

“Our trials keep us trusting”

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:1-9
Jump to beginning of 1 Peter Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in 1 Peter before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

The beginning of Peter’s letter is an interesting mix of past, present, and future aspects of God’s work in the lives of believers. Continue reading →

Download discussion questions:  1 Peter 1:1-2
Listen to 1 Peter 1-5 (NASB)

I encourage you to look at the passage in James before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

At least a minimal amount of background will be helpful in our inductive study of 1 Peter. Continue reading →

Here is a link to the handout for this Sunday.

1 Peter 1:1-9

I look forward to our time together.