Unjust or foreseen suffering is one of the great problems that grips the hearts of people today. We struggle with frustration, anger, and uncertainty when trials strange and unexpected land on our doorsteps. Too often in those most difficult moments of our lives, confusion reigns while contentment wanes; questions arise while prayer subsides.
How do you react when suffering comes? Many crumble at the mere thought of another pain or trial. Others rise to the occasion. Most of us are probably somewhere in between. Peter’s encouragement to his Christian readers is one of perseverance in faith. It isn’t enough for us to simply get up every morning and trudge through each day; neither is it advisable to paste a smile on our faces and ignore troubles. Instead, the lesson of 1 Peter is to push through the troubles, recognizing their temporary presence in our lives while walking in holiness and hope as people of faith.
- See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/first-peter.html#sthash.kgsvT4m3.dpuf
In preparation for a sermon or lesson from a book like First Peter: we want to learn why Peter wrote the book in the first place. And then how we today can apply what Peter said.
We want to learn the theme of the book:
Themes
Although 1 Peter is a short letter, it touches on various doctrines and has much to say about Christian life and duties. It is not surprising that different readers have found it to have different principal themes. For example, it has been characterized as a letter of separation, of suffering and persecution, of suffering and glory, of hope, of pilgrimage, of courage, and as a letter dealing with the true grace of God. Peter says that he has written “encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God” (5:12). This is a definitive general description of the letter, but it does not exclude the recognition of numerous subordinate and contributory themes. The letter includes a series of exhortations (imperatives) that run from 1:13 to 5:11.
http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/online-bible/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-1-peter/
I TOOK FOR THEMES OF EACH CHAPTER AND VERSE. I HAVE TAUGHT FIRST PETER ONE. I AM NOW IN CHAPTER TWO AND AS OF 11-15-2014 TAUGHT 2:11A, AS A MATTER OF FACT I ONLY GOT TO THE “I URGE YOU.” AND THAT WAS IT.
A BRIEF OUTLINE: CHAPTER 12 AND TWO
- A LIVING HOPE, AND A SURE SALVAITON IN CHAPTER ONE
- NEW BORN BABES 2:1-3 AS LIVING STONES IN 2:4-12 AND HONOR AUTHORITY IN 2:13-21 AND CHRIST IS OUR EXAMPLE IN 2:21-25
Exegetical and Homiletics
So what is the idea in First Peter 2:11-12
A few sermon titles that could be used.
- The War Against the Soul and the Glory of God, John Piper writes
- Living for Christ in a Cynical World writes John MacArthur
- The Pilgrim Life.
- Aliens
- Good Godly Behavior
- The Demand for a Life Becoming the Christian Name
- The Peas Against Disorderly Passions
- Christians Where You Live
- Living a Balance in This World
- The Christian Life Calls For The Putting Away of Evil -
- Godly Living
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WHAT DOULD WE SAY ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK?
First I would say the Jewish Christians would have viewed this letter as “born again” believers. And born again into the faith and life. (1:23)
This idea of becoming a believer, and born again had the idea of following Jesus Christ in all things. The born again idea seem to be that one is going to enter into a new life, as a spiritual child, and in a spiritual atmosphere, in which he is going to receive spiritual nourishment, and then he is going to grow into the fullness of the spiritual man in Christ, Jesus the Lord.
This Christian life some people want to think, there is no involvement or no change necessary, Peter says the Christian life is a new life, and it begins with a new spiritual birth, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thus Peter takes this book to help the Jewish Christians and well as us today in 2014 to give varied help toward the training and shaping and nourishing of the spiritual journey in the life of a believer though each stage of growth.
I want to cover a little of chapter two here:
2:1-3 Speaks of Christian Growth: We are to put off the old nature and life. We are to “lay them aside” and :”put them away.” We are to nourish ourselves in the spiritual milk of the Word. We are to nourish ourselves into spiritual strength with just that spiritual food which is precisely adapted to our spiritual condition.
2:4-8 Speaks of the Spiritual House. This living, spiritual house, of living, spiritual man, who offer in it living, spiritual sacrifices.
We learn of the foundation: it is a living man that is a spiritual man. It is a spiritual, Divine man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We learn that this stones in the building is a living a born again, quickened with a new, spiritual life.
What I learn is that new life giving to us by God, is the impartation of a new life, it’s a communication of spiritual life. That is the soul is more and more transformed into Christ likeness.
Thus the stones of the building are going to be of the same nature as the foundation.
The believer in this spiritual house is living, thinking, acting, doing, and is alive to the things of God.
Then there is going to be within this building service; acts of praise, thanksgiving, trust.
John MacArthur says this a Supernatural, superstructure life.
We learn that Christ is precious
- When we fall and stumble at the mystery of God
- Christ is precious when the sense of sin is quickened with us.
- Christ is precious in our struggle with practical evils.
- Christ is precious to us in times of great sorrow.
- Christ is precious in our own moral conflict.
- Christ is precious because He is God.
2:9-10 Peter is saying, you Jews Christians are not a part of the new true Israel. You have been elected into this family.
And thus there is a responsibility and service. and thus this divine election always carries with it dignity and privilege.
THIS IS WHERE I AM NOW IN MY STUDY
2:11-12 THE PERSUASIVE POWER OF MORAL GOODNESS, CHRISTIAN LIVING, SPIRITUAL LIVING.
This calls for self management vs. 10 Living right in a fallen world. We are strangers and Pilgrims Citizens of another world spiritual.
Well as you can tell, this has been a deep study. Now for over a year plus I have been in chapter one and two.
