Peter writes to exhort the elders in feeding the flock. Learn a brief outline of church leadership as we study the roles of elders, bishops and pastors. Recognize what Biblical leadership looks like and how it applies to our walk with Jesus. Here we are called to submit to our elders and be subject one to another, humble. Consider what it means to be a feeder of the flock and the non-fading reward therein. It is in grace we stand, God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

Satan is real. So what do we do? Study with us a Biblical perspective on Satan and how to stand firm in battle through Jesus Christ. Learn from Peter’s experience with Jesus, and be encouraged in sound wisdom as we read through some practical tools to resist the defeated devil.

We saw in this study that the struggle in the Christian life is part of the sanctifying process that God uses to refine and purify us. Instead of seeking to avoid suffering, the Christian is to embrace it for God’s glory. Peter exhorted us to possess clear thinking and spiritual-mindedness in the midst of our trials and to be given fervently to Christian love and service, following Christ’s example.

In this study we looked at the answer to the question: what would we do if we had seven days left to live? We saw from 1 Peter 4:7-11 that we are called to do five things in light of the fact that we are living in the last days: Pray seriously, love fervently, demonstrate hospitality, serve effectively, and communicate Scripturally. We are encouraged as Christians to redeem the short time we have on this earth, knowing that the days we live in are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).

This study looked at the end of 1 Peter 3 and began with the straightforward exhortation to possess unity, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind. Even when we disagree over non-essential doctrines, we are called to unity and love around the essentials. We learned from Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon on the Mount that we are to bless those who persecute us (Matthew 5:38-42, 44). We also were exhorted to turn away from evil and pursue peace.

In this study we looked in-depth at 1 Peter 3:12 and how God’s eyes are on the righteous. God sees everything but looks down with love and care for those who are His. He also hears the prayer of the righteous. Lastly we saw that God’s face is against those who do evil. Like a parent who corrects his child in love, the Lord also corrects those He loves and calls us to repent in light of our sin.

In the first seven verses of 1 Peter 3 we looked in-depth at marriage and the Biblical calling of husbands and wives to show love, honor and respect to each other. Peter first deals with women and the importance of Godly submission, the inner adornment of the heart and their calling by the Lord to purity. Then we examined the role of men and their calling to live with understanding, showing honor to their wives.

In this teaching we saw the blessedness in suffering for Christ and how God uses the darkness surrounding the Christian to show off His light. We saw that our calling is not necessarily to answer every theological question, but to give an answer to the world for the hope that lives within us. As Christians we are not given over to fear of what may happen in this life, but we are called to hope in God.

Tonight we looked at 1 Peter 2 and the calling that we have because of our salvation (seen at the end of 1 Peter 1) to put away the evil works of deceitfulness, hypocrisy and slander and to desire the Word of God like newborn infants. We then studied Peter’s rich unpacking of God’s work in building us together as a spiritual house, as holy priests to offer spiritual sacrifices to Him. We ended being reminded Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls, and God declares His authority over the human mind and emotions and desires to exercise His gracious rule over them.

We learned from 1 Peter 2:3-15 that we have a Biblical calling to submit ourselves to the authority and rulers that God sovereignly places in our lives. In doing so we show honor to the Lord and to the people that He has placed in our lives. Ultimately we ended seeing Jesus’ perfect example of submission which gives us the model and example to follow.