Living Hope

Light For a Dark World

Week 1: Welcome

Background:

1st Peter was written as a letter to circulate to churches in 5 Provinces of NW Asia Minor ( Turkey)

Written by Peter ( walked on water, witnessed the miracles, denied Jesus, interacted with the ressurected Jesus, was restored by Jesus, Preached the first Sermon about Jesus after his accension)

He understand the conquences of not living for Jesus when the enviorment is not favorable.

The readers were alienated from the culture and friends because of their conversion to Christians

Slandered and ridiculed for not living the old way

Context and Theme

Peter is instructs them on how they should view their identity and suffering

New Identity in Jesus ( 1:12-2:10)

Suffering for Proclaiming Jesus ( 2:11-4:11)

Future Hope ( 4:12-5:11)

a) Pressure is normal for the follower of Jesus

b) Christ is the example for us for everything but especially for the context of suffering

1st Peter 1:1-2

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

English Standard Version Chapter 1

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Truth From The Text

We are Chosen Exiles ( This is not our Home)

The world is messed up, for the christian this is as bad as it gets, for the one outside of Jesus this is as good as it gets

2. What we are going through is not a unknown or a shock to God

3. It has a purpose

To Make us more like Jesus ( Sanctification means to make holy )

Even in the hard times there is a reason ( does it make it eaiser…. no BUT it give you peace that on the other side of this there is something better waiting…. a better version of me) Ex BUDS training

For Obedience ( The fruit of faith) Ill obey because I may not understand how but I believe that this is better for me. Will you trust God to do what he is asking you to do even if you are not sure how it can be for your benifit?

Application:

Reframe your view on being an outsider

a) God has not abandoned you

b) God is not mad at you, nor is he appathetic ( not caring at all)

c) Shift the focus from why is this happening to “ what do you want me to learn out of this”

d) make sure you relaize there is a differnce between being excluded becasue of Jesus and getting in trouble becasue you screwed up

Reconigize the security in the circumstances

a) your identity rest in in God not the approval of others

God the fathers knew you

The Spirit called you

The Son bought you

THERE IS NO REJECTION IN THAT

Live out of Obedience not Comfort

a) Following Jesus is not easy and its not for success by the worlds standards

b) How to measure a successful life is do I look more like Jesus today than I did yesterday

c) Looking more like and living like Jesus is worth more than whatever it cost you socially