Read 1 Peter 1:3-12. What is Peter’s main message in these verses? In his greeting to his readers in 1 Peter 1:1-2, Peter has already mentioned the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:2). The three members of the Godhead form the subject of 1 Peter 1:3-12. The Father and the Son are the … [Click to read more …]
Read 1 Peter 1:2. What else does this tell us about those to whom Peter had been writing? What does he call them? Whether writing to specifically Jewish or Gentile believers, Peter was sure about one thing: they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet. 1:2). Here, though, one needs … [Click to read more …]
If you were given a piece of paper that began, “Dear Sir,” you would realize that you were reading a letter. And you would assume that the letter came from somebody you probably weren’t close to. Just as modern letters have a standard way to begin, so do ancient letters. First Peter begins as any … [Click to read more …]
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 1:1-2; John 3:16; Ezek. 33:11; 1 Pet. 1:3-21; Lev. 11:44-45; 1 Pet. 1:22-25. Memory Text: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22, NIV). Whenever one studies … [Click to read more …]
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, “The Call by the Sea,” pp. 244-251, “A Night on the Lake,” pp. 377-382. From the fisherman’s early admission of his own sinfulness to his bold declaration of Jesus that “‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matt. 16:16, NKJV) to his terrible … [Click to read more …]
During the ministry of Jesus, Peter often acted in the role of leader of the 12 disciples. He was their usual spokesman. When Matthew lists the disciples, he says “first, . . . Peter” (Matt. 10:2). Peter also took a prominent role in the early church. It was Peter who took the initiative to appoint … [Click to read more …]
You can view an in-depth discussion of this week’s Bible study, “Peter, the Person” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s Bible lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the Bible study lesson outline … [Click to read more …]
Read Luke 22:31-34, Luke 22:54-62. What lessons can we learn from Peter’s failures? Peter’s intentions were good. And, in fact, he showed more courage than did the other disciples. He actually followed Jesus in order to discover what would happen to Him. But in doing so, he decided to hide his true identity. This compromise, … [Click to read more …]
In their time with Jesus, the disciples saw many remarkable things, although few of them can compare with the events described in Matthew 14:13-33, Mark 6:30-52, and John 6:1-21. Jesus used five small loaves of bread and two fish to feed more than 5,000 people. Again, what must have been going on in their minds … [Click to read more …]
One of the grand moments in the story of Jesus occurred in a dialogue with Peter. Jesus just had been dealing with some of the scribes and Pharisees who had been challenging Him to give them a sign, something to prove who He was (see Matt. 16:1-4). Then, later, alone with the disciples, Jesus talked … [Click to read more …]
