Look up the following texts: Acts 6:1-6, Acts 14:23, Acts 15:6, 1 Tim. 5:17, 1 Pet. 5:2. What insights do these verses give us regarding the challenges facing the early church and the role of its leaders? A large group of people becoming believers and joining the church is a great blessing from God. Yet, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 5:1-10, Acts 6:1-6, Jer. 10:21, Matt. 20:24-28, Prov. 3:34, Rev. 12:7-9. Memory Text: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV). Studies of growing churches almost always highlight the importance of effective leadership. This leadership takes its vision from God and … Continue reading –>
Sunday’s study talked about the persecution Christians faced. Here is a fuller excerpt from the letter written to the emperor about what Christians suffered in those early centuries: “… the method I have observed towards those who have been denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they … Continue reading –>
As we have seen, Peter was writing to believers who were suffering for their faith. And as Christian history has shown, things only got worse, at least for a while. Surely many Christians in the ensuing years found solace and comfort in what Peter wrote. No doubt, many do today, too. Why the suffering? That, … Continue reading –>
I often begin my group Bible studies by having each member share a high and a low for their week. I wonder, if we asked God how His week went, what He would say? We may have seen a child mistreated, but God cried with every child on earth who was mistreated. We may have … Continue reading –>
Compare 1 Peter 4:17-19 with Isaiah 10:11-12 and Malachi 3:1-6. What are they saying in common? In all these passages, the process of judgment is portrayed as starting with the people of God. Peter even links the sufferings of his readers to the judgment of God. For him, the sufferings that his Christian readers are … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Suffering for Christ” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Peter told his readers they were to expect trials to test them. They were not to find it strange, but rejoice that they shared in Christ’s sufferings. Lesson 6, May 6, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read I Peter 5:10. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Peter 4:12-14. Why does Peter say that they shouldn’t be surprised at their suffering? See also 2 Tim. 3:12, John 15:18. Peter makes it clear that to suffer persecution for being a Christian is to partake of Christ’s suffering. It is not something to be unexpected. On the contrary, as Paul would write: … Continue reading –>
The small illustration at the top of the page for the Introduction brought to mind: Hymn 237, “In The Cross of Christ I Glory” and Hymn 312, “Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross”. 1 Peter 5:10 in the Introduction was repeated again in Sunday’s lesson study, where we are told we will be made strong, … Continue reading –>
Persecution for the Christian: coming? going? or always there? When things are going great and you feel good–really good–does the idea of being persecuted for being a Christian have any appeal? In the New Testament book we’ve named 1 Peter, how real was persecution to the early Christian believers? Why do you think Peter felt that … Continue reading –>
Read through 1 Peter 3:13-22. How should Christians respond to those who would bring them suffering because of their faith? What is the connection between the sufferings of Jesus and the sufferings experienced by the believers because of their faith? When Peter says, “if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed” (1 Pet. … Continue reading –>
