A Living Hope Week Four
1 Peter 1:1-2
Greet everyone and check in on how everyone’s week has been.
Take a moment to read Psalm 118 verse 5 as a group.
Take some time to ask God to quiet your hearts and make you aware of his presence in your life and in the group tonight. Remember: We are not just gathering as a small group, but we are gathering and the Lord is in the meeting with us.
Pray that everyone would feel welcomed and willing to join in the discussion.
1 Peter 2:13-25
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
Slaves
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
22 He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
24 He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
25 Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls.
What initially stands out to you from the passage?
What is hard about submitting to authority?
Why do you think Peter instructs believers to serve and suffer?
How does Peter connect Jesus to the Old Testament? Why is that significant?
How does Peter’s instructions here impact your understanding of Authoirty?
Pray for endurance to suffer and serve as someone who follows in the footsteps of Christ.
