Entrusting yourself to God requires submitting yourself to others including those who would mistreat you because that’s what Jesus did.

Jesus’ Example (vv. 21-25)

Every Human Institution (vv. 13-17)

Servants and Masters (vv. 18-20)

Discussion Starters

Monday—How do you feel when you hear the word “submit”? Is submission easy or hard? Why? What keeps you from submitting to others?

Tuesday—Why do you think Peter spends so much time rehearsing what Jesus endured and why in verses 21-25? What did Jesus endure? How did he respond? Why?

Wednesday—Are we meant to follow Jesus’ example? What are we to imitate? Is there anything that we shouldn’t imitate? Why?

Thursday—What does Peter mean by “every human institution”? (v. 13) Are there ever times you shouldn’t submit to a ruler? (cf. Acts 5:29) Do you have to agree with leaders to submit to them?

Friday—Why is what we read about servants and masters in verses 18-20 so hard? Does the Bible condone what we think of a slavery? (cf. Ex 21:16; Deut 24:7; 1 Tim 1:9-10) How do Peter’s instructions about servants and masters apply to your life?

As those who have been rescued from judgment and assured of our eternal inheritance, we should treat outsiders with compassion, not malice.

• The Rejected Cornerstone (vv. 4-8; Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; Psalm 118:22)

• Royal-Priests (vv. 3-5, 9-10)

• Living Sacrifices (vv. 1-2, 5, 9-12)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Do you think the world treats Christians differently than they treat members of other religions? In what ways? Why do you think that is?

Tuesday—What is a cornerstone? What is Jesus the cornerstone of? What does it mean he was rejected? Why was he rejected? (John 7:7) Why is he called a “living” stone?

Wednesday—What was unique about the priests in the Old Testament? What privileges do priests have? What does it mean that you are a priest in God’s kingdom?

Thursday—What does it mean that you are a “royal” priest? Is this a cause for pride? Why or why not?

Friday—Who is Peter concerned that we not show malice, envy, or hypocrisy towards in this passage? What kind of sacrice does verse 5 have in mind that we are called to offer?

The Old Covenant was intended to humble the children of God and drive them to the grace of the New Covenant, where they find peace with God.

The Voice of Sinai (vv. 17-20; cf. Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:1-4)

The Voice of Abel’s Blood (Genesis 3-4; cf. Hebrews 11:4)

The Voice of Jesus (vv. 22-24)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What does it mean to long for the “tangible” in worship? Why do you think so many religions revolve around the senses?

Tuesday—How did God treat Jacob and Esau differently? Why did he treat them differently? How did Israel’s experience at Mount Sinai mirror Jacob’s story?

Wednesday—How does the “voice of God” that Israel heard at Sinai relate to what Adam and Eve heard in the Garden of Eden? Is it a comforting voice or a terrifying voice? (Deut 8:20; 13:18; 15:5; 18:16; Is 30:31; 66:6; Jer 7:28; 26:13) Why would God give his children such a terrifying experience at Mount Sinai?

Thursday—How does Zion differ from Sinai? Why is important to understand that our worship is defined as taking place on Zion?

Friday—How does Jesus provide a way for us to enter into Zion? Why couldn’t the law provide a way?

HOLY LOVE (1 PETER 1:13-25 | EXODUS 12 | LEVITICUS 18-19)

Being a child of God means walking in this world with sacrificial love, the way the Son of God did while he was on earth.

• Children of Heaven (vv. 17-20; Exodus 12)

• Holy Love (vv. 14-16, 21-22; Leviticus 18-19)

• Heavenly Wisdom (vv. 13, 23-25)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why does Peter tie the idea of being children of God (vv. 14, 17) with being exiles in this world (v. 17)? Can be both a child of God and a child of this world?

Tuesday—Why does Peter appeal to the Exodus out of Egypt to help us understand what happens when we become Christians? How does Israel’s time the wilderness help us to understand our time on earth? Where do we find the guidance we need to live in our exile?

Wednesday—What does it mean to be holy? Why does Peter connect the idea of brotherly love (v. 22) to being holy (vv. 15-16)?

Thursday—What does it mean that the word of the Lord remains forever? (vv. 24-25) What do God’s people need most from the pulpit? Why?

Friday—If you are going to understand what holy love looks like, where do you need to look? What are some ways the Lord is calling you to love sacrificially?

The end of the Christian life is a heavenly inheritance and the road to that goal is one of purification through trials.

• Where Are We Going?

• The Sufferings and Glory of Christ (vv. 10-12)

• The Imperishable Inheritance (vv. 3-5, 8-9)

• The Road of Suffering (vv. 6-7)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Read verses 3 and 9. Where are we headed? What is the goal of our faith? Why is this important for Christians to understand?

Tuesday—What is the Old Testament about? (vv. 10-12) What are some of the main things the prophets told us about the coming Messiah? Which ones are we more likely to ignore? Why?

Wednesday— How does what Peter says in verses 10-12 relate to his theme that we are exiles in this world? Should you expect to be treated any different than your Savior was?

Thursday—What is the inheritance that Peter is talking about in verses 3-5 and 8-9? How does he describe it? Does this excite you? How do your life reect that this is the goal?

Friday—Why are trials necessary? (v. 6) What is God doing in you through them?

When the Lord makes you his own, you become and exile in this world.

• Simon the Fisherman or Peter the Apostle? (v. 1)

• Elect (vv. 1-2)

• Exiles (vv. 1-2)

• Your Place in this World

Discussion Starters

Monday—What name did Peter’s parents give him? Why is it signicant that he adopts the name that Jesus gave him?

Tuesday—Why does the idea of election (God choosing us) bother people? Should it bother us? What would happen if God waited for sinners to choose him?

Wednesday—What was the feast of tabernacles (or booths)? (Deut 16:13-17; Lev 23:33-44) Why would God want the idea of being an exile or refugee so ingrained in Israel’s identity? (cf. Hebrews 11:13)

Thursday—How did Jesus communicate the fact that he was an exile or refugee in this world? What did it mean for him? Could anyone who belongs to him truly be at home in this world?

Friday—What’s the danger in not understanding your exile identity? Does being an exile mean that you have no purpose or calling in this world? How are you called to live in this world as a citizen of heaven?

Peace and forgiveness come through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and was raised again as testimony to the Father’s acceptance of his sacrifice.

• Birth of the Beloved Son (vv. 13-17)

• Death of the Beloved Son (vv. 18-23)

• Resurrection of the Beloved Son (vv. 24-25)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Why does the New Testament refer to Jesus as the son of David? (Matt. 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22, etc) What promise did God make to David about his son? (2 Samuel 7)

Tuesday—How does David’s son dying for David’s sin make you feel? How can that help you understand how unjust it was for Jesus to die for you and how much Jesus loves you?

Wednesday—Should Christian parents who lose a young child in death have comfort and hope that they will see that child in heaven?

Thursday—What does it mean that Jesus was “born to die”? How does 2 Samuel 12 help you to understand Jesus’ whole mission—his whole purpose for coming?

Friday—How is Solomon’s birth a gurative resurrection of the child who died? What is this meant to teach you about Jesus’ resurrection? Why is Jesus’ resurrection meant to comfort you?