1. For the Christian, Jesus’ death on the cross provides us with many things.  In 4:1 Peter indicates two of the things that Jesus’ death provides.  In the first part of the verse, Jesus’ death is lifted up as an example for believers to follow.  What is the example that believers can follow when it comes to Jesus death on the cross?  In the second part of the verse, being affiliated with Jesus death allows believers to be “done” with sin.  What do you think this means?  (see also Romans 6:1-11 for a parallel passage)
2. Coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ inevitably leads to noticeable life change (4:2-3).  In your own life, what kinds of things have changed since you began living “for the will of God” not “evil human desires?”
3. Peter notes that this life change could cause you difficulty with those who knew you in your pre-Christian days.  According to 4:4-5, what is the reason for the abuse they give you?  What perspective does Peter share to encourage us to stay true to the faith when our friends may reject us (4:5)?  Have you ever experienced anything like this?
4. NOTE:  4:6 is a difficult verse to understand.  One of the big interpretive questions in the verse is “who are the ‘those who are now dead’ who had the gospel preached to them?”  This passage does not mean that people who were already physically dead were preached to.  It simply means that some who are now physically dead were preached to while they were still alive.  By the time Peter wrote the book of 1 Peter, the original audience would have already seen some of their Christian friends die a physical death.  These were people who had the Word “preached to them” while they were still living, but had since died.  When any of us die physically, there is a sense in which our bodies are “judged” (like all men’s bodies) as being tainted by sin and unfit for eternity.  Even though our physical bodies die, if we know Christ our spirit lives on in the presence of God.
5. From 4:7-11, Peter again talks about some of the keys to having good relationships with others . . . particularly inside the church.  What are some of the commands Peter gives in these verses about relating to one another?  List them here.
6. In what way does “love cover over a multitude of sins” in your relationships with others?  Is there a relationship in your life right now that would benefit from practicing this command?
7. “Hospitality” literally means “an active love for others/strangers.”  In what ways have you seen Christians show hospitality?  In what ways can you show hospitality without grumbling?
8. 4:10-11 talk about putting your spiritual gifts into practice so that you can serve others.  In what ways do you think God has gifted you for service?  How can you serve in such a way that God receives the glory (4:11) and not you?

In every field, there are both simple and complex issues.  In the field of Mathematics, there is simple arithmetic and complex calculus.  In medicine, there are common colds and intricate auto-immune disorders.  In finance, there is balancing the checkbook and investing in hedge funds.

In Bible study and theology, the same simple/complex dilemma occurs.  Some verses of Scripture are easy to understand and apply.  I Thessalonians 4:3-5 is an example of a simple to understand verse:  “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:  that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.”  These verses are straight-forward and easy to understand both their meaning and application.

There are other passages of Scripture, however, that are not quite so clear.  1 Peter 3:18-22 is one of those complex passages of Scripture.  Cryptically these verses read in the NIV, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the spirit, through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.”  This passage is quite difficult to understand and apply.  In order to help facilitate further understanding and application, I am going to share my thoughts on this passage here to continue a dialogue on these verses.  I would love to know what you think!

The overall context of this entire section of 1 Peter has to do with Christians suffering and being persecuted because of their faith in Christ.  In 2:13-25, Peter encourages Christian citizens and slaves to persist in doing good, even if they are persecuted, following the example of Christ (who suffered on the cross unjustly, but remained silent and in fidelity to His Divine calling.)  3:1-7 continues this line of thinking, and applies it to wives who are living with unbelieving spouses.  They are to persist in doing good and faith, even if they experience difficulties with their spouse as a result.  3:8-17 continues this discussion by admonishing Christians to persevere if they are suffering because of their faithfulness to Christ, knowing that Christ will exalt them eventually.  At the end of this discussion comes our perplexing verses on Jesus and His preaching ministry in Noah’s day.  Understanding this context should help us interpret the correct meaning of these verses.

Noah lived in a time when all the humans on the planet were living in direct rebellion against God.  In fact, things were so bad that God had decided to flood the earth, sentencing all humanity to death if they did not repent of their sin, and embrace the only life-saving measure God allowed at the time: getting on Noah’s ark.  In the end, only 8 people (Noah and his family) heeded God’s direction and got on the ark.  In the process of building that ark, Noah and his family experienced insults and ridicule.  Once the flood began, however, they were vindicated and experienced salvation.  As Peter wrote this letter to the persecuted church of Asia Minor, he thought of an interesting parallel between Noah’s experience, and the experience of the first century church.  Like Noah, the early church had received by faith the saving message of salvation (for Noah – the boat, for the first church – salvation through  Jesus Christ).    Like Noah, the early church had been charged with sharing this saving message with the world around them.  Like Noah, the early church was ridiculed and persecuted because of their beliefs.  I believe Peter used this illustration to remind the early church (and by application us as well) that though we may be mocked for our faith today, eventually, it will lead to the salvation of our souls and our eternal vindication.

“OK, so that may explain why He used the example of Noah, but what about Jesus preaching to the imprisoned spirits?  What’s that all about.”   I’m glad you asked!  I think that 3:19 refers to the fact that Noah’s preaching ministry during the construction of the ark was something that was done in the spirit of Christ.  In other words, Jesus was imploring the world through Noah to be reconciled to God.  This reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5:20 which says of all Christians, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.”  On Christ’s behalf, Noah was making an evangelistic appeal to the dying world around Him.

Now, this is certainly not the provocative interpretation you may have heard before concerning these verses.  You may have heard before about Jesus going to hell between His crucifixion and His resurrection to preach to people there who had died during Noah’s flood.  While this is an interesting and thought-provoking concept, I do not believe it is what this passage was intending to communicate.  Again, the overall context helps us to understand this.  The whole context of this section was to encourage Christians to maintain their testimony in the midst of persecution.  Noah’s experience of speaking the message of Christ to a dying world was far more analogous and relatable to the early church than Jesus’ preaching ministry in Sheol before His resurrection on the third day.  Additionally, no place else do we get this notion of “preaching to the dead.”  For these reasons, I think it is best to understand Noah’s preaching ministry as being Christ’s ambassador in that setting.  Believers today are called to be His ambassador in hostile settings as well.

Think about this for you today.  Are you living out your Christian faith in a hostile environment?  Do those you work with, live around, or are related to mock you for your faith in Christ and attempt to tear you down?  Have you ever considered that in those situations Christ wants to speak through you to call them into a relationship with Him?  Do you remember that even though life is hard, Christ has promised to exalt and vindicate us eventually?  These are some of the questions we live out in our complex lives.  Thankfully, the answer Christ seeks from us in response to these questions is quite simple.  He will preach through you and He will exalt you as you persist in faith.

1. In 1 Peter 3:8, Peter gives 5 summary commands to help guide our interpersonal relationships.  What stands out to you most about these five commands?  In what way do these five characteristics mark your life?  Is there a particular area where God is encouraging you to grow?
2. In 1 Peter 3:9-14, Peter challenges believers to not respond to evil with evil, but to respond to evil with blessing.  Bible Scholar Warren Wiersbe notes that people have three possible ways to respond to those around them:   1)Respond with evil when others do good to you (the Satanic Way).  2)Respond with evil when people treat you evil, and good when people treat you good (the Human Way).  3)Respond with good when people treat you evil or good (the Divine Way).  Why do you think that God wants His people to respond to evil with good?
3. 1 Peter 3:15-16 are maybe the most memorized verses in the book of 1 Peter.  In the overall context of 1 Peter 3:8-22, why would someone ask a Christian about their lifestyle?  If someone asked you why you had hope in life, how would you answer them?
4. 1 Peter 3:18-22 resumes the example of Jesus Christ.  Particularly in 3:18 and 3:22, what is the point Peter is trying to make for believers who are suffering because of their faith in Christ?
5. 1 Peter 3:19-21 are some of the hardest verses to interpret in the New Testament.  Why do you think Peter uses the example of Noah here?  What do you think it means that Jesus preached to the imprisoned spirits at the time of Noah (3:19)?  What is the significance of water baptism for the believer according to these verses?  Do you see any applications for your life from these difficult to understand passages?

On the fields of Stirling in the fall of 1297, two armies sat in opposition to one another.  On one side sat the mighty English army . . . well-equipped with a powerful cavalry and far more troops.  On the other side stood the Scottish rebels . . . uniform neither in attire or equipment but fighting for their freedom.  Seeing the size of the English army, some Scottish soldiers began a retreat.  Before these sons of Scotland could disappear on the horizon, however, William Wallace rode up, together with his mighty men.  Wallace’s face was covered with war paint and his eyes were piercing with determination.  After delivering quite possibly the best two minute speech in modern movie history, Mel Gibson (uh, I mean William Wallace) rode out to the middle of the field to meet with the English royalty.  His last words to his men were, “I’m going to pick a fight.”  Unfazed, Wallace’s right hand man responded, “Well I hope we didn’t get dressed up for nothing!”

So goes a memorable scene from 1995’s Oscar-winning movie “Braveheart.”  I was thinking about this scene today because in my study of 1 Peter, I have come to 1 Peter 3:1-7, a section that deals with husbands and wives.  Many women probably view these verses as a challenge to their freedom.  As a male writing on this subject, I feel as though I am riding out onto a battlefield to “pick a fight.”  That said, let me assure you of something:  that is not my intention.  I have no war paint on, and while I understand how difficult the words of 1 Peter 3 may be on a first read, I really believe these words were intended to bring freedom to women, not keep them in bondage.  Don’t believe me?  Here is what I mean:

After studying these verses for several days, let me paraphrase them in the Mrs V (the Mark Robinson Standard Version):

3:1-2

Wives, I know that in most moral writings/teachings of our day (the first century), you are not addressed specifically because you are not seen as a morally responsible person . . . merely the property of your husband.  I (Peter) am writing you today to let you know that in Christianity, this cultural norm is not recognized.  I believe you are a morally responsible individual that God loves, redeems, and plans to use in this life, so there are some specific teachings that I want you to hear.  Here they are:  First of all, I want you to remember that you are to take Jesus Christ as your example in marriage.  (NOTE:  When I talk to husbands in a few minutes, I will tell them the same thing . . . Christ is the model for your how you are to relate to your spouse.)  Just as Jesus gave honor to all the authority roles God has placed in the world, I want you to give honor to your husbands who God has placed as the leader of your families.  I know that many of you have placed your faith in Christ while your husbands have persisted in unbelief.  Even though it is difficult to live in this environment, I want you to continue to honor them as your husband following Christ’s example.  The reason I want you to do this is so that God might use your righteous lifestyle to impact your husbands so that they might also come into a relationship with Christ.  This is possible through the testimony of Christ shining forth from your inner beauty.

3:3-4

I know that the world you live in has told you that your greatest opportunities will come from physical beauty, but know that in Christ, your greatest beauty will come from inside, as your character is developed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  Though outward beauty fades with age, inner beauty grows more attractive with time.

3:5-6

Women throughout history have been used by God in significant ways, and it was not just because they had outward beauty.  It was because God was renewing their hearts day by day.  People like Sarah from the book of Genesis, are great examples of this.  Sarah’s most beautiful moments in life that we still talk about came when she was very old and probably not as outwardly beautiful as she used to be.  Her beauty shown forth in many ways through her righteous actions, including how she continued to honor her husband Abraham by treating him with respect late in life, even after Abraham had made some serious mistakes.

3:7

Now, I want to speak to you husbands.  Husbands, you should also follow the example of Jesus Christ in how you relate to your wife.  Jesus did not only focus on his own needs, but put the needs of others above His own.  In the same way, husbands, put the needs of your wife above your own.  Get to know your wives.  Know what makes them tick.  Know what their fears are. Know what their hopes are.  Know what makes them happy.  Know what their spiritual gifts are.  Once you know these things, relate to your wives based on this knowledge.  Encourage them.  Care for them.  Love them.  Help them soar.  You should do this with great care, because God has created women different than men.  From the start men and women were created differently.  It was never good for man to be alone, but woman was needed in order for creation to be “good” in God’s eyes.  Though women are different than men (generally), both men and women are equal recipients of divine blessings, gifts, and salvation.  Therefore, men, you should never treat your wives as someone inferior to you.  She is to be treasured and treated as your equal in life.   Though you are given the responsibility of leading your family, your wife is equally valued by God, so you should listen to her, and greatly value her opinion and insight. Men, this is serious stuff.  God takes your relationship with your spouse very seriously.  If you fail to love your wife in this way, it will lead to an interruption in the level of your fellowship with God.  This does not mean that your relationship with God is terminated, but it does mean that men who treat their wives poorly will experience a “chilling” of their relationship with the Father and a stunting of their spiritual growth.”

Now, this paraphrase is long, but I believe it is accurate to the intended tone of the passage.  To its original audience of women in the first century, I believe these words sounded like William Wallace’s call to freedom on the fields of Stirling.  Women were: 1) Equal in value to men.  2) Used by God for significant spiritual purpose (like calling others into a relationship with Christ).  3) Possessed a beauty that was more than just skin deep.  4) Encouraged to be within a marriage where their husbands respected them, loved them, knew them, and related to them as a co-heir in Christ.

Husbands and wives do not need to be warring armies in the Body of Christ.  God’s Word provides freedom and direction to both.  Sadly, some men have used these verses to justify abusive or degrading behavior.  That application, however, is far from what our Heavenly Father intended.  Peter’s speech need not be seen as “fighting words.”  What say you?

As I write this note, it is February 2010.  2010 is an Olympic year, and each night we get to see the best and the brightest winter sports athletes in the world compete for a gold medal and the right to appear on a Wheaties box.  I love the Olympics.  I can’t believe it has been 4 years since the last Winter Olympics took place.  While it seems (to a certain degree) like it was “just yesterday,” 2006 was also a lifetime away in many ways.

Since the last Winter Olympics, the world has met the iPhone, Twitter, and Taylor Swift.  In addition to these cultural changes, the past 4 years have seen a significant shift in America’s political landscape.  In 2006, George W. Bush was President with a predominantly Republican Congress.  In 2010, Barack Obama is President with a predominantly Democratic Congress.  Despite these changes, some things have remained the same.

One of the things that has remained the same is the lack of honor Americans pay to our elected officials . . . particularly our Presidents.  4 years ago, some Americans were convinced President Bush was an idiot and an ideologue who was dead set on ruining the country.  Today, some Americans are convinced that President Obama is the anti-Christ and a person intent on burning capitalism (as we know it) to the ground.  As Americans, we believe it is our right (and even our duty) to tear apart our leaders in this way.  We think it is a part of being a good citizen in a democracy.

One thing that gets lost in our name-calling is an acknowledgement of just how complex the job of our Commander in Chief really is.  I realize that after watching a few hours of MSNBC or Fox News, that every American thinks they know what all the right answers are, but real life and real leadership are not played out in sound bytes.  Every day our leaders are faced with difficult, complicated decisions that are second guessed by every Monday morning quarterback in the nation.  Remembering the complexity of their jobs, Americans should give more honor to their leaders.

A second (and more important) thing that gets lost in our name-calling is what God has to say about how we relate to our government leaders.  1 Peter 2:13-17 raises a high standard for Christians living on this planet.  Peter says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone:  Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

In those verses, Peter calls Christians to live by a higher standard.  Christians are called to submit to government leaders and to honor the king, not because the king was from their favorite political party or persuasion, but because they were THE KING.  All government authorities exist under the sovereign control of Almighty God, therefore, “for the Lord’s sake” all should be treated with honor.  Further underscoring this point is that Peter wrote this letter while Nero was the king over the Roman Empire.  Nero was a terrible leader who did terrible things, including the persecution of Christians throughout his empire.  If the original recipients of Peter’s letter were to honor Nero “for the Lord’s sake” why do American Christians think that this passage does not apply to the honor we want to withhold from Presidents Bush or Obama?

The natural question we should ask ourselves is not “should I honor the President?” (for this issue is clearly answered for us in Scripture).  The question we should ask ourselves is “what does it mean to honor the President for the Lord’s sake?”  First of all, I think that this passage would indicate that honoring the President has to do with obeying his laws.  Christians should be known for their gold medal adherence to the laws of the land.  This includes paying taxes, obeying traffic laws, operating by ethical business practices, etc.  Christians are to keep these laws because in obeying them, they are really obeying the God who sits in authority above the local officials.  Of course, there may come a time when our local government would require us to do something in contrast with God’s clear command (for instance requiring abortions or forbidding conversion to Christianity) and if that happened, civil disobedience would be encouraged for Christians.  But since those realities do not exist in America today, Christians should honor the king by obeying his laws.

Second of all, I think that honoring the President for Christians means that we speak of him with respect because of the position that he holds.  This does not mean that we do not evaluate what he says, but it does mean that we evaluate what he says with humility, and speak of him with the respect his position deserves.  We should be humble when evaluating governing authorities because we do not hold their position, so we have the luxury of critiquing their answer without having to implement ours.  Showing our President’s honor also means that we do not resort to name-calling or smear tactics.  It is far too easy for Christians to forward on that “funny” or “juicy” email about our President and his policies to our friends, even if we have not verified its truth or considered 1 Peter 2 before pressing “send.”  It is striking to me that in the context of 1 Peter 2, Jesus is our model for how to relate to the governing authorities over us.  Somehow, it is too easy for us to forget this.  Too many Christians end up looking to Limbaugh, Coulter, Mahrer, or Stewart for their models of political discourse.  We need to remember that Jesus sets the tone for the style of our political interactions, and He is the One who gave to Caesar what was Caesar’s.

As Christians we are called to a higher standard when it comes to our behavior in the world.  As Peter was to Nero, and as Christ was to Pilate, we need to relate to our governing authorities with honor.  You may not agree with all I have said here, but as Christians, we all must interpret and apply Peter’s admonition here as we live our eternal lives in a temporal land.

1. 3:1-7 includes Peter’s admonition to husbands and wives.  Peter begins both 3:1 and 3:7 with the phrase “in the same way.”  What do you think he means?  In other words, “in the same way” as what?  (HINT:  Check the extended context preceding these verses for clues.)
2. From 3:1-6, Peter is addressing wives.  What is the specific marriage situation that Peter is addressing here?  In other words, is he talking to all wives, or a particular set of wives in these verses?
3. In 2:18 Peter speaks directly to slaves.  In 3:1-6, he speaks directly to wives.  Both of these audiences would have been surprising to the original audience.  In moral writings of their day, people did not address the moral conduct of slaves (because they were considered less than human), or wives (because it was assumed that they would just do what their husbands did.)  What does it tell us about God that He would have Peter address women in this way in 3:1-6?
4. Does this passage instruct women to not care for their physical appearance?  If so, why do you think that?  If not, what do you think it is saying about physical appearance?  What is the application of these verses for women?  For men?
5. 3:6 highlights Sarah as an example for godly wives today because she called Abraham (her husband) her master.  It is important to note that the Hebrew word translated “master” or “lord” (see Genesis 18:12) is actually the same word for “sir.”  In calling Abraham this word, she was simply indicating a great deal of respect for her husband, not indicating that she was inferior to him.  In what ways can wives show their husbands honor today?
6. 3:7 is a great challenge to husbands.   How would you summarize Peter’s commands to husbands in these verses?
7. Husbands are to live with their wives in an “understanding way” NASB (“considerate” way NIV).  This literally means that they are to live with their wives in a knowledgeable way.  Husbands are to know their wives and respond to them based on this knowledge.  What do you think this means practically?
8. What do you think the phrase, “treat them with respect as the weaker partner” means practically for husbands?
9. In what ways might a husband’s prayers be hindered because of problems with their relationship with their wives?

Behind Wildwood Community Church lay stacks and stacks of cinder blocks.  Left by themselves, each block is a boring/relatively useless object.  In fact, if you scattered these blocks around town, putting one block in the front yard of a house on every street, many people would simply view the blocks as a nuisance, and want to throw the block away on the trash heap.  By themselves, the blocks have potential but no purpose.

Given my description of these stones, you might wonder why we spent good money to purchase them.  We did not buy these stones, however, to scatter them aimlessly around town.  We purchased these stones to stack them together into structure inside our new children’s ministry building.  These stones will eventually become the 40 foot high tower that will surround our existing back entrance and form the transitional corner between our existing building and our soon to be added Children’s Ministry space.  Apart the stones have potential, but together they have purpose for all to see.

I was thinking about those piles of stones as I reflected on 1 Peter 2:5 which describes believers inside the church this way, “You (Christians) also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  This passage compares believers to stones that God is stacking together into a “Temple” for worship.  Like any house, the “spiritual house” of 1 Peter 2:5 is not built with just one stone.  It takes many stones (many Christians) stacked together to build the spiritual house of worship that God desires.

As American Christians today, I think we have a temptation to make the Christian life only an intensely personal experience.  Since we all have access to a Bible, and since we all can go before the Lord in prayer on our own, it is a temptation for us to think that the best expressions of our Christian faith can be done in our morning quiet times of personal study and reflection.  While I do think that personal times of study and prayer and essential, this passage tells me that the fullness of God’s “spiritual house of worship” still is best lived out in community with others.  When we stack together in small group Bible Study, prayer groups, serving teams, or corporate worship services, we experience a level of worship that I believe surpasses what we can accomplish on our own.  When the stones stack they have more than just potential, they have purpose and power.

Think about that this week as you may view your fellowship opportunities as a scheduling nuisance and want to toss them on the trash heap.  God has not simply saved you so that you can be the lone stone on the street.  He has saved you so that He might stack you into His spiritual house of worship together with all the saints.

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:10

1.  1 Peter 2:13-17 discusses the relationship between the Christian and their government leaders.  What does this passage seem to be saying about how we should relate/respond to our governing authorities?  What reasons does this passage give for why we should act in this way toward our governing authorities?

2.  It is interesting to note that the leader of the Roman world at the time Peter wrote this letter was Nero (Rome was the governing authority over the original recipients of this letter).  Nero was a bad ruler who did terrible things.  Taxes paid to Rome would have (in part) funded his wicked agenda.  Nero was organizing intense persecution against Christians.  In spite of this, Peter gives these strong comments to Christians.  Knowing this context is extremely important in our world today.  As Americans, we live in a country that is increasingly polarized by our politics.  2 years ago some were calling President George W. Bush a devil.  Today, others are calling President Barack Obama the same.  You may have even engaged in some coarse talk concerning one of these two men (or other elected officials).  As Americans, our freedom allows us to talk this way.  As Americans, our media encourages us to talk this way.  As Christians, what should we do as we attempt to vote, discuss, and listen to government leaders while still applying the truth of 1 Peter 2?

3.  NOTE:  In 2:18, Peter transitions to talking about slaves relationships with their masters.  It is estimated that at the time Peter wrote this letter, 40% of the Romans Empire were slaves (a whopping 18 million people).  Given these statistics, it is probable to assume that many (if not all) of the people receiving this letter were slaves.  One factor that argues in favor of this view is that Peter addresses how slaves should treat their masters, but does not discuss how masters should treat their slaves (something Paul does in a similar set of admonitions to the Ephesians church.)  The believers who received this letter were second caste slaves who were persecuted by their government (and probably their masters) because of their faith in Christ.
4.  While it is not a perfect comparison, some similarities can be seen between the master/slave relationship of the first century and the employer/employee relationship of today.  What does this passage instruct employees/slaves to do?  What does that look like for you in your work environment today?

5.  2:19-21 talks about the value of suffering for doing right.  What are some examples today when people suffer for following Christ?  In what ways is it a blessing to suffer for following Christ?

6.  What can you learn from Jesus example when you are experiencing opposition because of your faith in Christ?  (2:21-25)

1. What do you think God is trying to tell us (His people) by calling us “living stones” and a “holy priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:4-9?
2. In 1 Peter 2:10, Peter tells us that we were once not “a people.”  Technically, I think this reveals that the majority of people receiving this letter were from a Gentile background.  Before the time of Christ, the people of God were Jewish (either by birth or conversion.)  Peter is saying that because of what Christ has done, these Gentile converts now have the joy of being a part of the people of God (and all the blessings that provides).  I think there is something deeper here, though.  From a Jewish perspective, there were two types of people:  Jew and Gentile.  However, from a Gentile perspective, there were many different ethnicities.  Remember in 1 Peter 1:1 we find that Peter is writing this to a collection of believers scattered across a diverse ethnic region.  Peter is not just telling them that they are God’s people, but that collectively, they are “a people” together.  Though they may feel alone or isolated in their communities, they are a part of a privileged people group . . . the people of God.  Just as one stone does not make a temple but requires many stones stacked together, so they are not just a solitary Christian, but one stone among many as a part of the Body of Christ, the people of God, a living temple.  In many ways, this passage is a call to fellowship for Christians.  This passage pulls believers together as fellow “stones,” members of the people of God.  When you think of the Christian life, do you think of it more as a personal issue, or more as a corporate issue?  If you viewed the Christian life as being a part of the corporate “people of God” what difference would that make?
3. 1 Peter 2:11-12 calls believers to live a distinctive life so that those around them who do not know Christ will eventually be impacted by the testimony of our lives.  Just as the physical Temple in Jesus day was a picture of God’s glory for all to see, so the lives of Christians are a public testimony to our God.  In what ways is God challenging you today through this passage to live a more “distinctive” life for Him?

I have a nearly 3 year old son.  Right now, he is a very finicky eater.  One day he will eat fish sticks, the next day he doesn’t want them.  One day he will eat carrots, the next day they are just funny orange sticks to throw at the dog.  I guess every child goes through phases like this.  It is probably a rite of passage that parents go through with their kids.  I hope to get my “I don’t like that/I’m not hungry” merit badge from some secret parental society in the mail any day now.

Josh’s selective thoughts about food are relatively new.  When he was born, He ate the exact same thing multiple times a day for months, and never complained.  Josh lived on a diet of milk (like all children) for several months.  This diet helped nourish him and allow him to grow “big and strong.”  After all, he was born at just over 3 pounds, and grew to nearly 20 on his mostly all liquid diet.  It was only after Josh started trying other foods that he got selective.  After all, once you have had a cupcake, why would you choose a carrot?  After chocolate covered granola bars, a plain bowl of Cheerios does not look quite so appetizing.

While Josh picks and chooses his way through various food options each day, he has kept an appetite for milk, and has at least 3 cups of 2% every day.  This is a nutritional staple for him that he should not wander away from if he wants to grow “big and strong.”

I was thinking about this today as I read 1 Peter 1:23-2:3 which say, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.  For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever.’  And this is the Word that was preached to you.  Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

In those verses, Peter is reminding all Christians that in Christ they have been “born again.”  This new birth has hardwired them with an appetite for the imperishable Word of God.  The passage indicates that living by the Word of God will help Christians grow up in their salvation.  When we hear this, we all probably are nodding our heads in agreement on the theoretical level.  Of course Christians are to live their lives according to what the “good book” tells them to do.  As people who know Christ, we also know that we have received a new birth, with the gift of eternal life.  The problem in understanding these verses for Christians is not in the rhetoric, but in the practice.  If I have been born again with an appetite for God’s Word, then why do I not always want to read it?

I think this passage gives us an interesting insight into this issue in 1 Peter 2:2 when Peter commands Christians to “crave pure spiritual milk” (contextually we know “pure spiritual milk” is the Word of God.)  This command gives us insight because it indicates that even though we are born again with a desire for God’s Word, we still have to do something to help keep our appetite for it up.  If we had to do nothing, then the command would be meaningless.  The fact that Peter commands us to “crave” the Word, indicates that it is possible for Christians to (at times) feel no appetite for it.

Why do we sometimes lack an appetite for the Word?  When Christians first enter into a relationship with Christ, many times (like a newborn baby), they just suck up all the truth they can find.  All the Bible stories are new.  All the concepts are revolutionary.  Because of this, new Christians devour the Word of God like Joshua drinking milk alone for the first months of his life.  As time goes on, however, Christians begin to taste again from other “foods.”  Worldly philosophies, entertainment outlets, and other things become the cupcakes of their spiritual and mental diet.  Tasting too much of these things can sometimes spoil the innate appetite believers have for the Word of God.  While it is not bad to eat a cupcake or a chocolate covered granola bar, you would not want to make those the staple of your diet.  There is a deeper nutrition that your body is craving.  When it comes to our spiritual lives, our bodies are craving the deeper nutrition of the Word of God.

If you are reading this today and God’s Word has become stale, stop for a moment and consider your new birth.  Consider what Christ has done in your life, and remember that He has designed you with a certain spiritual nutrition that you need.  Even if you don’t think you want to read the Word of God, know that it is the very milk your spiritual life needs to help it grow “big and strong.”

Most of us want to grow strong spiritually, but we are feeding ourselves a steady diet of “junk food” and wonder why the results are less than impressive.  By faith read God’s Word regularly and see that craving return.  Reading the Word helps whet the appetite for more of its nutrients.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  His Word is a nutritional staple that we should not wander away from if we want to grow strong in the Lord.