About This Guide: This weekly groups guide, “Living Hope: Words of Life for Challenging Days — Eight Weeks in First Peter,” is designed as a companion to Living Hope, our Fall 2021 teaching series, fostering discussion, study, and prayer, especially in a group setting. Join a group for a meaningful way to connect to our community.
Life in exile with the shepherd of our souls
Teaching Text: 1 Peter 2:11–25
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, 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 people.Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
The inner struggle of the exile
A life of common good
What type of revolution is this?
Presence
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
One of the greatest spiritual practices we are given is the ability to be present in a consistent way. Practice being present with God and with one another. Here are some ideas:
Create 2-4 minutes of silence and mediate on this passage:
That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Discuss this question:
Where this last week did you notice God in your life?
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
How does this text shape how we think and look at the world we are in?
The dominant narrative of salvation in the Hebrew Scriptures is a people being freed from slavery and let into promise.
The absurdity of the suffering servant.
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The Cross is the paradox at the center of our salvation
The trust of the CROSS precedes the triumph of the resurrection
One day God is going to set the world right.
Evil is not going to escape.
But there is only one equipped for judgment.
It is not us.
How do you respond to injustice?
Hopelessly
Do you take on the full burden of fighting injustice?
Do you take no responsibility for injustice and leave it all to God?
We have a shepherd and overseer of our souls.
Your soul: what is it? Your mind, will, or emotions.
Desires wage war on my soul:
Anger
Workaholism
Lust
The love of comfort
Pride
Unforgiveness
Racism
Hatred for someone with a different political leaning that you
These desires do not have your well-being in mind. In fact they are built on an inherent lie. They wage war - on how you think, on how you make decisions, how you feel.
What desires are waging war against your soul at this time?
Shepherd of our soul. One who deeply cares for you on the deepest level. One who shows us His love by giving His life for us.
In whatever place you find yourself, bring your heart to this Jesus.
Let go of the desires that wage war on your soul.
Live the way of Jesus in dignity in the face of evil in the world.
Look for coalitions of love that can bring change. This not a validation of the status quo.
Love
Read these notes and discuss the questions below:
What does God require of us as he speaks to us through this text?
“If God hates everyone you hate, its sure sign you have made God in your own image.” (Anne Lamott)
To love our world is the overflow of experiencing God's love. He is loving and we are like him.
Pray for one another in the group. Take a minute and think of two people, one, inside and one outside of this community. Commit to an act of love this week toward them.
