JC Disciples
1st Peter - Introduction
Study 1
- Approach for this study
This will be an application Bible Study . What is an application style Bible Study? Application Bible Studies are not primarily focused on accumulating knowledge. Many philosophers have had a great deal of Bible knowledge but they never applied it. It is not just illustration, since illustrating only tells us how someone else handled a similar situation. Finally this type of study is not just about making the passages relevant.
Application Bible Study starts with knowing and understanding the timeless truths of the Bible. But then we take the next step by applying God's Word to our life. A good application focuses on the truth of God's Word, shows us what to do about it, and motivates us to act on God's Word.
In this class we will study the first letter attributed to Peter. During the class every member will be expected to think of ways and record their plans for applying what they learn during the upcoming week. We will learn to be accountable to those plans and each other. Each person in this class is expected to read the next week's passages before class. Each member of this class is expected to look for areas where these passages have already been applied in their own lives and be prepared to share them with the class.
- Materials Needed for this class
- Must haves
- Your own Bible
- Writing materials
- Additional items (but not necessary)
- 1&2 Peter & Jude NIV Life Application Bible
- Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
- ISBN 0-8423-2880-7
- Commentary on Peter & Jude by Martin Luther
- Kregel Publications
- ISBN 0-8254-3147-6
- Be Hopeful, How to make the best of times out of your worst of times by Warren W. Wiersbe
- Victor Books
- ISBN 0-89693-737-2
- Your own Bible
- Must haves
- Luther's Opening Comments on 1 Peter
"A sword which was wielded by a giant."
Some key things that Luther wrote concerning First Peter:
"In the first place we must remember that all the apostles advocated one and the same doctrine; and it is not correct that we count or speak of four evangelist and four gospels, for all that the apostles have written is one gospel. But gospel means nothing more nor less than a sermon or proclamation of the grace and mercy of God, merited and acquired through our Lord Jesus Christ by his death.". . .
"Now, whoever proclaims this by preaching or writing teaches the pure gospel, as all the apostles did, especially Paul and Peter in their epistles. Therefore it is all one and the same gospel that we preach concerning Christ, although one pursues a different method and speaks in different words from another. For it may indeed be a short or a long discourse, and a brief or an extensive writing. But whenever it touches the point that Christ is our Savior and that we are justified and saved through faith in him without our works, then it is the same Word and the one gospel; just as there is also only one faith and one baptism in universal Christendom.". . .
"Consequently this epistle of Peter is on of the grandest of the New Testament, and it is the true, pure gospel. For Peter does also the very same thing as Paul and all the evangelists do in that inculcates the true doctrine of faith, - how Christ has been given to us, who takes away our sins and saves us, as we shall hear."
"From this you can now judge of all books and doctrines, what is gospel and what is not. For whatever is not proclaimed in sermons and writings in harmony with the above, you may freely pass judgment upon it that it is false, however good it may appear. This ability and power to judge is something all Christians have, - not the Pope and Councils, who boast how they alone possess the power to pass judgment on doctrine."
- Megathemes found in 1 Peter
Salvation Our salvation is a gift given to us by God. God choose us because He loves us. Jesus paid the price of our sin and the Holy Spirit is now sanctifying us. It is important to remember that God is the guarantor of our salvation. Persecution As believers we should expect that we will be ridiculed, rejected, and suffer for being Christians. If we rely on our salvation we can face these persecutions the same way Jesus did - with joy and peace. God's Family We are privileged to belong to God's royal family. By being obedient to Christ we show our love for His entire family. Family Life Peter urges all family members to treat each other with sympathy, love, compassion and humility. Judgment God will judge everyone with perfect justice. He will punish evildoers and those who persecute God's people.