Journey to the first letter of Peter

1. The Gospels
Acts of the Apostles
Paul’s Letters
Powerful Letters
Revelation
A New Testament Journey
Lesson 22: 1 Peter – Dimensions of Suffering

2.  Hebrews – The Real Deal
 James – All or nothing
 1 Peter – Dimensions of Suffering
 2 Peter – Darkness before Dawning
 1 John – Enjoy Fellowship
 2 John – Love in Truth
 3 John – Model the Gospel
 Jude – Keep your Position

3. EVENT TIMELINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

4. Objectives
Introduction
God’s twist to suffering
Satan’s twist to suffering
Types of Suffering
Lifestyle Requirements
Perspectives on Suffering
Assurances in Suffering
Attitude in Suffering

5. To gain:
 Encouragement and joy
in trials
 Courage amidst
opposition
 Honorable lifestyle
 God’s perspective on
suffering

6.  Directed by Peter to Jews
across the world.
 The once fearful Peter is
now transformed.
 He encourages Jews to face
suffering with courage and
purity.
 He strengthens them with
positive perspectives on
suffering.
 He warns of greater
suffering for the unsaved.

7.  Answered from the
beginning of time.
 Mankind brought in
suffering by choosing to
disobey God and bring in
sin. – Rom 5:12
 It was never part of God’s
original purpose for
mankind.1 John 1:5
 Both God and Satan use
the inevitable to meet
their objectives.

8. If some part of our body is
broken, restoration takes a
long process and a lot of pain.
So also with sin (breaking
relationship with God).
Suffering is part of the
restoration to God process.

9. 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly
rejoice, even though now for a
little while, if necessary, you
have been distressed
by various trials, 7 so that
the proof of your
faith, being more precious than
gold which is perishable, even
though tested by fire, may be
found to result in praise and
glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ;

10. 1 Peter 5:8 Be of
sober spirit, be on the
alert. Your
adversary, the devil,
prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking
someone to
devour.

11.  Temporary
Suffering
◦ For the right
◦ For wrong
 Permanent
suffering of
unsaved sinner

12. 1 Peter 3:13 Who
is there to harm you
if you prove zealous for
what is good? 14 But even
if you should suffer for
the sake of
righteousness, you are
blessed. AND DO NOT
FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION,
AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED

13. 1 Peter 4:19 Therefore,
those also who suffer
according to the will
of God shall entrust
their souls to a
faithful Creator in
doing what is right.

14. 1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify
Christ as Lord in your
hearts, always being
ready to make a
defense to everyone who
asks you to give an
account for the hope that
is in you, yet with
gentleness and
reverence; 16 and keep
a good conscience

15.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Li3vNi6
iKA

16. 1 Peter 3:17 For it is
better, if God should
will it so, that you
suffer for doing what
is right rather than
for doing what is
wrong. Ch 3

17. 1 Peter 4:17 For it is time
for judgment to begin
with the household of
God; and if it begins with
us first, what will be
the outcome for those
who do not obey the
gospel of God? 18 And if
it is with difficulty that
the righteous is saved,
what will become of
the godless man and
the sinner?

18. It is better to suffer
temporarily in the
fires of refinement
than permanently in
the fires of hell

19.  1 Peter 2:8 for they
stumble because they
are disobedient to the
word, and to this doom
they were also
appointed.
 1 Peter 3:16 so that in
the thing in which you are
slandered, those who
revile your good behavior
in Christ will be put to
shame.

20.  Leveraging
suffering to work
for our good God’s
glory requires a
certain lifestyle.
 Read 1 Peter,
picking out these
lifestyle
requirements.
 Discuss them

21. Some requirements to best
leverage suffering and align
it with God’s will are:
 Prepare minds for action
 Maintain excellent
behaviour
 honour authority
 Abstain from passions
 Maintain loving family
relationships,
 Gentle and quiet spirit for
women
 Keep tongue from Evil
 Seek peace

22.  Resist Devil in firm faith,
 As new born babes long
for spiritual milk
 Be stewards,
 Have sound judgment,
 Have sober spirit
 Be ready to defend gospel,
 Maintain good conscience,
 Live honourably
 Acquire purity that results
from obedience
 Be humble

23. 1 Peter 5:5 and all of
you, clothe
yourselves
with humility toward
one another, for GOD IS
OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT
GIVES GRACE TO THE
HUMBLE.
6 Therefore humble
yourselves under the
mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt
you at the proper time,

24. 1 Peter 3:3 Your adornment must
not be merely external—braiding
the hair, and wearing gold jewelry,
or putting on dresses; 4 but let it
be the hidden person of the heart,
with the imperishable quality of a
gentle and quiet spirit, which is
precious in the sight of God. 5 For
in this way in former times the
holy women also, who hoped in
God, used to adorn themselves,
being submissive to their own
husbands;

25. 1 Peter 3:7 You husbands
in the same way, live
with your wives in an
understanding way, as
with someone weaker,
since she is a woman;
and show her honor as a
fellow heir of the grace
of life, so that your
prayers will not be
hindered.

26.  Why is a gentle and
quiet spirit
imperishable?
 What are the
challenges in
submission?
 Reflect and discuss.

27. Suffer rejection
as a living
stone
Share in
Christ’s
suffering as a
Shepherd

28. 1 Peter 2:4 And coming to
Him as to a living stone which
has been rejected by men,
but is choice and precious
in the sight of God, 5 you
also, as living stones, are
being built up as a spiritual
house for a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.

29. 1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the
flock of God among you,
exercising oversight not
under compulsion, but
voluntarily, according to
the will of God; and not for
sordid gain, but with
eagerness; 3 nor yet as
lording it over those
allotted to your charge, but
proving to be examples to
the flock.

30. 1 Peter 2:25 For you
were continually
straying like sheep,
but now you have
returned to
the Shepherd
and Guardian of your
souls.

31.  Salvation
 Perfection
 Purification
 Never Disappointed
 Enduring word
 Chosen for mercy
 Never alone
 Prayers responded
 Blessing
 Glory

32.  1 Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of
your faith the salvation of your
souls.
 1 Peter 3:20 eight persons, were
brought safely through the
water. 21 Corresponding to that,
baptism now saves you—not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an
appeal to God for a good conscience
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Ch 3

33. 1 Peter 5:10 After you have
suffered for a little while, the
God of all grace, who called
you to His eternal glory in
Christ, will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen and
establish you.

34.  1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to
the truth purified your souls for a sincere
love of the brethren, fervently love one
another from the heart
 1 Peter 4:1 he who has suffered in the flesh
has ceased from sin, Ch 4:1
 1 Peter 4:8… love covers a multitude of
sins

35. 1 Peter 1:24 For,
“All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
25 But the word of the Lord endures
forever.”

36. 1 Peter 2:6 For this is contained in[k]Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS
CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT
BE DISAPPOINTED.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who
believe;

37. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE,
A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE
FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may
proclaim the excelencies of Him who has
called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A
PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;
you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you
have RECEIVED MERCY.

38. 1 Peter 5:9 But resist
him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same
experiences of suffering are
being accomplished by
your brethren who are in the
world.

39. 1 Peter 3:10 For,
“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD
DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM
SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE
RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
Ch 3

40.  1 Peter 3:9 you were called for the
very purpose that you might inherit
a blessing
 1 Peter 4:14 If you are reviled for the
name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of glory and of God
rests on you.

41. 1 Peter 4:14 the Spirit of glory
and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will
receive the unfading crown of
glory.

42. 1 Peter 4:13.. to the
degree that you share
the sufferings of Christ,
keep on rejoicing, so
that also at the revelation
of His glory you may
rejoice with exultation.

43. 1 Peter 1:6 In this you
greatly rejoice, even
though now for a little
while, if necessary,
you have been
distressed
by various trials
…8 greatly rejoice
with joy inexpressible
and full of glory

44.  Some people believe that
believers need not suffer in
any form in this world.
What does this book say
about it?
 What responsibilities do
you have as a shepherd
and living stone?
 What assurance in
suffering most encourages
you?
 How can we “keep on
rejoicing” in suffering?