HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1497
1 Peter
I T I S E A S Y T O G E T D I S C O U R A G E D , especially when things
are not going our way. When we don’t have enough money to pay the
bills, when our children do not seem to be turning out the way we
expected, when careers are headed down instead of up, how can we
help but be discouraged? Disintegrating relationships are even more
discouraging—family, friends, church family, neighbors, business associates. We want the bonds that hold us together to keep holding. When
they don’t, discouragement moves in.
What you will be
Peter, the encourager, reminds Christians that
reading about
even persecution need not be feared if we know
Jesus Christ. This letter is a manual on how a
1:1-2
Opening greetings
Christian should live in the face of persecution,
disintegrating relationships, discouragement,
1:3 -12
and suffering. It is a note of encouragement.
The hope of eternal life
Peter wrote this letter just before the cruel
1:13 – 2:12
emperor Nero began his intense persecution of
A call to holy living
Christians in Rome and throughout the empire.
2:13 - 25
Peter knew what it was like to be afraid for his
Obey those in authority
over you
life, for as a disciple of Jesus, he had denied
knowing Jesus three times (John 18:15-27). Now,
3:1-7
Counsel for husbands and
having learned how to stand firm in an evil
wives
world, he could encourage other Christians who
3:8 – 4:19
were facing persecution for their faith.
How to act in the midst of
It is helpful to remember that Christ himself
suffering
was persecuted, wounded, and even crucified.
5:1-11
No one wants to be hurt, but when we are, it is
Counsel for church leaders
encouraging to remember the wounded Jesus
5:12 -14
and the comfort and security he offers us in the
Closing greetings
midst of our difficulties.
As Christians, even hurting Christians, we
must strive for holiness, abandoning ugly sins that choke our spiritual lives.
Even in tough times, Christians should live Christlike lives, imitating Christ in
our relationships—husbands, wives, employers, employees, fellow Christians,
neighbors.
You will find notes of encouragement in this book. It will not remove the
source of your discouragement any more than it did for those to whom Peter
wrote. But it helps us understand a little better why we suffer, helps us see that
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