Pastor’s Notes
As we finish chapter 1 of 1 Peter, Peter takes this group of struggling Christians from remembering who they are in Christ and the promise of future glory to people of action! Peter acknowledges their heartache, but doesn’t allow them to rest in their suffering. Peter does this by pointing believers to set their hope and life fully on the future coming of Christ by keeping a sober mind and holy lifestyle while awaiting His return. Peter understands that if any of us is to do more than simply outlast life’s brutal weight of ups and downs, we must be people who know what it is to comprehend and live out a decided hope in life’s eternal future.
The question that Peter proposes and what we have to answer is not can this be done, but rather how can we follow the path of these once defeated people who have now turned to Godly action? What does being sober minded look like as a Christian? What does living a holy life look like as a Christian?
Peter quickly tells us that the long answer to both of those questions begins with knowing that through what Christ accomplished on the cross, we are not people who seek redemption, but rather people who have already been redeemed! That through our knowledge of who Christ is and what Christ has done, this knowledge bleeds into our everyday lives which allows us to be free people who courageously take action against this sinful age that rages war against us. Not tired, beaten, and weak people.
We go from people who were once scared to people who are now faithful! We go from people who doubt God to people who are trusting of Him! We go from people who are weak to people who are strong!
At the end of 1 Peter, Peter moves from embracing the people’s sorrow to calling the troops to action. Peter’s message is specific to these people, but God’s living word points the believers of 2020 to the same calling.
Scripture to go along with the message
Read Titus 2:11-15 on the subject of being trained by Grace for a sober mind and holy life.
Highlight in your Bibles
Highlight verses 13 and 18-19 in 1 Peter as we will spend the majority of our time in these verse on Sunday morning.
Questions to consider
1.) In “keeping a sober mind,” how is Peter’s charge in doing so reflected in your life? Also, what in your life has caused distractions in being “sober minded”?
2.) REFLECTION: When in your life have you bought into the enemy’s lie that you are defeated and weak, which has caused you to waist time and energy?
3.) What truths do you lean on in scripture to combat the enemy’s lie and call yourself to action?
