Praise to God for a Living Hope—1 Peter 1:1–12
Topics: Assurance, Believe, Character, Circumstances, Doctrine, Endurance, Faith, God, God’s Will, Holy Spirit, Hope, Interpretation, Jesus Christ, Joy, Knowledge, Last Days, Obedience, Power, Prophecy, Resurrection, Salvation, Sovereignty, Spiritual Growth, Suffering
Open It
1. What is something you once searched for very hard?
2. Complete this sentence any way you’d like: I hope that …
3. *To what do people often turn in times of sorrow or suffering?
Explore It
1. To whom did Peter address his letter? (1:1)
2. How had Peter’s readers been chosen? (1:2)
3. For what had Peter’s readers been chosen? (1:2)
4. What had God given Peter and his readers? (1:3)
5. Into what kind of inheritance did Peter say his readers had been born? (1:4)
6. By what are believers shielded? For how long? (1:5)
7. *What did Peter tell his readers they may have to suffer? (1:6)
8. *Why had trials come to Peter’s audience? (1:7)
9. *What benefit is there in suffering? (1:7)
10. What had Peter’s readers done even though they had not seen Jesus? (1:8)
11. What did Peter say was the goal of their faith? (1:9)
12. About what did the prophets speak and for what did they search? (1:10)
13. What did the Spirit of Christ predict? (1:11)
14. Whom did Peter say these prophets were serving? (1:12)
15. What did the angels long to do? (1:12)
Get It
1. When do you feel as if you’re a stranger in the world?
2. When did God give you new birth?
3. *What trials are you or have you suffered recently?
4. *How have the trials you’ve been through strengthened and refined your faith?
5. How have your trials prepared you for Christ’s coming?
6. What fills you with joy in life?
7. What is the goal of your faith?
8. When and for what have you searched for something intently?
9. In what way have the prophets who wrote about Christ served us?
10. When was the last time God used you to serve someone else?
11. How could God use you to serve others in the near future?
12. How do you need to adjust your attitude about the trials in your life?
Apply It
1. *What can you do this week to welcome the present trials in your life?
2. How will you rejoice in your salvation today?
Be Holy—1 Peter 1:13–2:3
Topics: Atonement, Basics of the Faith, Believe, Believers, Bible, Desires, Discipline, Evil, Faith, God, Growth, Holiness, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Life-style, Love, Obedience, Priorities, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sin, Truth, Words
Open It
1. *What standards or examples do many people use to determine how they should live?
2. When was the last time you felt like a stranger?
Explore It
1. *What bold challenge did Peter give his readers? (1:13)
2. *What pressure must we resist conforming to? (1:14)
3. *What does God challenge us to be? Why? (1:15–16)
4. Why did Peter tell these believers to live as strangers “in reverent fear”? (1:17)
5. With what are believers redeemed from their sins? (1:18–19)
6. When was Christ chosen and revealed? Why? (1:20)
7. What did these readers believe? (1:21)
8. How had these Christians purified themselves? (1:22)
9. What did Peter urge his readers to do? (1:22)
10. How had these believers been born again? (1:23)
11. What lasts forever? (1:25)
12. Of what did Peter urge us to rid ourselves? (2:1)
13. What should we crave? Why? (2:2)
14. What have believers tasted? (2:3)
Get It
1. When are we tempted by evil desires? Why?
2. *In practical terms, what does it mean to be holy?
3. *Why is being holy difficult?
4. In what situations do you tend to feel like a stranger?
5. What does it mean to live like a stranger in this world?
6. How can you love other believers?
7. What truth should we obey in order to purify ourselves?
8. How can our priorities reflect the fact that our lives are temporary while God’s Word is eternal?
9. What things in life do you crave?
10. How do we satisfy our spiritual longings?
Apply It
1. What sins (such as malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, etc.) do you need to rid yourself of starting today?
2. How will you tangibly show love for another Christian this week?
3. *What step can you take right away in order to live a more holy life?
The Living Stone and a Chosen People—1 Peter 2:4–12
Topics: Believers, Bible, Call, Church, Citizenship, Darkness, Desires, Glory, God, Heritage, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Light, Mercy, Obedience, People, Rejection, Sacrifice, Sin, Unbelievers
Open It
1. What is something that is very precious to you?
2. When have you felt rejected?
3. *What is your ethnic heritage and how has it influenced you?
Explore It
1. How did God and people treat the living Stone (Christ) differently? (2:4)
2. *In what way are we like living stones? (2:5)
3. What will happen to those who trust in the “Cornerstone”? (2:6)
4. How was Christ treated differently by believers and unbelievers? (2:7)
5. In what way did the “Stone” (Christ) cause some people to stumble? (2:8)
6. *What status did Peter ascribe to believers in Christ? (2:9)
7. *How does our past compare with our present condition? (2:10)
8. From what did Peter urge his readers to abstain? Why? (2:11)
9. Why is it important for believers to live good lives? (2:12)
Get It
1. How is Christ still being rejected by people today? Why?
2. How is Christ precious to you? Why?
3. How could being disobedient to God cause someone else to stumble?
4. *How does being chosen by God for a special task make you feel?
5. What are the implications of believers being a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation?
6. In what way were you in darkness before you became a believer?
7. When have you felt that you were at war with sinful desires?
8. Why is it so hard to abstain from sinful desires?
9. Why do we need encouragement to live good lives among non-Christians?
10. What good deeds in your life do non-Christians see?
11. How can we do good deeds so they are both a witness and a discrete act of service (that is, not merely for show)?
12. What does it mean to live a good life?
13. *To what people can your good deeds be a witness?
Apply It
1. From what specific sinful desires will you ask God to help you abstain this week?
2. What good deeds can you use as a witness to your neighbors?
3. *How do you need to change your plans for the near future so that you will be an example to the unbelievers with whom you have regular contact?
Submission to Rulers and Masters—1 Peter 2:13–25
Topics: Atonement, Authority, Citizenship, Endurance, Enemies, Example, Fear, Freedom, God, God’s Will, Government, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Life-style, Persecution, Righteousness, Sin, Suffering, Unfairness
Open It
1. Who are some people (famous or ordinary) who have suffered for something in which they believed?
2. How do people in different countries view and treat their leaders differently?
3. *What is your general attitude toward people in authority over you (bosses, parents, police, etc.)?
Explore It
1. To whom did Peter urge his readers to submit themselves? Why? (2:13–14)
2. *Why does God allow government? (2:14)
3. *What effect does obedience to government have on many people? (2:15)
4. What did Peter tell his readers not to do with their freedom? (2:16)
5. *What role does respect play in our interactions with authority? (2:17)
6. To whom did Peter encourage his readers to submit? Why? (2:18–19)
7. What commendable act is unique among Christians? (2:19)
8. How did Peter contrast just with unjust suffering? (2:20)
9. To what were the readers of this letter called? (2:21)
10. What did Christ leave us? Why? (2:21)
11. What does Isaiah 53:9 say about Christ? (2:22)
12. How did Christ deal with His suffering? (2:22–23)
13. Why did Christ bear our sins? (2:24)
14. What animal are we like? How? (2:25)
Get It
1. *To what authorities or masters should we submit ourselves today?
2. Why is it so difficult to submit to people who have authority over us?
3. How would you paraphrase God’s will as Peter described it?
4. When have you suffered under someone’s harsh authority?
5. When have you suffered unjustly for Christ’s sake?
6. What does it mean to fear God?
7. How might we use our freedom to cover up evil?
8. What example has Christ left for us to follow?
9. What challenges does Christ’s example give us?
10. Why is it so hard to suffer in silence without retaliating?
11. In what way are we like sheep?
12. What does it mean to live for righteousness?
13. Of what wounds has Christ healed us?
14. What specific changes do you need to make in your life-style in order to live for righteousness?
15. *How can you exercise your freedom in a way that honors God?
Apply It
1. *To what authority (person or institution) will you ask God to help you submit today?
2. In what situation can you follow Christ’s example of suffering without retaliating?
Wives and Husbands—1 Peter 3:1–7
Topics: Appearance, Attitude, Beauty, Believe, Doctrine, God, Husbands, Marriage, Obedience, Partnerships, Purity, Self-esteem, Submission, Unbelievers, Wives
Open It
1. *What examples would you point to in our society to illustrate our obsession with outward appearance?
2. How have the roles of a husband and wife changed in the last 20 years?
3. What do you think is good and bad about the changes in male and female roles over the last 20 years?
4. What do you remember most vividly about your parents’ relationship?
Explore It
1. What is the challenge of being a wife? (3:1)
2. Why did Peter encourage wives to submit to their husbands? (3:1–2)
3. What qualities can a believing wife use to witness to an unbelieving husband? (3:1–2)
4. *What kinds of beauty can a woman have? (3:3–4)
5. *What is the disadvantage of a woman’s outward beauty? (3:3–6)
6. *What is the advantage of a woman’s inward beauty? (3:4–6)
7. How can a godly woman make herself beautiful? (3:5)
8. What example did Peter set forth for wives to follow? (3:6)
9. What is the challenge of being a husband? (3:7)
10. Why should husbands treat their wives with respect? (3:7)
Get It
1. How would you reply to the challenge that Peter’s instructions are outdated and don’t apply in today’s world?
2. How are the responsibilities of wives and husbands different?
3. *Why is it easier to be beautiful on the outside rather than on the inside?
4. *How can someone develop inner beauty as Peter described?
5. What does it mean to be submissive to another person? What does it not mean?
6. How are we heirs to the gracious gift of life?
7. How might the way a man treats his wife hinder his prayers?
8. Why is the husband-wife relationship so important?
9. How do you need to change the way you treat your spouse?
10. What are some steps every spouse can take to honor his or her partner?
Apply It
1. *What specific steps will you take this week to develop your inner character?
2. What can you do today to become a better spouse?
Suffering for Doing Good—1 Peter 3:8–22
Topics: Answers, Atonement, Beliefs, Believers, Caring, Compassion, Conscience, Doctrine, Evil, Faith, God, God’s Will, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sin, Suffering, Unbelievers, Words
Open It
1. *What childhood fight do you remember most vividly?
2. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being nerves of steel), how good would you say you are at controlling your temper?
Explore It
1. *What incredible challenge did Peter give his readers? (3:8–9)
2. *Why did Peter instruct his readers to live at peace with everyone? (3:9)
3. *What must a person do who wants to love life? (3:10–11)
4. Who does God listen to? (3:12)
5. How did Peter use a rhetorical question to explain his point? (3:13)
6. What did Peter write about suffering for what is right? (3:14)
7. What did Peter instruct his readers to be prepared for? (3:15)
8. How were these readers to give the reason for their hope in Christ? (3:15)
9. Why are believers to keep a clear conscience? (3:16)
10. When is it all right to suffer, and when is it a waste? (3:17)
11. What did Peter say about Christ’s death? (3:18)
12. Through whom and to whom did Christ preach? (3:19–20)
13. What do the flood waters from which Noah and his family were saved say to us? (3:21)
14. How are we saved? (3:21)
15. Where did Christ go after His resurrection? (3:22)
Get It
1. When is it hard for Christians to live in harmony with each other? Why?
2. *When are you tempted to return evil with evil and insult with insult? Why?
3. Why do our words get us into so much trouble?
4. *What concrete actions can we use to promote harmony?
5. How could suffering for doing right be a blessing?
6. How should we set Christ apart as Lord in our hearts?
7. How prepared are you to explain your hope in Christ?
8. What can you do to be better prepared for discussions about Christ with non-Christian friends?
9. Why is it better to suffer for doing good rather than evil?
10. How has Christ’s death and resurrection changed your life?
11. How does Christ’s place of authority at God’s right hand make you feel about your relationship with Him?
Apply It
1. What can you do over the next few days to promote harmony between you and the believers you know?
2. *What response could you use when you are mistreated or insulted?
3. What step can you take this week to become more prepared to answer questions about your hope and faith in Christ?
Living for God—1 Peter 4:1–11
Topics: Attitude, Believers, Caring, Desires, Drinking, Faith, Gifts, God, Gospel, Hospitality, Jesus Christ, Judgment, Life-style, Love, Lust, Ministry, Serving, Sex, Sin, Suffering, Unbelievers
Open It
1. *In your opinion, what best distinguishes Christians from non-Christians?
2. Imagine that the world is going to end in twenty-four hours and you have been granted one wish for anything you want. What would you wish for? Why?
Explore It
1. What did Peter say about the person who has suffered? (4:1–2)
2. What benefit can there be in suffering? (4:2)
3. What did Peter’s readers do in the past? (4:3)
4. *What did the pagans think was strange? (4:4)
5. To whom did Peter say the pagans would have to give account? (4:5)
6. For what reason was the gospel preached? (4:6)
7. What did Peter say was near? (4:7)
8. *What did Peter instruct his readers to do since the end of all things was near? (4:7)
9. What did Peter encourage his readers to do above all? (4:8)
10. How did Peter encourage his audience to love each other? (4:8–9)
11. How were Peter’s readers to use their gifts? (4:10)
12. How were these believers to speak and serve? (4:11)
13. *What goal did Peter want his audience to reach with all they did? (4:11)
Get It
1. *What does it mean to be done with sin?
2. With what human desires do we continue to struggle?
3. *What about your life-style do unbelievers find strange?
4. In what way is the end of all things near?
5. How would knowing that the world was going to end this year change the way you think or act?
6. How does love cover a multitude of sins?
7. Why is it sometimes difficult to love other believers?
8. To whom do you find it difficult to offer hospitality? Why?
9. In what ways can you offer hospitality?
10. What gift has God given you that you could use to serve others?
Apply It
1. What human desires with which you continue to struggle will you ask God to help you overcome?
2. *In what simple way this week can you let unbelievers see that you live by a unique set of priorities?
3. To whom will you offer hospitality sometime this week?
Suffering for Being a Christian—1 Peter 4:12–19
Topics: Believers, Glory, God, Gospel, Insults, Jesus Christ, Joy, Judgment, Name, Persecution, Second Coming, Shame, Suffering, Unbelievers
Open It
1. *What is something for which you were wrongly punished when you were growing up?
2. When was the last time you were greatly surprised by something that happened to you?
Explore It
1. By what were Peter’s readers not to be surprised? (4:12)
2. *In what did Peter tell his readers to rejoice? (4:13)
3. What would participating in Christ’s suffering prepare these believers for? (4:13)
4. Under what circumstance did Peter tell these believers they would be blessed? (4:14)
5. How did Peter say these believers shouldn’t suffer? (4:15)
6. *What did Peter urge his readers to do if they suffered as Christians? (4:16)
7. For what did Peter say it was time? (4:17)
8. What question did Peter ask his readers? (4:17)
9. What does the verse Peter quoted say about the righteous and the ungodly? (4:18)
10. *What should those who suffer according to God’s will do? (4:19)
Get It
1. What painful trials have you gone though as a believer?
2. *How can participating in Christ’s suffering prepare us for His Second Coming?
3. When have you been insulted because of the name of Christ?
4. How is suffering as a wrongdoer (such as for murder) significantly different from suffering as a Christian?
5. When have you ever been ashamed of being a Christian? Why?
6. *Why might it be God’s will for someone to suffer?
7. What sort of judgment do members of God’s family face?
Apply It
1. *In what difficult circumstance do you need to praise God this week?
2. What steps do you need to take so that your suffering is not the result of your own wrongdoing?
To Elders and Young Men—1 Peter 5:1–14
Topics: Believers, Caring, Church, Example, Fellowship, Glory, God, Greed, Humility, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Money, Pride, Rewards, Satan, Serving, Submission, Suffering, Worry
Open It
1. What does the average person believe about the devil?
2. *What people might consider you a leader or example?
3. What motivates people to be leaders in the church?
Explore It
1. To whom did Peter appeal? (5:1)
2. *What did Peter instruct elders to do? (5:2)
3. What instructions did Peter give concerning greed? (5:2)
4. *How did Peter tell elders not to lead? (5:3)
5. *How did Peter tell elders to lead? (5:3)
6. What reward were elders going to receive when the Chief Shepherd appeared? (5:4)
7. What were the young men encouraged to do? (5:5)
8. Why were all the readers encouraged to clothe themselves with humility? (5:5)
9. Why were these believers encouraged to humble themselves? (5:6)
10. What did Peter tell his readers to do with their anxieties? (5:7)
11. What did Peter say the devil was doing? (5:8)
12. How were these believers instructed to respond to the devil? (5:9)
13. To what did Peter say these believers had been called? (5:10)
14. What did Peter assure his readers God would do after they had suffered a little while? (5:10)
15. What did Silas help Peter do? (5:12)
16. Who sent greetings along with Peter? (5:13)
17. How did Peter tell these believers to greet one another? (5:14)
Get It
1. What leadership style do the pastors and elders in your church have?
2. What attitude do the young people in your church have toward the leaders of the church?
3. What leadership positions have you held?
4. *How can you be an example to the people in your family?
5. *What changes do you need to make in the way you lead?
6. How do you need to change your attitude toward those who are in positions of authority over you?
7. Why do we sometimes find it difficult to be submissive to those in authority over us?
8. Why might we be tempted to “lord it over” the people we are leading?
9. Why is being humble so difficult?
10. What worries tend to plague you?
11. What does it mean to cast your anxieties on the Lord?
12. How can we cast our anxieties on the Lord?
13. What means does the devil use to “devour” people in our society?
14. How should we resist the devil?
15. When have you suffered as a believer?
Apply It
1. *In what concrete way this week can you be a better example to the people who look to you for leadership?
2. What worries will you cast upon God today?
3. In what area will you ask God to help you to be more humble this week?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. 1 Pe 1:1–5:14.