1 Peter Pt. 5: Salvation & Suffering
About the Series
NB: At this point in the sermon series, we’ve reviewed this overarching theme a few times. Instead of just reading the summary, consider asking your group if they can summarize the book’s theme in their own words.
1 Peter is a letter written to 1st-century Christians living on the edge of the Roman Empire, whom Peter calls “exiles” or “strangers.” These disciples are outsiders in society, but insiders in God’s Kingdom, born into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Peter encourages them to rejoice, even in suffering, to love one another deeply, and live holy, disciplined lives. He challenges them as spiritually free people to choose to honor everyone, even those who treat them harshly. Underneath his encouragement and instruction is the underlying assumption that disciples of Jesus are learning to become like him—living their lives as He would. They may share in his suffering, but they will also share in his resurrection! Through this series, we are invited to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, becoming like Jesus in our families, workplaces, and communities.
Read this Sermon Recap
1 Peter pt. 5, Salvation & Suffering
Is suffering evidence of God’s absence?
Suffering is a predominant theme in the book of 1 Peter, with multiple forms of the word used around 20 times. Addressing a people who were enduring sufferings and trials of many kinds, the letter brings to mind the sufferings of Jesus and invites the listen to let Jesus’ suffering help them understand their own.
The original audience was enduring a time of persecution, facing trials primarily due to their allegiance to Jesus as Lord in the midst of an empire that declared Caesar is Lord. We hear this and remember those in our time who suffer for the sake of their faith in Jesus. But it is also fair to ask if this letter has anything to say about the difficulties that we experience as suffering, too. Enduring any kind of trial or hardship may produce in us a tension as we wonder where God is and why He allows these things to happen.
We might be tempted to think that where suffering is, God is not. But the long story of the Bible, from the Garden to the time of Jesus, shows us the mystery of a God who is relentlessly with His people in the midst of their suffering. What’s more, God in Christ became human, so that He might suffer for us. Just as the suffering of Jesus gave way to the glory that followed, so our own trials are temporary.
In Jesus we encounter the One who shows us both the glory of the resurrection and the scars of his suffering, in the same body. Our faith in him is demonstrated and purified by enduring suffering, until we receive what we are hoping for: the full and final salvation that is coming.
Discuss these Questions
(Leaders: Before going into the questions, you may want to give your group a minute or so of silence, reflecting on and listening to the Spirit around the question, “What is Jesus inviting you to notice tonight?”)
Tonight, we are going to use this set of questions to guide our discussion. You may want to pull up the guide on your phone to help you process and reflect.
1. Is anything lingering in your mind/heart from Sunday that you’d like to discuss?
2. Take a moment and look back over the last year or two of your life. Are there moments that felt/feel like suffering to you? How would you preach 1 Peter to your own self if you could go back? (Use the language of the letter as best you can to ground your thoughts).
3. There may be members of your group enduring some kind of hardship right now. Take time to pray for them specifically. If there is none, spend a few moments praying for our brothers and sisters in the world who are facing suffering for their allegiance to Jesus.
Practice for the Week
As you’re able, pray for each other by name this week. Maybe set aside a few minutes before dinner or bedtime, taking time to pray for the members of your group. Pray especially for a deep sense of hope as we wait for Jesus to come again.