1 Peter – Study Questions #4

Kyle Bartholic   -   January 19, 2023

1 Peter CGS – Week 4

 

Ethics Part 3 – Unity in the fellowship through submission.

 

1 Peter 5:1-5

 

INTRODUCTION:  What is life in Christian community supposed to look like? How are Christian leaders and overseers supposed to live and act? In this passage Peter instructs his readers about the type of shepherd-leadership that is needed to ensure the survival of the church in trying times of persecution. The leaders must oversee the church in a godly way, shepherding the flock rather than domineering it. The pastoral motif of the shepherd caring for and seeking the weak and the wandering even while jeopardizing himself provides the background against which these final instructions to the church are to be read. In this final section of the letter, by encouraging the elders to shepherd and the others to submit to that leadership, Peter underscores the importance of responsible church structure for seeing the Christian community safely through the fiery ordeal of testing.[1] In other words, according to Peter, in this third section on ethics, leaders are to exhort those entrusted to their care. They are to walk with humility, in that way, modeling the way for those they lead. And they are to protect and guard against those ideas and people who seek to destroy the flock. Christian community and Christian leadership is not about power for power’s sake. Instead, it is about paying careful, watchful, humble, and sober attention so that those around you won’t be devoured. Just like marriage, it is about mutual care and walking in roles that God gave for our flourishing. Then, for those who are under the leadership of Godly leaders, Peter reminds them that they are to submit to older, wiser Christians. The thing about it is that so much of what Peter reminds us of is not just for life in the church but is helpful in our everyday lives. When we lead with Christian humility in the public square, we live out a brilliant witness for the power of Jesus to impact and change our everyday lives. We are new creations in Christ, and our fellowship should show that there is a better way to live with and respond to each other. The story of salvation is about how a gracious and loving God can take you and me, who are desperately broken and form us into new creations through his Son, Jesus. The witness of Christian fellowship is how that new creation/exile identity impacts our daily lives here and now. Peter doesn’t pull any punches he reminds them and us that leadership matters, and how I respond to leadership matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time this week, talk about honoring others. What are the things that make it hard to honor others or easy? Do you agree with the idea that when you honor another person, you are honoring Jesus?

 

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

 

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

 

Note: This can be a tough section of Scripture. Here are some questions that might help spur on discussion. [2]

  1. Why do we find it hard to accept that we are prone to wander, and need shepherds? In what way do you personally find this hardest?
  2. How does this passage move you to pray for your leaders?
  3. In what specific way(s) will you encourage your elders this week?
  4. How are you using, or how could you starting using, the gifts God has given you to serve others in the church?
  5. Are you “followable”? Do Peter’s words here call you to change your attitude or conduct in any way?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Karen H. Jobes, 1 Peter, ed. Robert W. Yarbrough and Joshua W. Jipp, Second Edition., Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2022), 297.

[2] Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2016).