MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time

I need to be baptized
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a small group
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/small-groups

I need to join a serve team
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

Dig Deeper:
1. Describe a time when you had a good experience with an authority figure. What made it good?
2. Describe a time when you had a difficult experience with an authority figure. What made it difficult?
3. Read 1 Peter 2:11-25. What do you think of when you hear the word submission? Why?
4. What does it mean to submit yourself, especially to governing authorities with whom we disagree or dislike? Keep in mind that submission is about trusting God, not people.
5. Which kind of authority do you have the most trouble with? Do you know why?
6. Why is God a better authority over your life than you are?
7. As Christians, who are we to ultimately work for in all that we do? Why do you think we so easily lose sight of this?
8. How have you suffered for your Christian faith? What comfort or encouragement do you find in Peter’s words?
9. How was slavery different in the New Testament era than what we think of as slavery today? How is it similar?
10. Think of a time when you have suffered pain due to obedience. Compare that to a time when you suffered pain due to disobedience. How do these experiences differ? How are they the same?
11. How might focusing on working for the Lord help us endure unjust treatment from our coworkers, bosses, or clients?
12. What blessing did Peter give for submitting to authority and living obedient Christian lives?
13. How was Jesus able to face injustice without retaliating? How was He able to face suffering with confidence (v. 23)?
14. How does Jesus model for us submission to divine and human authority?
15. How does Jesus’ example give you a motivation for submitting to authority? Share examples.
16. The good news of 1 Peter 2 is that God’s justice has already been satisfied in Jesus. How might knowing this change your perspective on the difficulties you are currently facing? How might this truth help prepare you for future suffering?
17. What promise does God make to us regarding the injustice in the world in verse 25? How might remembering this help you work wholeheartedly for the Lord?

Live It Out:
1. How can you bring yourself in alignment with Peter’s instructions this week?
2. Knowing that obedience due to devotion is deeper than obedience to duty, what step might I take this week to begin approaching my work with a Christ-centered perspective?
3. What are some practical ways I might deepen my trust in God’s perfect justice? How might others I trust help me entrust myself to the one who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23)?
4. What could I do to remember what Christ accomplished on my behalf on the cross? How might doing so help me face injustice with confidence?
5. Who is in authority over you? How would they explain the way you treat their authority?
6. Is there any authority over you that you have responded poorly to and need to apologize to?
7. Who is under your authority? How would they explain the way you treat them and exercise your authority?
8. How can you relate and respond to God’s authority over all areas of your life?

Reading Plan:
Monday: 1 Peter 1:1-12
Tuesday: 1 Peter 13-25
Wednesday: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Thursday: Acts 4:1-12
Friday:Ephesians 2:11-22
Saturday: Matthew 16:13-20

Recommended Resources:
“1-2 Peter: An Expositional Commentary” by R.C. Sproul

“1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ” by Jen Wilkin