Series Summary:

This world is suffering filled with uncertain hopes, sold hopes, false hopes, and shattered hopes. Is there anywhere that you can SET YOUR HOPE? How? Join us in 1 Peter for 7 weeks as God tells us, like He told His people nearly 2000 years ago, where and how to SET YOUR HOPE! #1peter #2025

Starter

What is a relationship you struggle to submit to as God commands? Why?

Pray

Lord this world, while beautiful, is suffering filled with uncertain hopes, sold hopes, false hopes, and shattered hopes. It often lead us and others to be uncertain on where to set our hope. However, you came to give us a clear picture of the person and a place we are to set our hope. Help us as we live as exiles waiting for you our living hope. Over the next several weeks, may we learn better how to set our hope on You, and tell others, “SET YOUR HOPE” on Jesus. Amen

Study Questions

READ: 1 Peter 2:13-3:12

Hupotasso (ὑποτάσσω) is the most common Greek word translated as "submit" or "subjection" in the New Testament. Hupotage (ὑποταγή) is the noun form, derived from hupotasso which means "submission" or "subjection". The hupo (ὑπο) prefix means "under". Tasso (τάσσω) is the verb that means "to arrange, to order, or to appoint". Hupotasso in its core meaning, implies an arrangement of something or someone "under" another, which is appropriately interpreted as subordination, obedience, or submission. There are over three dozen occurrences in the New Testament.

Jesus modeled submission to God’s defined plan for authority in earthly relationships. *He humbled Himself by becoming obedient (hupékoos) ***to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8-9) “He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient (hupotasso) to them.” His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)

  1. What was the result of Jesus’ submission to God’s long established plan for authority in relationships?

“Submit to every human authority because of the Lord.” God does not leave us guessing.

God clearly lays out relational submission in scripture; people to Him, His people to His spiritual leaders, wives to husbands, children to parents, slaves (employees) to masters, humanity to government, and all authorities to Him.

  1. In our culture, why don’t we tend like the words, definitions, and plans God uses in relationships?
  2. What are your feelings about God commanding submission in these clearly defined human relationships “because of the Lord?”
  3. Peter writes in 2:17 to “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the Emperor.” How is this a great synopsis of how to live as exiles and “temporary residents” in this world as we wait for Jesus to return?
    1. How are we doing in the modern church with this 2:17 command? explain

READ: Romans 13:1-7

  1. How could God ask His people, through Peter and Paul, to honor and submit to a government that was killing Christians for sport?
  2. What might submission look like for us today with our government and it’s leaders?

READ: 1 John 2:15-16, Proverbs 29:25