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
Name one thing that others would say that you take seriously.
Name one thing you would like to take more seriously.
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. May we learn better how to set our hope on You, and tell others, “SET YOUR HOPE” on Jesus. Amen
Study Questions
Last week we ended with the question, “In the midst of suffering, how can we practically live out 1 Peter 4:19, and what simple things do we need to remember or do to live this out? 1 Peter 5 gives clarity on how to do this by setting our hope on entrusting ourselves “to a faithful Creator’s” plan.
- Discuss why God would have Peter write seriously to the elders (leaders of the church) as he finishes his letter of hope to exiles experiencing suffering.
- Peter is one of, if not the primary, recognized leader of the early church. Yet, how does Peter refer to himself as he is writing to the fellow elders and why is this important? (5:1)
- We say often at fxchurch, that the protestant reformation of the 1500’s did not get rid of the papacy (popes). It just created tens of thousands of pastors who act like popes. Why would we seriously say that?
- 1 Peter 5:2 tells elders/pastors/overseers to take seriously shepherding “God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will; not for the money but eagerly;” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:14-15, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. But I have used none of these rights.” In 1 Timothy 5:17 Paul writes, “The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” He goes on to write in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.”
- How should these passages help us to evaluate our elders/pastors/overseers?
- Why do believers today so often not do diligence in evaluating pastors, teachers, and church leaders based on money, budgets, and finances?
Hebrews 13 uses very similar language as Peter does with elders. Hebrews 13:7 and 10 say, “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” James 3:1 states, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.”
- Based on these passages, why does Peter tell younger men to take seriously being “subject to the elders” and “all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”? (5:5)
False prophets and teachers are spoken of and and warned about in nearly every book of the Bible. (see: Matthew 7:14-16, 24:9-14, Ezekiel 34:1-3, 2 Peter 2:1-3)
- Why in our culture do we tend to not know how to discuss or handle the false prophets and false prophesies that the Bible constantly warns us about?
READ: Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Luke 6:22-26, John 10:11-16, 21:15-19