On 5-19-13, 1 Peter 4:1-11 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Active Hope aka Hope through Stewardship

Active Hope aka Hope through Stewardship

1 Peter 4:1-11

International Sunday School Lesson

May 19, 2013

Commentary

By

                                                                       Jed Greenough

How do you feel when you read today’s scripture?  Is their appreciation for the instruction you find?  Perhaps there is guilt.  When I read it, to be frank, I feel both.  Anything that can tell us what not to do and what to do and how to be, deserves a verse by verse inspection.

Verse 1.  Many Christians faced persecution in Peter’s day and of course some today suffer for Christ.  We must ask ourselves if we are prepared to endure for Christ.  If you have not literally pondered this than you must.

Verse 2.  If we have answered in the affirmative to this than we have changed.  If we have changed in this manner Peter says we should change in other ways.

Verse 3.  A rather shocking list is given by Peter of the ways he feels the world indulges in and that we should not.

Verse 4.  The world doesn’t understand why we wouldn’t want to join in with them in these activities and like the classic bully they react with abuse as evil cannot just observe this but act out their hate.

Verse 5.  God will repay them for what they have done, just as He will us.

Verse 6.  This verse has many interpretations but we would not be in error to say that we again will be judged by how we live.  As Christians that should be a spiritual life.

Verse 7.  This world is ending.  Much sooner now than it was then but Peter didn’t know that and he, under God’s leading, instructed his readers to live like it was.  How do you live like the end is near?  By being clear minded and self-controlled so that your prayers are not hindered.

Verse 8.  End time behavior is to include most importantly love for each other.

Verse 9.  End time behavior does not include holing up and withdrawing from everyone but rather we are to be hospitable to others.

Verse 10.  Each of us have been endowed by gifts from God when we became Christians.  If you haven’t figured yours out on your own ask those who know you best.  If you do know what your gift is, are you utilizing it as you should?  See Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 for help.

Verse 11.  When you do figure out and do utilize your gifts do it with a zeal that brings glory to God.

Thanks for visiting and have a great class!

For Discussion: 

1.      Discuss being able to suffer for Christ

2.      Discuss the list from verse 3

3.      Discuss the world knowing or not knowing a Christian is different from them

4.      Discuss understand verse 6

5.      Discuss how we are to live

6.      Discuss the gifts of individuals within your group

Upcoming Lessons

5-26-13:   Patient Hope aka Hope in the Day of the Lord 2 Peter 3:3-15a, 18 or 3:1-15a

6-2-13:     Worship and Respond aka Holy, Holy, Holy Isaiah 6:1-8

6-9-13:     Worship with Thanksgiving aka Give Thanks Isaiah 12

6-16-13:   Worship with Meaning aka Meaningless Worship Isaiah 29:9-16

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved