Bible Study Snacks - 1 Peter 5:1-14 (Completion)

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday and greetings from Bible Study Snacks! Whether it's your first time with us, or if you're a regular follower of this blog, it's great to have you!

I am delighted that you will be joining me as we walk through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith!

This week, we wrap up our study of The First Epistle of Peter, or 1 Peter. It was written about 60 A.D., and was addressed to all believers in general. Its purpose was to encourage, prompt, and instruct the suffering Christians; also to summon them to personal holiness. The central focus here in Peter's epistle is persecution.

The studies presented here are intentionally brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* examine the duties of elders, in their role as shepherds (pastors) and overseers (bishops).
* note the importance of submission and humility in our relation to elders, one another, and God.
* consider how we might best counter our adversary, the devil.
* glean how Peter sought to encourage his brethren in their suffering.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 Peter, Chapter 5...

The final chapter contains charges to elders and their respective flocks. As a fellow elder, Peter commands elders to shepherd the flock of God among them, serving as overseers. Doing so willingly and eagerly, they were to serve as examples to the flock. The younger members of the flock are then commanded to submit to their elders and to one another, with humility (1 Peter 5:1-5).

They were to also humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and cast their cares upon Him, trusting that He would exalt them in due time because He cares for them. Since their adversary the devil walks about like a lion seeking to devour them, they are to be sober and vigilant, resisting him steadfast in the faith. They can take courage in knowing that other brethren are likewise suffering (1 Peter 5:6-9).

The epistle closes first with a prayer that God will eventually perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle them. Mention is made of Silvanus, and Peter's purpose in writing. Greetings are sent by "she who is in Babylon" and "Mark, my son." Finally, a command to greet one another with a kiss of love is given, along with a prayer for peace to all who are in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:10-14).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How does Peter identify himself as he exhorts the elders? (1 Peter 5:1)
2) What is the duty of the elders? (1 Peter 5:2)
3) How were they to serve as elders? (1 Peter 5:3-4)
4) What reward can elders look forward to when the Chief Shepherd appears? (1 Peter 5:5)
5) What twofold duty is enjoined upon those who are younger? (1 Peter 5:5)
6) What were they commanded to do in relation to God? (1 Peter 5:6-7)
7) Why were they to do this? (1 Peter 5:6-7)
8) Who is their adversary?  What is he doing? (1 Peter 5:8)
9) What should they do in regards to their adversary? (1 Peter 5:8-9)
10) What should encourage them in their suffering? (1 Peter 5:9-10)
11) By whom has Peter penned this epistle? (1 Peter 5:12)
12) What has been Peter's purpose in writing this epistle? (1 Peter 5:12)
13) Who sends them greetings? (1 Peter 5:13)
14) What final charge does Peter give?  What final prayer? (1 Peter 5:14)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next Bible study...

God bless you!

Sheri

Love Thy Neighbor, As Thyself

"We can live without our friends but not without our neighbors."  - Thomas Fuller

Like many of you, I live in a neighborhood. A general definition of a neighborhood is: a district or locality, often with reference to its character or inhabitants. Maybe this is more familiar to you as a community.

Naturally, there may be differences due to the area in which we live. But, most would agree that a neighborhood is where a group of neighbors reside. So, what is a neighbor? Some might answer: a person who lives near another. Others may say: one's fellow human being. Actually both are essentially correct!

The Old Testament has a different interpretation of the word "neighbor" than that found in the New Testament. In the O.T., the word "neighbor"was used somewhat more restrictively by the Pharisees. A "neighbor" didn't include anyone outside of their own nation. They had to be of their own kind, and with similar beliefs (Leviticus 19:18). Anyone who didn't meet this criteria was considered an enemy.

In the N.T., the concept of a "neighbor" was expanded by Jesus to include enemies, too. He used "neighbor" in reference to "a person who shows kindliness or helpfulness toward his or her fellow humans." In essence, we are to "love our neighbor" (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31). The key element that made Jesus' definition of neighbor different in a big way was "love."

Somewhere along the way, Jesus' interpretation of what a "neighbor" is has gotten so muddled up that it has become almost unrecognizable. In many cases, the word has taken on entirely different connotations. Instead of seeing someone as a "neighbor" the way Christ intended, we have have attached hurtful, hateful, and unchristlike labels to it.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus is asked, "And who is my neighbor?" In Luke 10:30-37 he plainly illustrates this. We are shown the difference between a mere physical relationship between persons, and a moral one. Being a true neighbor is not based so much on our similarities, but rather the opportunity and capability to help each other.

If we are to genuinely love our neighbor, as Christ desires, then don't you think we should follow his Divine, impartial example? Mark 12:28-32 tells us the importance of loving our neighbor. Loving God, and each other, is our duty as both, caring and compassionate Christians, and human beings. W must never forget this. (Mark 12:31)

Scripture: Luke 6:27; John 15:12; 1 John 4:21; James 2:8; 1 John 3:23

  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, provide me with Your bountiful compassion and love; so that I might better serve those who are in need, in Your name. Amen

May God bless you always!

Brandi

The Only True Path to Heaven

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below." - Charles Spurgeon

There are many paths one can take to arrive at almost destination in this world. Some, who if they have the time and inclination, might choose to take a more scenic route whereby they can leisurely enjoy the sights and sounds along the way.

Others may select a more direct route, bypassing scenery and serendipity for the sake of an agenda and time. No matter which one decides to follow, you can always turn around and come back. This can apply to many things that are part of our daily routine. The option to turn back is always there.

However, if we are truly serious about following Christ we must abide by certain guidelines which are not bound by the ways of the world. First off, let me make clear that when a person chooses to follow Him, it is serious business. Because of His love for us, it is a commitment that should not be taken lightly.

Jesus expects those who choose to follow him to stay true to the course the entire way. He wants to know that you are devoted to him 100%; no regrets, and no remorse! Christianity doesn't work if it is filled with the wishy-washy (indecisive), or lookie loos (those who have no intention of following through).

There's only one sure way to Our Heavenly Father, and that is through Jesus Christ. Think of this route as a one way street with no U-turns or roundabouts. The way to eternal life is also narrow (Matthew 7:14). And just because we embark on this straight and narrow path, it doesn't mean all will be smooth sailing.

Remember, heaven is still off in the distance and there is so much that must done. For example, daily temptations will thrust themselves upon us, responsibilities and obligations will need our attention, self must be denied, and misconduct kept under control; to name but a few.

Certainly, there will be trials and tribulations along the way, but only those who endure and persevere will be saved. It will take some effort and sacrifice on your part. While there are many paths one can take to arrive at almost any destination in this world, only one leads to eternal life, and the comfort of God's loving arms in heaven.

Scripture: Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 35:8; John 14:6; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:13

Prayer: Holy Father in Heaven, You sent Your Son to cleanse me of my sin because You love me that much. I humble myself before You in love and thankfulness for You did for me always. Amen

God bless you!

Genevieve

Always Expect the Unexpected with Christ!

"Faith looks not at what happens to him but at Him Whom he believes." - Watchman Nee

Have you ever been caught so off guard by something or someone that it made your knees buckle? Has something or something taken you so completely by surprise that it felt as if the breath had been knocked out of you? This usually happens when we have become so engulfed in or accustomed to the "routine" that we were totally oblivious to what was about to happen.

This can happen to us with Jesus Christ, as well. Many times he will show up out of the blue, or when we least expect it. He doesn't do this to scare us, or to pull a prank of some sort. Jesus doesn't operate that way. Anything that he does do has a very definite purpose. Granted, we can't always see or understand what it is at the time, but it definitely is there.

Now, Jesus may not suddenly appear at our front doorstep (although one never really knows), but there are many other ways in which He can come nearer to us. The easiest path to us, however, is through our hearts. This makes good sense because although we can put up barricades in our minds, our hearts are pretty vulnerable.

And who knows our hearts better than Jesus Christ? We can put up a good front or try to hide our emotions, but He can see right through us like a bright, piercing light. Psalm 44:21 and 1 Corinthians 14:25 tell us that there are no secrets from Him. For example, He knows when we are hurting, lost, lonely, worried, happy, serene, and content. In other words, "everything!"

We see can a great example of the "unexpectedness" of Jesus Christ in Matthew 14:22-34. This is the famous passage where Jesus miraculously walks on the water. Up to this point in time, the twelve disciples had seen Jesus do some pretty amazing things. In fact, just a little before he had fed over five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish! (Matthew 14:13-18)

Later that evening, heading across the Sea of Galilee for Capernaum, they ran into some pretty rough weather. Though there were some very experienced sailors aboard, the stormy waters had them concerned. Earlier, they had left Jesus back on shore because he wanted to go off and pray alone. They struggled to hold their course all night, and by dawn they were physically spent.

As the disciples battled the storm that night, they surely must have been thinking about Jesus. It's not that unusual in our greatest hour of need that His name is the first that comes to mind (James 1:3). Meanwhile, the roiling sea became angrier with each passing moment, their muscles burned with exhaustion and their hopes began to slip away.

Suddenly, in the gray, early morning light at their lowest, darkest moment, through the stormy mist and waves, a ghostly figure approached them. This terrified them even more! At first, they didn't recognize Jesus, their Master. Why?? Because they weren't expecting Him! Here's the deal. Had they been expecting him in faith they would have recognized him right off the bat.

This happens to many of us when it comes to Jesus Christ. We can become so distracted by a storm in our life that the faith in our hearts is reduced; letting fear take over. But fear can blind us, making it difficult to perceive His presence. Keep in mind, however, that Christ will never leave you hanging out in the wind.

Jesus Christ knows precisely when we need him the most, not when we think he should. True faith is born, grows, and matures in the heart of the believer. There's no room for both fear and faith there. We must always remain faithfully strong in heart, expectation, and anticipation. We may never know when or how Jesus will come to us, but know that He will!

Scripture: Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 8:27; Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:17; Revelation 14:12

Prayer:  My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Amen   -Luke 1:47-49

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Bible Study Snacks - 1 Peter 4:1-19

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday and greetings from Bible Study Snacks! Whether it's your first time with us, or if you're a regular follower of this blog, it's great to have you!

I am delighted that you will be joining me as we walk through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith!

This week, we continue the study of The First Epistle of Peter, or 1 Peter. It was written about 60 A.D., and was addressed to all believers in general. Its purpose was to encourage, prompt, and instruct the suffering Christians; also to summon them to personal holiness. The central focus here in Peter's epistle is persecution.

The studies presented here are intentionally brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* notice the attitudes one should have in suffering for righteousness' sake.
* review how we should serve God as we live in the "end times".

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 Peter, Chapter 4...

The theme of suffering for righteousness' sake continues. Just as Christ was willing to suffer for us in the flesh, we should have the same attitude and strive to live for the will of God instead of the lusts of men. When we give up sins like lewdness, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, etc., those in the world make think it strange. Yet they themselves will give an account to Him who will judge both the living and the dead by the gospel preached to those who are dead (1 Peter 4:1-6).

Living in the end times, Peter admonishes Christians to be serious and watchful in their prayers, fervent in their love for one another, and hospitable to one another without grumbling. They are to make use of their gifts as good stewards of God's manifold grace, whether it be in speaking or serving, using such abilities to glorify God through Christ who has all authority and power (1 Peter 4:7-11).

Suffering for Christ should not be considered a strange thing, but an occasion to rejoice. Those who partake of Christ's sufferings will be exceedingly glad when His glory is revealed. In the meantime, they are blessed because the Spirit of God rests upon those who glorify Christ by their suffering.

While they should not suffer for doing evil, there is nothing shameful about suffering for Christ. As God's judgment draws near, those who do not obey the gospel have no hope, whereas those who suffer according to God's will can commit their souls in doing good to Him who is a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:12-19).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What two reasons are given for us to have the "mind of Christ"regarding suffering? (1 Peter 4:1)
2) How should one live in whatever time they have left in the flesh? (1 Peter 4:2)
3) What sins are mentioned as being "the will of the Gentiles?" (1 Peter 4:3)
4) How do people in the world react when you no longer do such things? (1 Peter 4:4)
5) To whom shall they have to answer? (1 Peter 4:5)
6) Why was the gospel preached to those who are dead? (1 Peter 4:6)
7) In view of the end of all things being at hand, how should we live? (1 Peter 4:7-10)
8) How should one speak?  How should one serve?  Why? (1 Peter 4:11)
9) What should be our reactions to any fiery trial that may come our way? (1 Peter 4:12-13)
10) What do those who suffer for Christ have to look forward to? (1 Peter 4:13)
11) Why is one who suffers for Christ blessed? (1 Peter 4:14)
12) For what reasons should a Christian not suffer? (1 Peter 4:15)
13) How should one react if they suffer as a Christian? (1 Peter 4:16)
14) Upon whom does the judgment of God begin?  Who will face the greater judgment?  (1 Peter 4:17)
15) Who will be "scarcely saved"? (1 Peter 4:18)
16) What should those who suffer according to the will of God do? (1 Peter 4:19)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next Bible study...

God bless you!

Sheri

Sin Thrives in An Empty Heart

"When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all situations." - John Owen

There is nothing more joyful than when someone makes the decision to come to Jesus Christ. The feelings may run the gamut from total exhilaration to quiet relief; and everywhere in between. No matter when, where, or how it happened; being born again in Christ is something that you will never forget.

When we undergo rebirth in Jesus Christ, this includes an inner, spiritual cleansing; a purging of one's old, sinful ways. Your heart is thus purified in preparation to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. It is a make-over or renewal of sorts. In essence, if we are in Christ, we are a "new creature." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

But, as exciting and wonderful as this all is, we need to be alert here. Some will make a critical mistake at this juncture, and the consequences are not good. Think of being "born again" as just the beginning of a long, journey; a lifetime sojourn. This is what many fail to understand.

Though your spiritually renewed heart may presently be brimming with Jesus Christ, it must be constantly maintained in order to keep it so. Like a tender, young plant, it must be nourished and cultivated to keep it healthy and productive.

Bad habits, addictions, behaviors, etc., can always return. Simply because they have been subdued for now doesn't mean they are dead. Sin never really dies. It just goes off and waits for an opportune moment to reappear.

If we don't manage our hearts by keeping it filled with Christ, it will be replenished with something else: Sin. Most of us keep our vehicles in good running order by having scheduled maintenance work done to them. This same analogy applies to our "reborn" hearts.

The good news is that it really is quite easy to do. And although you've probably heard it before, it is definitely worth a minute or two to hear it again. Put yourself on a daily Bible reading schedule and read it. This is our main source of spiritual food.

Prayer is our direct link to Jesus Christ. Not very good at praying, you say? Why not start with the Lord's Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. You can always build from there. The important thing is to get into a routine of daily prayer!

Find a good, Bible-based church in your area and start attending. A community of fellow believers is an excellent source of support, comfort, and fellowship. There may come a time when you will be glad for their friendship.

In the end, by following these basic principles, we can keep our hearts and minds replete with thoughts of Jesus Christ. So much so, that there won't be any room for sin to squeeze back in at all! Keep your heart filled with Christ at all times and live as abundantly as He desires for you. (John 10:10)

Scripture: Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 1:12;  Colossians 3:10

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I never forget that You showed Your love for me in that while I was still a sinner, You died for me. Amen

May God bless you!

Gretchen

Dear God, Please Save Me!

"Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ." - Max Lucado

"Save me!" is a phrase known as a cry for help. Being a universal expression, it is common in all human languages and dialects. Anytime someone either hears this or shouts it out, it is assumed that assistance is needed immediately.

The term "salvation," which is the act of saving or the state of being saved is familiar to Christians. It is generally understood theologically as "the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness."

Salvation is mentioned a lot in the Bible; which tells us that it must be pretty important, and it is. Even if you're not real clear on what "salvation" is now, hopefully you will be in a few more minutes! I will try to summarize it for you.

When we Christians talk about being "saved," we are referring to salvation, or freedom from the consequences of the disobedience against God by Adam and Eve. Their sin resulted in the loss of God's grace, happiness, and peace in the Garden of Eden. If all of this sounds gloomy...it is! 

Had things remained in this sad, state we'd all be in a real mess. There would be no possibility of us ever cleansing this sin from ourselves. With the filth of sin on us, we could never be presentable enough to approach God in Heaven, who is sinless. (John 14:6)

None could ever do enough good works, offer enough sacrifices, or pray enough prayers to change this. And, let's face it, perfection was out of the question. Fortunately, God knew this and provided us, in His loving mercy and grace, with the only way to break the curse of sin; His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. (Titus 3:5)

Since Jesus was perfect and sinless in every way, he became a "perfect" sacrifice for our sins. He took on all of our sins and died for them. By his blood, we were washed clean of our sins and finally made acceptable to God. (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)

Through his life, death, and resurrection the curse of death was conquered; our redemption being attained at the cross. Eternal life with Him in Heaven is now a possibility. (John 6:44) This doesn't mean that sin has ceased to exist, however. It's always around waiting to tempt and then snare us.

But, it is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are freed from the shackles of sin. Patiently and compassionately, Jesus now sits at the right hand of God as our mediator, through whom we can always petition for the forgiveness of our sins. (Mark 16:19)

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-18; Psalm 25:5; James 1:21 

Prayer: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Amen   - Galatians 2:20


Have a blessed day!

Kasey