Welcome
As we journey through 1 Peter together, we want to equip you as households to have conversations with one another about the sermon series. Each week, there will be a blog post featuring a brief recap of the sermon passage for the week, a few quick ideas for how your family can dive deeper into the passage together during the week, and a challenge for you to complete and share using the hashtag #1peterchallenge. This week, we’re all about preparing and digging in.
Recap
1 Peter 1:1-2 By Pastor Jeff
1 Peter is a timely message to believers who wish to follow the Lord Jesus well in complicated times. Like hikers on a trail, we pack light, carrying only what we need for our journey: our faith in Jesus and our obedience to his word before all else. The trail is long, fraught with twists, turns, danger and storms, but we have what we need. Jesus is always enough, no matter what. Let’s take a walk together this spring and summer. Pack light, for the trail is long, but the destination will knock your socks off!
Resources to Get You Started
Check out How to Read New Testament Letters and this Video Overview of 1 Peter from the Bible Project.
Download this Visual Overview of 1 Peter and hang it in your house where everyone will see it.
Want some music to listen to? Check out When Trials Come: Resurrection Songs for a World of Suffering, a collection of songs curated by The Gospel Coalition on one of the main themes of 1 Peter.
Going Deeper With…
Preschoolers
Check out this read aloud of The Friend Who Forgives, a story about Jesus and his friend Peter. You can say something like, Peter wrote the book of 1 Peter as a letter to some of God’s people who were living far away from each other. Let’s get to know Peter a little bit better by listening to his story.
Here are some things you can talk about after the video:
I wonder what Peter felt like after he said that he wasn’t Jesus’ friend.
I wonder why Peter jumped out of his boat and ran to see Jesus.
I wonder how Peter felt when Jesus gave him the chance to say “I love you Jesus.”
I wonder if you are Jesus’ friend.
Elementary Kids
Read 1 Peter 1:1-2 in a child-friendly version of the Bible (like the NIrV).
Who is Peter writing this letter to?
Why are God’s people scattered?
We might feel scattered from our family and friends, and from God’s people right now.
How does what Peter writes in this passage give us hope?
BONUS: Consider printing out double-spaced copies of 1 Peter from Biblegateway.com or a similar site. (Copy and past the text into a Word document and select double space.) Use 2 pieces of construction paper as covers to make a 1 Peter journal for kids who can read. Encourage your child to read 1 Peter 1:1-2 a few times this week, and write, draw, or talk about what it means to them.
Middle & High Schoolers
Read 1 Peter 1:1-2 in your own Bible, and then read it in the New Living Translation.
Who is Peter writing to? Have you ever been or felt like a foreigner? Talk about what that was like. If you know someone--in your family, from your school, in your neighborhood--who is a "foreigner" here, ask them what it's like to be far from home.
In Peter's words in 1 Peter 1:2, what gives you hope and encouragement?
BONUS: consider reading 1 Peter from beginning to end every week of this sermon series, or at least do it this week!
1 Peter Challenge
1 Peter is a letter of encouragement from Peter to Christians in Asia minor (modern day Turkey). As a family, write a letter of encouragement to someone you know who is suffering right now. Before you send the letter, pray for the person or family and let them know what you prayed for them. Before you send the letter, snap a photo of your family with the envelope (make sure to keep the address private) and share it on Social Media with the hashtag #1peterchallenge. Don’t forget to tag First Pres!