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, and a few quick ideas for how your family can dive deeper into the passage together during the week.
Recap
1 Peter 2:11-17 by Lindsey
“Shhhh! Quiet down! Talk more softly, please. Use your inside voice!” You are probably an expert at all the things people say to you to get you to be more quiet. Grown ups quickly forget just how easy it is to be loud, and how difficult it is to be quiet. There is nothing like the freedom of running outside and making the biggest noise you can, and kids know this. We grown ups need your help to remember sometimes. Well, did you know that today, Peter says the opposite. He doesn’t say “keep your voice down.” He doesn’t say, be small and hide yourself. Last week, we read about how Peter told God’s people, “You are God’s very special treasure, you belong to God.” This week, Peter says “because you are God’s special people, you should Let your actions SHOUT the gospel!”
What is the gospel? The word Gospel just means good news. God made a good and beautiful world, sin broke that perfect world. That doesn’t sound like very good news does it? Here it comes, though. God didn’t leave us and our broken world alone. He came to be with us, to live in this broken world—Jesus, God with us. And Jesus died to rescue God’s people. But he didn’t stay dead. Jesus rose again, and he is in heaven right now, and making all things new. Jesus is healing God’s broken world. Every single day, every minute. Jesus is bringing peace where there is fighting. He is making things new that were getting old and worn out. He is making all the sad things come untrue.
So, what is Peter saying to God’s people when he says “let your actions shout the gospel?” he’s saying:
You belong to God—you don’t belong to yourself! Jesus has set you free from sin, satan, and death, so live like a free child of God. Let your actions shout the gospel! Then everyone who sees you will be able to see God when they see you living like a child of God.
I wonder what it would look like to let our actions shout the gospel.
I wonder if you know of people whose lives help you see God more clearly.
I wonder what chances you will have today to let your actions shout the gospel.
Check this out
The Garden the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton tells the story of the Gospel in a kid-friendly way. Read by the illustrator here.
The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung is a great Gospel overview for older kids. Watch the short film here.
Going Deeper With …
Preschoolers
Read a gospel storybook together. During the story, ask questions like:
I wonder what will happen next.
I wonder how that felt. I wonder what that was like.
I wonder if you have ever felt like that.
When you are finished ask:
I wonder what your favorite part of the story was.
I wonder which part was most important.
BONUS: gather Legos, Duplos, or other building toys and invite your child to retell you the story of the Gospel.
Elementary Kids
Read 1 Peter 2:11-17 in a child-friendly version of the Bible (like the NIrV).
Read v. 11-12. Can you say what Peter says in your own words?
Now read Matthew 5:14-16. What is similar or different between these verses?
Read v. 13-17. Peter says a lot here. You could have a conversation about many different things. Here are some thoughts:
Christian freedom is freedom for faithful obedience.
Christians submit to God as the ultimate authority. And to human authorities in obedience to, out of fear of, and for the glory of God. This can be a tricky conversation to have. Remember that this text specifically is focusing on our freedom in Christ to submit to others for the glory of God, knowing that God is ultimately in control. Peter tells the Christian here that our civic engagement should reflect the reality that God is on the throne and should look like Jesus.
Middle & High Schoolers
Read 1 Peter 2:11-17 in the New Living Translation.
Peter says again that we are “temporary residents and foreigners” in the world. Do you feel at home here? If so, how can you fight to remember that you’re a foreigner—that your true home is the beautiful heavenly city?
Have you ever felt a desire that you knew was “waging war against your soul”? How can you fight these as God’s own child and instead let your actions shout the gospel?
Peter says to respect everyone, including the authorities in our lives (parents, teachers, pastors, governing officials, etc.), out of love for God. Who do you need to respect? What do you think Jesus would say about authorities who misuse their power?