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 3:18-22 by Lindsey
For the last several weeks, Peter has been showing God’s people what it looks like to live following God’s lead. In many cases, Peter says, this means following the lead of other people, even people we disagree with, and it will sometimes mean that we suffer. Today, Peter shows us what this looks like by pointing to Jesus very clearly. Peter shows us that Jesus has shown us what it looks like to live following God’s lead— being at peace with others, sticking it out through suffering, and returning evil with good. Then, he goes on in several verses that are honestly very confusing to adults, but that show us something very cool— through submission and unjust suffering (the two things Peter has talked about most in this section), Jesus accomplished massive deliverance for the people of God. This is so opposite to the way that we often think things will go—we must look to Jesus, Peter says, to understand how to live a life of following the lead of God.
Check this out
For Us, a song about how Jesus lay down his life for us, and how we can lay our lives down for others.
Going Deeper With …
Preschoolers
Play a game of follow the leader. Take turns being the leader and the follower. When you are finished, share with your child briefly how much you want to be a person who follows God. Share an appropriate struggle you have in following Jesus. Pray together that you and your child will follow after God, by looking to Jesus as your example.
Elementary Kids
Read 1 Peter 3:18-22 in a child-friendly version of the Bible (like the NIrV).
We encourage you to focus on vs. 18 and then focus on the idea that Peter points out Jesus as one who submitted and suffered unjustly, and so doing, brought massive deliverance. Vs. 19-22 are very hard concepts for adults to wrap their minds around, let alone elementary age kids. Read the whole text, talk about whatever your child brings up, but be up front with your child that adults are confused by this passage.
In verse 18, there is a short Gospel message. Can you put it in your own words?
Have you been baptized? What do you remember about your baptism? About baptisms you have seen?
Peter shows us that through Jesus’ humble obedience to God, his submission, and unjust suffering, many were made righteous. What do you want to say to Jesus about what he endured for you and for all his people?
Middle & High Schoolers
Read 1 Peter 3:18-22 in the New Living Translation.
How does God’s word challenge you in these verses?
Peter says, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time … to bring you safely home to God.” Take a few moments to praise God for that! Christ died for you to bring you to God!
Have you been baptized? If so, ask your parents to tell you the story of that day (if you were a baby), or remember that day yourself (if you were older). Your baptism is a symbol of God saving you from the flood of sin.
Are there any areas of your life you need Jesus to keep washing clean? He is “seated in the place of honor”; he will hear you and he can help you!