Off the Shelf Sunday School--1 Peter 3

 Believer’s Conduct In Public (3:8-12)

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insults with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 1.  Live in harmony, sympathetic, love as brothers, compassionate, humble.

A. Harmony—Is cooperation when there are individual differences. This is summed up in the expression: “In fundamentals of faith, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in everything, love.” Christians do not all need to sing exactly the same tune, but our tune should harmonize with those of our brethren. We should be able to work together as the different parts of the body work together.

B. Sympathetic-- Means suffering with another by entering into and sharing the feelings and experiences of others rather than by having compassion on others from a distance. It implies bearing one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2).

C. Love as Brothers—By loving each other we bear witness to the spiritual bond and presence of the Holy Spirit within fellow Christians. This is the basis of our identity in Christ; a special and eternal family relationship rooted in the calling of God. (1 Pet 1:22).

D. Compassionate—Means being sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. 

E.  Humble--The person who is "humble in spirit" is willing to put someone else's interests and needs before his or her own (Phil. 2:3-4).

2. What does it take to do these things which are contrary to the selfish and ambitious human nature? 

God’s transforming grace through the work of the Holy Spirit. It involves prayer to know and obey God’s will. There must be commitment to changing attitude, thinking and behavior.

3.  There are three types of response to evil: return good for evil, evil for evil or evil for good.

A. Christians are to respond with good for evil reacting with kindness and forgiveness when we suffer ill treatment. This response is based on the knowledge that we too are guilty of evil but have been forgiven much more by God than the present offenses. Taking this approach pleases God and results in blessings.

B. Returning evil for evil damages relationships and evil is perpetuated. This response springs from an unforgiving and hardened heart attitude. We can insult another person by hiding (the quiet method) or by hurling verbal or physical abuse (the noisy method). Returning insults can lead another person to clam up or to blow up which produce bitterness and isolation.

C. Responding with evil when others do good is unusual but can happen when there is mistrust, envy or malice present.

4. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16.

 A. Control of the tongue so that what is said is loving, proper and forgiving leads to a life full of love and good days. This promotes peaceful relationships and a good reputation.

 B. Think of times when you said something that you regretted. How did this make you feel? There is a kind of self -torture that comes from harboring bitterness and trying to justify evil speech and behavior. This produces days of anger, restlessness and anguish that are like acid to the body and soul.  

Suffering for Doing Good (3:13-17)

    Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

 1.  Who will harm you for doing good? What does this mean? (Psalm 27:1-3; Prov 16:7) What happens when good is returned for evil?

2.  You will be blessed if you are harmed for doing good. (Lk 6:22-23; 27-36; Mt 5:10)

Have you ever experienced God’s blessing as a result of suffering for doing what is right?

3.  “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” What do you fear that drives your behavior to do what is contrary to what you know is right? How can we not be afraid of these things?

4.  What do you think Peter means when he says to set aside Christ as Lord in your hearts?

5.  Peter says that we should be prepared to give an answer for the hope that casts out fears. What is this hope? How do we prepare to do this? 

6.  Peter says that we should speak with a clear conscience with honesty, sincerity and truthfully so that those who attribute evil motives to your behavior will be ashamed. What happens when we don’t keep a clear conscience? (Titus 1:15; 1 Tim 4:2)

5.  How is it better to suffer for doing good than to do evil? (2 Cor 4:16-18; 5:10)

The Vindication of Christ (3:18-22)

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 

 1.  Jesus suffered by doing good (offering himself as a sacrifice) for the evil done by humans. He took God’s wrath for sins resulting in his death to reconcile those who have faith to God. (2 Cor 5:17-21) Note the reference to the Trinity. This verse states that all three persons are involved. (Jn 3:16-17)

2.    Jesus was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. What does this mean?

Jesus predicted his death and was determined to see it through. From a human perspective, this was illogical and contrary to self-preservation. However, Jesus saw beyond the cross and his actions were vindicated in his resurrection and glorification. (Mt 26:2; Heb 12:2)

As disciples of Jesus, we are to follow example and daily take up the cross which means to die to self and live for God’s will to be done in us. (Mt 16:24-25) We are to put to death the sinful desires of the flesh and live according to the new spiritual life.

3.  Jesus may have gone to Hades between his death and resurrection and announced the coming of the kingdom of God.

A. God patiently waited for 120 years while Noah built the ark and witnessed to the coming wrath of God. Only eight people (those in Noah’s family) believed and were saved.

B. The phrase 'in the days of Noah' may well be based on the Gospel tradition and on Jesus' analogy between Noah's time and the time immediately preceding the end of the age (Matt 24:37-39//Luke 17:26-27)

C. They were saved by going through water in the ark which represents God’s mercy and grace. The “baptism” of Noah and his family in the ark by passing through the torrential rains and floods was based on their faith. This baptism was an expression or actions they took because of their faith. Baptismal water does not save but it is a sign of peace with God. 

D. The death and resurrection of Jesus are a form of baptism in that Jesus went through the wrath of God on the cross and emerged to a resurrected life. (Mk 10:38) Jesus proved through this baptism that he is the Messiah, Savior, and God who reigns in power and all authority in heaven. Everything is subject to him. How do these facts encourage believers in times of suffering?