Before we engage with our text to read, verse to concentrate on, and a few questions to consider, I invite you to fill out a brief (4-question) survey. We provided a companion guide for our 1 Peter series, and we would love to hear from you about your experience with that (or lack thereof). It will take less than two minutes and can help us as we consider creating helpful tools and resources for our church in the future. 

With that out of the way, let me welcome you to the final installment of our 1 Peter devotional companion featured only on our Inside Forum. We will close out our fall series this Sunday, and we will have gone through every verse in 1 Peter.

Our new format is designed to help us go deeper into God's word and, more broadly, into our daily practice of following Jesus.

This weekend, starting on Friday, there is a text to read, a verse to concentrate on, and a few questions to help us pray more specifically.

Friday
Text to Read: 1 Peter 5:1-3

A Verse to Meditate Over: 
“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” - 1 Peter 5:2

Questions to Ask: 
As we reflect on the teachings of Peter to the church leaders, he emphasized the importance of not using leadership as a means to power, but as a service to others under their care. How are we exercising leadership in our lives? Are we leading out of a desire to serve or a need for control?

Saturday
Text to Read:  Mark 10:42-45

A Verse to Meditate Over:  
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,” - Mark 10:43

 Questions to Ask: 
Jesus's teachings on leadership contrast sharply with the surrounding worldview. He calls us to serve with humility and self-sacrifice. Where in our lives are we being called to lead by serving others? How can we embody Jesus' teachings in our interactions today?

Sunday
Text to Read: Matthew 7:21-23

A Verse to Meditate Over: 
"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”  - Matthew 7:2
Question to Ask: 
Today's reading reminds us that saying we believe in Jesus is not enough; we must live out our faith authentically. As we reflect on our spiritual journey, are there areas where our faith is more superficial than genuine? Let's pray and ask God to reveal these areas to us and to guide us in deepening our truth and faith.

Join us Sunday as we conclude our study through 1 Peter. See you then!

- Bradley

As we go through 1 Peter in our Sunday gatherings, our Inside Forum will help create a space to explore additional devotional ideas and questions to help spark conversations over the weekend.

You will notice a simple format intended to help us go deeper into God's word and, more broadly, into our daily practice of following Jesus.

Each day, starting on Friday, there is a text to read, a verse to concentrate on, and a few questions to help us pray more specifically.

Friday Reading:

1 Peter 4:1-6

A Verse to Concentrate On:

"And so, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin." - 1 Peter 4:1

Questions to Ask:

1. What does it mean to arm ourselves with the same attitude as Jesus when faced with suffering?

2. What actions can we take to align our will with God's will and choose His ways over our own comfort and security?

Saturday Reading:

James 4:1-4

A Verse to Concentrate On:

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." - James 4:4

Questions to Ask:

1. In what areas of life are you most tempted to foster friendship with the world?

2. In what ways can we challenge ourselves to shift from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness?

3. What practices can we implement to transform our mentality from "I want that" to "Is this good?"

Sunday Texts to Read:

1 Peter 4:7-11

A Verse to Concentrate On:

"The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:7-8

Questions to Ask:

1. How can we cultivate an earnest and disciplined prayer life?

2. What changes might we expect to see in our lives as we align ourselves with God's will?

3. How does our love for each other help us on our journey of transformation from following our desires to being aligned with God's will?

Join us Sunday as we dive into the second half of 1 Peter 4. See you then!

-Bradley

As we go through 1 Peter in our Sunday gatherings, our Inside Forum will help create a space to explore additional devotional ideas and questions to help spark ideas and conversations over the weekend.

You will notice a simple format intended to help us go deeper into God's word and, more broadly, into our daily practice of following Jesus.

For each day, starting on Friday, there is a text to read and consider, a quick idea to help jumpstart a time of prayer or application.

Friday: Submission and Context

• Reading: 1 Peter 2:13-25

• Consider This: Today's reading explores the idea of submission in its original context. Peter's teachings were radical for their time. As you read, consider what submission means in your own life today. How can you willingly submit to God's authority and live in love and peace, even in the face of opposition?

• Question: How does the submission to authority apply in your own life?

Saturday: The Radical Call to Honor and Respect

• Reading: 1 Peter 3:1-6, 7

• Consider This: Today, delve into Peter's guidance to early Christian women. Verse 7 discusses treating women with dignity and respect. It challenges the conventional norms and highlights the importance of internal beauty and respect. Reflect on how you can manifest these teachings in your relationships and interactions.

• Question: How can these ancient teachings inform the way you view and interact with the people in your life?

Sunday: The Radical Call to Honor and Respect

• Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-12

• Consider This: Today's reading is a powerful call to repay evil with blessings, embodying the radical love of Christ. Reflect on the implications of these teachings for your own life.

• Question: How can you manifest this radical love in your interactions and responses to negativity?

Join us Sunday as we dive into another controversial text in 1 Peter 3:13-22. See you then!

-Bradley