Jeremiah 29:1-14 is addressed to people from Jerusalem who have already been deported to Babylon but before Jerusalem itself has been completely destroyed. These people want to escape. They want the exile to end and they want to get back home. Jeremiah writes the letter in this chapter to set them straight. Surprisingly, he doesn’t tell them how to escape; instead he tells them how to endure. What do we do while we await the not-yet? What’s there to do in Babylon?
hope
09 Jeremiah 23:1-8 Who will help us out of this mess?
Today’s leaders promise hope and change only to deliver corruption and scandal. We elect bright promising outsiders who go to Washington and immediately become insiders. They cease fighting for the ideals they promised in the campaign and start fighting to keep themselves in power. Who can make things right? Who will help us out of this mess?
03 Jeremiah 2:1-13 Why is God so difficult to believe in?
Why is God so difficult to believe in? We want control. We explain away His gifts and provision. We want a predictable god who doesn’t surprise us. The God of Scripture is complicated and does not answer all our questions. We are afraid the hope of the gospel is too good to be true. The truth is that God is really not hard to believe in. The problem is that it is our hearts that are fickle.
06 1 Peter 3:8-17 Who is there to harm you?
Peter’s main concern in this section is how we treat others, both inside and outside the family of God. But his point is a fuller richer picture than ‘be nice.’ His advice is fix your hope completely on the grace that is coming to you. And then be humble. Be soft-spoken. Seek their welfare. Don’t […]
06 1 Peter 3:1-7 When you’re treated unjustly
Peter continues the theme of submission he introduced in 2:11. He calling people who are being persecuted to consider what their response communicates to those persecuting them. His advice is the same in all three examples: When possible show the unbelievers that you are a person of virtue by behaving in a submissive and respectful way.
03 1 Peter 1:14-25 Hope makes a difference
In this section Peter explores the connection between what we believe and how we act 3 ways.
09 1 Peter 5:1-14 Final Imperatives
Peter concludes his letter by returning to his great main themes: salvation, suffering and submission. In his “final imperatives”, Peter encourages his readers to stand firm in the faith and focus on their future hope. Part of the series 1 Peter: Living as aliens and strangers For more information: WednesdayintheWord.com Many thanks to Reggie Coates […]
08 1 Peter 4:7-19 The Purpose of Suffering
With 4:7, Peter begins the conclusion of the letter. In his summary he returns to two of his major themes: how to respond when suffering for the name of Christ and how to treat fellow believers. In each case you need the right perspective. Part of the series 1 Peter: Living as aliens and strangers […]
07 1 Peter 3:18-4:6 And then there’s Noah
1Peter 3:18-20 is one of the more difficult passages of the New Testament. We know it has to fit the context of suffering unjustly for the sake of another and we have to answer these 4 questions:
06 1 Peter 3:1-17 Righteous Living
Peter concludes the section his section how to respond when being treated unjustly speaking to wives whose husbands are disobedient to the word. He summarizes this section “Finally/To sum up” – first how we should get along with a pagan government (2:13), then an unfair boss (2:18) and a non-believing spouse (3:1).
05 1 Peter 2:11-25 When you’re treated unjustly
Peter begins a new section of the book, explaining what to do when you’re stuck in a situation you can’t leave and you’re being treated unjustly.
04 1 Peter 2:1-10 Living Stones
Peter draws on the sweep of redemptive history to encourage his readers to stand strong in the faith.