30 June Sunday Sermon - 1 Peter

 Hello! It's Sunday again. It feels weird that the beginning of this blog was just ONE WEEK ago, isn' it? Anyways, let's cover this Sunday's sermon I heard today, covering the general letter of 1 Peter, coming after the Book of James. Let's begin:

1 Peter is a New Testament book after James and before 2 Peter. Peter the apostle of Jesus wrote this, by around 64 AD. It begins with the usual opening for New Testament letters: it covers the purpose, author, and has the greetings. He is directing this letter mostly to Christian believers in modern day Turkiye, who is facing persecution by their families, and of course the government. Let's go through subtopic per subtopic, and discuss them.

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Subtopic 1 - Greetings

(Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-3).

This is the usual beginning of all New Testament letters. He refers to himself, who he is writing for, and uses "To God's elect" to describe the Christians in modern day Turkey, which has been elected by God to accept him - this will be clearer later.

Subtopic 2 - Praise to God

(Reading: 1 Peter: 4-12)

Peter says to the Christians in Galatia, and to us to praise God because of his great mercy in the first subtopic. He says we must  praise God because of his mercy and grace to us and given us a living hope through Jesus. 

Subtopic 3 - Holiness

(Reading: 1 Peter 1: 13-25, 1 Peter 2: 1-3)

Peter talks about a holy life and holiness in these next verses. He tells us to be alert and not fall to temptation, because we must be holy. We must love God and one another too. In 1 Peter 2, it continues on holiness, saying that we should rid ourself of sins.

Subtopic 4 - The Chosen People

(Reading: 1 Peter 2:3-10)

Peter makes an analogy/metaphor here: we are "living stones"  chosen by God to create a spiritual house and to be a holy priesthood and offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Jesus is the cornerstone in this analogy - without it, the house would fall. But the chosen people (who God chose to become a holy priesthood, spread His word etc)  should be a holy nation and God's special posession. It's a hard to explain with words thing, but basically God has chosen some people to be his holy priesthood, returned sheep, and to spread God's word.

Subtopic 5 - Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

(Reading: 1 Peter 2:11-25, 1 Peter 3:1-7)

In this subtopic, Peter urges us to wage war against our desires - our own wants, since they conflict with The Lord's. We must live such good lives that non-believers can see our actions and follow God too! He says to obey God's authority above all other authorities or governments and to fear God the greatest, but also to honor human authorities.

Subtopic 6 - Suffering for Doing Good

(Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-22)

Peter then tells us to be sympthatetic and to not do revenge or pay evil with evil. Pray for those who are sinful, and you will also be blessed. Furthermore, if you suffer, but are doing good, you will be blessed.

Subtopic 7 - Living for God

(Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-11)

He tells us to live for God, since our life in here is much shorter than our eternal life. And since Jesus suffered and lived in the same place, with the same body, we should do the same. We should live the rest of our earthly lives without evil human desires. We should live our lives for God.

Subtopic 8 - Suffering for Being a Christian

(Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19)

We should rejoice if we suffer for Jesus when we are insulted for being a Christian. Why? That shows that we are blessed and the Holy Spirit rests on you. When you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God and rejoice. We should commit ourselves to God if we suffer according to God's will,

Subtopic 9 - To the Elders and the Flock

(Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-11)

Peter tells the elders of the churches in modern-day Turkey to be examples of younger people and to watch over them. Also, to those who are younger, he tells them to submit themselves to the elder, and to be humble to one another. God favors the humble, but is in opposition with the proud. 

Subtopic 10 - Closing

(Reading: 1 Peter 5:12-14)

At the end of the chapter, Peter ends the letter that addresses of others who help in the writing of 1 Peter. He ends it with "Peace to all of you who are in Christ".

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Conclusion

That's the end of 1 Peter - thank you for reading! 

Exclusive Verse for 1 Peter:

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

(1 Peter 4:14)





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