First Peter is about keeping hope alive in the face of pressures and circumstances that could possibly extinguish it completely, or worse, turn authentic faith into a pale replica of the real thing. In the opening paragraphs, Peter announces his theme: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Peter’s statement that we have a “living hope...that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” is a powerful claim in today’s world. In the face of death and life, authentic Christian hope is alive and growing. In Peter’s words, we find assurance that Christian faith is full, vibrant, and able to endure even the direst threats of persecution and death.
A part of the NextSunday Resources line of adult Bible studies, 1 Peter: Keep Hope Alive contains five lessons for use as individual study or group discussion. Each study contains lessons on the biblical material, combined with an additional commentary from an alternate, but complementary, viewpoint.
