Open in prayer
Open with each member of the group sharing a prayer request, and then pray for one another.
Scripture reading
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Peter 1:1-2
1. Observation
In the opening line of his letter, Peter introduces himself simply as an apostle of Jesus Christ and addresses his readers as chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad. He reminds us of who he was—an uneducated fisherman who spoke first and thought later, stepping out on water only to sink, and ultimately denying his Lord three times. Yet God chose, restored, and used him. As Gerhard said,
For Peter, Christ is the great Rock, the petra, the chief cornerstone. Peter is merely a petros—a small stone, a piece of rock, who, along with us, is being built up as a spiritual house upon the only true Foundation, Jesus Christ.
Looking strictly at the text of 1 Peter 1:1-2, what distinct titles, locations, and descriptions does Peter use to identify himself and his readers?
2. Interpretation
Peter pairs two words that seem to completely contradict each other: chosen and exiles. These believers were enduring intense hostility, verbal slander, and social isolation in pagan Roman provinces. They were outcasts in their own towns. Yet Peter redefines their entire identity through a Trinitarian reality—chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, and sprinkled with Christ’s blood. As Gerhard stated,
The world looked at them and saw rejected outcasts; Peter looks at them and says, ‘You are God’s chosen treasures.’ Their earthly displacement was actually proof of their heavenly placement.
Why does Peter ground the identity and hope of these suffering “exiles” in the sovereign work of all three Persons of the Trinity before addressing any of their practical circumstances?
3. Chosen
If you are facing the ‘persecution of the tongue’: slandered at work, isolated by your family, mocked for your faith, remember that your security is not defined by this world’s approval.
Where in your daily life—at work, in your neighbourhood, or within your family—do you feel most like an “exile” or outcast for standing on biblical truth? How does knowing you are chosen by God change your reaction to that rejection?
4. Sanctification
We are not saved to blend into the pagan culture around us. The Holy Spirit has set you apart. When temptation comes, remember that you are a consecrated vessel, sealed for the day of redemption.
In what specific area of your life are you currently tempted to compromise and blend in with the culture around you? What concrete step will you take this week to live as one set apart by the Spirit?
5. Redemption
You were not saved by your obedience, but you were absolutely saved unto obedience… How will your life this week show that you are under the covenant of Christ’s blood?
What is one specific, tangible act of obedience in your home, marriage, workplace, or church that you have been putting off, and how can this group hold you accountable to pursue it this week?
Who can you share this with?
A spouse, a child, a friend, a co-worker. Who can you share something you’ve learnt with?
Closing prayer
Close your group time by taking specific worries to God together. Pray over the tangible needs mentioned in the group, actively trusting the Heavenly Father who knows what you need before you ask.