Beginning a new sermon series, pastoral assistant John Pai preaches this Sunday (Feb. 19, 2023) on 1 Peter 1:1-2. Apostle Peter writes a letter to Christian gentiles and begins by addressing identities. We see who Peter is, who his readers are, and who God is. In an age where self-identity has become a major focus of public discourse, believers can see how Peter, his readers, and both their relationships with the triune God help us discover who we really are. We see that our true and new identity is in the Suffering Servant who saved us, Jesus Christ.

Scripture Readings:

• 1 Peter 2:9-12 (1st Reading)
• 1 Peter 2:24 (Assurance of Pardon)
• Deuteronomy 7:6-11 (2nd Reading)
• 1 Peter 5:10-11 (Benediction)

Discussion Questions:

1. How does 1 Peter help us understand more of who we are as Christians?
2. How does knowing who Peter is help us understand who we are?
3. How does knowing what apostle means help us better understand 1 Peter?
4. How does our understanding of what apostle means and the various levels help us understand the role of Christians?
5. What is the importance of knowing that Peter has a new identity in Christ?
6. How do you express who you are and who you are first? How do people get to self identity?
7. How does our knowledge of what elect means impact our walk with God?
8. How does understanding what exile means help us understand who we are and who we are in Christ?
9. How does understanding dispersion help us understand who believers are and how they function?
10. How does the understanding of knowing these Christians as outsiders impact our walks with God?
11. Knowing that Christians are foreigners always, how does this impact how we engage with the world?
12. How do we engage with the world when we feel like an outsider and expressed by the word to not share the gospel?
13. How does knowing that we are citizens not of this earth impact how we live our lives here?
14. What is the purpose of God having us here on earth and not taking us home yet?
15. How does our knowledge of who God is impact who we are and how we engage with the world?
16. How does knowing what foreknowledge means help us understand who God is and how we engage with God?
17. How does Acts 2 help us better understand this passage and understand who God is and who we are?
18. How does Peter encourage us how we should live our lives and why it matters?
19. How does Proverbs 16: 1, 9, and 33 help us better understand this passage?
20. How does God’s foreknowledge and our pain in this world impact our relationship with God?
21. How does Jesus’ suffering and foreknowledge of his suffering for us impact our relationship with God, and our daily interactions with him?
22. How does Isaiah 53 help us understand more of who Jesus is?
23. How does knowing that we are chosen by God impact our identity and how we engage with the world?
24. What is the importance of starting with who God is to discover who we are?