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Intro to 1 Peter · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  God, thank you for tonight. Thank you for all the women who are here. Lord, I pray that you would use me and you would use this study, Lord, but that it would be about you and it would be about this church right now and what you're saying to us. God, thank you for writing this book so long ago through a man across the world from where we are now, and yet you're using it to cut straight through to us tonight.
• 0:28
  And I pray, Lord, that you would, that you would use your word this summer to bring us closer to you and closer to each other and stronger and faithful. We love you. In Jesus' name, amen. Okay. First, Peter. When I say Peter, I'm sure some images come to your mind, right? He was an apostle, right? Larger than life is how he's depicted a lot of times.
• 0:59
  He was an exclusive member of an exclusive group, right? Being an apostle, there was a certain number, and there were ones of them that were, I wouldn't say more important, obviously, but that were mentioned more, right? And when you think of Peter, I think you think of those things. I think that Peter, when we think of him, we often think of the times he fumbled. I don't know about you, maybe I think of that. And I think that...
• 1:30
  That makes him relatable to us, right? He is known for some things, and I think it makes him more relatable to us. Peter is a reminder to us right now, this moment, that God gets all the glory. Peter is a reminder to us that God doesn't need us to be perfect for him to use us. A reminder to us that our failures can be stepping stones in our faith.
• 1:58
  and that our failures do not have to be stumbling blocks. Do you see that when you think of Peter? God used his failures and his mishaps to create stronger faith in him. They weren't stumbling blocks. They were really stepping stones. So I want you to remember that in your own life, in your own heart, and to be encouraged by Peter in that way. I think we need to remember that there are chapters in our lives that we wish we could relive, probably, or things we wish we could do differently.
• 2:29
  Or maybe we see that in other family members or people. There are chapters that are dark. But you know what? I think all of us would say that during those chapters is when we grow in our depth and our character. Right? So when you think about Peter, you think about all of those little mishaps or missteps. And you think about the end of his life. Right? If you know anything about it, we're going to talk a little bit about it. And that God used those missteps.
• 2:57
  To grow his character and his depth. And let's remember to be gracious and loving and kind with people who are going through chapters that might seem like mishaps or missteps to us. Right? But that God is really digging deep down into their character. And remember that the chapters are not finished. Right? For any of us. God is still writing his story in our lives. Okay.
• 3:22
  So that's how you're going to be encouraged by Peter so far. I'm sorry, I'm so bossy tonight. I'm already telling you all the things. You need to have fun. Be encouraged. You could smile once in a while. That'd be great. Stay awake. Okay. Church history says that Peter was a big fisherman, right? Big personality, big fisherman. I think he was known as a big guy. That's what church history says. The Bible doesn't say those things, but that's what church history says.
• 3:49
  And it's widely accepted, I'm sure most of you have heard that Peter at the end of his life was martyred, hung right on a cross, but he refused to be hung the same way as his Lord, so he asked to be hung upside down. Again, not in the Bible, but that's church history. I learned that he, it is also widely accepted that he watched his wife be martyred. And there's some things written about that, that she was...
• 4:17
  killed and martyred on a cross. He was there. Peter was married, and his wife was involved in ministry with him, and you can read that in the Gospels. In fact, Jesus healed his mom, and it's recorded in three of the Gospels. I'm going to make you look for it. I'm not going to tell you where it is, but if you didn't know that, that's all in there. And before Peter was the apostle to the Jews, right, that's what he's called, he was a part of this family of fishermen in Capernaum.
• 4:47
  And his brother, Andrew, is the one who first met the Lord, and Andrew brought Peter to meet Jesus. His name originally was Simon, or Simeon, right? And Jesus changes his name to Peter, or Cephas, which means rock. And then Peter becomes the leader of the apostles, right? If you look, his name is always mentioned first in lists of apostles. I know, I'm sorry if this is not, this is fun stuff for me, so be excited about it.
• 5:17
  He's listed first because he kind of took charge of the apostles. And Peter had certainly been a witness to some unique and extraordinary events. I have just a little list here. The raising of Jairus' little girl, right? He was a witness to that. He was a witness to Jesus' transfiguration. He overheard Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, right? He witnessed part of Calvary and Pentecost.
• 5:45
  And then afterwards, in the upper room, he's the one that took leadership. One quote that I read I really like. This one says, The very name of Peter was an encyclopedia of memories of Christ and his church. Right? It's different to us because we're set further back. He does evoke some images. But can you imagine the people who lived at that time? When you would say the name of Peter, what kinds of things they knew he had witnessed and seen?
• 6:15
  We think that way of Paul, and I think Peter sometimes gets a bad rap because he's a little bit more relatable than maybe, right? Again, his name evoked some pretty amazing memories amongst the people. Okay, so I know you know Peter, and you know a lot about him. I have five verses we're going to look at, and it's kind of, to me, a timeline of just some of the big things for Peter. Okay, so you're going to have to use your Bible with me. Are you ready?
• 6:44
  The first one I want to look at is when he was called in Mark, the book of Mark, chapter 1, verses 16 through 18. And you guys see where I am on the notes, right? We're going to spend the bulk of our time in this who about Peter. And you can write down anything or nothing, whatever you want. First, we're going to talk about Mark 1, verses 16 through 18. We're going to look at these quick five passages.
• 7:14
  I'm sure that are very familiar to you, but I want them to serve as our application tonight. Again, I'm telling you what to do. I'm so sorry. Mark 1, 16 through 18, and it says, Casting alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him. So our writer tonight, our author,
• 7:44
  is someone who encountered Jesus, right, and was willing to leave everything else behind. Now turn to Matthew 14. That's to the left. To the left. Matthew 14, verse 28. Am I going too fast? I'll take your silence as a no. Matthew 14, verse 28. And let's see where we find Peter now. And Peter answered him, Lord.
• 8:20
  If it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, Truly, you are the Son of God. So here we see Peter.
• 8:49
  And he's learning his faith, right? He's learning faith. He's learning to trust the Lord. First we see him obeying, then we see him learning faith. Now let's look at John. That's to the right. John, chapter 18. The next two are in this chapter. There's a lot going on here. John, chapter 18, verse 10. John, chapter 18, verse 10. And it says, Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest.
• 9:30
  servant and cut off his right ear the servant's name was malchus so jesus said to peter put your sword into its sheath shall i not drink the cup that the father has given me here we see peter vehemently and perhaps a little protecting the lord right defending are you with me okay let's stay in john 18 but go to verse 25 now simon peter was standing and warming himself
• 10:02
  So they said to him, you also are not one of his disciples, are you? He denied it and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. And this passage is very familiar to us. I would say this is Peter at his lowest point, denying, right? Ashamed, scared, where he was just defending, now he's denying. And the last one, just a little bit over to the right.
• 10:32
  John 21, John chapter 21, verse 15. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, tend my sheep.
• 11:01
  He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, do you, do you, wait, sorry, I got lost. Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were, oh wait, I'm going to stop at 18. So here we see Jesus on the beach with Peter, right? We see Peter on the beach being restored.
• 11:28
  Right? He was just a couple of chapters before denying. And here he is being restored. I'm going to keep going. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you're old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. That's the implication of Peter dying. This, he said, to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after saying this, he said to him, follow me. So there's restoration. I think in these verses we see a scope of the author of our book.
• 11:58
  An apostle who was divinely chosen, but very human and humble sometimes. He was called and he obeyed, right? Leaving everything behind. He struggled with his faith, but walked on the water when he kept his eyes on the Lord. He was willing to go to battle for Jesus. He got caught up in sin, ashamed of the gospel. He denied Christ in his darkest hour, but was restored by Jesus himself and used his life advancing the kingdom, becoming the rock.
• 12:26
  on which Christ chose to build his church. Those are definitely stepping stones and not stumbling blocks. When you think about all those things and you put them together, you can see what God was doing. I think we can learn from Peter, the man. He's been called the apostle of hope. I think we can learn that we must obey the call and leave everything behind if that's what it takes. We have to walk in faith. We have to keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
• 12:55
  that we are called to defend the name of Christ and his bride, the church. That's whose ears we cut off, right? Don't really cut anybody's ears off. But do you see what I'm saying? If we need to, we will defend the name of Jesus and his church. And we have to remember, when we stumble, there's always restoration and forgiveness in Christ. So that's kind of my timeline, my thoughts about the person of Peter, the author.
• 13:24
  And if you want to read more about Peter this summer, Acts, which is the record of the history of the church, right? You could look through Acts 1 through 12, and it will tell you the things that happened after Peter went forth and became the rock of the church, our church today. Okay, on your notes, it says that was author who. If you just wrote Peter, that's fine. Now we're going to do who, the audience, okay?
• 13:53
  And let's look at 1 Peter. Find it. I'm just going to read the first two verses. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. I'm going to stop right there, actually. So those are, that's his audience right there. Let me tell you who that is. This is the who, but who it's to. The letter was written to, let's break it down.
• 14:31
  Elect exiles of the dispersion. Elect means chosen, right? And there's always a lot of drama and trauma around the word election and the theology behind election. And I'm obviously not going to touch it today. But there's the word, right? It means chosen according to God's foreknowledge, right? He knew these people were chosen. And that's who he's writing to. Exiles.
• 15:01
  They're aliens. They're in a foreign land, right? They are scattered, without roots. You've heard of the word diaspora, right? That's the word that means scattered, often mostly used with the Jewish people. Have you ever been someplace where it wasn't your home, right? That's how these people were not at home. They were aliens in a strange land.
• 15:29
  And while Peter's audience, the people to whom he writes, are physically scattered, he's also referring to us as believers, right? This world is not our home. We, too, are aliens in a strange land. This area, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, is modern-day Turkey. Can you envision that, where Turkey is? It's like sticking out into the ocean next to Greece.
• 15:58
  I should have just printed a map for those of you who don't know. But you can look it up. It's modern-day Turkey. And these Christians needed to be encouraged that their citizenship was in heaven because they were in a place that didn't feel like home, right? And they needed to be encouraged that their real citizenship, their real home was heaven. I feel like we need to be encouraged with that too, right? Sometimes this world is hard to enter.
• 16:27
  The things that are going on are hard. And we need to be reminded that this is only for a time. That our citizenship is in heaven. That we are merely sojourners here. And I think it's interesting to note that it is predominantly Muslim today. Right? That area of Turkey is predominantly Muslim today. And it's important to note, too, that this area would be mostly...
• 16:56
  given to Paul's ministry. Who Peter is writing to was actually the places that Paul went to, if you look in the back of your maps in your Bible, on his missionary journey. And Peter is writing to them. They're mostly Gentiles. God is using Peter to write to them, but they are scattered here. They were probably pagan converts as a result of Paul's ministry. And I think it's interesting to think about Peter too.
• 17:25
  That while Paul was still persecuting Christians, Peter was an apostle. You know, we don't forget about that. Paul was still doing things against the Lord when Peter was being called to be an apostle. I don't know. I like that stuff. On your notes it says, who else? I just want to tell you the two other major players in this book. Silas, or Silvanus. Silas had traveled with Paul.
• 17:53
  Right? And now he assists Peter in writing this epistle. Silas is the one who actually does most of the physical writing. And we'll see him throughout the book. And then the other guy that is in the book a lot is Mark. And he was a leader in the church. And he's the one who wrote the book of Mark. But he uses Peter's testimony to write the book of Mark. So those are our characters, our people in our book.
• 18:22
  Now we're on when and where. This letter was written in the mid-60s. Mid-60s A.D. Not the 1960s. The mid-60s A.D. Thanks, Mir. They guessed between 64 and 67 A.D. In chapter 5, verse 13 of 1 Peter, Peter says he's writing from Babylon. And there are some questions as to what that is, but mostly everybody thinks it's the same thing.
• 18:53
  You can look it up if you have, if you want to know more. But Babylon was a code word for Rome. It was an alias for Rome. He was writing this letter from Rome. So most people say that are smarter than me. He says in chapter 5, verse 13, if you want to write it down, he says from Babylon. And we'll talk more about this, but he's talking about Rome. I'm pretty convinced. I read a lot of stuff. You can read it too. I'll tell you.
• 19:24
  That's significant because some bad things are going on in Rome at this time. I think it's important to understand this if you're going to understand 1 Peter. If you've ever heard of Emperor Nero, he was the emperor at the time. And this was the time when Rome was set on fire in AD 64. Rome burned for nine days. Burned. And it was horrific.
• 19:51
  And it made everybody there question about their gods and their faith and all of those things. And everybody's pretty sure that Nero set the fire, right? It's pretty much, that's what most people say. That Emperor Nero himself set the fire so that he could build more stuff for himself. But he blamed it on the Christians. And this is the time, if you've heard or seen or been to Rome or the persecution was, the things that he did, that he implemented are.
• 20:21
  Atrocious. Atrocious. Right? I read he was married for three years. It's said, again, historical, I don't know, but I read it in several places, that he kicked his wife one time in the stomach and she died. He was an awful, awful, awful man. And he's the one who was killing Christians and lighting them on fire to light up his...
• 20:44
  Parties and stuff. And that's the kind of persecution. And you need to know this. If you knew that already. But you need to know this as you read it. When he's talking about. Because so much of this book is about that. About persecution. You need to understand really what was going on. And he's writing then. To these people. And the things that they were having to live through. It's important to remember and to know. So devastating persecution. A war broke out in AD 67.
• 21:13
  amongst the Romans and the Jews, and the Jews end up losing. It was all bad. Nero ends up committing suicide. So that's all important to remember of the when and where. But it brings us to the what and the why on your paper. And that's really what this book is about, the theme. It is obvious, as you read this epistle, that the Christians are facing the darkest of times. And Peter is calling them to trust the Lord and live obedient, holy lives despite their circumstances. Did you hear that part?
• 21:43
  Because I really feel like the Lord has this book for us right now, and he wants us to live obedient lives, right? Despite our circumstances, whatever those may be. It is the most significant theme throughout this book. Obedience and holy lives despite our circumstances. And I think that's Jesus' example for us, right? He's the ultimate example of that. Obedience.
• 22:10
  despite his circumstances. And Jesus was Peter's mentor and teacher, personal mentor and teacher. And they lived holiness amidst hostility. I have a quote for you. I didn't write this one on your paper, but it's a good one. Though most greatly privileged, because we get to go to heaven, right? Christians, though most greatly privileged, should also know that the world will treat them unjustly.
• 22:38
  Their citizenship is in heaven, and they are strangers in a hostile, Satan-energized world. Thus, the Christian life can be summed up as a call to victory and glory through the path of suffering. I'm going to say it again. Thus, the Christian life can be summed up as a call to victory and glory through the path of suffering. So the basic question that Peter answers in this epistle is, how are Christians to deal with animosity?
• 23:07
  This is a quote from one of the commentaries. Do you need to know that? How are you supposed to deal with animosity? I for sure need to figure that out, right? And here is the book before us. And that's what it's about. First, Peter offers us the direction to living a victorious Christian life amidst hostility without losing hope. I told you Peter was often called the apostle of hope.
• 23:36
  And I just told you what was going on in their world, right? And yet he had hope. And so do we. It offers us victory without becoming bitter. And being able to trust the Lord in all the things. First Peter has been called the discipleship manual. It's been called the manual for Christian living. It's been called hope for the hurting. And so I hope that you and we will...
• 24:08
  apply it, and use it, and sort through it, and figure out what God is trying to show us through it. I'm going to read you one last thing. It's actually, I printed it on your paper, and it's from my favorite writer, commentator. He writes more like a, it's almost like a devotional, but it's by John Phillips. And I read it months ago, and it has stuck with me as I've been studying through, and so I wanted you to have it too.
• 24:38
  as we study through that you could have this to reflect back on, okay? And it's on your paper. As we explore Peter's letters, we shall keep in mind the personality of Peter. Peter has come down to us in popular tradition as the big fisherman. He was that, all right, an impetuous, rock-hewn, life-size, dynamic figure of a man. We shall keep in mind, too, the preeminence of Christ.
• 25:04
  The master was forever foremost in this beloved fisherman's mind. He had known him, and few people have known him. He had lived with him, walked and talked with him, and shared his own home with him. We shall keep in mind also the persecution of Nero. The terrible figure of that diabolical, wicked man haunts the book. In him, Satan was unmasked. He was no longer the angel of light, no longer even the old serpent. He was the roaring lion, going about seeking whom he might devour.
• 25:33
  And so I want you to have those things in mind as we introduce the book of 1 Peter. Now you know the who, the what, the when, the where, the other who's, and all the other W questions, right? And usually we have a little bit of time to pray, and sometimes there will be discussion questions around our tables, but I talk a lot. And we played and had fun, so that's all.
• 26:00
  Hopefully, we've introduced 1 Peter. I would challenge you to read it this week before we get together a week from tonight to start into the meat of the book. Thank you for coming and being here, and I hope you're as pumped as I am. I can't tell by your faces, but hopefully, I'm going to pray for us. Thank you for coming, and you can eat some more snacks, okay? Let's pray. God, we are thankful for tonight.
• 26:29
  I'm thankful for your word. Lord, I pray that you would use it. You would use it to guide us and teach us, to help us to remain hopeful in a hard world. That you would use it to keep us from bitterness. Lord, that you would use it to help us to be bold in proclaiming you to others around us, God. Thank you for these women who are here. Lord, I pray that you would help us to get dirt under our fingernails.
• 26:59
  like I read earlier, Lord, that we would dig at your word ourselves, that we could figure it out, Lord, and that you would show us, help us to be able to apply it, to walk away from here, not unchanged, Lord, but to be able to see you and to do what you want us to do, Lord, even if it's hard. We're so thankful to be together. We're so thankful for this church and Jesus. Amen.