Faith Journey

This passage of Scripture can often bring up some heated discussion. To help minimize the heat, it may be wise to begin your discussion on the basis of our final authority on truth. If we can agree on that question, then we should be able to look for answers from the same focal point.

What Is our Final Authority:

1. Is it "what we have always believed?"  This may mean the pattern you learned and modeled by your parents or other spiritual leaders.
2. Is it "what our Church believes?"  This may be referring to what has been preached from the pulpit or what your Church Doctrinal Statements read.
3. Is it "what our Denomination has decided?"  This may be referring to a decision that was made at National Conventions.

If any of the above is our final authority, then there is no need for us to study the Bible. In fact it will be much easier for you. However, it is from these decisions (as our final authority) that false doctrine has crept into our churches and into our lives. The erosion of the foundation of our faith is seen as an epidemic by many within the North American Church.

The only final authority must be the Bible and the Bible alone. Whenever a church or denomination disallows or advises the believers not to question them; that these decisions have come because of careful study from the scholars, then your faith is in great danger. There must be a great appreciation for preaching and Spiritual leaders' decision, but it should never mean that we stop thinking for ourselves. The Bible must remain as our final authority for life.

The idea I'm trying to get across is that you should encourage your group to set aside their previous thoughts and look at what the Bible says and seek to understand afresh what it speaks to us.

Group Discussion

1. Review your 1 Peter Storyboard found in the Appendix.  Use this to talk your way through 1 Peter.
2. Review the Objectives from Chapter 1—5. (Study Download) How is your understanding of 1 Peter coming along?
3. Read the workbook text for this study.  Use these thoughts as a springboard for any discussion.  If you do not agree with what is written, that's okay, but make certain that your thoughts are based on Scripture.
4. What is the main theme that runs from 1 Peter 2:13 through to 1 Peter 3:7? That theme serves as the context as we look at 1 Peter 3:1-7.  Try to think of it this way: Chapter 3 may have been better placed beginning at 1 Peter 3:8. (The Basic theme would be that Christians should live out a spirit of submission in all areas of our life).
5. Read 1 Peter 3:1-7. Circle the key words that you found in these verses.
6. What might be the implications for a wife if she accepts Christ as Savior and her husband does not? How might the husband treat his wife differently?
7. What might the scenario be if the husband accepts Christ? How would this impact the household? Make sure to look at the study notes and read about the Household Codes and 1 Peter 3:1-7 Commentary
8. What does Peter mean by outward adornment?
9. What words in 1 Peter 3:1 describe the setting or context for the instructions for the wife? Is the Husband a believer in Christ?  Why would the Husband's faith matter in regard to these instructions?
10. How does our marriage culture differ from Peter’s day?
11. How would Peter’s words change if he was writing to you today?  How would he write to the husband today? What might he say to the Christian wife in today's culture?

Application

1. What relationship Life Principles did you find in this study that you need to take home with you?
2. If your spouse or a family member has not embraced Christ as Savior, what lessons are found in the study that you must use?