Some Questions

Hopefully you've had a chance to read through the chapter this last week. I thought I would post some questions to get the discussion started... (for future chapters, I may try to have the questions ready at the beginning of the reading, so that there can be dialogue during the week, as we read). Think about these and answer them for yourself. Then I may put each one in a separate post so that they will be easier to discuss (and so the comments don't go on forever in this post). Does this sound like a good way to do this?

Some of these are "pot-stirring" questions (as Ryan would say). As with all the discussion here, please be honoring to those that may read as well as to the Holy Spirit who guides our learning. Pray for wisdom, then begin!

1. What do you think Peter means by "chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" ?

2. What does Peter say is the reason behind the grief and trials his readers are suffering?

3. How does Peter describe our salvation?

4. Why does Peter say "prepare your minds for action"?

5. What does it mean to be holy?

6. Peter uses a "perishable vs. imperishable" contrast in several areas. What is he describing (and how do they relate)?

7. What truth did the readers obey, so that they now have a sincere love?

1 Peter chapter 1

Read it here online, or use your own Bible. It may be helpful to use a journal as well. Use it to pray, ask questions, and let God speak to you.

Begin Again

Based on the comments, I thought we could give a book of the Bible a try. I want to focus on one chapter a week, so you can really dig into it. Use whatever tools you want (commentaries, cross-references, etc.) to study it, but above all, pray before you read each and every time. “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” God will give you understanding of the passages if you ask Him to.

As you read this week, please post your thoughts or questions, and I will do the same. This will be a trial of sorts, to see how we can make this work. As of now, there's no way to get an email about new posts, but if you leave a comment, you can enter your email address to receive any further comments on that post in emails.

The only way I know of to be alerted about new posts is to subscribe to the blog, using a "reader" program. To see more about how to use a reader program, see an explanation I wrote about it here.

Okay, so let's begin reading and studying and growing in Christ!

Direction

I'm sorry there have been a lack of posts lately... I've been trying to figure out how to do this thing. It has mostly been a random access of scripture, and then my thoughts or inspirations from them, but I've been wondering about going through a particular book of the Bible with you, and then somehow opening up for discussion.

What do you think? Do you like the format it's been, or would you appreciate something that requires you to do some reading on your own, and then post your own thoughts or questions about that passage or chapter? (This may sound boring or intimidating to you, but a recent Bible study group I belonged to went through the book of John, and it was so awesome to see how God would teach us so much without any commentaries or current authors to steer it.)

Either would be fine with me, honestly, but I'd like to know what you want from this place. And thank you so much for coming by and being a part of it!

"We've worked hard all night long..."

Luke 5:1-11

Simon Peter and his coworkers had just spent all night desperately trying to catch fish, any fish, just one fish. They probably exhausted their repertoire of tricks and knowledge, skimming the lake from corner to corner, only to come up with bits of trash, sticks, and seaweed. And after being up all night, they had given up and were packing it in. They were probably wondering how they were going to make ends meet that month. Then, at that time, during the moment when they were discouraged and hopeless, Jesus asks them for their boat, so he can use it to teach from. And they allow Jesus to use the thing that had failed them.

When Jesus is done using it, he tells them "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." (v.4)

Simon Peter explains to Jesus how hopeless their situation was. . . "But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (v.5)

Picture then the biggest catch of fish these fisherman had ever seen in all their years of experience. The Dream Catch. The catch they could live off of for who knows how long. They hit the Jackpot of Fish. And Simon Peter hits the floor, overcome with the realization of the power and perfection of the man that stood before him. Then Jesus comforts him, and gives him the call of a lifetime. . . "You see that power I just demonstrated in your normal, everyday life? Now let's use it to transform the world."

Then Peter and his buddies leave everything. . . they just had the biggest success of their life, the success they never even had the capacity to dream of, and they left it, and followed Jesus. They didn't get overtaken by the blessing God had given them, but instead were enraptured by the source from where it came.

How does this speak to your life? Is there something in your life that you've been working hard at all night, and you've come to the conclusion that it's hopeless?

Is Jesus asking to use it for his purpose, so he can teach others from it?

Has he asked you to do something you KNOW won't work?

Will you obey because he says it will work?

Will you worship him when it does. . . beyond your expectations?

And once you are overwhelmed with the blessing, will you leave it all, and follow him?