1 Peter 1:13 Outline and Thought Questions

The Difference Theology Makes part one

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

It is not unusual to find people thinking of theology as something that is impractical. 

What you will see very clearly over the next several weeks as we continue our study of 1 Peter is that his attitude is actually just the opposite.  In Peter’s mind there could hardly be anything more practical or more relevant.

In 1:13-2:3 Peter shows us 5 ways what we believe should change the way we live. 

In verse 13, we find the first.

 1.            It should make a difference on the way you think about the future.

v.13

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Therefore tells us why to fix our hope.

Prepare your minds for action and keep sober in spirit tell us how to fix our hope.

And the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ tells us what we are supposed to fix our hope on. 

Thought Questions

1.             What is one important way verses 13-2:3 are different than 1:1-12?

2.            What is the central phrase in verse 13?

3.            What does the word hope mean?  What are two different elements of biblical hope?  What are some passages that illustrate those elements? (You can look at Romans 8:25 and 2 Corinthians 1:13 and 15, plus 1 Corinthians 15:19 to get a hint of what the two important elements are.)

 4.            What does the fact that this phrase is a command mean?

5.            What does Peter tell us we are to hope in?  

 6.            Look at the following verses and see if you can discover seven characteristics does Peter give us in this letter of the person who is  fixing their hope on the return of Jesus Christ?

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:6

1 Peter 2:11,12

1 Peter 3:8,9

1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 5:1-4

1 Peter 5:6-11 

7.            Look at the following passages and see if you can spot several other ways having our hope fixed should affect the way we  currently are living?

1 Corinthians 15:58 

Matthew 6:1ff 

Matthew 6:19-21 

1 Corinthians 4:5

1 Corinthians 6:1-3 

2 Peter 3:14, 1 John 3:3

Luke 6:22

James 5:7ff

2 Corinthians 4:16ff

8.            What two steps does Peter tell us we must take if we are going to fix our hope  completely on the grace that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus  Christ?

9.            What are some passages you might look at in order to evaluate yourself and whether or not you are intoxicated spiritually?