The Big Read – 1 Peter

Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures of things that blend into the background

Look at the following pictures of some things that are brilliant at blending into the background.  Can you see what it is? [Gecko; Toad; Katydid; Spider; Potoo; Fish; Person]

All these things are brilliant at blending into their surroundings and one of the big reasons why they do this is protect themselves from danger.

1 Peter was written to Christians who were tempted to do the same.

These Christians were being given a hard time because they were different, because they stood out for following Jesus, and the temptation was to stop being different, to blend in, to do the things everyone else was doing, in order to avoid this persecution.

So Peter writes this letter called 1 Peter to them.

Why?

“I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.  Stand fast in it.” (1 Peter 5:12)

Throughout the letter Peter tells us why we should keep living different lives and that’s because of all that Jesus has done for us in rescuing us.

He also tells us practically how to keep living different lives – to be holy – and wonderfully he reminds us that Jesus is our shepherd who watches over us and cares for us when we have a hard time following Him.