Chapter Summary

Exhortation to holiness and growth in view of Christ's great sacrifice. Christ's vicarious sufferings.

Discussion Questions for 1 Peter, Chapter 2

1. 1 Peter 2:2-3 likens believers to newborn infants craving pure spiritual milk. How does this analogy encourage us to pursue spiritual growth and nourishment, and what practices or habits help us grow in our faith?
2. The chapter describes believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5). How does this imagery of community and priesthood highlight the interconnectedness and shared responsibility of believers in the Church?
3. Reflecting on 1 Peter 2:9-10, which describes believers as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special possession, how does this identity empower us to live boldly and fulfill our purpose in the world?
4. 1 Peter 2:11-12 urges believers to abstain from sinful desires and live honorable lives among the Gentiles, so that they may see our good deeds and glorify God. How does our conduct as believers impact our witness to unbelievers, and how can we effectively communicate the gospel through our actions?
5. The chapter encourages submission to authority, whether to the emperor or to governors (1 Peter 2:13-17). How do we navigate the tension between honoring human authority and maintaining allegiance to God's higher authority, especially in situations of conflict or injustice?
6. Reflecting on 1 Peter 2:18-25, which speaks of the example of Christ's suffering and submission, how does Christ's sacrificial love inspire us to endure suffering with grace and humility, and how does it reshape our understanding of leadership and service?
7. The chapter calls believers to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who suffered unjustly yet entrusted Himself to the righteous judge (1 Peter 2:21-23). How does the example of Christ's suffering challenge our attitudes toward suffering and injustice, and how can we respond with faith and resilience?
8. 1 Peter 2:24-25 speaks of Christ bearing our sins on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. How does the doctrine of substitutionary atonement inform our understanding of salvation and our response to God's grace?
9. The chapter emphasizes the theme of spiritual growth and maturity, urging believers to rid themselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (1 Peter 2:1). How can we actively cultivate these virtues in our lives and communities, and what obstacles hinder our growth in Christlikeness?
10. Reflecting on 1 Peter 2:9, which describes believers as a chosen people, how does our identity as God's chosen ones influence our sense of purpose, worth, and belonging in the world, and how can we live in light of this truth?

Key Words/Phrase

Growth, vv. 2, 21.

Characters

God, Christ, Peter.

Strong Verse(s)

2, 5, 9, 11, 15, 19, 20, 21, 24.