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DAVID'S EMAIL BIBLE STUDY:
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A. INTRO... After months of looking at "leadership", we turn to the Christian Church's first leader (after Jesus), PETER. Christianity's birthday is Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus' death. The Holy Spirit blessed Jesus' followers with boldness and clarity, and Peter grabbed the mantel of leadership. Preaching that day, he convinced 3,000 people to be baptized and to believe in Christ. From that moment on Christianity was a force, a movement, and then a religion. Peter was the leader although Paul later surpassed him in fame because he traveled widely and wrote so many letters (the "epistles"). Peter wrote two short letters (1 and 2 Peter). They are part of the "Catholic" Epistles. Catholic means "universal"; Peter's letters were written to Christians everywhere.
C. SUMMARY ...Persecution by the Roman Empire against Christians (and soon Jews) is building. Peter is writing to encourage believers to "keep the faith". That faith is centered on the resurrection of Christ, setting Christians free to live confidently, boldly, purposefully. With heaven assured the early Christians, scattered across Asia Minor and the Empire, can concentrate on advancing Christianity.
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KEY POINTS:
1. The TRINITY may be the most puzzling concept in Christianity. Forgiveness might not be easy but we understand it. But how does our monotheistic (1 God) religion explain the Trinity which, by definition, means 3? To make it tougher, historic Christianity has talked about "the 3 persons" of the Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peter distinguishes three separate job descriptions: the fatherhood of God, the sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and the blood sacrifice of Jesus. I make peace with this by appreciating the essential unity of God who chooses to be shown to us through different aspects. We all have personas that come out different ways at different times but at heart we are the same person in different aspects, using different skills. Peter's Trinity likewise represents God at work in three different ways. Regarding fatherhood, many Biblical images of God are male: father, King, Lord. But it is the work, not the gender that teaches us about God. Modern Christianity has embraced gender free or gender neutral language (just use God); or broadened the images to include female aspects, including motherhood.
2. SANCTIFICATION means to be made HOLY. The work of God's spirit is to help us to be better, more Holy, than we thought possible. Every day of our lives has hundreds of moments when we decide what kind of person we are: vulgar, friendly, generous, lying, hurtful, moral, or good. Will our day, and its choice, be Godly or ungodly? Peter is telling us that the work of the Holy Spirit is to constantly remind us, urge us, and push us toward Godliness. That's sanctification. What reminds you to be your best? How can you be more attuned to that? It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit. It is another to make use of it, to allow it to guide you.
3. RESURRECTION. For Peter, Jesus' resurrection is the be all and end all of Christianity. Everything else we do and stand for and believe is impressed upon us by this impossible event. If Jesus could conquer death then we can forgive our enemies, love our neighbors, turn the other cheek, be willing to be humble, fight injustice, stand up for what is right, and live boldly and faithfully.
I am addicted to business shows like "Shark Tank" and "Profit". People with a business dream or product try to convince wealthy, successful people to invest in their risky idea. The investors are willing and humorous because they have so much wealth they can afford to do "outside the box", risky.
Resurrection is our wealth. That's what gives us the joyful willingness to do "outside the box", risky. Think of Martin Luther King, Jr, read Mother Theresa, remember the saints of Christian history, think of your best people. All empowered and emboldened (made powerful, made bold) by the freedom that come with resurrection.
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