Bible Study

Bible study is the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month instead of a regular service.

This is when we delve deeper in the scriptures, like the Bereans, to better understand what we are reading. Some people think we should not question God, but there are times when those hard questions nag at you like “why did God let the satan attack Job” or when a hard saying of Jesus like “if you call someone a fool you are liable to the fire of gehenna” just gets in the way of your faith. All over the Bible the Psalmists and prophets were constantly asking God some tough questions when they don’t understand what’s happening to them. And so, we, like them should not shy away from asking too. We might not get all the answers we are looking for, but we come away with a better understanding of the passages we are studying and knowing that our God is a big and does not feel threatened by our questioning.

Week 12 – Suffering for Doing Good

December 6, 2015

Study
Questions

Study

The First Letter of Peter: Holy Living in the Midst of Fiery Trials.

Peter tells us in verse 17 that it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong. Because when we suffer for doing what is right, God will reward us. Our lives must demonstrate our belief and we should always be ready to give an answer for why we believe.

Questions

Peter tells us not to fear those who would harm us. What should we do instead?
In what manner and attitude should we give our Christian testimony?
When a Believer encounters hostilities when trying to live a good life, what should he/she remember?
Christ, the righteous, suffered and died for us, the unrighteous. Why?
After his resurrection, Jesus Christ, now seated at the right hand of God the Father, proclaimed victory and his authority over who?

Answers

We should honor Christ as Lord and be prepared to give the reason for the hope (trust) that is in us.
With gentleness and respect.
It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong.
That He might bring us home to God.
All angels, authorities and spiritual powers (which includes Satan).

Selected Scripture Verses

I Peter 3:13-22

(13) Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? (14) But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” (15) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (16) keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (17) For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (18) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (19) After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— (20) to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, (21) and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22) who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Bible Study

Open Hands Church