Introduction

“You have been born again… through the living and abiding word of God.” (v. 23)

First Peter is often called a “Baptismal Homily,” a short sermon on the living Hope we have as baptized children of God. Baptism puts a new identity on each of us. We get marked with the family name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Even separated by social distancing, together we are family, the children of God!

This study explores the rich identity as baptized children who belong to the family of God. It reveals challenges to our family identity. It commissions us to be stewards who work in the family business. And it strengthens us with the commendation to daily soak up the wisdom and promises of God in the pages of the Bible. In these “last days” we wear our identity boldly as God’s children, stewards doing good because we know, “our Hope for years to come!”

 

Checking In

• What activities do you miss because of social distancing?

 

• What activities have you enjoyed in these changing times?

 

Word: 1 Peter 1:17-25

¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

 

• How would people who know your calendar, spending, media, passions, and joys describe what is important to you? (Be gracious to one another and share what you see.)

 

• Find words and phrases that Peter uses to describe the value God places on your life. How do they add meaning and depth to your identity as a person?

 

• What specific influences do you feel are trying to devalue, distort or destroy your identity at this time? (Examples could include specific people, events, crises, activities, failures, disappointments, excesses of any kind, etc.)

 

Video

St. Paul’s Lutheran (Des Peres) H.I.S. Puppeteers have produced a video puppet show to compliment this study. Enjoy!

 

• What superheroes did our friend in the video try to be? Describe a time when you tried to be a superhero or wished you could be one.

 

• Our friend in the video gave you a different hero’s cape. He said, “you are a child of God.” In your own words, what does it mean for you to be a child of God?

 

Creed

The word, “creed” means, “I believe.” Do you believe you are a child of God? Do you really believe that defines you in beautiful, graceful ways at home, school, work, online, in all your activities and relationships? Are you conformable wearing Jesus’ robe instead of superhero’s cape? These words from The Small Catechism boldly speak to our identity.

 

Speak them together.

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

 

• Look back at what you spoke. Make some notes on what it means to be a child of God from this simple creed below and share with one another.

 

• In 30 words or less, write down a statement of your identity influenced by the words you have read today from Peter, discovered in the creed exercise and any other Bible promises meaningful to you).

 

I am…

• Take time to share what you wrote and why you wrote it with your family group or at least one other person. Get comfortable with the identity God gives you, rather than what temptations press you to be.

 

Prayer Journal

With our prayers for one another we can thank God for all He’s made and redeemed us to be. As you read more and more of Peter’s letter you’ll see that he’s trying to get us comfortable in our new identity and by God’s grace live in this hope by doing good to one another.

 

Take time to pray with and pray for another person. Specifically use this time to thank God for the unique gifts, talents, personality and love that shines in them as child of God. Whether as a family or calling a friend, you can do this!

 

Household Activity

Review: Last week’s activity (revisit last week's activity here) asked you to reach out to someone, possibility in your neighborhood, and bless them in a specific way.

a) Were you able to do that? If not, who might you reach out to this week?

b) How did each member of your household add their God-given gifts to the effort?

c) How well do you know the person you served? How are they uniquely blessed them as a child of God? How might you explore that more?

d) What might be helpful in following up with them this week?

 

Exercising Your Gifts:

In your baptism, God put His family name on you. He also commissioned you to be a steward (manager) in His family business! While many businesses in our communities are struggling, God’s family business is thriving and will shine. Everyone in the family has abilities, talents, and gifts to use to bring hope to our communities.

You can do the following exercise with your home or with friends you reach out to. It is helpful to have at least two people (in addition to yourself) involved so they can help you see the gifts you might not see.

a) For each person involved, including yourself, write down as many abilities and talents that you celebrate in that person as gifts from God.

b) Share all your notes with each other.

c) Let each person pick one ability they will explore this week to use in a new way in serving other as God’s “family business.”

d) In this time when things are very different and difficult for so many, ask yourself,

• How can I use my gift in a slightly different way that might be God’s purpose for this very time?
• How can I be intentional in sharing grace and glorifying God with this plan?

e) Choose something that you can do in less than a week’s time.

f) Share your ideas, work together as God provides and pray for each other as you use these gifts.

 

Blessing

It’s easy to forget that we are children of God. It’s easy to be lured into temptations to be what pride or peers want us to me. That’s why it’s so important to hear the daily affirmations and promises of the Bible in your life.

 

If you haven’t done so already, make use of the Daily Reading and Reflections provided with this study (see: Week 2 Daily Bible Readings) to help you listen to the Bible more. It will help you grow more confident in who you really are as a child of God.

 

Close by taking turns using verses 22 and 23 to bless one another. An example of how you can modify it to be a blessing might go like this:

{Name} You are a child of God!

He has purified your soul.

Be obedient to the truth.

Love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

You have been born again,

not of things that die, but with eternal gifts from God

through the living and abiding word of God.