What's the Big Idea in 1 Peter?
Jesus is our hope in the midst of our suffering. And suffering is an opportunity to show others the surprising generosity and love of Jesus, which is fueled by the hope of his return.
What's the Summary of 1 Peter?
From The Bible Project...
Peter’s name was Simon when he became one of Jesus’ first followers and part of the inner circle of the twelve disciples. When he made his confession that Jesus was the Messiah (Matt. 16:18-19), Jesus changed his name to Kephas—an Aramaic word meaning “rock,” which would later be translated into Greek as Petros, or Peter. Jesus promised that he would become a leader among the apostles to guide the messianic community in Jerusalem through its earliest years. If we look back at Acts 1-10, we can see how this promise proved to be true.
Eventually, Peter was called to carry the good news of Jesus beyond the borders of Israel, and decades into his work within the wider Roman world, he wrote this letter. We discover at the letter’s conclusion that Peter is in Rome (though he calls it Babylon), and we learn that, while Peter commissioned the letter, it was actually composed by his coworker Silvanus (1 Pet. 5:12-13).
This was a circular letter that was sent to multiple church communities in the Roman province of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Peter learned that these mostly non-Jewish Christians were being persecuted and facing hostility and harassment from their Greek and Roman neighbors (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16; 4:16). Peter wrote to encourage them in their suffering, and this context will help us understand the letter’s design and main themes.
The letter opens with a greeting in verses 1:1-2 and then moves into a poetic song of praise to God (1 Pet. 1:3-12). This poem introduces the key themes that are then explored in the next three movements, in which he affirms the new family identity of these Christians (1 Pet. 1:13-2:10), helps them to see their suffering as a way to bear witness to Jesus (1 Pet. 2:11-4:11), and encourages them to focus their future hope on the return of Jesus (1 Pet. 4:12-5:11).
Peter’s name was Simon when he became one of Jesus’ first followers and part of the inner circle of the twelve disciples. When he made his confession that Jesus was the Messiah (Matt. 16:18-19), Jesus changed his name to Kephas—an Aramaic word meaning “rock,” which would later be translated into Greek as Petros, or Peter. Jesus promised that he would become a leader among the apostles to guide the messianic community in Jerusalem through its earliest years. If we look back at Acts 1-10, we can see how this promise proved to be true.
Eventually, Peter was called to carry the good news of Jesus beyond the borders of Israel, and decades into his work within the wider Roman world, he wrote this letter. We discover at the letter’s conclusion that Peter is in Rome (though he calls it Babylon), and we learn that, while Peter commissioned the letter, it was actually composed by his coworker Silvanus (1 Pet. 5:12-13).
This was a circular letter that was sent to multiple church communities in the Roman province of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Peter learned that these mostly non-Jewish Christians were being persecuted and facing hostility and harassment from their Greek and Roman neighbors (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16; 4:16). Peter wrote to encourage them in their suffering, and this context will help us understand the letter’s design and main themes.
The letter opens with a greeting in verses 1:1-2 and then moves into a poetic song of praise to God (1 Pet. 1:3-12). This poem introduces the key themes that are then explored in the next three movements, in which he affirms the new family identity of these Christians (1 Pet. 1:13-2:10), helps them to see their suffering as a way to bear witness to Jesus (1 Pet. 2:11-4:11), and encourages them to focus their future hope on the return of Jesus (1 Pet. 4:12-5:11).
Sermon Series Outline
Week 1 – Chosen for Hope
Text: 1 Peter 1:1–12
Theme: Our new birth in Christ gives us a living hope.
Big Idea: In Christ, we are chosen, redeemed, and secure in a hope that suffering cannot shake.
Week 2 – Holy People in a Broken World
Text: 1 Peter 1:13–2:3
Theme: God calls His people to holiness.
Big Idea: Because we belong to a holy God, our lives must reflect His character in a world that does not.
Week 3 – Built Together as God’s People
Text: 1 Peter 2:4–12
Theme: Identity and mission of God’s people.
Big Idea: As living stones in God’s temple, we exist to declare His glory in the world.
Week 4 – Faithful Witness in a Hostile World
Text: 1 Peter 2:13–25
Theme: Submission and witness in society.
Big Idea: By submitting to authority with humility and integrity, we point people to Jesus, the suffering servant.
Week 5 – Godly Relationships in the Home
Text: 1 Peter 3:1–12
Theme: Marriage, unity, and Christian witness.
Big Idea: Our relationships at home and in the church become a living testimony of Christ’s love.
Week 6 – Suffering with Hope
Text: 1 Peter 3:13–22
Theme: Suffering for righteousness.
Big Idea: When we suffer for doing good, we mirror Christ’s victory and proclaim our hope in Him.
Week 7 – Living for God’s Will
Text: 1 Peter 4:1–11
Theme: Choosing God’s will over worldly desires.
Big Idea: Because Christ suffered for us, we live for God’s glory, using our gifts to serve others.
Week 8 – Suffering as Christians
Text: 1 Peter 4:12–19
Theme: Fiery trials and Christian endurance.
Big Idea: Suffering is not strange—it refines our faith and glorifies God.
Week 9 – Humility in God’s Household
Text: 1 Peter 5:1–7
Theme: Leadership, humility, and care.
Big Idea: God’s people flourish under humble leadership and humble hearts.
Week 10 – Standing Firm Against the Enemy
Text: 1 Peter 5:8–11
Theme: Spiritual warfare and perseverance.
Big Idea: In Christ’s strength, we resist the enemy and stand firm in faith.
Week 11 – Closing Words of Grace
Text: 1 Peter 5:12–14
Theme: Final encouragements.
Big Idea: God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us as we live in hope and love one another.
Text: 1 Peter 1:1–12
Theme: Our new birth in Christ gives us a living hope.
Big Idea: In Christ, we are chosen, redeemed, and secure in a hope that suffering cannot shake.
Week 2 – Holy People in a Broken World
Text: 1 Peter 1:13–2:3
Theme: God calls His people to holiness.
Big Idea: Because we belong to a holy God, our lives must reflect His character in a world that does not.
Week 3 – Built Together as God’s People
Text: 1 Peter 2:4–12
Theme: Identity and mission of God’s people.
Big Idea: As living stones in God’s temple, we exist to declare His glory in the world.
Week 4 – Faithful Witness in a Hostile World
Text: 1 Peter 2:13–25
Theme: Submission and witness in society.
Big Idea: By submitting to authority with humility and integrity, we point people to Jesus, the suffering servant.
Week 5 – Godly Relationships in the Home
Text: 1 Peter 3:1–12
Theme: Marriage, unity, and Christian witness.
Big Idea: Our relationships at home and in the church become a living testimony of Christ’s love.
Week 6 – Suffering with Hope
Text: 1 Peter 3:13–22
Theme: Suffering for righteousness.
Big Idea: When we suffer for doing good, we mirror Christ’s victory and proclaim our hope in Him.
Week 7 – Living for God’s Will
Text: 1 Peter 4:1–11
Theme: Choosing God’s will over worldly desires.
Big Idea: Because Christ suffered for us, we live for God’s glory, using our gifts to serve others.
Week 8 – Suffering as Christians
Text: 1 Peter 4:12–19
Theme: Fiery trials and Christian endurance.
Big Idea: Suffering is not strange—it refines our faith and glorifies God.
Week 9 – Humility in God’s Household
Text: 1 Peter 5:1–7
Theme: Leadership, humility, and care.
Big Idea: God’s people flourish under humble leadership and humble hearts.
Week 10 – Standing Firm Against the Enemy
Text: 1 Peter 5:8–11
Theme: Spiritual warfare and perseverance.
Big Idea: In Christ’s strength, we resist the enemy and stand firm in faith.
Week 11 – Closing Words of Grace
Text: 1 Peter 5:12–14
Theme: Final encouragements.
Big Idea: God’s grace is sufficient to sustain us as we live in hope and love one another.
Visual Outline
