Housegroups 

Series: 1 Peter: "Living Faith Out"
Reading: 1 Peter 3:1-7 “Godly Relationships”
Sermon Date: October 8, 2017
 

Icebreaker

1 – Who are your close and extended family?
2 - Could you share some event you enjoy with your family?

Please read 1 Peter 3:1-7

3 - What is your first reaction when you read “wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands”?

Submission is a strong word and with many negative connotations for our society today. If we look at the original word in Greek “hupotassó” (?ποτ?σσω) it means exactly the same as submit in English “to place or rank under, to subject”. Our first reaction is to be defensive and reject this idea, because it goes against many of our views of how society is. There are two things we need to consider when we read this, firstly that people in the first century had a completely different view of society and the role and importance of men and women. The Bible is actually revolutionary in many ways in favour of women, but it is speaking to a different society. Secondly that God calls us all to submit to one another “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21). As wives are called to submit to husbands in this verse, then husbands are also called to submit to “one another” which includes their wives as well. This shouldn’t be used to accept abuse of any kind either from husbands or wives. 

Please read 1 Peter 3:1-2

4 – Why are the wives called to submit to their husbands?

5 – In what way does this relate to 1 Peter 2:12 which we read last week?

Please read 1 Peter 3:3-6

6 – What do you think Peter is mainly trying to teach us here?

7 – Given that our beauty according to this passage is related to who we are and the call is to have a “gentle and quiet spirit”. How can we invest in ourselves to be this way?

Please read 1 Peter 3:7

Once again we have what seems like a sexist and hurtful phrase “wives… as the weaker partner”. We must understand that in their society, Asia Minor in the first century, women were treated in such a way that they were part of the “weaker” part of society. So were the kids, the slaves, the poor, the sick, Peter isn’t necessarily giving a judgement call (as he wasn’t with slavery last week), he is just stating how the society was.  
  
8 – Do you think husbands in the 21st century are considerate and treat their wives with respect? 

9 –Do you think that husbands and wives have different roles in a family? Why?

This verse is not an invitation or a challenge, it is a command. Men who believe in God must respect and treat their wives appropriately and so are wives called to do the same. The passage can be read both ways, in a relationship both people are called to submit, respect, consider and be gentle with one another. 

The passage is mainly talking about husbands and wives, but we can draw a parallel with our close family and friends. All of these very close intimate relationships make us vulnerable and we can easily hurt one another, we do quite often. That is why God commands us to treat each other in this way, so that we might live healthy lives and others might see what an amazing God we follow. 

10 – Do you invest time in your family and close friends? 

11 – Is there any close relationship in your life that seems to be distant or not working as you’d like to?

12 – What could you do to improve and deepen your close relationships?
 

Action

Think about practical ways in which you could be more considerate to your spouse, family and friends. Spend some time as a group praying for each other’s close relationships. 


Nico Ohlsson, 04/10/2017