1. PREPARED FOR ACTION A Study from 1 Peter
JoLynn Gower

2. WORD FOR THE JOURNEY
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Mind: dianoia: through understanding, perception
1 Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…
In order to grow in the salvation process, there are active choices that we must make

3. PUTTING ASIDE
Putting aside: apotithemi: from apo: away and tithemi: to place
Malice: kakian: evil; wrong intentions
Deceit: dolon: guile, craftiness
Hypocrisy: hupokrisis: play-acting; particularly playing two roles: two-faced
Envy: pthonos: ill-will based on jealousy or spite
Slander: katalalia: speaking against; from kata: against and lalia: speech
YEARN FOR GOD’S WORD
People who are maturing in their walk with God are people who hunger to be in His Word

4. WHAT DO YOU VALUE?
Psalm 19: The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Colossians 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

5. PURITY
1 Peter 2:2 …like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…
Pure: adolos: unadulterated; guileless; genuine
Hebrews 5: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

6. THE BUILDING
1 Peter 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God…
Luke 20:17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, this became the chief corner stone'?
The fact that Jesus was the cornerstone of a new temple (way to meet with God) naturally threatened the priests of the old temple
The new temple is made up of “living stones”
The new temple has a new priesthood

7. SACRIFICE
1 Peter 2:5 …you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The nature of our sacrifice is spiritual
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

8. HOLY PRIESTHOOD
1 Peter 2:5 …you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Duties of a priest:
1. Offer sacrifices
2. Offer first fruits
3. Pronounce benedictions
4. Teach the Law
5. Light the lamps in the Tabernacle/Temple
6. Keep the sacred fire burning
7. Furnish a quota of wood

9. DUTIES OF THE PRIEST 8. Care for the sanctuary 9. Act as scribes
10. Supervise tithing
11. Sound the shofar for assemblies and battle
12. Examine lepers
13. Purification rituals for the unclean
14. Value things devoted
15. Officiate in the Holy Place
16. Encourage the army for battle
17. Carry the ark
18. Settle disputes and assaults

10. SPIRITUAL HOUSE
1 Corinthians 9: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Philippians 1:20 …according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.