Resource Detail

2025 North America Staff Conference 

A LIVING HOPE 1 Peter 1:1–9 (NIV) (Read 1:1–2:3; 2:9–12; 3:15–17; 4:7–10; 5:1–4) 

(1) What contrasting identities does Peter want Christians to embrace (1:1-2,6; 2:9-11)? Why is it important to know our identity as God’s elect? How might we hold on to this compound identity (personally and as a church) this year? 

(2) What is “a living hope,” and how is it different from hopes in this present life (3–5)? How does a living hope inspire believers (6-9)? What evidence have you seen of this living hope in your life and community/church? 

(3) In light of this hope, how does Peter encourage us to live (cf. 1:13–16; 1:22–2:3; 2:11–17; 3:15–17; 4:7–13; 5:1–4)? How do such lives influence those around us and change the world? 

(4) What things rob us of hope, and how does this passage provide a living hope? How does your 2025 key verse or direction (personally and as a church) gain inspiration and empowerment from our living hope?

A LIVING HOPE

1 Peter 1:1-9

Key Verse 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

I chose 1 Peter 1:3 as a key verse for 2025, with the theme of “A Living Hope.” Hope is so important for us as human beings. When we have hope, we find strength and joy to persevere through trials and attempt great things. But if we lose hope, despair sets in and we lose the sense of meaning. We no longer really live, but just exist. We try to smile, but a gloomy emptiness lingers in the recesses of our hearts like a dark cloud. We may try to soldier on, but our efforts become rather habitual; we lack real passion and zeal. In such times we need a renewal of our hope. We need hope in our souls as much as we need oxygen in our lungs. As spiritual leaders, we must

plant hope in young people. Where can we find hope? In today’s passage, Peter proclaims to us a living hope in Jesus Christ.

Apostle Peter wrote this letter around A.D. 63 during the reign of the wicked Roman Emperor Nero. Scattered Christians, in the region we call Turkey, were going through fiery persecution. As an apostle of Christ, Peter encouraged them to overcome their trials, influence their societies, and advance the reign of Christ. He reminded them that they were God’s chosen people, and that they had a living hope. Then he taught them how they should live. Let’s listen to Peter’s message from Christ in this passage.

First, we are God’s chosen people (1:1-2; 2:9,11). Peter began by introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. This means that his message was not his own human idea; it was from Jesus Christ. He called believers “God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1). Peter’s words seem to be paradoxical. His audience was both “God’s elect” and “exiles.” They were chosen by God, but outcasts in the world. They lived in tension. Some had left their nation Israel when persecution scattered the early church. They had become strangers in foreign lands (1:17; 2:11). We can imagine how difficult their lives were: missing their family members, working menial jobs to survive, confronting language and cultural barriers. They were discriminated against and alienated. They were like “The Garbage People” in Cairo, Egypt–Christians living in garbage dumps, sorting and recycling, with little or no chance of a better life due to the oppression of Muslim dominant culture.

Apostle Peter understood their situation well, but did not pity them. Rather, he reminded them that they were “God’s elect.” “Elect” means that God had chosen them. Verse 2 begins, “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” God chose them before they made a choice to believe in him. God chose them by his unsearchable wisdom. It was God’s eternal choice. It was not something they earned or deserved, but a gift of grace, originating in God’s love. God had chosen them. This grace of choosing belongs to all who trust in Jesus. It gives us confidence in God and his grace rather than ourselves and our merit. God expresses his elective grace through the Holy Spirit. Verse 2 says, “through the sanctifying work of the Spirit….” The Holy Spirit sets us apart from the corruption of the world, draws us to Christ, and equips us to carry out his holy mission. As the Holy Spirit works in us, we are sure of God’s choosing and great favor.

Why does God choose people? Naturally, we think it is for us “to do” something. But before that, it is for us “to be” something. Verse 2 says, “...to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood….” Here the words “be obedient” mean to listen attentively to and follow. As we listen to Jesus’ words and follow him, our lives change. Our sinful desires subside and holy desires grow in us. Selfish people become sacrificial. Sorrowful people become joyful. Fearful people become courageous. Angry people become peaceful. We grow in love, joy and peace. In a word, we become more like Jesus. This is God’s desire for us. This does not happen by our own effort; we are sinful. But as we repent and confess our sins each day, the Holy Spirit applies Jesus’ blood to us. He forgives our sins and cleanses us. Our changed lives reveal God’s goodness, power and love, and this brings glory to God.

In the first two verses, Peter has mentioned God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus – the Holy Trinity. God’s sovereign grace, the Holy Spirit’s active presence, and Jesus’ cleansing blood are all at work in us. The Triune God’s love and power are irresistible; he always finishes what he starts. As we trust in him, we have assurance of our salvation.

However, the world does not honor us as God’s children. Rather, the world regards us as strangers and weird people. It is because our lifestyle and value system reveal God’s holy presence, expose people’s unbelief, and warn of the coming judgment. People should repent. Instead, they treat us with contempt, suppressing the truth of God. They may slander us through social media or other means. Seeds of doubt can grow in our hearts. In addition, we can be overwhelmed by our own sins, faults and weaknesses. We may feel unqualified to be God’s children. We develop spiritual amnesia and forget all of God’s grace and work in our lives. At such times we must listen to God’s words, “You are a chosen people” (1Pe 2:9) The living God has chosen us to be his children. Our Father is the Creator of heaven and earth! His love for us never fails. He hears our prayers; he protects and provides for us; he guides us in the best way. He has sent us to share the gospel with those who are lost. We can offer hope to the nations. We are very precious in the sight of God. Let’s deeply accept that we are God’s chosen people.

While it is important to have assurance that God has chosen us personally to become like Christ, it is also imperative to know that our community has been chosen by God for his purpose. God has called hundreds of missionaries from Korea and hundreds of leaders in North America and united us under Christ’s banner for campus mission and world mission. We have prayed very earnestly for America and Canada to be shepherd nations and missionary-sending nations. We have stood firm in this calling, enduring many kinds of hardship and difficulty, for decades. God has a purpose in this. I believe he will pour out his blessing and bring about a season of fruitfulness beyond anything we have imagined. Spiritual revivals are taking place on many college campuses. We have precious gifts to offer churches of North America and our young people: powerful Bible teaching, effective discipleship, a faith that overcomes, world mission vision and many other things. God will surely fulfill the great mission for which he chose us.

During my recent journey to Armenia, I heard the story of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who lived from 257-328 A.D. He spent his childhood in Cappadocia, a region Peter mentions in verse 1, and was raised in the Christian faith there. He must have been very familiar with Peter’s letter. As an adult, he went to Armenia and entered the service of the king. When he would not make a sacrifice to a pagan goddess, the king had him tortured in unspeakable ways. Then the king abandoned him to a pit in the ground, called Khor Virap, and erased all memory of him. Miraculously, he survived for 13 years. Then, with the help of the king’s sister, he was released. He preached the gospel to this very king, who then became a Christian. The king supported Gregory’s effort to spread the gospel. Armenia became a Christian country in 301 A.D., before Rome was a Christian Empire. I descended 20 meters down a narrow shaft into a pit at Khor Virap 2, commemorating the place where Gregory was imprisoned. Usually I am squeamish in enclosed spaces. But there, I felt a deep and mysterious peace. I felt that the Lord had been with Gregory and helped him keep his identity as God’s chosen servant. After suffering, he became a carrier of God’s hope to his nation. As we keep our identity in Christ as God’s chosen people, he is molding and preparing us for his great purpose. Let’s hold onto Christ’s precious choosing, no matter what. We are God’s chosen people.

Second, our living hope: an eternal inheritance (1:3-5). After reminding believers they are chosen by God, Peter proclaimed what our hope is. If we lose hope, we despair. Despair poisons our hearts and minds just as surely as snake venom poisons our blood. It is the disease that leads to death. What is worse, the devil torments despairing people, accusing and condemning them. This is what drives so many young people to feelings of worthlessness. This is why they waste their time in trivial pursuits, and don’t value their own lives. People desperately need some kind of hope. Hope makes us feel alive and empowers us to do great things. When George Washington entered Valley Forge in the winter of 1777, the situation of the Continental Army was desperate. They were badly outnumbered; they were undisciplined; and they lacked basic supplies–about one-third of the soldiers did not have any shoes. Support from their fledgling government was erratic and insufficient. In fact, some government leaders doubted Washington’s motives, thinking he wanted to be a dictatorial king. Yet Washington had hope–hope that through the sufferings of a hard winter, the army would become useful. He decided to stay with his men and endure suffering with them. His presence inspired the soldiers. And his hope bore fruit. Suffering together brought unity; training produced discipline; overcoming hardship enhanced morale greatly. This army later won victory, and America was born. We must have hope. However, our true hope is not in this world. The things of this world all perish, spoil and fade away. Worldly hopes surely disappoint us. Our ultimate hope must be eternal. While we are young, it is easy to think we will live forever. As we age, we become more aware of our limits. The truth is that inevitably, everyone dies. Everything will be left behind: our achievements, possessions, even our families. After death comes God’s judgment (Heb 9:27). What can be our hope?

Let’s read verse 3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….” God has shown great mercy to us. He has given us a living hope. We were helpless under the power of sin and death. Nothing on earth could save us: Not money, education, science, technology, or good deeds; none of these could save us. But in his great mercy, God sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins. Then God raised him from the dead! The Risen Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He is King of kings and Lord of lords and Judge of the living and the dead. He will come again in great power and glory to establish his eternal, undisputed reign. He will fully restore the paradise that God intended from the beginning; in fact, it will be even better. This Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe in him. Eternal life begins the moment we trust in Jesus. Though our bodies will die, our souls live forever. For us, death is an entry into a glorious new life. Paul says it is “better by far” than our present life (Php 1:23). The Westminster Catechism says that at death, “The souls of the righteous are made perfect in holiness and go to be with the Lord in the highest heavens. They are conscious, active, and happy, and behold the face of God.” D.L. Moody’s last words were: “I see earth receding; Heaven is opening; God is calling me.” Then he passed into eternal glory. At the moment of death, all who believe in Jesus will pass into eternal glory to be in the presence of Christ forever.

To be with the Lord in eternity seems to be reward enough. But the blessings that God has promised to his children are greater still. Look at verse 4. “...and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you….” The children of God receive an inheritance. We are heirs of his everlasting kingdom (Ro 8:17). Peter contrasts this with a worldly inheritance, like those parents leave their children. Worldly inheritances do not last. In the 19th century, Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) accumulated a $100 million dollar fortune through the railroad business. It would be worth $2.4 billion today. Just six generations later, his heir, Anderson Cooper said, “The entire fortune has dwindled to almost nothing.” In contrast, the inheritance God gives us can never perish, spoil or fade. It cannot be stolen, ruined or lost.

What is this inheritance? Jesus told his disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am” (Jn 14:2-3). Jesus is preparing a place for his people in his Father’s house. It is kept in heaven for us until he returns. Revelation 21:1-4 says, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” We will inherit the New Jerusalem, the most glorious, everlasting city of God. It is a huge and holy city, magnificent to behold. If we combine all the splendor and magnificence of Hong Kong, Seoul and New York, it would not begin to compare. New Jerusalem will be the central city of the new earth, which is free from the power of sin and death. Nothing bad is there. It is totally safe and secure. Everyone there will be trustworthy and loving. Governing powers will truly “serve and protect.” News outlets will be truthful all the time. There will be no fraudulent activities or violent crime. There will be no rusting or erosion, no dilapidated buildings or potholes. The best thing about it is that we will see Jesus face to face. Jesus will equip us each with a resurrection body. These bodies are imperishable, glorious, powerful and spiritual (1Co 15:42-44). There is no cancer, heart disease, mental health problems, and there is no pain and no aging. We will be fresh and vibrant like young teenagers forever. Wow! We have a rich inheritance from our Father God. As we await this inheritance, God protects our lives by his power. God’s power and promise guarantee our inheritance. We surely receive it when Jesus comes again (5).

This living hope and eternal inheritance is an anchor for our souls (Heb 6:19). In this world we face temptations, illness, financial loss, trials with our children, or tragedies, like the sudden death of a loved one. But with the living hope as our anchor, we can pass through the stormy winds; instead of becoming weaker, we become stronger and stronger. We become more and more hopeful. This living hope grows until it is fully realized in heaven. Paul said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16).

I know a person in Asia named Angela. She had a painful childhood in a dysfunctional family. She felt inferior and useless. During her college days, she wanted to know the meaning of her life. She came to Bible study. The words of Genesis 12:2 spoke to her: “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.” She discovered God’s love and great mission. This gave her a sense of dignity as a child of God. She had confidence in God to go to another country as a missionary. As she shared the gospel, students began to respond. So she devoted herself to raising Jesus’ disciples. Suddenly, she developed a brain disease. She needed multiple brain surgeries. During the third surgery, she felt that she was dying. There seemed to be no hope. Then Jesus came to her and filled her with a living hope. She recovered from the brain disease and resumed her student ministry. God poured out his blessing on her abundantly. He raised professor shepherds, house churches, and missionaries who have spread through Asia and beyond. When we have a living hope in Christ our lives become dynamic and we can be a blessing to the world. God has given us a living hope! Praise be to God!

As we begin this new year, I want to hold this living hope in my heart. Recently, my elderly parents informed me that they would entrust their end of life care to my younger sister, not to me. They said, “Because you are not here.” It is true. I have lived apart from them for more than four decades, though I am their only son. Honestly, for a while I felt a sense of loss, considering the important events and family gatherings I have missed. But as I prayed, I remembered that they accepted the gospel I preached. The Lord assured me that they will be in his kingdom. We will spend eternity together. This living hope gave me new strength and power. So many of our problems are solved with a living hope. I pray to hold this living hope in 2025 and to share this hope with God’s people.

The living hope seems too good to be true. Some call it a “pie in the sky.” How can we be sure of it? By faith. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb 11:1). We do not see Jesus but we love Jesus; we do not see Jesus, but we believe in Jesus (8). We have experienced how loving, gracious and faithful Jesus is. We experience how Jesus brings about the salvation of our souls. We can trust Jesus when he tells us about the life to come. In addition to this, we have the testimony of Scripture (10-12), which is absolutely trustworthy. In truth, we have a firm foundation for our living hope. Let’s accept it and live accordingly.

Third, our lifestyle – how we should live (1:5-9; 13-16; 22-2:3; 2:11-17; 3:15-17; 4:7-13; 5:1-4). So far Peter has shared a heavenly perspective of our Christian lives. We are God’s elect! We have a living hope in Jesus! This empowers us to live a fruitful life. In the rest of his letter, Peter exhorts believers how we should live. Let’s consider some key teachings.

I) Rejoice in our sufferings (1:6-9). In the past, we tried to avoid suffering, regarding it as harmful and miserable. But with living hope in Jesus, we find meaning in our sufferings. Through suffering, our false hopes are removed and our faith is purified. Through suffering, we grow in perseverance and character (Ro 5:3-4). Through suffering, we can reveal Christ’s glory (4:13). In Christ, suffering is for our good. Let’s arm ourselves with the right attitude toward suffering this year.

II) Be holy (1:15-16). 1:15-16 say: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” The Lord wants us to be holy from the inside out, with a genuine quality of life that reflects his own holiness. This is what we desire most. Yet as we hear the words “be holy” we may cringe, knowing that we are sinners. But we can truly be holy by Jesus’ blood, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s humbly trust in Jesus, accept God’s call to holiness, and grow in holiness this year.

III) Love one another deeply (1:22). Peter tells us to “love one another deeply from the heart.” As we grow in holiness, we can love one another with pure hearts. We can build up a community of love, respect, and trust. In such a community we can grow spiritually. The world sees that we are Jesus’ disciples and people want to join our loving community. Let’s love one another deeply from the heart this year.

IV) Crave pure spiritual milk (1:23-2:3). To practice holy love, we need to grow spiritually. How? Peter encourages us: “...like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Newborn babies crave milk desperately so they can grow. Likewise, we should crave God’s word with all our hearts so that we may grow spiritually this year.

V). Share the reason for our hope (3:15). 3:15 says, “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.” As we live with hope, despairing people are surprised and think, “How can you have hope?” It is the golden opportunity to share Christ. We must give them a good answer. To do so, we need to prepare gospel responses that are relevant and meaningful to the people around us. Let’s always be ready to share Christ!

Finally, be shepherds of God’s flock (5:1-4). Peter exhorted leaders: “be shepherds of God’s flock.” It is a charge to live sacrificially to take care of God’s people. Many young people are desperate. They need hope. When we have the living hope in our hearts, we can share this hope with them through Bible study. Hope can transform them into people of God who influence the world. Let’s be good shepherds who share God’s hope with people in this new year.

Peter wrote this letter to the early Christians with a great vision that they were a royal priesthood. Though they lived on the bottom of society, despised and persecuted, they were God’s chosen people with a living hope. They could overcome all hardships and testify to Christ. What happened? History tells us that the Roman Empire became Christendom. They were indeed world changers! Let’s renew God’s grace of choosing and treasure the living hope of Jesus in our hearts. Let’s live by his words and be world changers in our times.

Prayer topics:

1. May 2025 be the year of living hope in Jesus.
2. With this hope, let’s rejoice in our sufferings, be holy, love one another deeply, crave God’s word, share the reason for our hope in Christ, and be shepherds of God’s flock.
3. Hope in Christ may be planted in many young people and they may live as Jesus’ disciples.