A man given Hope

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2, ESV) Are you a pessimist or an optimist? One friend (who leans heavily toward the pessimist side) answered this question, "I'm neither. I'm a realist!" What's your lens for the world. Is everything heading down toward oblivion? Or are you looking for your shades because the future is too bright for your unguarded eyes? This week, we begin our new series, Living in Hope: A Study of 1 Peter. Peter was an apostle, who walked with Jesus, led the early church, and knew a little about difficult circumstances--both self-inflicted and externally imposed. But he also knew something about hope. We are going to begin this week by taking a look at his background, his life with Jesus, and his leadership in the church. I pray that this series will give us all a realistic look at life and a reason for true, living hope. Take some time to prepare your heart and mind by reading through 1 Peter. What are some the ideas, phrases, and themes that he repeats as he writes? Why do you think those are important?