I. The Perspective for a Good Witness (v. 11a)
A. “Beloved”

B. “Sojourners”

C. “Exiles”

II. The Purity of a Good Witness (v. 11b)
A. _________ from fleshly lusts (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22; Ti. 2:12; 1 Pet.
1:14; Rom. 13:14; Jam. 1:14)

B. See fleshly lusts as ever-threatening _ not _____

III. The Pursuit of a Good Witness (v. 12a)

IV. The Purpose of a Good Witness (v. 12b)
A. “in the thing which they slander you as evildoers”

B. “so that…they may because of your good works, as they observe them,
glorify God in the day of visitation”
(Salvation: give glory to God by repenting: Rev. 11:13; 16:9; Jer. 13:16; Isa.
25:3; visit for salvation: Gen. 50:24-25; Exod. 4:31; Isa. 23:17; Jer. 29:10; Lk. 1:68;
19:44; Judgment: give glory to God by admitting as they’re judged: Josh.
7:19; 1 Sam. 6:5; Jn. 9:24; visit for judgment: Ex. 32:34; Job 7:18; Isa. 10:3;
29:6; Our good works doing both in 1 Peter 2:15; 3:1, 16; 4:5)

Discussion Questions

1) What’s the connection between being “sojourners and exiles” and abstaining from fleshly
lusts? Have you ever made that connection before? What practical thing can you do to
make that connection?
2) Identify some of the fleshly lusts you most struggle with. What can you avoid to stay away
from them? In what ways do you need to change your thinking about them?
3) Do you tend more toward flight from unbelieving society, fighting against it, or falling in
with it? What would change in your thinking and actions if you applied Peter’s words here?
4) Have you experienced being slandered or mocked for being a Christian or for biblical
morality? How did you deal with it? How can Peter’s words here help, when it happens
again?