# Mission: 1 Peter — A Devotional Series for the Congregation

## Why
The user is preparing a **devotional series on 1 Peter for an evangelical, brethren-background congregation**. The aim is a verse-by-verse, passage-by-passage walk through the letter that feeds the assembly devotionally: grounding believers in their identity as God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, sojourners whose hope is fixed on the living Christ, and shaping everyday life (holiness, submission, suffering well, shepherd leadership, humility, watchfulness) under that identity. The series is for others to read and be built up by, not private study alone.

The through-line of the series is **the priesthood of all believers** (1 Pet 2:9): who we are in Christ determines how we live in the world. The full outline lives in [`outline.md`](./outline.md).

## Success looks like
- A complete, ordered set of devotional lessons covering 1 Peter 1:1 to 5:14, each rooted in the actual text and tied to the priesthood theme.
- Each lesson is short enough for personal or small-group devotional use, with the passage quoted in full, one main idea drawn out, and application for the head, heart, and hands.
- The series reads as one coherent whole: famous passages (2:9-10, 2:24-25, 3:7, 4:12-13, 5:7) are anchored in their context, never taught detached.
- A congregation member could open any lesson, meet God's Word, understand its main point, and be moved to obey it.

## Constraints
- **Devotional depth is the goal.** Sound exposition that serves devotion, not academic exegesis or sermon prep. Each lesson draws out one main idea and applies it.
- **Audience: an evangelical assembly with a brethren background.** Honour that heritage: priesthood of all believers, believer's baptism, gathered-church convictions, plain reading of Scripture. Treat disputed matters ( Calvinist/Arminian election readings, mode/order of baptism, church government) charitably and honestly when the text raises them; do not force a denominational wedge.
- **Medium-length lessons** — completable in 20-30 minutes, one passage or concept at a time. Follow the 12-section outline in [`outline.md`](./outline.md).
- **Verse-by-verse through the whole epistle.**
- **Scripture first.** Every lesson quotes the passage in full from a trusted translation (ESV default), fetched fresh, never from memory.
- Trusted sources: Adrian Rogers sermon transcripts (`21_1Peter.md`) and Matthew Henry's Commentary, plus online evangelical resources catalogued in [`RESOURCES.md`](./RESOURCES.md).

## Out of scope
- Scholarly Greek exegesis beyond what illuminates devotion.
- 2 Peter (a separate letter and study).
- Sermon manuscripts or full teaching outlines.
- Polemics against other traditions. The series builds up; it does not score points.