Reflect on the passages from 1 Peter discussed in this lesson. How might the first-century conceptions of kinship shape (or reshape) how you think about God and your relationship to Him?

[Austin]

As a believer, I am part of the body of Christ. This is the family of God! As in the lecture, if we were to care for the needs of the single mother, of the elderly writhing our congregation, what a lasting impact we would have upon our brothers and sisters. Real and demonstrative, impacting definite needs is how we gain favor in the sight of the loving God who sees what we do, or do not do..

[Austin]

I am a part of greater new kinship as a born-again believer in Christ. I still have an earthly family via blood (first birth), but I now belong to a much larger Christian family and share kinship (via Jesus – second rebirth) with all fellow believers. The bond with my Christian family is to be the most important – closer than my natural brothers and sisters in fact, since we share a supreme heavenly father and like-minded beliefs.