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Return with Favor
October 18, 2026 · 1 Peter 2:18–25 · Conrad Wozniak
A small-group study of a Sunday sermon at Living Oaks Church, Thousand Oaks. Free and open to anyone.
The Big Idea
The Christian is called to a right response in the midst of wrong treatment.
Sunday’s 3 points
Serve Respectfully
Peter tells servants to be subject to their masters "with all respect," to the unjust as well as the good and gentle. The closest thing today is how we work under the people over us, and Peter puts the responsibility on us, not on them.
Suffer Graciously
Consequences are deserved; suffering is often undeserved. Grace is "unmerited, undeserved favor," and when we suffer unjustly we are called to endure and to give grace "whether it's earned or not."
Follow Christ's Example
When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return. He entrusted himself to the one who judges justly and bore our sins on the cross, "leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps."
Reflect and discuss
Read 1 Peter 2:18–25 together in the ESV.
Question 1 · 1 Peter 2:18
Respect for a hard boss
Peter told servants to be subject to their masters "with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust." Think of a good boss or leader you have worked under and a hard one: what did showing respect look like with each, and which was harder for you?
Question 2 · 1 Peter 2:19–20
Grace that is not earned
Conrad defined grace as "unmerited, undeserved favor" and said that because God gives it to us, we are called to give it "whether it's earned or not." Who is hardest for you to show grace to right now, without naming them, and what is one gracious thing you could do or say to them before next Wednesday?
Question 3 · 1 Peter 2:21–23
Hand it over
When Jesus suffered, "he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly," and Conrad said that when we are wronged we want to take justice into our own hands "right then and right there." When someone has wronged you, what does handing it over to God look like for you in practice, and what makes it hard to let go?
Question 4 · 1 Peter 2:24–25
Returned to the shepherd
Peter ends by saying that you "were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls." How has following Jesus as your shepherd changed the way you respond when you are treated badly, and where do you still most want to go your own way?
Next steps
From the sermon
- When someone treats you wrongly this week, do not return the favor. Return with favor.
- Show up at work in a respectful manner, with the hard boss as well as the good one.
- When you are wronged, hand justice over to God, who judges justly, instead of taking it into your own hands.
Application
Each day this week, pray by name for one person who has treated you wrongly, and ask God to bless them.
My notes
Next study: posted after the next Sunday sermon · locsermonstudy.com
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible, © 2001 by Crossway. Text Edition: 2025. Used by permission. Permissions: crossway.org/permissions. Prepared for this small group from the October 18, 2026 sermon; questions and applications are editorial study material.
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