Read the whole letter in one sitting

Peter's letter was meant to be read aloud, start to finish, to a gathered church. It takes about fifteen minutes. Almost none of us have ever heard it that way. We take it a paragraph at a time across a week, which is good, but it means we rarely feel the shape of the whole.

So here is the practice for this week. Set aside twenty minutes, ideally today or tomorrow before Sunday. Sit somewhere you will not be interrupted. Read all five chapters of 1 Peter aloud, at a natural pace, without stopping to study anything. If you live with others, ask one of them to listen, or take turns reading a chapter each.

Then, before you talk about it, write down three things. The phrase that stayed with you. The moment where Peter's tone changed. The one instruction you would rather he had not included.

You will notice things that a paragraph a day hides. How often he says suffering. How often he says grace. How the letter opens with praise and closes with a promise that the God of all grace will restore you. You will hear that this is a letter to people who are hurting, written by a man who once ran from his own trial and was welcomed back.

Reading aloud slows you down and keeps you honest. You cannot skim with your mouth. Try it once this week, and if it feeds you, try it with another short letter next month.