our journey together

our journey together

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

1 Peter 1:10-12 Who Are You Living For?

Abide:

Open up with a time of prayer of confession and thanksgiving – in less than 3 words tell God what you are thankful for or need forgiveness for. 

Share:

Pick one word that describes this past week for you / highs and lows. 

·         This time of checking in is important but it has the tendency to take up a lot of time, so be careful and creative on how and when you do this. 

Are you a live in the moment or plan for the future kind of person?

What is the best part of planting a garden?

Are you living the life you want?

How is what you doing today helping or hurting the next generation?

Discover:

1 Peter 1:10-12

·         Have 3 or 4 people read the passage from different versions of the Bible (ESV, NIV, NLT, Message, …)

What was something that really stuck out to you in this passage – words or a phrase or a mood, or …

·         Perhaps remind them of the context – The Apostle Peter writing to young churches who are experiencing struggles, to pass on how they are to live in Christ, grow in faith, because Christ has not come back yet and may not (will not) in their life time (or in ours).

What does he mean by “this salvation” and “the grace that was to come to you” (NIV)?

What is the “Good News” of the gospel (suffering of Christ and the glories that would follow – vs. 11, & end of 12)?

·         Is it good news to you?  Why?  (Maybe a time to ask people to share a little bit of their story – good time to witness to anyone who doesn’t know Christ in your group).

What is significant about these prophets understanding “that they were not serving themselves but you” (1:12 NIV)?

Have you ever thought about how you ended up sitting in this room right now? 

·         How those prophets’ faith has been passed from generation to generation to generation – right on until today? 

·         We have received their message because they were willing in such a way “that they were not serving themselves but you!” 

What does this truth mean for you and me today?  Should we live only for ourselves?  Who does the world say we should live for (America’s message of the pursuit of happiness)? How is that working for the world / America?

Who are we called to live for? 

·         Christ – yes, but how does that workout in our daily lives – Matthew 25:40 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

·         Matthew 22:37-40 Love God = loving people. 

How can we or do we live for future generations? 

Continue (missional)

What selfless action can you do this week to serve others?

Who is on your evangelism prayer list?

·         One or two people you know that do not know Christ?

·         How can you serve them this week?