Living Moral Lives in a Confused (or filthy) World (1 Peter 1:13-2:3)

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INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
It’s been observed that the new generation of young adults—those in their twenties and even thirties—are unable to make moral decisions. They do not know how to determine right from wrong. The dominant message this generation has grown up with is tolerance. Moral issues are never talked about in schools or on college campuses because they are considered “too controversial.” So in our very pluralistic society, everything is relative and all morals are individualistic. It could be said that adults of all ages view morality this same way.

For the follower of Jesus, however, there is a standard outside of us as individuals. Morals are not relative to everyone’s personal opinion. That is because God is the source or the measure for all morality. The bible teaches us that God is holy and He expects those who follow Him to be holy as well. From Leviticus 19, we learn that holiness is not religious superiority (“holier than thou”) but rather it is about being different—different from the larger culture and community. Holiness should affect all of life, which means God’s people are to be different from those around them in multiple ways and not just in the area of religious practices.

Here is how we can become holy, moral followers of Jesus:
1.We must hope in the future. We must have a goal we are aiming at in order to resist pressure from the world around us to conform.
2.We must fear the Lord. Children who obey their fathers do so out of reverence and fear. They know there will be consequences for disobedience.
3.We must be changed on the inside. We must actually become a certain kind of person in order to live a holy and moral life that pleases God.
4.We must be connected in fellowship with other believers. Human behavior is re-enforced by the community or group of people we are around. We must remain in close relationship with other Christians in order to live holy (differently) from the rest of society.
5.We must be nurtured in God’s Word. The only way for us to grow and change and be different (holy/moral) is to take in massive quantities of God’s Word, the bible.

In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
•What are one or two things from this weekend’s sermon that really stood out to you?
•Have you ever struggled to determine what the right thing to do in a situation was—at work or school or perhaps in your extended family? Discuss.
•Share one or two ways you feel as a Christian you are different from the rest of society (beyond going to church on Sunday rather than mowing the lawn).

SCRIPTURE STUDY
Background:

The book of Romans is Paul’s most thorough and eloquent explanation of the gospel: God’s plan of salvation. Throughout the letter, Paul is “making his case” for Christianity like a skillful lawyer arguing in a court room. Some of the major themes are
•All people are sinners and condemned before God.
•God’s plan to save sinners is righteousness through trusting in Christ (“justification by faith”) and not through works or keeping the law.
•Through the Spirit of God, we are set free from both the power of sin in our lives and the curse of the law over our lives.
It is based upon what we as Christians believe that Paul now begins in chapter 12 to tell us how we as Christian should live.

Romans 12:1-2:(***consider deleting the scripture text to reduce printing pages)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Consider also J. B. Phillips New Testament translation:
1-2 With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

V.1
•Paul links this next portion of Romans with all that preceded. In light of everything that God has done to secure salvation for us (God’s mercy) what does Paul tell us to do? (It may be helpful to imagine a literal scene of a sacrifice to bring home what Paul is talking about.)
•According to the Phillips’ translation, Paul says this is an act of intelligent worship. Other translations say “reasonable” worship. What do you think Paul is trying to say here?
•Why do you think Paul makes a point to say living sacrifice? Why do you think he specifies body rather than just saying “present yourselves?”
•Let’s bring this down to earth! Practically, how do you do this? How do you “present your body as a living sacrifice?” What are some ways we do this or steps in this process?
•Think of some times you actually felt like you did this. Share your experience with the group.

V.2
•First, do you believe that the world around you is trying to get you to conform? If not, why do you believe this? If so, in what ways have you observed this?
•Share some specific ways you have personally experienced pressure from the world around you to conform.
•Share areas of your life that you have been able to resist that pressure and how you, as a Christian, are truly different from those around you.
•Paul says that the key to being different from the world (holy) is through the renewing of our minds. Why do you think Paul starts here—with our minds? Explain the connection between our thoughts/beliefs and our actions/behaviors. Share an example with the group from your own life of how changing your thoughts and beliefs about something resulted in change in habits and behaviors.

The source for all of God’s thoughts and information about His will for us is the bible. Therefore, the way for us to renew/remold our thinking is through knowing the bible.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Hebrews 4:12.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
•List all the things these two passages tell us about the bible.
•Describe an example of how the bible has “rebuked, corrected or trained” you?
•Both passages describe God’s Word as having life (God-breathed; alive and active)—more than just words on a page. In what ways have you specifically experienced the “living action” of the bible? (Or, how has the living God spoken into your life through the words on the page?)

MINISTRY APPLICATION

Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.

Getting more of God’s Word into our minds, our hearts and our lives happens through the daily discipline of reading the bible. It is through the daily taking in of what God says, perhaps combined with the shutting off of what the world says, that will result in the transformation of our thinking and change in our lives. Be prepared to share about the importance of daily bible reading and bible memorization. Make some practical suggestions to everyone in the group on how to cultivate this habit in their lives. You may want to get some bible reading plans from the church for your group to help people get started.

The Holy Spirit may be highlighting a specific area of life where those in your group have conformed to pressure from the world—an area where they are not living differently from those around them. It could be their speech or how they are spending their money or what they are looking at on line or a heart attitude. This is an opportunity for the group to experience grace from God through one another. You may want to have the group break down into twos and threes (men with men/women with women) and confess to one another any area in which they are struggling and then pray for “renewed thinking” that is in accordance with God’s Word.

Living as Hope-Filled People in a Depressing World (1 Peter 1.3-9)

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Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this weeks sermon Pastor Rich continued the Resident Alien series from 1 Peter, speaking on what it looks like to have hope in a depressing world. Hope is the way that we as humans flourish and grow. If you embrace the life and resurrection of Jesus then you are given a new purpose and a new hope that is living, certain and full. Hope in the resurrection of Jesus allows you to grow and thrive even in the face of great difficulty. Our hope is then anchored in the past – what has already been done. For Peter, the resurrection changed everything, but the main thing it changed was it gave reason to hope in the face of trials, it gave reason to rejoice in the face of suffering. But our hope is not only for our present sufferings, but also for our inheritance to come. An inheritance that will last, that will be pure and that will never fade. According to Peter hope is the foundation for all of life and the only perfect hope is in the life and resurrection of Jesus.

In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
•Was there anything Rich said in his sermon that stood out to you? Briefly share.
•Recall some times in the past when you struggled to hope in God’s provision for your life? Why did this happen? What trials in particular cause you to struggle? Briefly share
•Rich shared in his sermon that when he is struggling with his faith he will think back to the past when God has come through for him, or when he has felt God’s presence or when he’s seen God radically change someone’s life. Do you have moments like this from your past that you draw from? Try and recall some of these experiences that encourage you when you are struggling and share them with the group.


SCRIPTURE STUDY
Study Summary:

Paul makes it clear in Romans 5 that our suffering, when we live rooted in God’s grace, has power beyond the pain we might experience. Even beyond some mystical greater purpose, suffering can actually draw us closer to Jesus and result in a more rock solid hope in our Lord. Suffering in the economy of the Kingdom of God is not an end in and of itself, when the result is nearness to God and his purposes. One commentator writes “To him who lives his life only in the present age and in this world, the sufferings which come to him can only be something negative. But for the Christian, suffering is precisely the point where the power of hope most clearly proves itself. ... Suffering receives a new meaning. ... If there were no suffering, hope would never have an opportunity to attain to its full strength.

Romans 5:1-5:(***consider deleting the scripture text to reduce printing pages)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (TNIV)

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (NLT)

Context: The text this week looks at the results of our justification from past, present, and future perspectives. As John R. W. Stott puts it – “The fruits of justification relate to the past, present and future. ‘We have peace with God’ (as a result of our past forgiveness). ‘We are standing in grace’ (our present privilege). ‘We rejoice in the hope of glory’ (our future inheritance).”

•Because our life with Christ is rooted in real human history, there is a story of Grace behind every believer’s life. Trace the story in vv 1-2. Describe each significant part. Ask one or two people to share their Story of Grace briefly.
•V.1 “peace with god”, v.2 “Grace in which we now stand”. What is our current position, our standing before God? Emotions can deceive us – what is true about us regardless of our emotions, or our circumstances? What current, or recent circumstances cause you to lose your peace? Have you ever regained peace by meditating on these truths?
•Share a story of someone who encouraged you, or how you encouraged someone else by affirming Truth above his or her present emotions or circumstances.
•The end of V. 2 in (NLT) says, “we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory” – how does that change the way you might interpret this verse? How might worship be similar to boasting, or “confidently and joyfully look[ing] forward…”? What worship songs share this content and paradigm (i.e. “Trading my Sorrows”)?
•V. 3 What the difference been boasting about our sufferings and glorying in our sufferings (NLT Rom 5:3 - We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials..?)
•Do you see perseverance and character linked? Why or why not? What kind of character does perseverance produce? How might character be linked to hope? What kind of hope gets produced in this particular process?
•Have you lived out the formula Paul puts forth in verses 3-4? Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. Does that truth coupled with this Romans passage compel you to more readily embrace suffering? Why or why not?
•What spiritual disciplines and prayer practices can you adopt in order to successfully glory in your future sufferings? In your attempts to achieve this goal, ask God for grace and enthusiasm to endure.
•V. 5 How could our Hope put us to shame? How does God sustain us? What if we feel somewhat shameful or unsure about our hope – what might that indicate?


MINISTRY APPLICATION

Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.

•As a group, take some time to meditate in silence about God and His provision in each of your lives.
•If someone is struggling in your group, or experiencing pain that challenges their hope in Christ – invite God’s love to pour out (v. 5)…spend some time ministering to that person/couple with Holy Spirit.
•Spend time praying with those in your group that are facing a trying situation in their lives and are praying for God to intervene.
•Consider what season of life God has you in – where might you be in the cycle of suffering, learning to persevere, building character, or rejoicing in hope…ask God for grace to move forward.

Resident Aliens

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Pastor Rich began a new series from 1 Peter called Living as Resident Aliens. Peter gives at least 10 strategies for Christians struggling to remain distinct from the forces of culture. One reality of following Jesus is to feel in many situations like a foreigner – that you are not quite at home, even if you were born in the country that you reside in. Peter is writing to Gentiles, non-Jewish followers of Jesus living roughly in and around modern day Turkey. Like these recent Gentile converts, we live today in a culture “at odds” with our faith. Rather than a culture that “pushes” us toward Jesus and faith, we live in one that forcefully “pulls” us away. Peter responds to similar circumstances by encouraging and reaffirming these new converts’ identities in Christ calling them “Christians”, “chosen people”, and “God’s Elect”. Additionally, he reminds them about the community in which they have been received which can help us hold fast to an identity and purpose bigger than ourselves. Peter also communicates how we should engage the surrounding culture – as “resident aliens”. The following are pictures of cultural engagement from 1st century religious communities – the Essenes withdrew, the Zealots engaged in “culture wars”, The Sadducees conformed, and the Pharisees used legalism. One author attempts to summarize Peter’s alternative view this way:
[Resident aliens establish] a beachhead, an outpost, an island of one culture in the middle of another, a place where the values of home are reiterated and passed on to the young, a place where the distinctive language and life-style of the resident aliens are lovingly nurtured and reinforced.
We live like a colony in the midst of another country. It means at times we’re different and uncomfortable.

In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon.
What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
•Did you face any “attacks”, or resistance, this week due to your identity as a follower of Jesus? How did you respond? Please share briefly.
•Has your intentional participation with this small group changed the way you engage your neighbors and/or co-workers? What has changed and why? Please share briefly.
•Of the four religious communities mentioned in the sermon, which are you likely to emulate, and why? Please share briefly.

SCRIPTURE STUDY


Read Ephesians 2: 11-22(***consider deleting the scripture text to reduce printing pages)

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

•V. 11-13 What was the fate of the Gentiles before Christ came to Earth? Put yourself in the shoes of an early Gentile Christian. How might you feel pressured into conforming to the old Mosaic law of circumcision? Can you think of things in our present culture that would resemble this conflict?
•How does Paul view the act of circumcision (read Romans 2:28-29 to cross-reference this)? What does Paul mean when he says “circumcision of the heart?” Do you ever find yourself living out or practicing something externally that is not an internal reality? According to v. 11 & 12 in Ephesians 2 and the passage in Romans, what sets a Christian apart from the culture? Who initiates this “setting apart?”
•What then has the blood of Jesus done for the Gentiles? Paul, referring to the Gentiles, says those who once were far away have been brought near. Discuss how life may have changed for a Gentile once he or she heard the Gospel? How has your life changed as a follower of Jesus? What brought you near to Christ? What sets you apart now that you are near?
•V. 14 – Paul begins to discuss what is referred to as the Gospel of reconciliation between Jew and Gentile. There are two dimensions to this reconciliation: horizontal reconciliation (reconciliation between people who are divided) and vertical reconciliation (reconciliation between people and God). How does Christ bring peace to Gentiles and Jews? What was the barrier?
•How does God reconcile people to one another and what is the importance of people being reconciled? Have you ever experienced reconciliation in some way with another person? As Christians, how can we better engage in the process of reconciliation with others? Think about potential barriers to reconciliation. How can they be broken down? How does this process bring honor to God?
•V. 15 – 16 – What kind of impact do you think it had on people to see the peace and reconciliation happening between Jew and Gentile in the early Church? What purpose do you think God had in putting to death the hostility between two people groups who were often in conflict? Think about the church today. How might reconciliation and diversity within the Church have an impact outside of the Church?
•V. 17-18 – To whom does God preach the message of peace? How does one gain access to God the Father? What ways can we make room for even greater measures of Gods peace in our lives?

MINISTRY APPLICATION

Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.

•Pray that the Lord would distinguish you apart from the culture by the peace that comes from following Him?
•Pray for more “vertical reconciliation” in your life. Pray that God would reveal areas of life that are not reconciled to Him and ask him to break down those walls? Pray also for more “horizontal reconciliation.” Pray about ways to engage in the process of reconciliation with others?