Does My Life Matter?

Vision

To build disciples who represents Jesus to everyone, everywhere with everything

Overview of 1st Peter

Go to Right Now Media and watch a Video Overview of 1 Peter. If you do not have access to it, visit our website and register.

Go to Right Now Media and watch a video overview of 1 Peter.

If you do not have access to it, register for free here.

Read 1 Peter 2:1-11

• What do these passages tell us about God?
• What do these passages tell us about you and your life?
• What did you like about this passage?
• What did you not like about this passage?

The Bible tells us through Jesus Christ we are a called out people – a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own people.  This is both a privilege and a responsibility.  We are called out for a purpose.  Our lives are meant to make a difference to our everyone, everywhere with our everything.  Live like your life matters to those around you.

Discuss one or more of the following questions.

1. Share a time when you experienced some form of rejection simply because you were a follower of Jesus.
2. 1 Peter 2:6-7 tell us that life with Jesus brings us honour in contrast to the shame/dishonour that we receive from the world.  How can the understanding that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen, special people of God help us in times of persecution or difficult times in our lives? Share a time in the past where knowing your identity in Christ was crucial to you overcoming adversity.
3. 1 Peter 2:1-3 focuses on individual responsibility but from verse 4 onwards there is a shift to the community as a whole.  As we come to him we are being built into a spiritual house (temple of the Spirit). This imagery comes from the Old Testament tabernacle/temple where the purpose of the building was to house the presence of God (see Exodus 25:8).  What does it mean to house the presence of God?  What does it look like to our everyone, everywhere with everything?
4. This community aspect of building a church as living stones calls us to work together in unity. It prompts us to question whether we are living our lives as separate individuals or as a unified spiritual community in Christ. In what way are we actively seeking to maintain the unity of the community of believers both within our church and the community around us?
5. Moses Khor reminded us, from this passage, that Jesus is to be the centre of our whole lives. Jesus is the precious, living cornerstone and thus the foundation for the church community. Are there areas in your life/family where you know Jesus is not the centre?  What is the first step that you could make in order to bring Jesus back into the centre?
6. 1 Peter 2:11 states clearly not that we are like aliens and exiles but that we actually are aliens and exiles who live amongst a hostile pagan environment who look forward to our future heavenly home. An analogy might be having a Permanent Residence status without full citizenship. This means that we are to live differently to the world but also to live amongst the world. We live in the world but not of the world. In what areas do you find the most temptation to be like the world? In what areas have you disengaged from the world and therefore lost the ability to be salt and light?

Ps Chee shared that God wants to produce something from our lives out of this season as a church. Come together as one group and share in a few sentences your answer to these questions.

• What does God want to produce out of this season for you personal life?
• What does God want to produce out of this season for us as a life group?