What Am I Pursuing?

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 1:13-25

• 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?

In this passage there are three imperatives or commands:

1. Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13)
2. Be or become holy (1 Peter 1:15)
3. Conduct yourselves with fear (1 Peter 1:17)

The command to live a holy life is sandwiched between hope and reverent fear.  It is living out of who you already are in Christ based upon what Jesus has already accomplished.  The assured hope is that your inheritance is kept for you in heaven and it is God, Himself, who guards it.  From that foundation we conduct ourselves in reverent fear knowing that our Father in heaven is also holy and the judge of the universe.  It is living out of these truths that helps us to become holy.

Discuss one or more of the following questions.

1. Before you come to the Life Group spend some time reflecting on who you have become over the last 10 years. What things were you pursuing then that you are no longer pursuing now?  What things are you still pursuing? Are they still valid things to pursue?  What is one thing that you know that you should be pursuing but have not?  How can the Life Group help you in this?  Come prepared to share.
2. Pastor Greg talked about the ‘Try hard/Give up’ cycle. Share about your own experience running on this cycle. In which areas of your life are you still running on this cycle?  What is your first step to get off this ‘Try hard/Give up’ cycle and on to the Grace cycle of Rest (Remember biblical Rest does not mean inactivity)?  How can the Life Group help you?
3. Before you heard the sermon what images did the word ‘holiness’ conjure up in your mind? Has anything changed with that image after hearing the message on Sunday? Discuss with the group.
4. Christians are both holy (1 Peter 2:9-10) and called to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Our election is both a privilege and a responsibility. Based upon what we have already read so far in 1 Peter 1:1-2:25, what are the privileges that we already have from God?  If we were to truly believe this and live it out how then would we live differently?  Are there things you would do differently?  What would you continue doing? Share with the Life Group.
5. What a privilege to call the judge of the universe Father! What an awe inspiring thought to know that our Father is also the holy, righteous judge! Keeping both of these in tension how does this impact how we approach God in worship?  How does this affect the way we approach the Sunday service?  What about the way we conduct all of our lives as a living and holy sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2)?
6. Seeing God as a loving Father and a holy, righteous judge needs to be held in tension. Most of us tend to lean towards one side or the other. Some are so pally with God that they approach him with a lack of respect. Others are so fearful of God that they are afraid to even approach him at all.  Which side do you naturally fall on?  How might you correct your thinking to keep both of these biblical truths in mind?

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?