1 Peter - Finding the Real You
Growth Group Discussion Questions
Week #13: April 1, 2012
“Done with Sin”
Evergreen News
• EASTER on Sunday April 8, 9:00am & 10:30am & 12-noon. Bring a friend!
• Crazy Love Conference for Women, April 21, 9:30-1:30, $10.
• Evergreen Family Camp, July 15-21 in Grand Marais, MN. Save the date.
• UNITE, July 28-29. “Just Sow It!” Save the date.
Warm-Up
How close have you come to dying or being seriously ill?
Catch-Up
Reflect on the weekend message… Was there anything that God impressed on your heart?
Bible Reading & Discussion Questions
(Break into Tiny Groups of 3-5 people – all men & all women, if possible)
“… It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude(or, with the same way of thinking), because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” (1 Peter 2:21-4:2, NIV)
• The Greek word translated “arm” is a military term meaning to “pick up a weapon.” In other words, we are to prepare ourselves for battle by thinking in the same way as Jesus.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13, NIV84)
• The Greek words translated “prepare your minds” literally means ‘gird up the loins of your mind for action.’ In ancient cultures, long flowing skirt-type clothes were worn. Even soldiers wore long pieces of cloth draped around their mid-section. When it was time to do battle, or to move quickly, they’d tuck the cloth into their belt so they could run. We are to that with our minds.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider (ponder, think about carefully) him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1–3, NIV84)
1. These three sections of Scripture describe what we are to do with our minds. How would you summarize the commands in your own words?
2. According to these verses, what are you to think about?
3. What are the promises or implications of thinking about these things?
4. How does thinking about these things help you be “done with sin” and give yourself to the will of God?
Application
5. Do you think it is possible to change the way you think? If so, how can you do it? What is your greatest personal challenge to changing the way you think?
6. The Christians, to whom Peter was writing, were suffering unjustly. What do you tend to think about when you are suffering and experiencing difficulty and pain? How do these passages help?
7. In his message, Brent mentioned that some pain we experience is volunteer pain. In other words, simply by following Jesus we enter into pain and difficulty voluntarily. Jesus is our example. He suffered voluntarily. By following the will of His Father, He stepped in this world and into the agony of the cross. What areas do you need to ‘volunteer’ to enter, even though it may increase your discomfort? How willing are you to suffer?
Prayer
• Pray out-loud, in your tiny group, pop-corn style. Pray that you would voluntarily follow Christ, no matter where that leads. And that you would all be able to suffer unjustly, as you follow Christ’s example.