1 Peter – Finding the Real You
Growth Group Discussion Questions
Week #5: February 5
“Living Out of This World”
Evergreen News
• Mid-Winter Singles Conference, 2/28, go to http://www.evergreencc.com/mwsc
• KAH Goals for 2012: 570,000 meals, $80,000, and 200 new people involved!
• Pray for 2 HAITI teams: #1 leaves on Feb 10th and #2 leaves on Feb 17th!
Warm-Up (pick one to answer)
Have you visited a third world country? How did you feel there? Were you glad when you came home? Why or why not?
How many times did your family move when you were growing up? Which time was the hardest?
Catch-Up
Reflect on the weekend message… Was there anything that God impressed on your heart?
Bible Passages & Discussion Questions – Break into Tiny Groups of 3-5 people
(try meeting in all-guy tiny groups or all-gal tiny groups)
Hebrews 11:1–16 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
1. In your own words, how would you define faith according to vs. 13-16?
2. Why do you think God is so “proud” (‘not ashamed’) of people who long for heaven? See also vs. 16.
3. What does it mean to you to be an alien and a stranger in this world? In what ways do you feel like a stranger in this world?
1 Peter 1:13–17 (NIV)
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. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
4. In Brent’s message, he explained that we must know the “why’s” of God’s commands in order to obey God wholeheartedly. Starting in vs. 14, how does Peter supply a “why” for each command? How does/should each “why” motivate you?
5. We are called to be holy. The key word to remember with “holiness” is “separated.” The Hebrew word for “holy” is “kadosh,” and the Greek word is “hagios.” Both mean separated, or “cut away from” or different. How does our call to be holy relate to being strangers on this earth?
Application
6. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you loooong for a better country? What do you think you can do to desire heaven more?
7. Think about your lifestyle, habits, and attitudes. What can you change to better stand out in this world as a “stranger?” PRAY for this together as a tiny group!