SERIES: Trust and Obey
Week #1: Hope and Holiness in Difficult Times
1 Peter 1
MESSAGE PREVIEW:
These are difficult days. Not the same difficulty as the recipients of Peter’s letter were facing, but they are still difficult. What can we stand on when we find ourselves living in difficult times? We can stand on the two legs of hope and holiness. Let’s take a look at what Peter has to say.
Two Legs to Stand on In Difficult Times: Hope & Holiness
- Set Your Hope Fully in Christ
- The focus of our hope determines our mindset in difficult times.
- Rejoice in the gospel truth.
- Kingdom perspective in the midst of various trials.
- Looking forward to the future: results in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1:6)
- How we prepare our minds:
- Prepare your minds for action
- Be sober minded
- Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
- The focus of our hope determines our mindset in difficult times.
- We are Called to Holiness
- Holiness is the result of our new identity in Christ
- How do we practice holiness?
- Do not conform to the old way of living (1:14)
- Be holy in your conduct (1:15)
- If you call him Father, conduct yourselves in reverent fear (1:17)
- Purify your souls by obedience to the truth of the gospel (1:22)
- Love each other earnestly (1:22)
ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS
Begin your session with prayer and use the following questions/discussion to get the conversation started…
If you’ve been watching the news, scrolling through social media, or had a conversation with anyone over past week, you’ve likely seen or heard about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the area. While there is much conversation around statistics, causes and what needs to be done, one thing is for certain – this can create a new round of fear, stress, and uncertainty in our lives. As you start your session today, take some time to do a quick check-in with your group. Encourage group members to answer these honestly and then have some people share with the group.
“Let’s do a quick check-up…answer these questions personally, and then I’ll ask some of you to share.”
Q: How are you as a person doing during these difficult times?
Q: How is your family doing? How is your marriage? How are your kids?
Q: How is your heart?
Q: How is your relationship with Jesus?
Q: If you had to use one or two words to describe your overall feeling about life and what’s going on in your world right now, what would it be?
This week’s message was a great reminder of what we can stand on when life is difficult. We have two legs – hope and holiness – that can anchor and support us during this time. Let’s talk more about this week’s message and scripture and be encouraged today.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions
Q: What was life like for the original recipients of Peter’s letter? How were they living in difficult times?
Q: What do you see as the biggest difficulty or challenge you are currently facing? How is this affecting your faith in Jesus?
Q: In your experience, how does what we focus on determine our mindset? Can you give a personal example?
Q: Read 1 Peter 1:3-5. What in these verses should be our focus in difficult times? How can keeping our focus on this influence our mindset in a positive and good way?
Q: Read James 1:2-4. What does it mean to “count it all joy” when we face times of difficulty? How is that even possible? Can you share a time personally when God helped you do this?
Q: How would you define holiness? According to Peter, what is it that makes us holy? How should our call to holiness affect our everyday lives in difficult times?
Q: What were the five ways Pastor Brian identified from this passage that we can practice holiness? Which of these is easiest to do? Which is the hardest?
Q: What is your personal “take-away” from this week’s message? What is one specific thing the Lord spoke to you this week?
Q: What is your “action step” this week? How are you planning to apply what God has said to you?
CONLUSION:
Take some time to pray together as a group. As you began your meeting, people shared an update on how they are doing during this time. These are real struggles, thoughts, and emotions. Go back to those things and lift them up to the Lord. Challenge your group to pray for these things over the course of this week as well. Have them reach out and encourage one another over the days ahead.
Here are a few reminders:
Bay Area Family Gathering: Sunday, June 28 at 5:00pm. This is our annual members meeting where we look back at what God has been doing in and through our church, look ahead at what we believe is to come, and look up to God in prayer and worship. We will also vote on our 2020-2021 annual church budget. You can join this gathering either in person or online. Register for either in person or online at www.bayarea.church/events.
New Service Times Beginning July 5th: Beginning July 5th, we will be gathering in person and online at 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am. Kidmin will pause plans to expand their classes at this time due to rising COVID-19 cases in the area and continue to provide classes for birth through three-years-old. A vulnerable venue will be available at the 10:00am service. Registration will still be required to attend in person and face coverings for all attendees ages 5 and over are needed. Go to www.bayara.church/regateher to register to attend in person. You can also join us online at www.bayarea.church/live.
Church on Your Street: One of the ways we can serve others is by loving those closest to us…on our street! Don’t forget to go to www.bayarea.church/live and click on the “Church on Your Street” icon. Participate in this effort and then take some time to share stories of how God is using you as you love your neighbors.
Reading Plan: Encourage your group to participate in the Psalms Bible reading plan that is posted at www.bayarea.church/live.
SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:
- 1 Peter 1, James 1:2-4, Luke 12:35-36, 1 Peter 4:7, 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:5, 4:5
NEXT WEEK’S MESSAGE: Trust and Obey: Week 2 (1 Peter 2:1-12)