SERMON BASED RESOURCES
Dig into the sermon each week with your life group, spiritual growth partner, or even by yourself! We’ll provide ideas to jump start your group time (Opener Questions: for building community), discussion questions to go deep (Discussion Questions: for fostering Christ Centered community), and ways to apply what you learned throughout the week (Practical Applications: for faithfully following Jesus through your week).
Opener Questions
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What is something you liked doing as a kid that you don’t like doing anymore?
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When you were a kid, what is something you couldn’t wait to be “big” enough to do?
Discussion Questions:
1. Personal Scripture Recap:
How is your practice of spending time with God in his Word going for you so far this year? Are there any insights from your practice that are helping you engage more consistently or wholeheartedly? Are there hindrances or hurdles?
Are there any insights from what you read in Scripture this week that could be beneficial for the gathered community?
2. Engaging the Series Resource: Take some time to reflect on the rich vocabulary Peter uses in 1 Peter 2:1. Spend time with the definitions for the words malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
Seek to understand what Peter means practically – where have you seen these ways of interacting expressed throughout the stories of Scripture? Where do they come up in everyday life? What happens in the wake of these ways of interacting with others?
How does this list hit you?
Read parallel passages: Colossians 3:5-17; Ephesians 4:20-5:2; Romans 13:8-14. What are we called to put on? How are we to actually do this/how are these passages grounded?
How big of a deal is this call to put off the ‘passions of your former ignorance”? How does this connect to concepts in chapter 1, such as the call to holiness, showing sincere brotherly love, salvation, and redemption?
3. Pay attention to a repeating theme in 1 Peter – born again/newborn infants. Consider the analogy Peter is using. For a person to be born again, what must happen? What state does that leave us in? How does this analogy help you understand the “put off” language in question 2? What is the logical outcome if we surrender to our identity as beloved children of God and grow up into salvation?
4. As you look to Jesus as you put off these behaviors, how is tasting that the Lord is good a remedy? How have you seen God’s goodness satisfy your soul, meet your needs, and turn from desires of the flesh? End your time reading Psalm 34 and letting the spiritual milk of God’s word fill your longings.
5. Upcoming Woodlands in the Word: The Woodlands in the Word readings for this week are: Ephesians 2 – 6 and Hebrews. The sermon passage for next week is 1 Peter 2:4 – 10.
Practical Applications
Dinnertime Discussions: In what ways is pursuing holiness a communal endeavor? Do you need to grow in any areas? What step will you take?
Use Matthew 7:12 and Galatians 5:22-23 as guides in your discussion.
Gospel in Everyday Life: What are things that we let slip into (or out of) our lives and rhythms that stunt our growth instead of nourishing us to grow up into our salvation?
Developing Disciplines: What rhythms in your life are part of how you crave pure spiritual milk? Is there a new discipline you’d like to practice or partner with someone in your group?
Practicing Prayer: Gratitude is the antidote for envy. Make a gratitude list and thank God for how you see His provision or blessing in the area where you may be struggling with envy.
Woodlands in the Word: Read Ephesians 2 – 6 and Hebrews 1 for next week. The sermon passage for next week is 1 Peter 2:4 – 10.
