Opener Questions

• Do you have any experiences (maybe with your parents as a kid, or with teachers or employers) when you did not understand at the time why they were doing what they were doing or asking you to do what they were asking you to do? How did it turn out?

• Start thinking about how you’d like to grow spiritually this summer. We’ll talk about that more next week….

Discussion Questions:

1. Personal Scripture Recap:

Where have you been in Scripture this week? How has your time in Scripture been drawing your heart closer to the Lord? How is it shaping your thoughts, actions, or perspective in your daily life?

2. Engaging the Series Resource:

Read the passage in view:  1 Peter 5:1-5. Remember, though, that this passage is set in the context of the whole of 1 Peter. Read as much as you can before as well as the verses that come after this passage.  As you review what we’ve studied already and lean into this week’s passage, curate a summary sentence of 1 Peter.

3. In 1 Peter 5:1, what descriptors does Peter use to verify that he is qualified to appeal to the church leaders? What are some of the qualifications he could have appealed to? Of all those qualifications, why do you think he chose these in particular?

4. In 1 Peter 5:1-2, Peter acknowledges that the people of God are to have church leaders, and he instructs the elders to act as shepherds to the people they are leading. What comes to your mind with the metaphor of shepherding? Think of the Old Testament imagery of God as the Shepherd of Israel as found in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34:11-31. 

Now consider Peter. How does the life experience of Peter and the charge given to him by Jesus in John 21:15-19 uniquely qualify Peter to exhort believers about shepherding? 

How do these Old Testament and New Testament scriptures inform the way we are to submit to the leaders who shepherd us until the Chief Shepherd appears? What is to be true of us as sheep who are led?

 5. 1 Peter 5:5b is a call for all to clothe ourselves with humility.  Peter was likely reflecting on the servant leadership he saw Jesus demonstrate.  Choose a passage from the gospels that shows us the heart, posture, attitude, and purpose of Jesus’ leadership.  A great option is John 13:1-15 or choose a group favorite. What do you see in terms of Jesus’ heart, posture, and attitude here?  What do you learn about the purpose of this style of leadership? What enables us to follow His example?

6. Try this practice:  spend 3-5 minutes of silent meditation together, reflecting on and filling your mind with the things you have just studied.  Ask people to set their mind and heart toward Jesus and the Holy Spirit in these minutes of intentional, silent meditation.  As a leader, close this time of silence by reading Hebrews 13:20-21 as a benediction over your group.

7. The Woodlands in the Word:

The Woodlands in the Word passages are Acts 20-24. The sermon passage is 1 Peter 5:5-14.