On Sunday, July 12, 2015 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on 1 Peter 3:8-22. This message was part 6 of the “True Grace” series. Below are a set of questions related to this sermon for group discussion or personal reflection.
Questions:
- Read 1 Peter 3:8-22
- Do you ever feel disoriented by the dizzying events happening in this world? Do you ever wonder what you are to do (as a Christian) in response?
- Peter begins by challenging Christians to pursue good in this world. One way in which we pursue good is by how we relate to others. In 3:8, Peter gives 5 exhortations to guide a Christian’s attitudes as they relate to others. Which of these 5 exhortations is most challenging to you? Is your life marked by these attitudes?
- One challenge to pursuing good is the temptation to lash out at those who mistreat us. Peter exhorts us to respond to insults with blessings. Have you ever experienced this? How did it impact you?
- A second challenge to pursuing good is the temptation to cave in and blend in with the world instead of fearing God and following Him. In what areas of life are you tempted to cave into the world’s pressure instead of following God?
- A third challenge to pursuing good is to point up to Jesus when others notice the way we react and respond to life. Have you ever had someone ask you why you are hopeful in the face of challenge, disappointment, or persecution? Have you ever seen someone respond to difficulty in such a way that you asked them where they got their strength? If someone were to ask a Christian why they are pursuing good in the face of difficulty, how do you think the Christian should answer?
- What has Jesus done of us according to 1 Peter 3:18?
- In 3:19-20, Peter encourages Christians to continue to reach out to those around you while you have time (for a more detailed explanation of these verses, see the devotional I wrote here.) Who are some people in your life that Jesus wants to reach through you today?
- In 3:21-22, Peter talks about baptism being a symbol of our identification with Jesus. Have you ever taken this step of being baptized as a public declaration of your trust in Christ? If not, why not? Would you be open to being baptized soon?
- Are there any specific applications you have from this message?
To access the entire True Grace Study, click here.
