1 Peter - Part 7
With only two weeks left in our 1 Peter series, things are wrapping up fast. Yet, we’re not on easy street by any means! This week, God speaks through Peter to challenge us in three key areas of “excess” in our culture. If we’re going to live in the Way of Jesus, that means we’re going to look different that the culture around us, and in no other areas is it quite so challenging as the realms of sex, alcohol, and spirituality. This week we’ll look at how and why Peter brings these points up and what looking different from the culture meant for his first audience, and what it means for us today.
Wise Man Trying to Escape Foolish Crowd - No Artist Named (Creativefabrica.com)
Anchor Texts:
Proverbs 20:1 NIV - Alcohol
Genesis 2:24 NIV - Sex
1 Kings 11:1-3 NIV - Spirituality
Questions to Ponder:
Why do you think self-restraint and boundaries matter with sex, alcohol and spirituality? Give a few reasons for each.
Indulgence or pleasure is the highest value of the culture around us. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
Read 1 Peter 4:4-5 again. Why would unbelievers be surprised when you do not join them?
Look at the practices highlighted in vv.7-11, which one resonates with you most? What “gift” has God given you to share with others?
Read 1 Peter 4:1 and 4:16 again.
a. When you suffer what is your typical response?
b. When mindful of Christ, which should our response be?
c. What’s one thing you can do today to align ourselves more closely with Christ’s mindset?
The Theme in Song:
Our passage today begins with “arm yourselves with the same mind as Christ.” This song is a simple song all about the truth that we don’t fight our battles by arm ourselves with human strength. Instead, we fight our batles by arming ourselves with a mind transformed by Christ. There is no victory in the fight unless it is Christ who goes before us and surrounds us!