COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR VISION SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY
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GROUP STUDY 8 – OUT (PART 2)
THOSE BUILT ON CHRIST MAKE HIM THEIR MANNER
As we are
built on Christ, the Spirit shapes us in His likeness. The way we live brings
Him praise and will authenticate or undermine the message.
What does Peter say about how our
manner of life is important?
· What are we to ‘rid ourselves of’ and
why would such attributes undermine our message? (2:1)
· What are we to abstain from and what can
be the result (2:11-12)
· What attitude are we to have to
authorities and what can be the outcome? (2:13-17)
· How is our relationship with employers
to reflect Jesus? (2:18-22)
· What does Peter say about words and
example? (3:1-2) (Note: we, obviously, can apply this more broadly than this
example)
· How are we to seek to make the gospel
‘attractive’ (3:3-4) (Note: This is applicable to men who can also make their
outward appearance an idol)
· How are we to answer people? (3:15-16)
SAME
MESSAGE DIFFERENT METHODS
We are all different;
therefore our methods of communicating the gospel will differ. Rico Tice (Honest
Evangelism) points to 3 examples of differing styles:
‘Confrontational – Peter was confrontational. Maybe
you’re someone for whom the confrontational approach is right. See Acts
2:22-23, 36
Intellectual/apologetics – Paul could confront people; but
his general style was a more considered, intellectual approach. See Acts
17:22-23
Testimonial – The ex-blind man’s approach is
testimonial. He doesn’t know everything, but he does know what’s happened to
him. See John 9:25’
APPLICATION
– LET JESUS SHAPE OUR MANNER OF LIFE
· How is your manner? How well do you show genuine care by listening and asking questions? Are
you an exemplary employee or boss?
· Is your Public image glorifying to God? Does our image on social media reflect
Jesus and help others to know Him? Let’s use the ‘gift’ of social media to
promote the gospel, let’s not ‘hide our light’!
PERSONAL
BIBLE STUDIES WEEK 8 – 1 PETER 4:12-5:14
MONDAY:
GREAT FRUITFULNESS COMES THROUGH SUFFERING
1 Peter 4:12-19 Dear friends,
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you,
as though something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted
because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory
and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or
thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you
suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that
name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it
begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel
of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be
saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then,
those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their
faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1. GC – Our Saviour suffered. Our salvation was
achieved by our suffering King. Peter encourages us to remember that as we
suffer for Christ
2. UP – Take a moment to think of the various
ways in which you are suffering or things you would prefer to be different.
Let’s listen to Peter and choose to trust and worship God; he tells us to
‘rejoice’, ‘praise God’, trust our ‘faithful creator’. We can do this because
God loves us and has purpose in all that He allows into our lives.
3. IN – ‘fiery ordeals’ come upon all of
us. In times of trial we realise how
much we need the support of the church family and of the truth of God’s word.
4. OUT – We will only be evangelistically
effective if we are prepared to be ‘insulted
because of the name of Christ’. Too many of us are not prepared to suffer
and so we hide the light of the gospel and do not enjoy ‘the Spirit of glory and of God’.
TUESDAY:
GOSPEL SHAPED LEADERSHIP, LIFE AND WITNESS
1 Peter 5:1-4 To the elders
among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s
sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds
of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you
must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing
dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never
fade away
1. GC – Elders (church leaders) and all leaders
(and everyone for that matter) are to be shaped by the gospel – our leadership
is loving and sacrificial.
2. UP – Do we lead and serve for the eyes of
God or people? Peter encourages us to look ‘up’ as we serve, knowing that it is
God who will reward us.
3. IN – In whatever capacity you lead or serve
how are you doing in four areas: firstly – generosity rather than greed or
dishonesty; secondly – eagerness to serve; thirdly – loving encouragement over
manipulation or domination, and fourthly – setting an example for others to
follow over just talking or setting a bad example.
4. OUT – Like Peter we are ‘witness of
Christ’s sufferings’ this shapes the way we serve the church but it also shapes
the way that we serve the world. Pray that your life and church would reflect
the values in this text toward the world also.
WEDNESDAY:
PRIDE IS AN EVER PRESENT ENEMY
1 Peter 5:5-7 In the same
way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you,
clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God
opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves,
therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast
all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1. GC – Jesus set us an example of humble
submission. Although fully and equally God, He obeyed and laid down His life.
Pray for grace to be like Christ in your relationships.
2. UP – God hates and opposes pride. Pride is
an attitude of ‘I can do this without God’ or ‘I can do this without others’ or
‘I’m more valuable than others’. It displays itself most clearly as we are
easily offended when we feel undervalued by others or above more menial tasks.
3. IN – let’s ‘clothe ourselves with humility
toward one another’. Serve your church family in any way that’s needed.
4. OUT – Peter tells us to ‘cast all your anxiety on Him because He
cares for you.’ Relational tension often comes about because we are fearful
and so want to control the way things are done. A church that trusts God will
be a church of loving relationships and such a church speaks volumes to this
divided world.
THURSDAY:
THE DEVIL IS ON THE PROWL – RESIST HIM IN FAITH
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and
of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the
faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world
is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1. GC – The devil is a real enemy who wants us
to take our eyes off of the gospel. He wants us to distrust our salvation by
grace and start to work for it; he wants us to distrust God; he wants us to become
prideful and divisive as we forget God’s grace toward us. Let’s resist the
devil’s work by standing near the cross.
2. UP – We ‘resist
him standing firm in the faith’. Worshipping God is spiritual warfare.
Confessing God and truth is a way of applying the armour of God (Read and pray
through Ephesians 6:10-18 which is mostly about believing ‘standing in’ truth)
3.
IN – The devil is attacking everywhere and this is why ‘the family believers throughout the world is
undergoing the same kind of sufferings’. Pray for suffering Christians you
know and in other places in the world.
4. OUT – Has the devil ‘devoured’ your
confidence to share your faith? Has he startled you into silence? Pray for a
new freedom, in the Spirit, that God would break any fearful stronghold in you.
FRIDAY:
GOD OF RESTORATION
1 Peter 5:10-11 And the God of
all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you
have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1. GC – Peter calls Him ‘the God of all grace’; is this your vision of God? If so, then
confess the second phrase that He ‘called
you to his eternal glory in Christ’ – take time to express your thankfulness
of salvation by grace alone, and the promise of glory.
2. UP – The devil is causing us suffering
(5:8-9) but God’s surpassing love, power and grace will bring it to an end in
His perfect timing. This statement recalls the sufferings and greater
restoration of Job. Will you trust God for restoration?
3. IN – We cannot always know that God will
heal, will give us that job, will do that thing that you long for etc. But we
know that He is the God of restoration. Let’s encourage one another to trust
God that He will ‘restore, make strong,
firm and steadfast’.
4. OUT – Your trust in God is a great
testimony. If we have faith in trials our friends and family will see something
that they cannot argue with.
SATURDAY:
STAND FAST IN GRACE
1 Peter 5:12-14 With the help
of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you
briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of
God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends
you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss
of love. Peace to all of you who are in
Christ.
1. GC – Peter summarises the content and intent
of this letter: ‘I have written to you
briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of
God. Stand fast in it.’ It’s easy to stray from the ‘true grace of God’. We are all tempted to deny the faith; we are
tempted to add works to our faith; we are tempted to excuse sin and distort
God’s grace, which gives us a new heart and death to sin. Let’s ‘stand fast in it’!
2. UP – Again Peter makes references to
election as he says ‘chosen together with
you’. This letter flows out of God’s grace; and as we see and thank God for
loving and choosing us, it changes everything, but it starts with looking ‘up’.
3. IN – Peter makes mention of ‘Silas, whom I regard
as a faithful brother’; are you a faithful person? Too many ‘jump ship’ when
relationships are tense or are carried away by their emotions. Let’s be
faithful which is a godly aspiration. He calls Mark ‘my son’; this speaks of
the affection that we should all aspire to have for one another and is
symbolised as we greet with ‘a kiss of love (maybe a hug or something similar
in our culture). He also mentions ‘she
who is in Babylon…’. This is a reference to the church in Rome from which
he is writing. As Peter closes this letter do you see the centrality of
community relationships? Let’s endeavour to love God’s community as He does.
4. OUT – Peter, writing from Rome, has a
heart for churches in regions other than his own. We are in mission with every
church that is true to the gospel. May God give us His heart for all nations
and peoples for the glory of God and the good of all people.
