1 Peter 1:13-16
“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:14-16 (p. 934)
- God Empowers Me To Be Holy.
“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 (p. 871)
1. Prepare your mind for action.
“So prepare your minds for action…” 1 Peter 1:13a (p. 934)
Series Memory Verse: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (p. 866)
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2 (903)
2. Exercise self-control
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.” 1 Peter 1:13a (p. 934)
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28 (p. 499)
3. Put your hope in Jesus.
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 1:13 (p. 934)
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 (p. 483)
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will ask God to empower me to be holy by living out application _______.
Small Group Questions Week 4
One Thing: God Empowers Me To Be Holy.
Key Verse: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2(p. 866)
Bible References: 1 Peter 1:13-16 (p. 934)
CONVERSATION STARTER
// What was something that you had to prepare for? Was there ever a test or conversation that you had to prepare yourself for? What does it feel like to be prepared vs. unprepared?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Our passage today deals with the concept of holiness. In Jesus’ time, holiness was used to distinguish “clean” vs. “unclean” or “righteous” vs. “unrighteous” people and was directly tied to the sacrificial system. Holiness was a separation from sin and necessary to interact with God. Jesus offers us holiness through relationship with Him. Holiness is not found in the sacrificial system or rules and regulations, but in a relationship with Jesus.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
// Read 1 Peter 1:13. (p. 934) Prepare your mind for action.
- How can you prepare yourself and be obedient to Jesus?
- What are some habits that help you prepare your mind for action?
// Read Colossians 3:2. (p. 903) God wants you to focus on things of heaven and not earth.
- What are the things of heaven?
- What distracts you from focusing on the things of heaven.
// Read 1 Peter 1:14. (p. 934) God wants you to exercise self-control.
- What does exercising self-control look like as a follower of Jesus?
- Are there any habits that you use to help you exercise self-control?
// Read Proverbs 25:28. (p. 483) This passage describes how we are given order and safety through having self-control.
- What gets in the way of you exercising self-control?
- How can there be order and safety found in the type of self-control that Peter describes?
// Read 1 Peter 1:15-16. (p. 934) Put your hope in Jesus.
- How can you put your hope in Jesus right now?
- How does God empower you?
NEXT STEP
My Next Step This Week: ___ I will ask God to empower me to be holy by living out application _______.
- Prepare your mind for action
- Exercise self-control
- Put your hope in Jesus
DIGGING DEEPER
Read Hebrews 12:14. (p. 928) The writer of Hebrews explains that we all need to work at living a holy life. This means that we need to be at peace with everyone because through your life people around you will see God’s holiness working in your life.
Romans 6:22 (p. 861)
2 Corinthians 7:1 (p. 885)
1 Corinthians 1:30 (p. 870)
Ephesians 4:24 (p. 897)