1. We Have a Living Hope - 1 Peter 1:1-5

11/16/25

Icebreaker Question: When you think about your identity, what are the first three words or phrases that come to mind? How many of those relate to your relationship with Christ?

Key Takeaways:

• Our Identity is In Christ - We are God's elect, exiles in this world, and sanctified (made holy) by God
• Our Hope is Living - Based on God's mercy and the resurrection of Jesus, not our efforts
• Our Inheritance is Secure - It can never perish, spoil, or fade
• Our Protection is Constant - We are shielded by God's power through our faith

Discussion Questions:

1.  Read 1 Peter 1:1-2.  Peter uses three descriptions for believers: God's elect, exiles, and sanctified.  Which of these resonates most with you right now?  Why?

2. The sermon mentioned that "as exiles we're like foreigners who are not comfortable or familiar with the culture we live amongst."  In what specific ways do you experience this tension between your faith and the surrounding culture?

3.  Peter says we've been ‘sanctified’ (made holy) by God.  How does understanding yourself as ‘holy’ and ‘set apart’ change the way you view your daily life and decisions?

4.  Read 1 Peter 1:3-5.  What does it mean that our hope is "living" rather than just wishful thinking?  

     a)  How have you experienced this living hope during difficult times?

5.  Read James 1:2-12. God doesn't spare us from suffering, He uses it to refine and strengthen our faith.  Share a time when suffering actually strengthened your faith rather than weakened it.  What made the difference? 

     a)  James tells us to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials.  How can we develop this perspective when our natural response is frustration or despair?

6.  Peter was writing to believers facing persecution under Nero.  How does our cultural context today compare?  In what ways are Christians increasingly experiencing opposition or marginalization?

     a)  How does the teaching of the first 5 verses of 1 Peter help us in this culture?

7.  A.W. Tozer said, "The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity.  God is waiting for His redeemed children to press into a conscious awareness of His Presence."  What does this mean?  What would it look like for the average person?

     a)  What practical steps can you take this week to become more aware of God's presence in your daily life?

Personal Reflection:

• In what area of your life are you most tempted to find your identity in something other than Christ?
• What current challenge or hardship is God inviting you to view through the lens of "living hope"?
• How can you remind yourself this week that your citizenship is in Heaven, not here?

Action Steps:

• Memorize 1 Peter 1:3-5 - Write it on a card and review it daily
• Identity Check - Each morning this week, remind yourself: "I am chosen by God, an exile here, and made holy by Him"
• Reframe Suffering - When facing a difficulty this week, pause and ask: "How might God be using this to strengthen my faith or show His power?"
• Eternal Perspective - Identify one area where you're living too much for "now" and take one step toward living for eternity
• Presence Practice - Set three daily reminders on your phone to pause and acknowledge God's presence with you

Prayer:

• Thank God for choosing us and giving us a living hope through Jesus
• Pray for those in the group facing specific trials or suffering
• Ask God to help us live as exiles in this world

2. Suffering Isn't All It's Made Out To Be! - 1 Peter 1:6-12

11/23/25

Icebreaker Question: What's one challenge or difficulty you're facing right now that you're comfortable sharing with the group?

Key Takeaways:

Peter reminds us that as followers of Jesus we can value and even rejoice in suffering because:

• It’s temporary and necessary, and refines us, bringing both joy and grief
• Jesus is present in our suffering
• Suffering highlights the privilege of our salvation

Discussion Questions:

1.  "Suffering isn't all it's made out to be—it's not all bad."  How does this statement challenge or encourage you? 

     a) What's your initial reaction to viewing suffering as having purpose?

2.  Read 1 Peter 1:6.  Peter says suffering is temporary.  How does viewing your current struggles as only ‘for a little while’ compared to eternity change your perspective? 

     a)  What makes this difficult to believe in the moment?

3.  Read Lamentations 3:37-38, Isaiah 48:10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and Hebrews 12:5-11.  The Bible teaches that suffering is necessary—not just permitted by God, but ordained by Him.  How do you wrestle with this truth? 

     a)  What questions or concerns does this raise for you?

4.  Read 1 Peter 1:7.  Like gold being refined by fire, what ‘impurities’ might God be burning away in your life through current or past trials?

5.  Read 1 Peter 1:8.  ‘Joy isn't the absence of suffering.  Joy is knowing Jesus is present and actively at work in our suffering.’  Can you share a time when you experienced unexplainable peace or joy in the middle of hardship? 

     a)  What made that possible?

6.  Peter mentions how his readers love Jesus even though they haven't seen Him.  How have you experienced the reality of Jesus' presence without physically seeing Him?

7.  Read 1 Peter 1:10-12.  Our salvation—the experience of God living with us by His Spirit—is what prophets longed for and angels marvel at.  Do you take the privilege of your salvation for granted?  Why? 

     a)  How can we cultivate greater appreciation for God's presence in our daily lives?

8.  Read Psalm 23:4.  David didn't expect God to take him out of the valley, but trusted God's presence in the valley.  How does this shift our expectations about how God answers our prayers during suffering?

Key Takeaways—which one resonate with you most right now?  Why?

• Let suffering refine you, not define you — Trust God’s shaping work, your suffering is meaningful.
• Cultivate a deeper love for Jesus — Meditate on His beauty, His gospel, His faithfulness.
• Choose joy by focusing on eternal things — Joy grows when Jesus is central, not circumstances.
• Treasure the privilege of your salvation — You have what the prophets predicted, what apostles preached, and what angels marvel at.

Prayer:

• For those currently suffering – that they would experience Jesus' presence and refining work
• For deeper love for Jesus and a joy that doesn't depend on circumstances
• For eyes to see suffering as an opportunity for spiritual growth
• For those who are struggling to trust God's purposes in their pain

Prayer Prompts:

• "God, help me trust You when I don't understand..."
• "Jesus, open my eyes to see Your presence in..."
• "Holy Spirit, refine in me..."

3. Believe in the Power of Jesus, Not in the Strength of Your Circumstances - 1 Peter 1:13-21

11/30/25

Icebreaker Question:  When facing a difficult situation, what's your natural first response—to problem-solve, to vent emotions, to withdraw, or something else?

Main Idea:  We can live hopeful, holy lives because our hope is in Jesus, who has already given everything for us and is coming back for us!

Key Takeaways:

• Believe in the Power of Jesus, Not the Strength of Your Circumstances (v13)
• Choose to Live Jesus' Way, Not Your Old Way (v14-16)
• Live in Reverence, Not Indifference (v17-21)

Discussion Questions:

1.  Have someone read 1 Peter 1:13-21 aloud.  Consider reading it twice from different translations.  In verse 13 Peter uses strong, deliberate language like ‘gird up’ and ‘with minds alert and fully sober.’  Why do you think he emphasizes intentionality rather than feelings when it comes to hope?

2.  What does it mean to ‘set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed’?  How is this different from hoping in our circumstances to change? 

3.  In verse 16, Peter quotes Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2 and 20:7: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’  How does this connect to our identity as children of God rather than being about religious performance?  

4.  What specific situation are you facing where you need to believe in Jesus' power more than your circumstances?  How might you be believing more in the strength of your circumstances than in the power of Jesus? 

     a)  What would it look like to shift that perspective? 

5.  ‘Suffering naturally makes us focus on ourselves’.  How have you experienced this? 

     a)  How might Philippians 3:7-11 change our perspective?  What practices help you refocus on God during difficult times?

6.  In verse 14 Peter talks about not conforming to ‘the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.’  What are some ‘old ways’ you're tempted to fall back into when life gets hard (e.g.: escape through entertainment, control, worry, anger, etc.)? 

     a)  What ‘old way’ of responding are you most tempted to fall back into right now?

7.  The Somali Christian who said, ‘I am grateful for my time in prison’ is a powerful example.  What strikes you most about his response?  

     a)  What would it take for us to respond to hardship with that kind of perspective?

8.  Verse 18-19 reminds us that we were redeemed ‘not with perishable things such as silver or gold...but with the precious blood of Christ.’  How does remembering the cost of our salvation change how we live day-to-day?

9.  Read 1 Peter 1:17 and Hebrews 11:8-16.  Peter calls us ‘foreigners’ and ‘exiles’ in this world.  How should this identity shape our priorities, decisions, and responses to suffering?

10.  ‘God has significant, specific expectations for your life.’  How does this truth motivate you?  

     a)  How might it challenge the way you're currently living?

Practical Application

• Daily Deliberate Hope — Each morning, before checking your phone or starting your day, spend 5 minutes deliberately setting your hope on Jesus. Pray: "Jesus, I choose to believe in Your power today, not in the strength of my circumstances.”
• Identity Reminder — When you face a difficult moment this week, pause and remind yourself: "I am a child of God. I am holy in Christ. How would someone with my true identity respond to this?" Then choose to live according to that identity.
• Gratitude for Salvation — Write out a prayer or journal entry thanking God specifically for what He's saved you from—both eternally (Hell) and presently (the empty way of life). Keep it somewhere visible this week.
• Foreigner Mindset — Identify one area where you're too invested in the temporary things of this world. What would it look like to hold that more loosely, remembering you're just passing through?

Prayer

• Pray for specific situations group members are facing
• Ask God to help each person believe in His power more than their circumstances
• Thank God for the incredible cost of our salvation
• Pray for grace to live as holy foreigners in this world