New Clothing | 5.19.2024
1 Peter 5:1-7
1. How is the description of God’s people as sheep and the leaders as shepherds helpful? Challenging? (Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 9:36)
2. To what degree have you struggled with anxiety? (eg., low, moderate, severe) How are the strategies proposed in 1 Peter 5:1-7 similar to and/or different from your historic strategies for dealing with anxiety?
3. What is to motivate Elders in their shepherding? (1 Peter 5:1-7) How have you experienced the benefits of God’s design of local shepherds caring for the flock?
4. How does Jesus define and demonstrate “good” shepherding? (John 10:11-16) Of the ways in which Jesus describes his goodness as a shepherd, which have you experienced? And which have you not experienced?
5. How might you experience more of Jesus’ goodness as a shepherd in the days ahead? (1 Peter 2:25)
Suffering for Christ | 5.12.2024
1 Peter 4:12-19
1. In what ways are you able to relate to God’s testing of Abraham? In what ways are you unable to relate to God’s testing of Abraham? (Genesis 22:1-19)
2. How has your faith been tested recently, and how did you respond to the testing? (Proverbs 17:3, James 1:2-4)
3. When has your allegiance to Jesus been tested? (1 Peter 4:12-19) Why is it significant that in this testing God calls Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering? (Romans 12:1, Hebrews 11:17-19)
4. What gifts of God test your resolve to love him more than any good thing he has provided, and how is the story of Abraham a call to forsake idolatry? (Matthew 22:37, Romans 12:1)