Grace Group Lesson 06/05/2024
GRC Grace Group 06/05/2024
Paradigm Shift for the Believer
The reality of our world is this, life is hard, really hard. The greatest lie Satan has convinced the world of is that with enough time and effort, one can be free from the pains of this life. Who doesn’t want a life filled with happiness and good memories? Can we enjoy this life? In many ways, yes! Where we find that joy is the key. Peter is writing to encourage the churches in Rome to keep their joy in what they have received from Christ in the gospel.
Pet. 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pet. 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pet. 1:5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pet. 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
QUESTION: Why do you find it hard to find your joy in the gospel and not in the pleasures of this world?
QUESTION: How has the gospel encouraged you when you are faced with discouragement or suffering?
When life doesn’t go as planned (I’m pretty sure this is how everyone feels), we begin to question the purpose of our life. When we live our lives trying to find meaning and purpose in what we do or have done, we will always be left with the empty desire to want more. We fall into the trap of using those around us as a means to our significance or a roadblock to be removed. Peter points us past this world to a new and better purpose for our lives. This purpose is not hidden, but our hearts and minds are often polluted with this world distracting and discouraging us. This is why Peter writes the following,
1Pet. 1:13 ¶ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What we fill our minds with affects our desires and actions. Satan wants to blind us to the goodness of God in the gospel and keep our eyes focused on gratifying our flesh. Peter warns us about this in the next two verses,
1Pet. 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
1Pet. 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct
QUESTION: What has prevented you from setting “your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelations of Jesus Christ?”
QUESTION: How can we help each other in protecting our minds against the lies Satan attacks us with?
Our role in this world is not simply to keep our minds pure but to prepare them for action. We must be ready to help others find true rest that can only come through Jesus Christ.
1Pet. 2:9 ¶ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
When our hope is in Christ, it is much easier to talk with others about the hope we have in this broken and evil world. We will sound different because we are not trapped by the desires of the flesh. We can truly love others because we are not attempting to use them for our own advancement.
We don’t earn this role of royal priest; Christ gives it to us at our adoption into the family. We take with us the very presence of God, who dwells within us, and use it as a light to encourage others. Every word, smile, act of kindness, forgiveness, etc., becomes a means of sharing our priesthood with others.
1Pet. 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1Pet. 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
1Pet. 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Life is about leading others to the hope we have in Christ. Yes, simply being kind to others can start their path toward freedom in Christ. We must keep our minds free from the lies of Satan so we can be a light for those who are lost in the dark.
QUESTION: Where do you find your purpose in life today? Why is it so tempting to trust in God instead of what God has called us to?
QUESTION: What are some ways we could work together in our community to draw others to see the light that lives inside of us?
Connect on GRC Chat Group!
Pet. 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pet. 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pet. 1:5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pet. 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
QUESTION: Why do you find it hard to find your joy in the gospel and not in the pleasures of this world?
QUESTION: How has the gospel encouraged you when you are faced with discouragement or suffering?
When life doesn’t go as planned (I’m pretty sure this is how everyone feels), we begin to question the purpose of our life. When we live our lives trying to find meaning and purpose in what we do or have done, we will always be left with the empty desire to want more. We fall into the trap of using those around us as a means to our significance or a roadblock to be removed. Peter points us past this world to a new and better purpose for our lives. This purpose is not hidden, but our hearts and minds are often polluted with this world distracting and discouraging us. This is why Peter writes the following,
1Pet. 1:13 ¶ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What we fill our minds with affects our desires and actions. Satan wants to blind us to the goodness of God in the gospel and keep our eyes focused on gratifying our flesh. Peter warns us about this in the next two verses,
1Pet. 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
1Pet. 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct
QUESTION: What has prevented you from setting “your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelations of Jesus Christ?”
QUESTION: How can we help each other in protecting our minds against the lies Satan attacks us with?
Our role in this world is not simply to keep our minds pure but to prepare them for action. We must be ready to help others find true rest that can only come through Jesus Christ.
1Pet. 2:9 ¶ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
When our hope is in Christ, it is much easier to talk with others about the hope we have in this broken and evil world. We will sound different because we are not trapped by the desires of the flesh. We can truly love others because we are not attempting to use them for our own advancement.
We don’t earn this role of royal priest; Christ gives it to us at our adoption into the family. We take with us the very presence of God, who dwells within us, and use it as a light to encourage others. Every word, smile, act of kindness, forgiveness, etc., becomes a means of sharing our priesthood with others.
1Pet. 2:19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
1Pet. 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
1Pet. 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Life is about leading others to the hope we have in Christ. Yes, simply being kind to others can start their path toward freedom in Christ. We must keep our minds free from the lies of Satan so we can be a light for those who are lost in the dark.
QUESTION: Where do you find your purpose in life today? Why is it so tempting to trust in God instead of what God has called us to?
QUESTION: What are some ways we could work together in our community to draw others to see the light that lives inside of us?
Connect on GRC Chat Group!
- Signup for the GRC chat group in the app (top right corner)
- Leader can then search for and add you to the group chat
- What can you offer to the Father in praise?
- What is a sin you need to confess?
- What is a burden we can carry?
- What can we take to our Father in prayer?
Posted in Grace Group Lessons