Session 8 – Small Group Study Guide
Word: How this truth should be understood
- Look back at 1 Peter 2:1-3 for context. How does that connect with 2:4?
- Peter uses a pertinent metaphor in every verse of this passage. What is the metaphor, and what is the point of the metaphor?
- How is Christ a stumbling and a rock of offense to those who do not believe (2:8)?
Worship: How this truth affects your heart
- Being rejected by men is difficult. Have you ever been rejected for being a Christian? What was that like? How was God faithful through it?
- Our purpose as spiritual stones is to make spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ (2:5). The language of “spiritual sacrifice” is one of worship. In this season of Thanksgiving, what are some areas of your life, or some circumstances, where you are having trouble worshiping God with thankfulness?
- We will only gladly accept being rejected by men for the sake of Christ if we think that Jesus Christ Himself is worth it. What takes your eyes off of Christ? What brings your gaze back to Him (Heb 12:1-2)?
Work: How this truth works out in your life
- We often want our life to be: Life Eternal life. But the Christian life is: Life Death Eternal life. What have you found to be helpful in embracing this paradigm (i.e. friends, small group, studying Scripture)?
- Who are unbelievers in your life that you can pray for God to save?
- Who do you know who has suffered for Christ (Friends, family, ‘famous’ Christians, etc.)? How has their example been encouraging to you?
Sharing and Prayer
- As you think about this season and our study in 1 Peter, what is one area in which you’d like to grow in living out your faith? Write this down and prepare to follow-up and track God’s work in our future sessions!
- What are some ways that you’d like to apply what you just learned to that one area you’d like to grow in living out your faith?
- Share other prayer requests.
