I Peter Week One

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I PETER: Week 1 – I Am In Exile Open in Prayer W elcom e/Introductions/Cast Vision Rem ind the Grow Group of the ground rules Share context/sum m ary of the story [Provide context by sharing the information below.]

Peter’s early readers were not much different from us. He was writing to men and women who had a relationship with God that were living it out in a lost and defiled world. Peter’s desire was that his audience would experience God’s extravagant grace and know His perfect peace. He reminded them that their future inheritance is extraordinary. Peter describes heaven as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Tell the story – I Peter 1:1-12 [Have someone tell the story.] Rebuild the story [Group members tell the story together based on what they remember.] Read the story out loud [Read the scripture passage to see if anything was added or omitted.] Discuss these questions:

1. What do we learn about God from this passage? [God alone is worthy of our praise; God is preparing a place for those who have placed their trust in Him (John 14:2-3); God tells us that this world is passing away, but the one who does the will of God will live forever (I John 2:17); as believers, the inheritance we receive from Christ is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading; God uses our trials for our good and His glory; Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10); God’s grace is sufficient to meet my needs; etc.]

2. What do we learn about Man/Us from this passage? [As a disciple of Jesus, I am called to be in the world but to remain unstained from it (James 1:27); I can get distracted in my walk with God and allow my affections toward Him to wane; in this life, I will have struggles (John 16:33); I can easily grow weary and discouraged when living in this world; I am prone to run from difficulty and not see it as an instrument God uses to refine me; the Holy Spirit empowers me to faithfully live for the Lord; I chase temporary glory; etc.]

3. What is God saying to you specifically through this passage as it pertains to your life, marriage, family, and work? 4. In light of what you’ve learned today, what do you need to do to obey God? Other questions specific to this passage:

1. Name people throughout history who enjoyed a lot of glory but are now insignificant. 2. How does the fact that God controls our trials comfort you when you’re going through them? Are you experiencing a time of trial? What are the circumstances you are facing? Assign next week’s passage – I Peter 1:13-21 [Ask someone to tell the story.] Close in Prayer

I PETER: Week 1 – Leadership Coaching The purpose of this page is to help you sharpen your skills as a Grow Group leader. Each week, we will include concepts, challenges, and resources designed to assist you as you lead and shepherd your Grow Group and grow as a disciple yourself.

Leading [learn to facilitate your group more effectively] It’s always good to evaluate the relational environment your Grow Group provides. Here are some questions to help you gauge how your group is doing. Does your group model transparency and maintain confidentiality? Does your group have good listeners? Do you allow silence to help allow opportunity for everyone to share? Is your group there, physically and spiritually, for each other as they struggle? Is your group encouraging? Do you lovingly and courageously address behaviors that do not glorify God? Does your group meet regularly and consistently?

Shepherding [know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, protect the sheep] Our evaluation of something is sometimes different than someone else’s. Take time this week to ask some of the questions mentioned above to different people in your group to get a better evaluation of your group. Make sure to take notes, listen for the sake of listening, and ask questions to get the “why” behind what is being said. Also, when someone mentions something to work on, show them that you value their response. Receive their comments well by asking for their insight on how the situation could be improved.

Developing [grow as a disciple yourself] “Regardless of how busy we become with all things Christian, we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture.” Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney I challenge you to stop right now and take 15 minutes to read all of Psalm 119. The author’s unquestionable love for knowing, understanding, and living by God’s truth is unavoidable. He calls Scripture his ‘delight’. Seeing Scripture as a delight can be a challenge for us until we understand that it is through the stories, commands, and teachings that God is revealing Himself to us. As you prepare to lead your Grow Group, focus on this concept of delighting in God’s Word: §

What would it mean for you to delight in Scripture?

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What habits do you need to start or further develop to make God’s Word a regular part of your life?