September 8, 2019 - First Peter Series, The Great Pilgrimage

September 08, 2019 The smaller groups in our church community are inside our homes where we go deeper, build friendships, and walk out the Christian life with each other. HOME CHURCH GUIDE + “Breaking the Ice” question (group facilitator) + CHECK-INS: Introduce, check-in + CARE: Needs in the group + COMPASSION: What is the group planning? Are you inviting your neighbours to join in? + GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS Church-wide, group-only + DIG IN: Discuss questions as a group + END AND HOMEWORK: Final questions, prayer huddles for personal requests. Consider breaking into small groups (huddles) of 2-4, by gender, if large enough. ALIENS & STRANGERS DISCUSSION questions: + Spend some time sharing your highlights of summer. The first group or two spend time swapping stories and connecting. + How do you plan to contribute to the group in this new season? What are your hopes for Pilgrim in the next few months? + Read the passage again as a group (out loud, two to three times--it’s short). When have you felt most different from those around you (what setting, when, why were you there?) + Peter was one of Jesus’ inner circle and known for his public faith and fumbles. He was a fisherman who becomes a prime leader in the first church. If you could ask one of the first Christian leaders any questions, what would you ask Peter? + Peter is writing to these churches with a type of authority. He cannot regularly and personally present in each one, nor live in more than one place. What does this say about the role of larger groups of churches and authority in the church? + “Scattered abroad” is some of the language used by Peter indicating their literal and spiritual immigrant status. How hard is it to think of yourself as a “spiritual immigrant” in Canada as a follower of Jesus? + When the followers of Jesus are a minority how does that affect the way we share and live the teachings of Jesus? + When have you felt most “alien” as a Christian? + Other thoughts (Home Church year, commitment, etc.) Prayer Requests: 1 PETER 1:1-12 THE SENDER 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, THE ADDRESSEES To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia LESSONS CAN WE LEARN & APPLY The main application is “the importance of establishing our identity on the basis of who we are in God’s family rather than who we are in social perceptions. What is find here is Peter’s attempt to make sense of his readers’ present social location in the Roman Empire in the light of the new-found social location in the family of God.” (McKnight, NIV Application Commentary) 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: FOLLOWING CHRIST AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION HOME CHURCH IS ABOUT BECOMING FAMILY THE GREETING ITSELF Grace and peace be yours in abundance. FINAL CHALLENGE