Hope - Week 10: Hope in Suffering
Small Group Discussion Guide
For the week of Nov. 3rd
Connecting (Aim for 15 minutes)
• Name one person you’d love to see come to faith in Christ.
Quick Review… Looking back at your notes from this Sunday’s sermon, what caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Understanding the Truth (Aim for 30-40 minutes)
Read 1 Peter 4:12-19
Who is Peter talking to in v.12?
What is Peter’s warning to the believers in v. 12?
Peter places rejoicing in direct contrast to a negative surprise. In your own life, has it been difficult to rejoice when you were surprised by some type of suffering? Share a time when the blindsiding of suffering kept you from experiencing joy.
According to v. 13, what needs to happen now in our lives so that we could rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed?
What truth can we be assured of when “we are insulted for the name of Christ?” v. 14
We see in vv. 15-16 that suffering for sin is the contrast to being “insulted for the name of Christ”, in one action God is glorified and in another He isn’t. Discuss how our righteousness or sinfulness reflect on God.
Is meddling in other peoples’ matters that aren’t your concern something that you would place on par with the other three actions mentioned in v. 15? Discuss how believers can meddle in people’s business today. Why do we meddle? What is our objective in meddling?
God’s judgment comes to his household through testing according to vv. 17-18 (see also 1:6-7), but this process is meant to refine us with the outcome of bringing glory to his name. What recent testing have you experienced that has caused you to grow in your trust in God?
For believers, the outcome of God’s judgment is refinement, but for unbelievers it is destruction. How does this truth encourage you to share the gospel with others? v.17b
We are here today in part because the early church was willing to suffer for the name of Christ and while doing so, they entrusted their souls to God (v.19). They didn’t fight evil with evil, but evil with good. It was during this time that the church saw exponential growth. How should this truth encourage us as our culture becomes more secularized and challenges our faith?
Seeing Our Savior
Read Is. 53:6-8; Rom. 3:23-26; Heb. 12:2
1 Peter 4:18 speaks of the difficulty by which believers are saved (purified), but none have experienced difficulty like Jesus Christ our Lord. He was mocked, beaten, scorned and crucified at which time the wrath of God was poured out on him for our sin. Our eternal salvation doesn’t come from our good works, but our trust in his perfect and sufficient work on the Cross. To Him be all the Glory forever and ever. Amen!
Living the Truth (Aim for 20 minutes)
The suffering and testing that is spoken of in 1 Peter is specific to the persecution that the church would experience because of the name of Christ. Discuss with your group moments in your life when you have felt marginalized for your faith. Have these experiences been encouraging or discouraging for you?
Think of a person whom you’ve desired to share the gospel with, but your fear of their response has kept you from doing so. What are you afraid of? What have you learned from 1 Peter that can oppose that fear and lead you to share with them?
Pray for one another that God will give you the courage to share the gospel with them.
God not only hears, but loves to answer prayers that are “according to His will.” (1 John 5:14-15). We can pray confidently when we pray obediently to this truth. You have just spent time discovering God’s will for you. Now, ask God for what you need to fulfill His will in your life, your friends & family, neighbors, church & community. Don’t be afraid to ask forgiveness where you have blown it, strength where you are weak, courage where you are afraid.
Prayer Requests (Aim for minimum of 10 minutes)
Pray that God reveals to you who He truly is