Getting Ready for the Big Game

Core Truth #31

Q: What do we believe by true faith?
A: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3

Read 1 Peter 4:7-11 as a group.

Peter tells us to be serious about our Christian lives; that is, about living for God’s kingdom and glory. What does it look like to live for God’s kingdom and glory? What are some ways our everyday lives cause us to lose our focus on living for God’s kingdom and glory?

Regular prayer should be part of our Christian lives. Why is regular prayer important? How can Jesus’s model prayer (“the Lord’s prayer, Matt 6:9-13) help guide our prayers? What are some practical ways to be open an attentive to God speaking to you in your times of prayer? 

What are some ways that our self-centeredness gets in the way of loving other Christian brothers or sisters?  What are some ways that our self-centeredness gets in the way of forgiving other Christian brothers or sisters? Why is it important to love and forgive our fellow Christians in light of “the end of all things”?

What are some ways we can use our speech to minister God’s grace to others? What are some ways we can use our service (our time and energy) to minister God’s grace to others? What would be different about the life of the church if all members used their gifts to minister God’s grace to one another? What would be different about your own individual life as a Christian?

What do you need to do this week to get serious about your Christian walk, or to commit to regular, attentive prayer, or to start using your gifts for the good of the church?