1 Peter 1:17–21
Cory DiCarro
Part of Small Groups—Questions
June 9, 2024

OVERVIEW OF SCRIPTURE

Prior to group, get a better understanding of the overall biblical text with these resources.

Main Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17–21


Biblical Summary Click here for a brief summary on the Book of 1 Peter.

KNOW

Allow these questions to help you better understand what Scripture says contextually.

Read 1 Peter 1:17.

  • What do the following verses tell us about God in regards to God being a perfectly just and righteous impartial judge? (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30; John 17:17)
  • How does Romans 14:12 tie into 1 Peter 1:17?

For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live.

  • How does Hebrews 12:28-29 speak to a believer’s “fear” of the Lord?
  • What do the following verses teach us regarding that the fear of God is the basis for our walking in His ways, serving Him, and loving Him? ( Deuteronomy 10:12, 20-21; Proverbs 1:7)
  • How does understanding that God hates sin lead to a healthy fear of being lovingly disciplined by Him? (See Hebrews 12:5-11

Look up John 15:18–19; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:11.

  • How do these verses describe a Christian’s stay on earth?
  • What do these verses teach us about our identity in Christ?

Read 1 Peter 1:18–19.

  • What do the following verses teach us about the shed blood of Jesus Christ? (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:14, 22).

Read 1 Peter 1:20. God’s plan of salvation has always existed. Jesus has always existed.

  • How does Genesis 1:26 speak to this truth? (Notice the proper noun usage and plurality of “Us” and “Our.”)
  • What does Jesus say about his existence in John 17:5?
  • How does John 1:1–4, 14 further give evidence to Jesus’ eternal existence?

GROW

These questions are geared towards application of Scripture and Sunday’s message.

Our culture often associates the word “fear” with negativity.

  • How can having a biblical (not worldly) fear of God be a positive in our lives that leads to changing how we live and conduct ourselves?
  • As you think about how you live, do you exhibit a healthy biblical fear of God? Why or why not?

Consider who you are in Christ and your current stay on this earth. As we looked up earlier, the Bible tells Christians they’re: temporary visitors, aliens in a foreign land, exiles, not of this world, and citizens of heaven.

  • Is this truth and reality new to you? If so, what thoughts or questions does it bring to mind?
  • If this truth and reality are not new to you, how should this understanding direct our time, talents, and resources?

We are told in these verses that after seeing us exactly as we are (Romans 5:8, 10), God redeems us and purchases us out of bondage to sin and death with the blood of His only Son.

  • What does this reveal about the character of God?
  • What does this reveal about His feelings toward us?
  • How should we respond to this truth?

Think about the fact that Jesus did not come into existence in a manger, but He has always existed. Salvation has always existed. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit have been in existence before time, space, and the foundation of the world.

  • Take time to discuss this.
  • God’s perfect plan of salvation has always existed; long before your worst regrets, decisions, or sins. How does this truth sit with you?
  • Discuss the statement, “There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any more. There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any less.”

“Knowing”, as Peter says in verse 18, all that God has done, is doing, and will do leads us to a life of response not legalism.

  • What’s the difference between living a life of response to Jesus versus a life of checking off a “to-do” list?
  • Do you struggle with this in any aspect of your life?
  • What does it practically look like to conduct our time of stay on this earth in a response of thanksgiving for what He has done for us?

GO

Take a next step and put your faith into action!

Because of our redemption, we have faith and hope in God. We can be active participants in our faith because of the resurrection of Jesus.

  • Based on today’s message, what changes in your walk with Jesus and daily life?

We are to be in the world but not of the world.

  • How do we orient our lives to ensure we are investing our time, talents, and resources on eternal things, not temporal things? What does that look like?

PRAYER

Pray for one another and bring your requests to God.

Small Group Prayer Requests: Take some time to gather prayer requests from the group. Have someone write these down to see how God moves and answers prayer.

Northwest Prayer Highlight: This year, from June 17–21, Vacation Bible School (VBS) gallops through the wide-open West, where our friends at Wonder Junction will teach us about the grandest wonder of all–Jesus Christ.

  • Pray for the immense preparations leading up to VBS
  • Pray for the kids who will be attending
  • Pray for the salvation of kids who don’t know Jesus
  • Pray about jumping in as a volunteer prior to, during, or after VBS