Sermon Discussion Guide 10-6-24
Sermon Discussion Guide
1 Peter | Part 4 | Political Power and the Way of Jesus| 1 Peter 2:11-17
Gathering Prayer.
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Gathering Question.
If you could describe today’s political culture in one word, what would it be? Why?
Opening Questions
Read 1 Peter 2:11-17
The Tension of Submission
Love of Enemies, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship:
“The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him. To the natural man, the very notion of loving his enemies is an intolerable offense, and quite beyond his capacity: it cuts right across his ideas of good and evil. … The will of God…is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them.
In the New Testament our enemies are those who harbor hostility against us, not those against whom we cherish hostility, for Jesus refuses to reckon with such a possibility. The Christian must treat his enemy as a brother, and requite his hostility with ove. His behavior must be determined not by the way others treat him, but by the treatment he himself receives from Jesus…”
Political Outcomes or the Kingdom of God?
Closing Prayer
1 Peter | Part 4 | Political Power and the Way of Jesus| 1 Peter 2:11-17
Gathering Prayer.
Father, by Your Spirit, would you guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.
Gathering Question.
If you could describe today’s political culture in one word, what would it be? Why?
Opening Questions
- What stood out to you in the sermon?
- What insights did you gain?
- What questions did it raise?
Read 1 Peter 2:11-17
The Tension of Submission
- Why do you think Peter commands believers to submit to human authorities, including emperors and governors, despite the fact that these very authorities would eventually kill him?
- In what ways can we honor and respect governing authorities, even if we disagree with their policies?
Love of Enemies, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship:
“The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him. To the natural man, the very notion of loving his enemies is an intolerable offense, and quite beyond his capacity: it cuts right across his ideas of good and evil. … The will of God…is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them.
In the New Testament our enemies are those who harbor hostility against us, not those against whom we cherish hostility, for Jesus refuses to reckon with such a possibility. The Christian must treat his enemy as a brother, and requite his hostility with ove. His behavior must be determined not by the way others treat him, but by the treatment he himself receives from Jesus…”
- What are some ways you see Bonhoeffer’s words as a corrective in today’s political culture?
Political Outcomes or the Kingdom of God?
- What are the dangers of putting our hope in political outcomes?
- Are there times when the political culture around us leads you to become afraid, anxious, or angry?
- What are some practical ways that we can refocus our hope from political outcomes to the kingdom of God?
Closing Prayer
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