Sermon Discussion Questions
Text: 1 Peter 4:7–11
The following outline and discussion questions have been prepared to accompany the sermon from 1 Peter 4:7–11, “Living in Light of the End.” These questions can be used for discussion in small groups, family devotions, or for personal reflection. (PDF Link)
Main Question: How do we live in light of the end?
Outline:
I. Pray Persistently (1 Peter 4:7)
II. Love Earnestly (1 Peter 4:8–9)
III. Serve Faithfully (1 Peter 4:10–11)
Discussion Questions:
1. Share some instances in your life when you felt utterly overwhelmed and struggled to truly believe God’s promises. How did you navigate through that time and avoid falling into cynicism or abject hopelessness?
Read 1 Peter 4:7–11
2. What does Peter mean by, “the end of all things is at hand”… especially given the fact that it has been over 2,000 years sin he penned these words? (Cf. Acts 2:16–21; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 John 2:18).
How does Peter’s view of the end (his eschatology) appear to impact his behavior and ethics?
3. How does a lack of self-control and clear mindedness negatively impact our prayer life?
4. In the sermon pastor Mark noted that: “Prayer is one of the primary ways in which believers magnify Jesus Christ, in that, in prayer we: admit our inadequacy, acknowledge his good, merciful, perfect, and inexhaustible omnipotence, anchor ourselves in his impeccable faithfulness and steadfast love, and humbly wait in hope.”
How can this kind of prayer life protect us from fear and hopelessness even when God does not immediately change our circumstances?
5. How does “love cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) without improperly excusing sin? (Cf. 1 Peter 1:22–23; 2:1; 3:9)
6. Take a moment to contemplate the implications of Peter’s unequivocal statement in verse 10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Every believer has received a “spiritual gift” so they can be a conduit of God’s grace to others. Every believer is supposed to use this gift to serve one another.
How are you stewarding your gift(s) today?
If you are not, what is keeping you from serving as a “good steward?”
How could you partner with someone else to grow in your ability to serve?
7. Notice the progression of Peter’s commands: vertical (4:7), horizontal (4:8–9), missional (4:10–11).
How should this progression motivate busy and overwhelmed believers to radically reorganize their life priorities and “live in light of the end?”
How might this look in our church?