The People of Jesus (Part 1): People of Inheritance

TO START: In our summer series, The People of Jesus, we’re walking through the letter of 1 Peter. This portion of Scripture offers deep assurance to the people of Jesus—especially when our faith initiates challenges, tension, or unforeseen opportunities.

This week’s message focused on the assurance we have as people of inheritance. Before Peter gives any instruction about what to do, he spends time praising God for what has already been done through Jesus Christ. When we give our “yes” to Jesus, God pours out salvation over our past, present, and future.

TO READ: 1 Peter 1:1-5

TO DISCUSS:

(1.) What’s something in your life you didn’t realize you had access to—or weren’t fully using—until recently? (Think underutilized)

(2.) As your relationship with God has grown, are there areas of life or topics in the world that you no longer relate to in the same way?

(3.) In 1 Peter 1:3, Peter describes our confidence in God as a “Living Hope.” What do you think it means for hope to be living?

(4.) Peter reminds us that salvation in Christ has implications for our past, present, and future. Which aspect do you tend to appreciate the most—and which one the least?

(5.) When you think about God’s promised future—heaven and earth as one—Peter uses the words imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Which of those descriptions stirs up the most hope for you right now, and why?

TO PRAY

To close small group, we invite you to spend praying for the inheritance of living hope Jesus offers to the current generation of young people amongst our church, our city and in this world. Culturally, the generation born from 1997-2012 (Gen Z) have often been referred to as the “anxious generation”, we know this is not the name or reality God has in mind for this generation. If you have children, students or young adults in your group, we invite you to surround them and pray over them. If your group doesn’t simply pray for this group anyway. Consider praying the Lord’s Prayer over them, praying for them to see the Father’s heart for them or any prayer of blessing over them.