Former Foreigners

We, as believers in Jesus Christ are W.I.P.’s. {works in progress}  We will be ‘till the day we die a physical death.  God through the Holy Spirit starts us on a trajectory toward a deepening faith in Him to live our lives toward obedience to His will.

1. Read 1 Peter 4:1-11.  The first three verses focus on the sinful past in each of us.  Verses 4-6 focus on those former friends around us who try to understand the change that has happened to us.  Verses 7-11 focus on the future and the need to show love to others.

Describe your own journey about your past {v.1-3}, your former friends {v.4-6} and the life you live today in obedience to God. {v.7-11}

2. Look at  John 13:6-9. All of the disciples feet were washed by Jesus.  But John singles out by name, Peter.  He asked Jesus if he was going to wash his feet.  Jesus responded by saying, “You don’t understand now what I am doing , but someday you will.”{v.7}

have you ever been called by God to do something for which you didn’t understand why?

3. What do you believe Peter meant by his response?{v.9}

4. God uses failures in our lives.  He never wastes an opportunity.  In John 21:15-22, Jesus asks Peter a question three times about feeding sheep.  Read Matthew 16:13-19.  Describe what had transpired in Peter’s life between these two Scriptures that would cause Jesus to affirm Peter with His words in John 21?

5.When you think of your own life, how have you made strides in failure?  How have you made strides by your success?