Matthew Welch led us tonight as we continued our study called “Awake & Aware” through portions of 1 Peter. And he did a FANTASTIC job! He focused on 1 Peter 4:7-11 as we considered what it looks like to be awake and aware in light of Christ’s return. After helping us understand the urgency found in the immanent return of Christ, he presented three ways that this sober-minded understanding of his return will manifest itself in our lives. First, it will result in a maturity in thinking and praying (v. 7). Second, it will result in a gracious and intentional love for each other (v. 8-9). Third, it will result in our becoming aware of how God has uniquely gifted us and using those gifts to build up the Body (v. 10-11). Ask your students this week to walk back through the passage and their message notes and share with you elements of Matthew’s message that stood out to them. You can also use the following reflection questions in having good conversations together throughout the week!
Questions for Reflection
*How are you looking forward to Christ’s return?
Are you looking forward with fear, knowing that who you are and what you’ve done is not enough to earn God’s favor?
Or are you looking forward with hope, knowing that, as Colossians 3 says, he is our life and when he appears we also will appear with him in glory?
Which more accurately describes your reality?
*Believer, are you intoxicated with the things of this world?
Are there things in your life that hinder you from thinking and praying according to the gospel hope that is ours in Christ?
Consider things you need to repent of and cling to the unfading, undefiled hope that is ours in Christ.
*What ways can you seek to love and serve within the Body?
Have you identified spiritual gifts in your own life? What gifts do you see?
How are you stewarding those gifts as gifts given by God to encourage the Body? In what ways can you plug in right now and serve?
