Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview 

When your loving, hopeful life provides an opportunity, be ready to share the gospel.

Digging Deeper    

A loving life (vv. 8-12)

1. In this passage, Peter calls us, as believers, to have a unifying and affectionate love for one another (v. 8).  Gospel Communities are intended to be “a family of disciples on mission” who, among other things, have a “unifying and affectionate love for one another.”  What do you feel could be done to see this love be sustained and grow in Gospel Community?

2. Among followers of Jesus, we may have lots of differences and yet, in Christ, have common ground in the most important matters. What has been your experience of this sort of Christian unity? Have you seen God knit your heart to another brother or sister in Christ with whom you might not have a lot in common (on a merely human level)? Please share.

3. Our love for one another inside the church is actually one of the most powerful things we can do for people outside it. Have you ever seen (or experienced) Christian community that made someone on the outside stop and ask questions?

4. Verses 9b - 12 are intended by Peter to help motivate us to, instead of repaying evil for evil, bless and do good to those who mistreat us. What specifically in these verses do you find helpful in motivating you to live the sort of life Peter is calling us to live?    

A ready response (vv. 13 - 17)

5. The sermon describes a progression — trust, live out, speak, and now share — where the gospel moves from inside us, outward to the church, and then out to the world. Does that progression feel natural to you, or does it feel like a big jump when it gets to sharing? What makes that last step feel different?

6. “A different hope will shape a distinctive life, which will get questions for which we need a ready response.”  What are some of the ways you would say your life is distinctive from people who do not believe in Jesus because of your hope in Christ? 

7. If someone in your life asked you today, "Why are you the way you are?" — what would you say? Take a shot at it together as a group.

8. Think of one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus — a neighbor, coworker, family member, friend. Without sharing too much detail, what's one word that describes how you feel when you think about having a spiritual conversation with them?

9. To what degree would you say you are ready to speak of Christ and his saving work in your life with someone who might ask you about “the hope that is in you”?  

10. If you don’t feel ready to do so, what might be a good next step toward becoming more ready? 

Prayer