February 4/5 Questionable Life and Authority
February 4/5 Questionable Life and Authority

Feb 4/5 Questionable Life & Authority

February 4/5 Questionable Life and Authority


THREE THINGS TO KNOW

DON’T MISS THIS

February 10 is Family Movie Night. Bring your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, neighbors or other friends for this fun event. It’ll be a great night of popcorn, community and fun. Join us in your pajamas from 6:30-8:30 at all campuses for Horton Hears a Who. Click here to sign up.

GROUP VALUES

For February, we’re focusing on the group value of Prayer. It can be easy to focus on physical prayer requests. Have a conversation with your group about how you can pray for each other’s spiritual growth this month.

GROW AS A LEADER

Preston Sprinkle’s Navigating LGBTQ+ with Grace and Truth on February 9 will help you see how you can engage in these conversations and respond with theological faithfulness and courageous love. This event isn’t only for group leaders, but we’re encouraging group leaders to attend. Consider whether others from your group would benefit from attending as well. Find out more and register here. Please feel free to reach out to your staff contact with any questions.


DISCUSSION GUIDE

Welcome to the last week of our series called THE QUESTIONABLE LIFE. We talk today about what it looks like to honor authority in a few specific areas of life.

Which do you prefer and why—hiking in crisp snow or sitting inside by a blazing fire?

Have someone read 1 Peter 2:11-3:4 out loud. We read some of this last week, so consider a new translation this week. What are some things that stand out to you or that you find most challenging?

 

GOVERNMENT

Pastor Aaron Buer started this week by suggesting that most of us don’t like being told what to do. Why do you think this is often such a struggle for so many people?

Why does our response to authority matter so much for us as Jesus-followers?

The government that the early church was living under was ruled by emperor Nero, one of the most despotic in history. What would it have been like to get this instruction from Peter?

In our polarized culture, we tend to blame politicians for everything. What are some ways that we struggle to have respectful disagreements?

Where do you find yourself struggling with dishonoring our leaders?

As a group, what would it look like for us to commit to truly showing honor to our leaders, especially the ones we disagree with?

It can be frustrating when it seems like people or media have a negative impression of Christians. In spite of that, what is one way in our community that we can do so much good for others?

 

WORK

In Peter’s time, slavery was widespread across their culture. While this passage doesn’t at all condone any kind of slavery, it does instruct those who found themselves enslaved at that time. What do you think it might have looked like for enslaved people to show honor in this context?

One application for Peter’s admonition today is our workplace. How can we take this challenge from Peter into our own working contexts?

When have you found it difficult to honor a boss, teacher or coach?

When we have an authority figure who is dishonorable, what are some ways to still show honor?

How would honoring our boss represent Jesus to the world around us?

Pastor Aaron Buer challenged us this week to bring our best effort and our best attitudes to our work. What would that look like practically for you in your job, your school or your sports practice?

 

FAMILY

Christian marriage and family are supposed to be different from the culture by focusing on servanthood, love and seeking the flourishing of the other. What are some reasons this might be challenging?

What are some ways that this goal for marriage could bring life and joy to the whole household?

The Roman culture operated in a way where the head of the family determined the household’s religion. Peter says that wives could win over their husbands to the word of Jesus by their behavior. What behaviors are described in 1 Peter 3:1-2? How could these actions show the love of Jesus?

Over the last few weeks, we have discussed how Peter challenged the early church to live in a way that causes others to wonder what it is about being a Jesus-follower that makes them different. Which sermons or conversations have been most impactful to you, and how will you implement these teachings in your life?

 

WRAP UP

Today we discussed three areas where we may struggle with authority figures and structures. Which of these do you need to spend more time praying about this week, and what is one way that you might move in faithfulness to live THE QUESTIONABLE LIFE?