Bible Study

Bible study is the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month instead of a regular service.

This is when we delve deeper in the scriptures, like the Bereans, to better understand what we are reading. Some people think we should not question God, but there are times when those hard questions nag at you like “why did God let the satan attack Job” or when a hard saying of Jesus like “if you call someone a fool you are liable to the fire of gehenna” just gets in the way of your faith. All over the Bible the Psalmists and prophets were constantly asking God some tough questions when they don’t understand what’s happening to them. And so, we, like them should not shy away from asking too. We might not get all the answers we are looking for, but we come away with a better understanding of the passages we are studying and knowing that our God is a big and does not feel threatened by our questioning.

Week 13 – Living a Transformed Life
December 13, 2015
Study

The First Letter of Peter: Holy Living in the Midst of Fiery Trials.

Chapter 4 begins with Christ suffering and dying for our sins and saying we should expect to suffer also. And when we put our faith in what the Lord Jesus did for us, we should no longer live the remainder of our lives in sinful passions, wild parties, drunkenness and immorality. Our changed lifestyle will be a surprise to many and will cause some to even slander us. We are reminded that they will have to face God who judges the living and the dead and we will live with God for ever.


Questions
  1. Because of our relationship with Christ, how must the Believer live the remainder of his life on earth?
  2. What are some of the sins we should no longer indulge in?
  3. What is the reaction of your former friends to your new and godly lifestyle?
  4. What warning and assurance does Peter give?

Answers

  1. Since we have a relationship with Christ, and since Christ died to cleanse us from our sins, we should no longer live an evil life of sin, but a life according to the will of God.
  2. Immorality and lust, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties and worship of idols.
  3. They are surprised and some might even malign or slander you.
  4. They will face God who judges the living and the dead and those who have put their faith in Jesus will live with him forever.
Selected Scripture Verses
I Peter 4:1-6

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. (2) As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (3) For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. (4) They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. (5) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (6) For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Open Hands Church