Living as God’s Chosen People

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

1 Peter 2:9-12 NLT 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

God has chosen you as His very own. (v. 9-10)

  • Throughout the Old Testament, the people of Israel are identified as God’s “chosen” people. In the New Testament, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been added to God’s family and are now a part of this chosen people. (Romans 11)
  • DEFINITION - Chosen (eklektós): favorite, elect, picked out, excellent, 
  • We have been chosen not because of our achievements, social status, or earthly lineage, but because of the mercy and grace of God.
  • Under the Old Testament law, only one tribe was given the task of serving as priests, who served as mediators between God and the people. Today, through Christ, ALL believers can be called a “royal priesthood” and have been given direct access to the Father.
  • Thanks to our new identity in Christ, we can show others just how good God really is.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What does being "chosen” mean to you personally? How does being described as "royal priests" impact your understanding of your role in God's kingdom? In what ways can we actively show others the goodness of God in our daily lives?

TRUTH #2

This world is not our home. (v.11) 

  • Peter calls us “temporary residents and foreigners” to remind us that this world is not our home or final destination.
  • Jesus has transformed our lives so much that we no longer fit into the thinking or practices of this world. nor should we try to fit in.
  • Despite our change of citizenship, we haven’t completely lost the desire to sin and must be vigilant in the fight against the worldly desires.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS


What are some worldly desires that can be particularly challenging to resist? How can we support one another in living holy and not let the world consume us?

TRUTH #3

How we live matters. (v. 12)

  • The world is watching us, and we may be the only witness they see of who Jesus really is.
  • Jesus promised us that we would be hated because we stood apart from the rest of the world.

John 15:19 NLT The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

  • Jesus promised us that we would be hated because we stood apart from the rest of the world, so we should not be surprised when they falsely accuse us and try to find fault with our lives.
  • A powerful defense against lies and accusations is leading an honorable life.
  • DEFINITION - Honorable (kalos): beautiful, good, valuable, virtuous, fair, honest, well
  • Despite the fact that the world will resent us for our refusal to participate in the sinful practices that they enjoy, in the end, our good works will attract them to God and result in His glory.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What are some examples of honorable behavior that can serve as a powerful witness? How do we respond when faced with accusations or misunderstandings about our faith?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing from today’s lesson that you will apply this week?

GIVING

Choosing to set aside funds to give at the start of each week is a practical way that we can contribute to the needs of others and advance the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NLT) 
On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?