1 Peter 2:9 (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.

Week 1: You are a chosen people.

• God chose the Jews who would eventually become the nation of Israel to be His chosen people, and through whom the Messiah would come.

1 Peter 1:1-3 (NLT) Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (NLT)

• God chose us…the church…believers in Jesus, just like He chose the Jews in the Old Testament.
• How does God choose us today?

1 Peter 1:2 (NIV)

Week 2: After God chooses you, He makes you into a priest.

Purpose of the priests:

• Teach others God’s word (Matthew 28:20)
• Present incense to God (Prayer) (Revelation 5:8) (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Offer sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1)

This week: A Holy Nation

What does it mean to be holy?

• Set apart, different, other than. It also means righteous conduct, pure, sinless, upright.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT)

14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

This is the why behind the what:

• Why are we to be holy? Because God is, and we are to represent Him and allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Him.

How do we live differently?

Respecting People in Authority

1 Peter 2:11-17 (NLT)

Slaves

1 Peter 2:18-21 (NLT)

Wives

1 Peter 3:1-6 (NLT)

Husbands

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

All Christians

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLT)

Close

• Are you a chosen people? Have you accepted Jesus?
• Are you living as a priest?
• Do you know and teach His word?
• Do you offer up prayers to Him?
• Are you living your life as a sacrifice to Him?
• Are you living a holy life?

For Small Group Discussion:

Opening Question: If you were to build your own Utopia, what would it look like? What is one thing that would be there? And one thing that would not?

Main Point: God cares more about relationships than how we react/respond to situations in our culture, community, and country.

Read/Tell the Story: Luke 16:1-13

Questions:

1. When have you been trusted with something important?
2. Why was the manager commended by the rich man for his shrewdness?
3. Much like the master from this parable, God cares a great deal about how we interact with the world, even if it is at the expense of our (His) stuff. Who have you known that has used “worldly wealth” in a good way?
4. What do you tend to prioritize over relational connection with people? i.e.- money, politics, work, government, hobbies, retirement, being “right”, etc.
5. How do you think unbelievers see the church in regard to our nation’s cultural climate?
6. Are you more concerned with the things of God than the things of this world? What’s one thing you should commit to focusing less on this week? And one thing you should commit to focusing more on?

Supporting Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Ephesians 4:1-2