1 Peter 4;7-11

Discussion

‘We yearn to leave the world a bit better.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Henry Thoreau described the hollowness of worldly pursuits simply as us ‘living lives of quiet desperation.’

‘For the secret of man’s being is not only to live… but to live for something definite. Without a firm notion of what he is living for, man will not accept life and will rather destroy himself the remain on earth….’

Soren Kierkegaard ‘The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wants me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die.’

* What is the meaning of life? Many men have puzzled over this idea. We look around us. We look inside ourselves. We look at war and hunger and hate and violence and we long for a reason for it all. Why? If there is no God why do we long to answer this question? The only reason we ask the question why is because we believe there is an answer.

Phil 1: 21-24 is the answer for the believer.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. In this passage ‘Life in Christ’ means serving the church and spreading the gospel. The ‘die is gain’ basically means death = heaven, rest.

* Based on this passage what is our goal? Building and serving Jesus Christ’s kingdom on Earth – to glorify Him.

Summary 1 Peter 4: 7-11

In light of the end: (1 Thes 5:1-4)

1. Live with self-control (1 Thes 5:12-24 especially verse 23 + 24)
2. and sober-minded for sake of prayers (1 Thes 5: 4-11)
3. loving others – example of hospitality (1 Thes 5:11, Ep 5:20-21)
4. serving the body of Christ (1 Thes 5:11)

In order to Glorify God. (2 Thes 1:11-12)

Discussion (Not what does it look like… But what are we going to do? – Board Meeting)

* Sober-minded and self-controlled? Are we? How do we as a small group improve?
o How can we make sure we are staying self-controlled?
o What if we don’t talk about where we are really at – where we really are struggling?
o Holding each other accountable is one way. Are there other ways to seek, this group, how else can we seek, to be more sober-minded and self controlled.

* Loving each other Love here is speaking of real love. (joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
o Do we encourage each other in these areas of our lives?
o If not how do we do it? What are your ideas of how we can encourage this love?

* Serving the body of Christ Ask yourself first – do you serve the body.
o If you do not think you are, do you feel comfortable enough to tell us why?
o What happens if we don’t serve?
o What can we all do to serve Hessel this next W.E.L.D.? I need and want you all to be a part.

There are a lot of reasons why we don’t serve. Because our view is limited to leadership or programs or relationships. As God’s body we need to exchange our lives for the building of God’s body. Because otherwise it stops. You die. You go to be with God. And you leave the Church crap creek without a paddle. Trust me – we are the coming church. What are we going to do?