1 Peter 1:13-21 | Sermon Resources | 22 September 2024
Summary
“Be holy,” God says, “because I am holy.” God’s people are told repeatedly throughout the Bible that they should be different from the world. Set apart. Holy. But what does this mean? Does the call to holiness somehow negate the grace of God? Is holiness something we achieve for ourselves? In the sermon this week, Pastor Billy explores the relationship between the work of Christ and the call to holiness.
Discussion Questions
1. What was your biggest takeaway from the sermon this week?
The Fight for Holiness
2. What does it mean to prepare our minds for action in our Christian walk? How can we practically do this in everyday life?
3. How does being sober-minded influence our pursuit of holiness? In what ways might distractions or emotional impulses interfere with this call?
4. What does it mean to not conform to the desires of our past lives (v.14)? What are some examples of passions of your “former ignorance” that we are called to leave behind?
5. Is all sin the same? In what sense is it true that all sin is the same? In what sense is it not true? How might thinking “all sin is the same” discourage us in our pursuit of holiness?
The Foundation of Holiness
6. In your pursuit of holiness do you tend to fall into the pit of udder passivity (“It’s hopeless – I can’t do it”) or complete self-reliance (“I don’t help from anyone – I’ve got this)? What are the dangers of each?
7. In the sermon Pastor Billy named 3 foundational ways the gospel fuels our pursuit of holiness:
- The gospel reminds us that all of our sins are already forgiven.
- The gospel tells us the truth about who we are.
- The gospel creates a new spiritual reality.
Which of these truths are most relevant for you? How so?
The Freedom of Holiness
8. How does knowing you have been ransomed from your former “futile ways” encourage you to pursue holiness?
9. How can we as a group encourage each other in our call to holiness? What role does Christian community play in this journey?
References
“Trying to be holy from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.”
– John Owen, The Mortification of Sin
Book Recommendation: The Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung
Sermon Audio
Sermon Video
