“We’re used to thinking of ourselves in terms of natural citizenship. But what does it mean to be a supernatural citizen of heaven, chosen and set apart by the King of the universe? In this message, we will explore three blessings of our citizenship: special privileges, duties, and (most of all) final vindication.”

Outline: The blessings of our citizenship include three things: special privileges, military duties, and (most of all) final vindication.

The blessings of our citizenship include special privileges

The blessings of our citizenship include military duties

The blessings of our citizenship include final vindication

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it significant that we are chosen for the same reason Abraham was chosen, solely because of God’s mercy? What does it mean to you personally to be set apart in this way?

2. One of our duties as citizens of God’s kingdom is to wage war against the flesh and the world. How is this duty also a blessing? How do you approach the battle?

3. Why can we be confident that despite all our failings and the judgement of the world, God himself will vindicate us before the judgement seat? What evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work can you point to in your own life?

4.How does knowledge of your heavenly citizenship, with all its blessings, comfort you today? How can you use this knowledge to encourage others?

The best way to know your true estimation of Jesus is by how you respond to him. In this message we will consider the two possible responses to Jesus: Either we see his true value and come to him as more precious than anything in this world, or we underestimate him and stumble into eternal shame. 

Sermon Outline:

I. Those who see Christ’s true value come to him and are built into God’s temple.

II. Those who reject Christ stumble into eternal shame.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. How would you honestly assess your own estimation of Jesus? What evidence in your daily life reveals whether you truly see him as precious and chosen, or whether you’ve underestimated his worth?

2. Peter describes the church as being built together into one spiritual house. How does this image challenge our tendency to view faith as a private, individual experience? What might it look like for us to live more consciously as living stones connected to one another?

3. Why is it significant that our worship is only acceptable through Christ and not on its own merit? How does knowing that Jesus perfects and presents our worship encourage you in your service to God?

4. Where do you see pressure today to compromise biblical convictions to avoid shame? How can we encourage one another when identifying with Christ brings social cost?

5. What does it mean for Jesus to be the cornerstone of your life? Are there any areas where you’ve been tempted to build on another foundation? What would it look like to realign those areas with Christ?

How can we tell if we have experienced the new birth? Many well-meaning people want to reduce it down to some belief or practice that we can do in our own strength. But in this passage, we see that the evidence of being born again is a supernatural love for others and an insatiable longing for God. 

Sermon Outline:

I. If we have been born again, then we will love one another.

II. If we have been born again, then we will long for more of God

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways are you tempted to reduce Christianity to something you can manage, measure, or control? How does Peter’s emphasis on sincere, enduring love challenge that? 

2. What are some “flat tire” signs in our lives that indicate we’re living as if God doesn’t matter? How does the gospel offer us not just repair, but a completely new life?

3. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, where do you find it hardest to love this way? Is it with a spouse, a difficult family member, someone with opposing political views, or in another relationship? What would it look like to love that person with the imperishable love that comes from being born of imperishable seed?

4. Peter lists five things incompatible with love: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (2:1). Which of these five is most present in your heart right now, and toward whom? What practical step could you take this week to put it off?

5. How would you honestly assess your current spiritual hunger? What practices or habits most help you cultivate that desire, and what tends to diminish it?

No matter the cost, no matter the difficulty, no matter the alienation and ostracization, no matter the suffering it will cause, the holy man does what his Lord says to do. Today’s passage looks at not only the why of holiness, but also the what and the how.

Sermon Outline:

I) The Why of Holiness

II)The What of Holiness

III)The How of Holiness

Discussion Questions:

The message begins by connecting Reformation Day to holiness. How does this connection help reframe our understanding of “justification by faith alone”?

Holiness is both a gift and a requirement — that you are “saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” How can this tension between grace and holiness be understood and applied in daily Christian life?

In today’s culture, holiness is often viewed negatively as “judgmental” or “intolerant.” What practical steps can Christians take to pursue holiness without falling into self-righteousness or snobbery?

The message describes holiness as obedience to God “no matter the cost.” How do modern distractions, pressures, or relationships challenge that kind of total obedience today?

The passage concludes that true holiness depends on the work of the Holy Spirit through the “ordinary means of grace.” How can believers more intentionally structure their lives around Scripture, prayer, and worship to grow in holiness?

1 Peter 1:8-12

Peter encourages believers by reminding us of the wonder of salvation and our hope of future joy, which was foretold by the prophets and secured through Christ’s death and resurrection. This is grace so marvelous that even angels long to gaze upon it!

Outline:

Be encouraged: your salvation does not depend on sight.

Be encouraged: your salvation brings glimpses of future joy, even now.

Be encouraged: salvation through Christ’s humiliation and exaltation is not a surprise.

Be encouraged: salvation was accomplished with you in mind.

Be encouraged: salvation is something even angels long to look into.

Sermon discussion questions:

1) 1 Peter 1:8a speaks of the saints' love of Christ. If you did a heart check right now on your love for Christ, what would you say is your depth of love for him?

2) Peter says we “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” How have you experienced small glimpses of future joy in your life recently, even in difficulty?

3) As you read through the Old Testament, what are some of the connections you see to Christ? Why would Peter say that seeing those connections are an encouragement in your walk with the Lord? What does that practically mean for how you read the Bible?

4) This passage was meant to be an encouragement to the churches it was read to. In what ways is this passage an encouragement to you?

Our past rebirth into a future inheritance gives us a living hope in the present, even in suffering. There are three things described in this passage that we can praise God for no matter what we may be going through today.

Sermon Outline:

I. Praise God: we have been born again

II. Praise God: we are being guarded

III. Praise God: we are being refined

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think Peter begins not with the believers’ suffering but with praising God? What might that teach us about how to approach our own seasons of suffering or discouragement?

2. Why is it important to remember that our salvation is rooted in God's mercy rather than our own merit? How does this truth affect the way we relate to God and to others?

3. Peter describes our inheritance as “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” How does this promised inheritance differ from the things we typically hope for in this life? What practical difference could that make in the way we view success, loss, or aging?

4. According to verse 7, trials test and refine our faith like fire purifies gold. How can understanding this purpose help us respond differently when we face future trials?

5. What does it mean that God guards us through faith rather than from all suffering? How does this promise give you confidence about persevering in your faith until Christ returns?

First Peter is addressed to Christians who are suffering on account of their distinctiveness. Peter wants to encourage Christians that, though suffering is unpleasant, it is not an indication that God is not with us. Rather, it is a sign that he has chosen us for himself.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways do you personally feel like an outsider because of your faith? Are there particular situations at work, school, or in relationships where your values make you stand out?

2. How does understanding yourself as actively chosen and loved by God from before time began change the way you think about your identity? How might this truth help you when you feel rejected or excluded by others?

3. What does it mean to you practically that you “were bought with a price” and are “not your own”? How should this truth shape the way you live?

4. How do you normally respond to feeling like an outsider or exile? Where do you need to experience more of the grace and peace that Peter pronounces in verse 2?

If we were to sum up the final message of the book and the message of Joshua as a whole, it is this: God is faithful, and we can trust him. Those who do will find themselves caught up in a much bigger story than themselves and will make an impact that will last far beyond their years. We don’t remember Joshua today because Joshua was a great man, though he was. We remember Joshua today because he trusted in a great, promise-keeping God. May we learn to do the same.

We conclude our series in the book of JOSHUA: Trusting the Promise-Keeping God, with The Impact of a Servant of the Lord.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What helps a person remain faithful to God’s calling over the long haul? What kinds of things tend to cause people to lose heart or give up?

2. Joshua was only called “the servant of the Lord” after his death, when the full course of his life could beseen.

3. What does this title tell us about the kind of life God honors?

If your life were summarized in one phrase today, what would it be, and what would need to change for“servant of the Lord” to describe you?

4. Whether you have children or not, how can you actively participate in sharing God’s faithfulness with the next generation?

5. What practical steps can you take to ensure the stories of God’s deliverance are not

forgotten?

6. What does it mean for a believer to “die in hope”? How does trusting in Jesus, the greater Joshua, shape the way we view both our present struggles and our future beyond this life?

Joshua reminds Israel in this text that they have been the recipients of centuries of God’s faithfulness and rescue. Yet he knows how prone they are to forgetting what God has done for them. If they forget, they will slide into serving the idols of the surrounding culture. And so will we. We must make a decisive determination regarding whom we will live for, whom we will serve.

Sermon Outline:

I. A History Lesson

II. A Decisive Choice

III. A Renewed Covenant

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Joshua reminded Israel of God’s gracious acts in their history before calling them to renewed commitment. What specific acts of God’s faithfulness in your own life or family come to mind, and how does remembering these strengthen your loyalty to Him?

2. What “default idols” are most tempting in your own life or in our culture (money, beauty, approval, success, etc.)? What does it practically look like to put away these false gods in your daily life?

3. For those with children at home: how are you intentionally leading your household to serve the Lord? For everyone: what specific practices or rhythms have you established (or want to establish) to pass your faith on to the next generation? Where might God be calling you to take greater initiative?

4. How does Jesus’ call to take up our cross daily sharpen our understanding of what true commitment looks like? How does this differ from the way Christianity is sometimes presented?

One of the great dangers for us as God’s people is to forget God's history of faithfulness. When we forget, we will likely drift into compromise and reap the consequences of disobedience. But God loves us and has shown us how we can avoid the consequences of mission drift.

Sermon Outline:

I. Remember God’s History of Faithfulness

II. Cling to God in Loving Obedience

III. Be on Guard Against Gradual Compromise

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Share a specific time when God showed His faithfulness in your life. What practices help you regularly remember and celebrate God's track record in your life?

2. Can you identify areas in your own life where you might be experiencing “mission drift”? What circumstances or influences tend to pull you away from your core identity in Christ? How can we help each other stay on course?

3. What specific areas of obedience require the most strength and courage in your current season of life?

4. What are some of the most subtle or appealing idols in our current culture? How can you tell when something good (work, money, success, etc.) is becoming an idol in your life?

5. If you knew with absolute certainty that every promise and warning in God’s Word would come true, how might it change the way you live this week?