Weekly Reading for July 30 – August 5
Preparing for Next Week’s Message
Sermon Series: Stand StrongSermon Title: How to Swim Against the Current
This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on August 6, 2023:
- SUNDAY: 1 Peter 2,
- MONDAY: Matthew 4,
- TUESDAY: Luke 4,
- WEDNESDAY: 1 Peter 2,
- THURSDAY: James 1,
- FRIDAY: 1 Corinthians 10,
- SATURDAY: 1 Peter 2,
Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon
Sermon Series: Stand StrongSermon Title: How to Be You
Delivered On: July 30, 2023
VIEW SERMON NOTES
Memorize and Reflect
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.Prayer Direction
Thank God that He made you, He loves you, and He alone can define who you are! Ask God to give you a crystal-clear picture of who you are through faith in Jesus and by His grace. Pray for the Holy Spirit to set you free from any lies and deception about who you are. Lift up the next generation of young people and pray that they will not be manipulated and harmed by the growing demonic lies about identity that our culture is embracing.“Live It!” Challenge
I Am Who God Says I Am! – Take time to memorize the first half of 1 Peter 2:9. Go over it again and again until you know that the Scriptures say that you are part of God’s: chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, and special possession. Once you have these memorized, ask God to help you believe the truth His Word declares about you.Small Group Discussion
If every young person believed what modern culture says about their identity, what are some of the message’s kids would be believing?
Why is it so important that we know the prevailing messages our culture is pounding into young people’s minds and what are ways we can help them know the truth of their identity established by Jesus?
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-7. What has God done to help us get rid of sinful patterns (v.1) and become like newborn babies (v.2)? What can we do to embrace the work and power of Jesus as we learn to walk in ever-increasing purity?
Peter gives the picture that we are part of a family of faith (living stones in God’s spiritual household). How does staying closely connected to God’s people bring us strength and help us grow in holiness?
Read: 1 Peter 2:9-10.
This is one of the most powerful and clear declarations of who we become in Jesus. According to this passage, what are some of the specific identities we have as a follower of Jesus? Why is each one of these important and what does it teach you about yourself?How might our view of who we are change if we really believed that we are royalty in the eyes of God? How might we treat other Christians differently if we saw them as God’s royal people?
A priest has access to God. Through Jesus we can come directly into the throne room of God any time. How should this impact the way we see ourselves and relate to our God?
Through the Savior, we are people who have received heavenly mercy. How has God shown you mercy and how should this impact your identity?