Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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Lesson Five: Pray, Love, Serve

Drawing Near

Peter continues his letter by urging us to live for God and love each other. Do you consider yourself a loving person? Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When you hear someone say, “The end of the world is near,” how do you usually respond? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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Unleashing The Text

1. Why does Peter charge his readers to be serious and watchful in prayer? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of love does Peter command believers to demonstrate? What is the difference between “covering over” sin and excusing sin? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What does biblical hospitality look like? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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4. What fact about spiritual gifts does Peter assume to be true? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exploring The Meaning

5. Why is love greater than faith and hope? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What are some misconceptions about love in our culture? How do these wrong ideas compare with the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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7. Read 1 John 4:7-21. What extra insights does this passage give you into your Christian obligation to love others? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reflecting On The Text

8. The text reminds us that life on earth is brief and that we should focus on eternal realities. Why is this so difficult? How can the promises of the next world motivate us to live rightly in this one? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Which aspects of love as described here do you struggle with the most? Why? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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10. Peter twice refers to the glory that God deserves. How should the “glory of God” figure into a believer’s daily activities and schedule? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Name some practical ways you can use you gifts this week to live more fully for the glory of God. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Personal Response

Write out additional reflections, questions you may have, or a prayer.

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Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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Sermon Notes _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Courage  in  Times  of  Trouble    

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Prayer Requests

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