NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Bible Passage: 1 Peter 2:1-12
Discussion Questions:
- Why is it important to be united with other believers in a local church?
Food for Thought by Travis Agnew*
Peter wrote this letter to encourage suffering believers. He knew that following Jesus didn’t give a free pass from suffering, but he also was convinced that the way of Christ was superior to any other path. Here he taught about the necessity of believers building their lives and assemblies on nothing other than Jesus.
God builds the true church on the foundation of Jesus Christ. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t imposter churches built on other things. These churches are often built on flashy features or magnetic ministries. Many in our culture today stumble over Jesus, unaware of what to do with Him. They want a simple, historical teacher who only shows love and never gives warnings.
You can’t have a church if you get rid of Jesus.
As a church, we gather to give glory to the only deserving One. In our sin, we were separated from God and isolated from one another; but in Christ, we’re united with Him and His people. We live differently because Christ has made us different, and the world needs to see a different path than the worn-out, sinful one.
We gather to worship Jesus, and we scatter to share Jesus. We glorify God with our lives so that others may one day do the same.
* Travis Agnew is the lead pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, S.C.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life is a family of resources addressing key issues in the lives of adults, students, and kids. Visit www.biblestudiesforlife.com and use it to help you “Connect the Unconnected, Strengthen Families, and Disciple People with Wisdom.” Free session downloads are available, plus PDFs and videos that accompany this Bible study resource.
