MEETING AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
- GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
- GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
LIVING AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
1 Peter 2:9-12 NLT 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
- Throughout the Old Testament, the people of Israel are identified as God’s “chosen” people. In the New Testament, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been added to God’s family and are now a part of this chosen people. (Romans 11)
- DEFINITION – Chosen (eklektós): favorite, elect, picked out, excellent,
- We have been chosen not because of our achievements, social status, or earthly lineage, but because of the mercy and grace of God.
- Under the Old Testament law, only one tribe was given the task of serving as priests, who served as mediators between God and the people. Today, through Christ, ALL believers can be called a “royal priesthood” and have been given direct access to the Father.
- Thanks to our new identity in Christ, we can show others just how good God really is.
- Peter calls us “temporary residents and foreigners” to remind us that this world is not our home or final destination.
- Jesus has transformed our lives so much that we no longer fit into the thinking or practices of this world. nor should we try to fit in.
- Despite our change of citizenship, we haven’t completely lost the desire to sin and must be vigilant in the fight against the worldly desires.
- The world is watching us, and we may be the only witness they see of who Jesus really is.
- Jesus promised us that we would be hated because we stood apart from the rest of the world.
John 15:19 NLT The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
- Jesus promised us that we would be hated because we stood apart from the rest of the world, so we should not be surprised when they falsely accuse us and try to find fault with our lives.
- A powerful defense against lies and accusations is leading an honorable life.
- DEFINITION – Honorable (kalos): beautiful, good, valuable, virtuous, fair, honest, well
- Despite the fact that the world will resent us for our refusal to participate in the sinful practices that they enjoy, in the end, our good works will attract them to God and result in His glory.