EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers are called to love each other genuinely.
22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,
so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other,
from a pure heart love one another constantly,
23 because you have been born again-not of perishable seed but of imperishable-
through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
by coming to faith in Christ, believers set themselves apart from the way the world treats people.
give examples of how believers may treat others differently than non-believers.
Call attention to “imperishable seed” (1 Pet. 1:23)
contrast “perishable seed” with “imperishable seed” in the context of new birth in Christ.
Emphasize that pursuing holiness is a lifelong process of sanctification.
each day requires a new commitment to Christ and to living out the enduring truth of God’s Word.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 27 of the Personal Study Guide:
Invite volunteers to reflect on what it means to pursue holiness and why that’s a significant endeavor in the life of a believer.
Guide the group to discuss the first set of questions on page 27 of the PSG. Encourage adults to identify how they will pursue holiness in their own lives and how they will encourage one another as well.
Close in prayer, thanking God for creating us in His image and challenging and equipping us to be holy as He is holy. Commit to living in a way that reflects the holy God we serve.
Reinforce the session by texting or emailing each person in the group during the week and suggesting ideas for expressing love for one another. Maybe there is someone in the group facing a challenging decision that group members can lift in prayer. Maybe someone has encountered a health procedure or a life event where the group can step in and provide tangible expressions of love and support. Challenge adults to find practical ways to demonstrate holiness by living out their faith every day.
God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. (See 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6:1-5.)
Dig deeper into the background and usage of key words or phrases.
Focus on the phrase “Be holy, because I am holy” in 1 Peter 1:16. Read the following passages: Exodus 15:11; 19:4-6; Leviticus 20:26; Psalm 24:1-6; Isaiah 6:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Hebrews 12:10,14; and Revelation 15:4. Then read the entry for “holy” in a Bible dictionary. Make notes of any findings that help you better understand the concept of holiness.