EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers bring glory to God when they live in unity and serve each other in love.
7 The end of all things is near;
therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words;
if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,
so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.
To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
God’s redemptive plan called for the next big event to be the return of Jesus.
briefly discuss how developing an accurate end-time perspective can promote spiritual maturity.
identify what Peter wrote about the spiritual gifts God provides for His people.
These are not talents or natural abilities.
These are supernatural gifts offered by the grace of God to those who believe.
Individuals cannot earn them, and they are given to build up the church and its members.
Paul identified particular gifts in his letters
(Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-11).
While every believer receives at least one spiritual gift, God distributes them to individuals as He sees fit for His purposes.
As noted, believers receive their gift to serve others.
This is good stewardship of the gift, as opposed to using the gift to gain notoriety, self-esteem, or an identity.
Peter acknowledged that some gifts require speaking and some do not.
If one had to consolidate gifts into two categories, these are the two Peter would select.
If one is using a speaking gift, he or she must speak God’s Word.
Gospel fidelity in one’s speech is vital for anyone who believes he has a speaking gift.
In the same way, those with serving gifts must rely on God’s strength, not their own.
If possible, read Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 for more details on spiritual gifts.
Emphasize that God gives these gifts for the benefit of the entire church.
Note that Peter concluded with a benediction that reminded his readers of their purpose of living for Christ.
Invite the group to recite Peter’s declaration of God’s eternal glory and power.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 72 of the Personal Study Guide:
Guide the group to discuss the first set of questions on page 72 of the PSG. Direct adults to share their own spiritual gifts, along with ways they see God at work in other individuals in the group. Encourage the group to be specific in their answers and close the conversation with practical suggestions for growing in ministry and in service to one another.
Lead the group to voice sentence prayers in response to the main point of today’s session: Believers grow in spiritual maturity when we seek to do God’s will.
Reinforce the session by texting or emailing the group and reminding them of the practical ideas from the closing discussion. By this point, each adult should have opened their gift and used it in personal reflection on the session. Encourage them to take the ideas to the next level of application through the ministries of your church.
The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
(See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15.)
Use multiple Scripture passages to understand a major doctrine.
What impact should the return of Christ have on our behavior now? Read the following Bible passages from the book of Hebrews and take note of what they teach about Jesus’s return and its impact on believers in the meantime: Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:19-25; and 12:25-29. How can you relate these passages to 1 Peter 4:7-11?