New Birth

• Teaching Text

  1 Peter 1:13-2:3

  Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

  Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

  Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

  “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

  Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Read 1 Peter 2:4-10, four times this next week.
Use the ‘O.I.A.’ Study method to look at 1 Peter 2:4-10

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Questions:
1) What is one act of holy obedience you can take this week? Share this with someone who will help remind you about it.

2) Express a sincere love for another in one tangible way this week.

3) Crave spiritual milk by reading Psalm 34:8-14

Prayer:
Thank God the father for choosing you; you are an elect exile. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue reorienting your heart for holy obedience to our Lord. Thank Jesus for shedding his blood for you. Talk to God about one person he brings to mind and how you might show sincere love to them. Take some time to sit silent before God.