Section 15 – 1 Peter 4:1-6
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
● (v1) W hen did Christ suffer in the body? Why did he suffer in the body?
● What was Christ’s attitude when he suffered? How do we arm ourselves with the same attitude as Christ?
● Why might this attitude in the midst of suffering cause a Christian to shun and abstain from sin?
● Can we have the same attitude of Christ without suffering? Is suffering as a Christian a bad thing then? Should Christians seek out suffering?
● (v2) How do you know if you are living for the “will of God” or for “evil human desires”?
● (v3) How do we as Christians keep from thinking we have not spent enough time “doing what pagans choose to do”?
● (v4) Have you ever experienced someone “heaping abuse” on you for not participating in sinful behavior? How did you respond?
● (v5) What will happen to those who live wild and reckless lives?
● What is something from our passage you are challenged to ponder further this week?
Luke 12:35-40
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”