DIVERGENT [dih-vur-juh nt]: differing; deviating; to move away from what is expected

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2 Divergent January 11 DIVERGENT [dih-vur-juh nt]: differing; deviating; to move away from what is expected In a culture of conformity we are expected to become what we consume. Follower os Christ are called to a different lifestyle - one that ultimately gives glory to God in every relationship and every decision we make. Christ beckons us to a life where we discard cultural norms and embrace an attitude of living unlike anything the world expects. What is the goal of such a divergent life? Take a leap and find out! We encourage you to use this discussion guide during your VGroup time as well as in your personal time with the Lord. We pray that the God who did unexpected things would do more than you can ask or imagine in your own life through this study and your time with Him. Sermon Series: January 11: Behavior January 18: Submission January 25: Marriage February 1: Different February 8: Do Right February 15: 180 February 22: Ready for the End 2

3 Divergent January 11 Behavior 1 Peter 2:1-12 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. - 1 Peter 2:12 Read: If you have children (or you ve been one) you know that correcting their behavior is a major part of growing up. Just the other day I was driving our family car (the swagger-wagon as we like to call it) while taking all of the kids to the babysitter. My two boys were sitting in the back and they had been bickering back and forth about some pressing issue (the politics of the day, global warming, you know typical 4-6 yr. old talk) when out of no where I witnessed my older son throw an accurately placed left back hand punch to my younger son s right eye. While this is fairly typical behavior from most siblings, especially of the male persuasion, it would be cause for a family split if that happened as an adult. Why? As children grow older we expect them to act their age and behave in an acceptable manner. As adults, we have much higher expectations for our behavior, and the same goes for the mature Christian. Our behavior should be a representation of our relationship with Christ. Share with the group a time when you had to correct your behavior or the behavior of a child/loved one. What was your go to punishment for misbehaving? 3

4 Divergent January 11 Read 1 Peter 2:1-3 When an infant is hungry, there is nothing that will satisfy but that mother s milk. How should our craving for the things of God compare? What purpose does the pure spiritual milk serve, and what qualifies as such? In these verses, Peter echoes Psalm 34. Read through Psalm 34:4-14 and reflect on how we can taste and see that the Lord is good. Read 1 Peter 2:4-8 Peter says we are being built up as a spiritual house and a royal priesthood, the purpose of which is to make spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. When you think of a priest, what comes to mind about their conduct, and how should this standard be different for any believer? 4

5 Divergent January 11 Our outward behavior indicates our inner beliefs. Would your actions be an acceptable gift or sacrifice of worship to God? Look in Romans 12:1-2 to see where transformation starts. If willing to share, what behavior(s) in your life need modification, or complete transformation, for that matter? Read 1 Peter 2:9-12 The NLT says in v.10 Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God s people. It is only through God s mercy that we are called His children and we can identify ourselves with Him. How has your identity changed since becoming a follower of Christ? Can the people around you identify you as a child of God? How? Jesus is our behavioral model and the standard by which our conduct is measured. Read Paul s words in 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 to see what was at the center of Jesus actions, and should be at the center of ours as well. 5

6 Divergent January 11 When living a behaviorally divergent life, we may experience criticism as Peter points out (v.12). But what is the ultimate goal of being steadfast in our devotion to behaving as a follower of Christ? What do I do this week? In your daily dose of behavioral modification this week, a.k.a. your quiet time, pray the Lord would help you put aside those behaviors that may be hindering your walk with Him, or the walk of those around you. But here s the challenge - after praying for God s help, do your part to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Go on the offensive in the spiritual war that is being fought for your soul, and mold your behavior after Christ Jesus so that others might be won for His glory! Check out this video on YouTube if you need some motivation for going to WAR against the flesh! John Piper: Making War for Your Life 6

7 Divergent January 18 Submission 1 Peter 2:11-25 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. - 1 Peter 2:21 Read: If you have raked leaves endlessly into the winter you know the meaning of suffering! The other week I got home after church and some meetings and as soon as I walked in the door my wife informed me that I only have a few hours to get out and pick up all the leaves in our yard. Despite my plans to sit on the couch and watch football for the remainder of the day, I chose to submit to her wishes because I knew it would not only benefit my wife, but it would benefit me (and our marriage!) as well. While this was a fairly easy to be submissive in this case, the Lord desires submission on a much deeper level - to the point where our walk with Him is evident in every action, decision, and conversation. We can see through Jesus life and His word how living a submissive life, divergent from today s culture, shines a light on Him and the Gospel of Jesus. Open discussion by sharing a time when it was hard for you to submit to someone in authority. Was there ever a time you found submitting to the Lord was difficult? Take time to share with the group. 7

8 Divergent January 18 Read 1 Peter 2:11-12 Christians in Peter s day could be considered elect exiles because of their choice to follow Christ. They were misunderstood and seen as strange. In what ways do Christians today still fit that description? What should we abstain from that sets us apart? It s so easy to blend into the masses and become one of the cultural herd in this world, but if you don t feel like a stranger in a foreign land, are you truly submitting to Jesus authority in your life? Is your life divergent enough so as to attract the attention of unbelievers? Read 1 Peter 2:13-17 It s really hard to submit to ALL human authority when you don t agree with the people in charge. Who in your life comes to mind when you mention the words submission and authority in connection with rulers or kings? What should our attitude be toward those people? What often IS your attitude, and where do you see people failing at this? 8

9 Divergent January 18 This concept, a radical one in its day, is reiterated by Paul in Romans 3:1-7. Take a minute to read through this passage. How does it change your perspective to know that all those in authority have been placed there by God? How does this give you hope? How do you honor and respect those in authority, but at the same time cling to your beliefs, and even opinions, in a godly manner? Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and Matthew 5:43-45 for clues. Read 1 Peter 2:18-25 Being treated fairly is the topic of many conversations today and it s easy to get belligerent when we ve received unjust treatment. But the only thing we should wage war against is our natural response to being treated unfairly. Discuss how Jesus is our supreme example in this type of submission through His life and death. What are some areas in your life that need this type of submission, and how does Jesus example encourage you? 9

10 Divergent January 18 What do I do this week? Peter closes this section of his letter by reminding us that we are the sheep of a great Shepherd, the Overseer of our souls. While we may have earthly overseers, our Father in Heaven is the one we must submit to above all other authority. But here s the encouragement - our Shepherd loves us and desires for us to be more like His Son in all we do. When facing difficult circumstances or unfair treatment, remember He is shaping you through your submission to His wisdom and direction. Where are you having trouble giving Him authority in your life? Pray this week the Holy Spirit would reveal where you need a Christlike submission that will lead straying sheep back to their loving Savior! 10

11 Divergent January 25 Marriage 1 Peter 3:1-7 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands you husbands must give honor to your wives - 1 Peter 3:1,7 Read: The book of 1 Peter is, as one pastor put it, graduate study material in the Christian life. It s teachings are hard, and not what we are accustomed to hearing in today s culture. Our key passage today on the role of a husbands and wives is no different! In marriage especially, we are inundated with ideas of entitlement and superiority of the sexes, morphed views of commitment, and phrases that make it easy to dismiss our spouse for petty reasons - such as I m not happy in my marriage or I ve outgrown my spouse and need to move on. But if there s one thing we re learning in the book of 1 Peter, it s that suffering comes before glory. We are called to endure hardships within the context of our marriage relationship, and when we suffer well it leads to a marriage that points others to the source of our character - a relationship with Jesus Christ. Discuss how today s culture is different from the culture of Peter s day when considering gender equality and the changing expectations of women and men within the home and workforce. How have roles changed and how has it made life better? How has it made life more difficult? 11

12 Divergent January 25 Read 1 Peter 3:1-6 During this time, believing women were looking for a way to speak to their husbands about their new found faith. One of the quickest ways to get someone s attention and win their respect is through loyal service and a selfless attitude. Where have you observed this in action? Can you share a time when your actions spoke louder than your words and made a difference in your marriage? Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:3, I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. How does this scripture speak to the equality of husbands and wives while keeping in line with the different nature of their roles? Going back to the beginning in Genesis 3:16 the Lord said to Eve, Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you. This refers to the wife s desire to be in control of the relationship. To be the one steering the ship, so to say. How do you let go of this nature and allow your husband to lead? Should a Christian wife with an unbelieving husband assume responsibility for the spiritual training of the children? 12

13 Divergent January 25 Read 1 Peter 3:7 Peter starts by saying a man must live with his wife. More specifically he must provide and care for her, protect her, and most importantly - KNOW her. Every man needs to become an avid student of his wife, knowing her personality, her likes and dislikes, her needs, her strengths, her weaknesses, her fears, her hopes, her joys. How does one attain this type of knowledge? What priorities might men need to rearrange in order to fulfill this type of intimacy? A husband who focuses solely on his authority is out of line. His responsibilities are to love sacrificially (Ephesians 5:25) and to live with her in understanding and giving her honor (1 Pet. 3:7). There is no command to force a woman into submission, so how does a husband gain the respect mentioned in Ephesians 5:33? How can you husbands honor your wives in front of others and your children? Peter s instructions close with an astounding truth: God will not hear the prayers of those who dishonor their wives and live with disharmony in their marriage. But the word your at the end of v.7 is actually plural, implying that a husband and wife should be in prayer together. Husbands, how are you leading in your prayer life at home? How can you improve? What steps can you take as a couple this week to ensure that #1 - You are praying with your spouse, and #2 - your prayers will be heard? 13

14 Divergent January 25 What do I do this week? Husbands - Take the initiative to bring your relationship and lives together. Plan a date night, help your wife do the dishes just to spend time with her, plan a time you can do a short devotion together each day. Be ACTIVE in developing and maintaining a close relationship with your wife. Wives - Win your husband without words, focus on the internal (and eternal) beauty within you, be respectful and pure in your conduct while gentle and quiet in spirit. In this you will be holy and your husbands will elevate you to the place of honor you so deserve. Singles - Pray for God to shape you into the husband or wife that God desires for your future spouse one day. Ask Him to give you a Biblical view of marriage and relationships while seeking to honor Him now in your singleness. Celebrate the fact that you can take time to serve the Lord without having to consider a significant other! For Over Achievers: Check out the movie Fireproof and watch it together. Afterwards, take time to talk about the parts of that couple s life that relate to your relationship (past or present). Ask forgiveness for the times you have failed in your marriage, and celebrate that areas where you are solid. 14

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16 If you d like to know more about our VGroup ministry please contact jonathan@blythewoodvillage.com Love God. Love People. 574 Rimer Pond Rd. Blythewood, SC Office: