Exiles – Living in Hope

Fall 2020


Nov 8, 2020
“Standing Firm in Babylon”
1 Peter 5:8-14
Hope Small Groups Discussion Questions
1. So Peter ends his letter with “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” So how are you doing being at peace right now? What is robbing your peace today and what gives us lasting peace? (John 14:27; John 18:36)
2. What is Peter saying when he says, “she who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings....” Who is the she who is chosen? And who is Babylon? Why use code words like this?
3. How does knowing we are not alone in all of this affect us personally and the Church universally? Look at 1 Pet. 5:9 and Hebrews 12:1-2 for reference.
4. In what ways can we today live in Babylon and look to Jesus simultaneously without getting devoured by devilish lion and his kingdom? How can we apply these truths in 1 Peter to our lives practically?
5. What is your over-all takeaway from this sermon series “Exiles: Living in Hope”?
Extra Credit: Look at Jeremiah 29:1-14 and discuss what’s going on here historically. What can we learn from this letter to the exiles in Babylon and Peter’s letter to the elect exiles in Asia Minor and to then to us today? (1 Peter 1:1,11 and 1 Peter 5:12-13.)
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
  • Nov 8, 2020“Standing Firm in Babylon”
    Nov 8, 2020
    “Standing Firm in Babylon”
    1 Peter 5:8-14
    Hope Small Groups Discussion Questions
    1. So Peter ends his letter with “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” So how are you doing being at peace right now? What is robbing your peace today and what gives us lasting peace? (John 14:27; John 18:36)
    2. What is Peter saying when he says, “she who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings....” Who is the she who is chosen? And who is Babylon? Why use code words like this?
    3. How does knowing we are not alone in all of this affect us personally and the Church universally? Look at 1 Pet. 5:9 and Hebrews 12:1-2 for reference.
    4. In what ways can we today live in Babylon and look to Jesus simultaneously without getting devoured by devilish lion and his kingdom? How can we apply these truths in 1 Peter to our lives practically?
    5. What is your over-all takeaway from this sermon series “Exiles: Living in Hope”?
    Extra Credit: Look at Jeremiah 29:1-14 and discuss what’s going on here historically. What can we learn from this letter to the exiles in Babylon and Peter’s letter to the elect exiles in Asia Minor and to then to us today? (1 Peter 1:1,11 and 1 Peter 5:12-13.)
  • Nov 1, 2020“10 Truths to Battle Anxiety”
    Nov 1, 2020
    “10 Truths to Battle Anxiety”
    "10 Truths to Battle Anxiety"
    11/1/2020 | 1 Peter 5:5-8 | Pastor Jordan Moody
    1. Humble Yourselves (5:5-6; James 4:6-10)
    2. Throwing Burdens (5:7; Psalm 55:22)
    3. Alert! Alert! (5:8; Luke 21:34-36)
    4. Consider the Birds (Matt. 6:25-34)
    5. Consider the Giver (Matt. 7:9-11)
    6. Learn to Say No (Matt. 13:22)
    7. Don’t Be a Shrub (Jeremiah 17:5-8)
    8. Sit Still (Psalm 37:7)
    9. Pray About Everything (Phil. 4:6)
    10. Whatever is True (Phil. 4:8)
     
     
     
    HOPE SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 
    1. What do you think the state of mental health is in our
    nation today? What adds to the increase in anxiety? What
    are major factors in our own lives that tend to make it
    worse?
    2. Which one from the 10 truths sticks out to you the most
    and why?
    3. As a group, choose a few of the 10 truths and their bible
    passages to read and discuss in more detail and depth.
    4. Spend time in prayer as a group and think on these
    words before you pray:
    Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT)
    v6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about
    everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all
    he has done.
    v7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds
    anything we can understand. His peace will guard your
    hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
    v8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix
    your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right,
    and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things
    that are excellent and worthy of praise.
     
     
  • Oct 25, 2020“Pastoring in a Secular Age”
    Oct 25, 2020
    “Pastoring in a Secular Age”
    1 Peter 5:1-5 
    Hope Small Group Discussion Questions 
    1. Jordan spoke about the perception Pastors and Elders face today in a secular society. How do you think the role of a Pastor functions in today's secular society? How do you think culture views church elders and pastors? Has this changed for the way people used to view pastors? What factors do you think adds to this? 
    2. Define these words Elder (Gk. presbyteros), Shepard (Gk. Poimenos), Overseer (Gk. episkopos). How do they describe the total job of church eldership. 
    3. What is a Pastor not to be? Why do you think Peter lists these specific warnings for leaders? (5:2-3) 
    4. Describe the biblical role of a pastor/elder from these other relevant passages: Acts 6:4, Acts 20:28-31, 1 Tim. 3:2; 4:11-16; 5:17,            2 Tim. 1:13, 2:15, 2:24-26; 4:1-5. Titus 1:9, Eph. 4:12.
  • Oct 18, 2020“Invest Your Soul”
    Oct 18, 2020
    “Invest Your Soul”
    "Invest Your Soul" | 1 Peter 4:12-19 
    Small Group Discussion Questions
    1. Before you get to your group or maybe during your time as a group; watch the summary of the Bible Project  video on YouTube or their website entitled "Overview: 1 Peter" and discuss it as we near the home stretch of our series "Exiles: Living in Hope" https://youtu.be/WhP7AZQlzCg
    2. How can Peter tell us to rejoice in the fiery trial and in the suffering? Where else in the Bible do we find this theme? 
    3. Compare and discuss 1 Peter 4:16 and Romans 1:16. 
    4. What does Peter mean when he says "those who suffer according to God's will...? (1 Peter 4:19)
    5. And from that verse (4:19) what does it mean to entrust/commit/deposit your soul to a faithful creator? How can this help and encourage you right now?  
  • Oct 11, 2020“All to the Glory of God”
    Oct 11, 2020
    “All to the Glory of God”
    1 Peter 4:1-11
     
    Hope Small Group Questions 
    1. Read the passage (Peter 4:1-11) together by going around and each person reading a verse. What sticks out to you from the passage? Can you identify "the two roads diverging" in this passage? (4:2) 
    2. Look up 1 Peter 1-3 in the NLT. These verses don't seem to be a good strategy to gain a following but what is Peter trying to communicate? What value does suffering bring into our lives, if any? Should we just avoid all hardship or embrace it? And why? 
    3. In choosing the road less traveled and the narrow gate: we are choosing to bear our cross for Christ sake and his glory (1 Pet. 4:11). So what encouragement does Hebrews 12:1-13 give those who are following God's will and "looking to Jesus" but find the road and the "struggle against sin" hard and wearisome? 
    4. What are the purpose of spiritual gifts? Who are they for? Why does Peter stress the one who speaks should speak oracles of God not of himself and the one who serves  to serve out of the strength God supplies? 
    5. Peter uses two main categories for spiritual gifts: speaking and serving. What other gifts are mentioned in the Bible and do we posses all the same spiritual gifts? 1 Cor. 12:29-31 and Romans 12:4-8. 
     
  • Oct 4, 2020“Victory in Jesus”
    Oct 4, 2020
    “Victory in Jesus”
    1 Peter 3:18-22
  • Sep 27, 2020“Marks of a Church Community”
    Sep 27, 2020
    “Marks of a Church Community”
    1 Peter 3:8-17 
  • Sep 20, 2020“The Married Life”
    Sep 20, 2020
    “The Married Life”
    1 Peter 3:1-7
  • Sep 13, 2020“Salvation, Suffering and Sickness”
    Sep 13, 2020
    “Salvation, Suffering and Sickness”
    1 Peter 2:21-25
  • Sep 6, 2020“Peter, Paul and Philemon”
    Sep 6, 2020
    “Peter, Paul and Philemon”
    1 Peter 2:18-21 
  • Aug 30, 2020“God Government and the Gospel”
    Aug 30, 2020
    “God Government and the Gospel”
    1 Peter 2:11-17
  • Aug 23, 2020“The Ethos of the Church”
    Aug 23, 2020
    “The Ethos of the Church”
    1 Peter 2:4-12 
  • Aug 16, 2020“Longing for Pure Spiritual Milk”
    Aug 16, 2020
    “Longing for Pure Spiritual Milk”
    1 Peter 2:1-3 
  • Aug 9, 2020“A Call to Hope, Fear and Love”
    Aug 9, 2020
    “A Call to Hope, Fear and Love”
    1 Peter 1:17-25
  • Aug 2, 2020“A Holy Hope”
    Aug 2, 2020
    “A Holy Hope”
    1 Peter 1:13-17 
  • Jul 26, 2020“Unseen but not Unknown”
    Jul 26, 2020
    “Unseen but not Unknown”
    1 Peter 1:6-12
  • Jul 19, 2020“Born Again into a Living Hope”
    Jul 19, 2020
    “Born Again into a Living Hope”
    1 Peter 1:3-9 
  • Jul 12, 2020“May Unity be Multiplied”
    Jul 12, 2020
    “May Unity be Multiplied”
    1 Peter 1:1-2
  • Jun 7, 2020“Exiles: Living in Hope”
    Jun 7, 2020
    “Exiles: Living in Hope”
    1 Peter 1:1-2 
 – L