March 22 – Sermon Discussion Guide

 

Faith in Anxious Times

Sunday, March 22, 2020

1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)

6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Dig Deeper

The Bible has much to say about anxiety. Spend some time searching out these other passages of Scripture related to fear and anxiety.

Psalm 37:3-7     
Psalm 55:22     
Proverbs 12:25; 14:30; 17:22     
Matthew 6:25     
Philippians 4:6-7

Digesting the Text

  • Where do you see and feel anxiety in the midst of this current crisis? Go deeper than the current crisis, what worries do you carry in your day-to-day life?
  • Peter commands us to humble ourselves by casting our anxieties upon the Lord (vv. 6-7). From these verses, why is God worthy of our humility and our trust?
  • What does casting your anxieties upon the Lord look like for you? How can you begin or continue to trust the Lord with your circumstances this week?
  • Peter warns us about our enemy (v. 8). What is the devil’s intention for believers? How do you remain vigilant against the devil in your life? How should you begin to be vigilant moving forward?
  • Where are you seeing the influence of the devil in your heart and our society due to this crisis? How can you resist his influence in your life and in our society?
  • Peter calls believers to stand in faith with the knowledge that we are not alone? What responsibility do you feel for the faith of other believers? What strength do you draw from the fact that we are not experiencing these times of crisis alone? Who in your life needs the encouragement that these verses bring?
  • Peter encourages us by reminding us that the God of grace himself is the powerful God who will “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us. How does the knowledge that God is not distant but intimately involved in our suffering encourage you in this time of crisis?
  • Peter ends these verses in worship. Spend time in prayer praising God for his power and thanking him for his presence and the grace he has given you in Jesus Christ.