Soul Relief

Read It: 1 Peter 5:7-8 (NRSV)

 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 

Learn It:

Lost and Found is a band (a duo) that sings a song called "Lions" (a.k.a. "The Slinky Song") and they use the second half of verse 8 above as the text for the song.  (It was also taught to our  kids a month or so ago during our kid's song time).  It's a great song and I encourage you to check it out...here is a YouTube video of the song.     There is another video here that has a great explanation of this verse and the song.  Michael says this, "The one that is in each of us in this place, is greater than the one in this world."  I think that speaks a lot to who we are as Christians.  We have this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit residing in us and it truly is greater than anything that is in this world.  So with that confidence we can cast all our anxiety on God because we know that in the end God will carry us through.

Share It:

Really take a few minutes and watch the first video (it's less than three minutes) with the whole family and listen to the words of the song.  It is a fun...and funny song but what parts of the song stuck out to you?  Were there any parts that were words of encouragement or phrases that stuck with you as you listened to this song?  After you listen to this song (at least once!) read the verse above and see if you have any anxiety or if you just have joy.  How or why do you think your cares and anxieties went away?  Spend some time talking about these ideas.

Live It:

I encourage you to bookmark this video or go out and buy Lost and Found's CD with this song and listen to it each day this week...at the start of your day.  I want you to see if this song can get you going on a good start.  I think there is something powerful about beginning the day with a wonderful word from God each day whether it's through scripture, song, prayer or whatever might be your method.  Use this song this week as a way to cast all your cares and anxieties on God.

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Against the Flow

Read It: 1 Peter 3:13-14 (The Message)

If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought.

Learn It:

This is a great passage and I really like how The Message has worded the text.  If you are listening to the Word of God and acting out according to the grace that has been given to you by Jesus through the Holy Spirit then you can do great things.  Now the next part is the hard part.  There is a chance that you are going to suffer for that good thing you are doing.  The real question you have to ask yourself is...is it better to do what is right and endure hardship or to stop doing it...or even worse do what is wrong just because it is less stressful.  The NRSV instead of saying better off it says "blessed".  The idea of being "blessed" or "better off" doesn't mean that you are happy or excited about something but Paul is telling us that we are privileged.  We are better off than others because we have God with us and the Spirit inside of us.  Even if we suffer we know that through it all we have the Creator of the Universe on our side.  That should be more comfort than we need when it comes to hardship.

Share It:

What are some times in your life when you felt with your heart and soul that you were doing God's work?  Was it an easy task or was it difficult?  Were there obstacles or did you in some way suffer for it?  What was the outcome or was there an outcome?  Looking at the passage above read the last sentence and talk about what you think that line means and what impact it might have on how you do God's work?  Share with your family.

Live It:

Take this week and do some little things that you feel might be something God wants you to do.  God's work doesn't always mean solving world hunger or sickness.  Listen to your heart and soul this week to see if there is something that the Spirit is calling you to do...and act on it.

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Free From Sins

Read It: 1 Peter 2:24 (NRSV)

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Learn It:

Recently I had the great opportunity to take several of our youth to Holden Village. One of the topics of conversation on our way home was about the text above though we didn't quote the text. They couldn't believe that Jesus would go to the cross and bear ALL the sins of humankind upon himself so that as he died our sins would die with him. Jesus did this so, as the text says, we might live free from sins and live a full and healthy life. That doesn't mean that we won't ever sin because we all do, but we don't have to worry about the weight of sin because we are forever forgiven of them. Therefore we live for righteousness...we live a life that reflects that forgiveness and freedom we have been given.

Share It:

Do you ever feel the burden of sin upon you at times in your life? Share with your family the times when you were, or even right now, feel that there were times when you were overcome or burdened by sin. How did you move past the sin? Did telling (confessing) God what was on your heart help? Share your thoughts and ideas about sin and the freedom that Christ bring us us always.

Live It:

During this next week...and onward...when you feel the weight of sin upon you think about the sacrifice that Christ made for each of us. He took those sins to the cross so that you might live free from them...burdened no more. "...by his wounds you have been healed." Remember those wonderful words.

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Lamb of God

Read It: 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NRSV)

18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

Learn It:

Our "ransom" that the passage above talks about which comes from the "precious blood of Christ" is our salvation....our life everlasting with God. The way that Peter says this is done is not through the way that those who came before Jesus received salvation but "like a lamb without defect or blemish". We often hear Jesus referred to as the Lamb of God, and this passage does a good job of telling us why. See, in ancient times, when the Israelites made sacrifices to God they would try to find the best lamb possible. It wasn't just the best lamb either, it was a lamb without defect or blemish. It couldn't be anything but pure white and it had to be completely healthy. That is who Jesus is for us. He is the perfect lamb without sin and without defect. That perfect person then went to the cross for our sins and rose to give us new life. Christ is our perfect lamb...our Lamb of God.

Share It:

When you hear the term "Lamb of God" what things come to mind? What impact does maybe this new understanding of the Lamb of God and the sacrifice he made have on you right now? Share some thoughts on this and talk about how much more meaningful it is that God chose to use Jesus instead of an animal or gold or silver to rescue us from our sins.

Live It:

During this next week think about the great things Jesus did for us. Spend some time thanking God for sending us not any lamb to try to save us but instead sent his Son, the perfect lamb...the Lamb of God.

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Faith in the Unseen

Read It: 1 Peter 1:8-9

8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Learn It:

This passage from Peter emphasizes the idea that those of us who have not seen Jesus and yet believe in him, his miracles, his resurrection from the dead (this Easter season we are now in).  With that belief we have this joy that and that trust in his promises we have a joy that is unconquerable.  The reward we receive for this belief and trust in Jesus is eternal life with him and God.  What a wonderful gift 

Share It:

Lots of Bible teachers like to use the wind as a symbol or sign of something you can't see but you know that it exists. With that in mind... What ways do you see God in your lives and in the world around you?  What ways is Jesus present in your life even though you don't physically see him?  

Live It:

Knowing that Jesus is present in our lives what are the ways that you individually or as a family express that joy and rejoice in knowing that Jesus is always with us and that the promises are real?  Take this week and really take time to express your joy for the wonderful gift of faith and life.

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