1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And 

“If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 

Intro: As we learn more about what makes for a healthy church, this text shows us that Christians will experience suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Peter gives us four things to consider:

I. Response to Suffering (v. 12–13). Christians should be ready for the trials when they come, and we should rejoice when they do, because it shows that we belong to Christ and are being prepared for glory.

II. Reasons for Suffering (v. 14–16). There are right and wrong reasons for Christians to endure suffering. Wrong: because our own sin has brought on negative consequences. Right: because we are faithfully identifying ourselves with Jesus in a hostile culture. 

III. Righteous Judgment in Suffering (v. 17–18). Like a goldsmith using fire to purify gold, God is using trials to "heat us up," identify and remove any impurities, and prepare us for glory. For believers, this is purification and preparation, not separation, because we are in Christ. 

IV. Resolution for Suffering (v. 19). God has a purpose for our suffering, so we entrust ourselves to him through it, and we continue to go dood. This summarizes not only this passage, but the entire letter. 

Conclusion: A healthy church will endure pain for Christ because God is using it to purify and prepare us for glory.

1. Christians should be ready for suffering to come, and we should rejoice when it does.

- Are you surprised that Christians will endure suffering? (See Matthew 5:11-12; John 15:18-20; Acts 5:41). 

- What is your natural response to suffering?

- Have you ever witnessed someone who could rejoice through pain? What enabled them to do that? 

- If a non-believing friend asked you why a good God would allow his people to go through terrible suffering, what would you say? 

2. There are right and wrong reasons for Christians to suffer.

- Has your own sin ever brought a painful situation upon you? What did you learn through this?

- Have you ever endured a season of suffering that wasn't direclty the result of your sin? (See the book of Job). 

- What would you do if others began to mistreat you not because of some sin you've committed, but because of your faith in Jesus? 

3. God uses the suffering to purify and prepare us for glory.

- Think back to a difficult season of your life. How did God use it to help you grow in your walk with Christ?  

- Who could you ask about how God helped them grow through a season of suffering?  

- As you seek to follow Jesus, what still needs to be "refined" in you?

4. Trust God through your suffering

- Practically speaking, how does one entrust oneself to God while suffering? 

- What good is the Lord leading you to do in spite of suffering? 

- How does knowing that God is sovereign over suffering bring comfort and peace?

- How does the Gospel speak to someone who endures suffering?

1. Praise God for being sovereign over the world he created. 

2. Thank God for the trials he has given us. Rejoice that they are preparing us for glory.

3. Ask God for eyes to see those in your life who don't know Christ. Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to share how God has sustained you through suffering, and how Jesus Christ suffered for us.

4. Ask for God's continued provision and protection for all of Grace Church. 

5. Pray that at Grace we would enturst ourselves to a faithful Creator while doing good.  

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor