Growth Group Discussion Guide for Week of 2/10/13

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OPENING UP

• What stood out to you about the India Trip presentation on Sunday? What did you find to be most encouraging about the report?
• Can you see yourself going on a trip like that? Does the idea of short-term foreign mission trips excite you? Would you rather stay closer to home and do more local missions? Why?
• How has the Lord gifted you or given you experience that you think might be useful on the foreign field?

DIGGING IN THE WORD

• Let’s read 1 Pet. 3:1-7 together

Pastor Josh said on Sunday that this wasn’t a typical “missions passage”. But it was relevant in that he was able to see God use the Scripture in an incredible way during their trip. Let’s take a closer look at the passage and then how God used it on the mission field:

1. What issue of Christian living is Peter addressing in this letter? (see 1:6-7, 2:21, 3:17-18, 4:1, and 4:12-13)
2. Why does Peter speak to slaves and women in particular? What cultural similarities are there between the first century Roman culture of Peter’s day and the culture of India?
3. What does God say to wives who live in pagan marriages (3:1-6)? Read the explanatory note below. What is your response to this?
4. How is God’s message to women about submission in these types of situations very different from what our culture (or Indian culture) reinforces?
5. What is God’s message to husbands? (3:7) How does this shatter cultural expectations here in the West as well as around the world?
6. What do you remember about the impact that this passage had on the pastors in training there in India? What should that tell us about the power of God’s Word as it confronts cultural, religious, political, and racial barriers?
7. How does all of this encourage you as you participate in missions through our church?

Explanation of 1 Pet. 3:1-6: Pastor Josh mentioned on Sunday that women who are abused are liable to respond to their suffering by either resisting or manipulating. When women respond to suffering by resisting, they allow the suffering to change their attitudes and outlook. They become bitter, angry, and resentful wives. God tells them that this won’t lead to their husbands’ conversion (3:1-2).When women respond to suffering by manipulation, they use sex to gain love, respect, and responsiveness from their husbands. God doesn’t want women to lower themselves to become sexual objects in order to get what they want (3:3-4). God wants Christian wives to grow strong in their character and devotion to the Lord. Like Sarah, they are to trust the Lord and love their husbands (5-6a). They are to follow their husbands as far as their faith in and loyalty to Christ will permit. They are not to give into intimidation from their unbelieving husbands (6b).
APPLYING THE TRUTH

• How do you think God is leading you to live according to the instruction given in 1 Peter 3:1-7?
• How do you you think God is challenging you to participate in the work of missions in and through Immanuel?
• How would you like to have others pray for you? Break into groups of men and women to share your answers and to pray for one another.