Resurrected Life Here & Now ~ Cultivating a Life of Love

In today’s message, we continue where we left off last week in discussing how we are “born again to a living hope,” and how this is a present reality here and now, even as we await its full future fulfillment.   Today, we continue to explore 1st Peter, discovering more evidence to examine our lives with to discern whether we are living in this new life here and now.

First, understanding a life transformed by Christ produces genuine, active love for God, ourselves, and others through cultivating a life of love. This love is not merely emotional but expressed through actions, sincerity, and obedience to truth.  Second, living in this new life requires intentionally putting away sinful patterns such as malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, which are completely counter to the new life in the new birth we have been given in Christ. Discovering how, as believers, when we remove these old ways, we pursue spiritual growth through God’s Word and develop a deeper desire for Him.

((Audio Only))

STUDY GUIDE

1 – According to 1 Peter 1:3, what does it mean to be “born again to a living hope”? How is this hope both present now and not yet fully realized?

2 – The sermon asks: What evidence is there in your life that you are living in this hope? How would you personally answer that question?

3 – Why is genuine, active love considered the “logical conclusion” of our faith?

4 – What distinguishes biblical love from common cultural ideas of love?

5 – In what practical ways can you grow in loving others “earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22)?

6 – Which of the five attitudes in 1 Peter 2:1 (malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander) do you struggle with most? What steps can you take to “put it off”?

7 – What does it look like to “long for pure spiritual milk” (1 Peter 2:2) in your daily life? How are you currently pursuing spiritual growth?

8 – How does regularly focusing on Jesus—His life, resurrection, and Word, help you both cultivate love and let go of old patterns?

Scripture References

1 Peter 1:3
Romans 8:24
John 13:34-35
1 John 4:11-12
1 Peter 1:22-2:3
Matthew 22:36-40
1 Peter 1:2
1 Peter 1:14
1 Peter 4:8-10
1 Peter 2:12
1 Peter 2:22