DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | May 3/10

The following questions may be used for further personal or group reflection as you strive to build your house on the rock of Christ and his Word (cf. Luke 6:46). 

  

​Sermon Theme:  Baptism Now Saves You


Important: It is not necessary to go through all of these questions.  The leader should pick and choose which questions he thinks are the best ones for his group.  To save time the group leader might choose not to go through question #7 about Jesus’ descent into hell.  The Apostle Peter is known for “packing a lot” into his words – and he certainly does that in the Epistle for this Sunday. 


                                                   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1)  Peter’s first letter is written to Christians in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) who are experiencing persecution from outside the church.  Peter’s second letter is written to Christians who are experiencing persecution from inside the church – false teachers.  If you had to choose between one or the other – persecution from outside the church & persecution from inside the church – which  one would you choose?  Share your choice with your Life Group and explain why you chose the one you did. 

2) Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).  The Apostle Paul says in his last letter – as he awaits execution – “All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will face persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).  Can you think of a time when you suffered persecution because of your faith?  Please share your experience with the Life Group.  How did it make you feel?

3) True/False – Christians experienced more persecution in the early days of the church than today.  See the end of this lesson for the answer.* 

4) Do you think persecution will increase in America?  If so, explain what you think this persecution will look like.

5) How does Peter counsel the Christians to respond to those who disagree with them.  See verses 15 & 16.  Describe the way – the manner – in which Christians are to share the truth with unbelievers. Why is this so important?

6) Even Jesus experienced persecution.  Though he was the world’s best teacher he was ridiculed, poked fun of, put down and lied about.  In spite of this he never resorted to violence.  He patiently endured the opposition he faced.  Then he went a step further.  What does verse 18 say? In his perfect life and innocent death we find forgiveness for all of our sins.  His grace towards us empowers us to be gracious to others.  Can you give an example from your life – or the life of a fellow Christian – who showed love to his enemies? 

7) 1 Peter 3:18-20 is one of only two places where the Bible speaks about Christ’s descent into hell.  (The other is Colossians 2:13-15 especially verse 15.)  Notice that his descent into hell happened AFTER he was made alive on Easter morning, not before. 

When I was a boy I thought Jesus’ descended into hell as soon as he died on Good Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. and that he suffered in the flames of hell until sunrise on Easter morning.  Jesus did NOT descend into hell after he died on the cross.  Actually his soul went to heaven and his body was placed in the grave of the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. 

Remember what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “I tell you the truth.  Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).  Jesus was in HEAVEN, not hell, after he died.  His soul was reunited with his body on Easter morning at dawn. 

After Jesus was made alive, he descended into hell, not to suffer, but to show his victory over the devil.  What did he do when he descended into hell?  In the words of 1 Peter 3:19 (NIV) Jesus went and “preached to the spirits in prison.”  The “spirits in prison” are the souls of the damned.  The sermon Jesus preached was not gospel.  (There is no second chance after we die, as Hebrews 9:27 tells us – “It is appointed unto me once to die and after that to face judgment.”  Jesus sermon was law, not gospel.  He showed his victory over the devil, the Tormentor of God’s people.

In Pastor Mike’s 3rd year in ministry a little girl in Sunday School learned about Jesus’ descent into hell.  Her teacher then asked the class to tell her what Jesus did when he descended into hell.  The little girl told her teacher, “Jesus went and punched the devil in the nose.”

What comfort do we find in knowing that the devil is a defeated foe?  The devil is behind all persecution of God’s people.  It is comforting to know that one day we will be free from all of Satan’s temptations and trials. 

8) 1 Peter 3:20,21 compares the waters of the flood to the waters of baptism.  While the waters of the flood caused the deaths of many people, the same waters also “saved” Noah and his family (8 souls) by lifting them above the flood.  Peter says, “Baptism now saves you also.” 

A Baptist preacher liked to say, “Baptism doesn’t save.  Only Jesus saves.”  Of course, only Jesus saves.  But Jesus uses baptism as a tool to bring us the blessings of salvation.  I suppose someone might say, “Hammers don’t build houses.  Only carpenters build houses.”  But we might add carpenters use hammers as a tool to build houses.  Jesus uses baptism as a tool to bring us the blessings of his grace (Acts 2:38,39 & 22:16 & Galatians 3:26,27).  He places his name on us in baptism!  His word and promise are joined to baptism (John 3:5,6 and Ephesians 5:25,26).  We experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection in baptism (Romans 6:3,4).

What comfort do you find in your baptism?  Remembering who we are – baptized children of God – affects how we live.  I am a child of God.  I live for HIM who gave his life for me and rose again.

* Many contend that more Christians are martyred today than at any time in the world’s history.  When Pastor Mike was a missionary to Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, he saw the persecution of believers.  Many were cast out of their families and homes when they converted to Christianity and many lost their jobs.  In Pakistan and Bangladesh many believers were beaten – and some were killed.  Nearly all of the men he instructed in Bangladesh had been beaten because of their faith.




 

​