His Mercy Is More

In one paragraph

The pastor opened 2024 by stepping back from the ongoing harmony of the Gospels study to spend a week in 1 Peter 1. He walked through verses 1 through 22, showing how the foundation of salvation shapes the way Christians are called to live with one another, especially in the middle of difficulty and relational strain. Before getting into 1 Peter, the pastor set up a frame using two earlier moments...

Read together

1. Psalm 95 opening call to worship, come before him with thanksgiving
2. Isaiah 6:1-7 Isaiah confronted with the holiness of God, woe is me I am ruined
3. Luke 5 Peter falling at Jesus' feet saying go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man after the miraculous catch of fish
4. Ephesians 2:4-6 God so rich in mercy gave us life when we were dead in sins, raised us with Christ
5. 1 Peter 1:1-22 primary text for the sermon, covering election, salvation, holy living, and fervent love
6. Leviticus 11:44-45 you shall be holy for I am holy, cited as the Old Testament source Peter quotes
7. Leviticus 19:2 you shall be holy for I am holy, cited as additional Old Testament source
8. Romans 12:2 do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
9. Isaiah 40:6-8 all flesh is like grass, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever
10. Romans 15 benediction, may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nathan opened in Isaiah 6 and Luke 5, showing that both Isaiah and Peter fell on their faces when they encountered the holiness of God and immediately recognized their own sin. When have you had a moment, big or small, where a fresh sense of who God is made you more aware of your own shortcomings?
2. Peter writes to believers who had never seen Jesus in person, yet he says they love him and rejoice with inexpressible joy. What does it look like in your daily life to love someone you cannot see, and what makes that love feel real rather than just an idea?
3. Nathan pointed out that everything in 1 Peter 1:3-12 is indicative, describing what is already true about your salvation, before any commands appear. Why do you think Peter lays that foundation first, and how does knowing what is already true change the way you respond to a command like 'be holy'?
4. The three paired commands are hope fully and be holy, live reverently and love deeply, and renounce sin and grow spiritually. Which of those three pairs feels most out of reach for you right now, and what do you think is getting in the way?
5. Nathan read the command to fervently love one another from the heart and asked whether a Paul-and-Barnabas-style split is an acceptable way out. Is there a relationship in your life, inside or outside this church, where you have quietly declared a separation rather than doing the hard work of love? What would a first step back look like?