Week of Novemer 2, 2025 – Different: Still Hungry?
Description:
Living with Hope in a Hard World is a 5-week journey through 1 Peter, reminding us that followers of Jesus are called to live differently—with hope, humility, and holiness in a world that often feels like it’s not our home. Peter wrote to believers scattered across a hostile culture, urging them to stand firm in grace and live as God’s chosen people—foreigners with heaven’s values and a future hope. Each week unpacks what it means to have a different faith in trials, different values in culture, different relationships in conflict, a different perspective in suffering, and a different posture under pressure. We’re not called to blend in with the world—we’re called to stand out for Christ.
Small Group Study Guide
Ice Breaker Questions
- What’s a food you crave the most when you’re really hungry?
- Have you ever been so busy you forgot to eat? How did that affect you?
- What are some signs that we might be “spiritually hungry” without realizing it?
Read Together
Read each passage aloud together, then discuss:
Main Passage:
- 1 Peter 1:25 – 2:12 (NLT)
Dig Deeper Scriptures:
- Craving the Word: Psalm 42:1–2; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Christ the Cornerstone: Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:19–22; Matthew 7:24–27
- Chosen and Set Apart: Deuteronomy 7:6–8; John 15:16; Colossians 3:12–14
Discussion Questions
1. Cravings — Feed on His Word (1 Peter 2:1–3)
- What does it mean to “crave pure spiritual milk”?
- Why do you think Peter links spiritual growth to spiritual hunger?
- What habits or distractions might dull your appetite for God’s Word?
- E.M. Bounds said, “The Word of God is the food by which prayer is nourished.” How do prayer and Scripture work together in your life?
2. Cornerstone — Built on Christ (1 Peter 2:4–8)
- Why do you think Peter uses the image of a “cornerstone”?
- How does the Jenga illustration (one piece holding everything together) connect to your faith?
- What are some ways we might build our lives on other “foundations” instead of Jesus?
- What helps you keep Christ as your alignment point when life feels unstable?
3. Chosen — Live as God’s People (1 Peter 2:9–12)
- What stands out to you in the phrase, “You are a chosen people”?
- How does knowing you’re deeply loved and chosen make you different from the world
- The Chosen series title carries three meanings:
- Jesus is the Chosen One.
- His followers are the chosen.
- The audience—you and me—are invited to be chosen. How does that truth inspire your identity and mission?
- What’s one way you can “declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness” this week?
Action Steps
- Feed:
- Read or listen to Scripture each day this week. Start with 1 Peter 2. Before reading, pray:
“Lord, make me hungry for You again.”
- Read or listen to Scripture each day this week. Start with 1 Peter 2. Before reading, pray:
- Build:
- Identify one area of your life that needs to be realigned with Jesus as the Cornerstone—maybe your time, finances, or attitude. Ask Him to take His rightful place there.
- Live Chosen:
- Do one act of visible goodness this week—serve someone, forgive someone, or share your faith. Let others see the difference Jesus makes.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for calling us out of darkness into Your wonderful light.
Forgive us for the times we’ve grown complacent or spiritually numb.
Help us crave Your Word, build our lives on You, and live as Your chosen people.
Fill us again with Your presence so the world can see the difference You make.
Amen.
