Glencairn Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend or on you own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for the needs of your Life Group, for our church and our leaders, for personal and corporate renewal, and to allow God’s word to transform us. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. This Sunday we talked about the obsession the angels had with the gospel (1 Peter 1:12). What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which ones encouraged you or posed a challenge to you?

3. When you experience a trial in life, what is your usual way of responding? What resources do you rely upon? Are there stages of grief that you fall into (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, anger)? What are the benefits or deficits of your approach?

4. Read 1 Peter 1:10-12. Peter is speaking to believers who are scattered and persecuted. Explore the truths in these verses that you think would be of encouragement to them, and consequently to us. Did you notice the progression of the Messiah from suffering (Isaiah 53) to glory (Isaiah 11)? Why is that important for us?

5. Read 1 Peter 5:10. How is suffering and glory related? Can you see any examples in your own life where this may be true?

6. The last phrase in 1 Peter 1:12 is: “Even angels long to look into these things.” The word “long” can be translated as “obsession” or “lust after”. What did the angels obsess over and why? Imagine for a moment what kinds of conversations the angels must have over these things. What benefits do you think they receive? How does this challenge you to study the gospel? Do you agree with this statement: “To obsess over the Gospel is the obsession to end all obsessions”? Why are why not?

7. Take a moment of silence to consider how God is speaking to you through the message you have heard today. Is God asking you to make changes or to do something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps?