WARM UP

1. If you could be a character from any book or movie who plays a role in helping others, who would it be and why?
2. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a pastor or priest? Did your idea of a priest change at all after this week’s teaching?

This could be a great question to spend time on for the warm up.  Leaning into expectations that we place on pastors or priests that we don’t hold ourselves to.

3. Was there anything in this weekend’s message that caused you to nod your head in agreement or turn your head in question?

This question is designed to help us pull out more conversation around what your groups may have been thinking about the sermon, so make sure you ask the follow up question of what and why.

KNOW IT   

1. Reread 1 Peter 2:1-10. Larry emphasized verses 9-10 in his teaching, but what else stands out to you? If anything, why did it stand out?

Don’t assume everyone has read the passage, have someone from the group read the passage and encourage others to follow along and underline as they go what stands out to them.

2. Hebrews 5:1-10 lays out the duties of a priest and ultimately points to Jesus as our high priest. As you read this passage, what priestly traits do you see in yourself? Explain.

Additional resource: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/royal-priesthood/

Check out the above resource to help provide more clarity on what it looks like for us as priests. Then make sure you take time to celebrate what you see God doing in one another.  If your group knows each other well then feel free to share about the ways you see individuals reflecting Gods character around them. If your group is newer, then help your group share things you may have noticed about someone that have help the group grow closer to one another and Christ. 

Example: When someone makes sure everyone has a chance to speak, or when someone follows up on a prayer request from last week it displays Gods intentionality and care about us.

SHARE IT

1. Larry mentioned some things a pastor does that we are each able to do: teach, counsel, serve communion, pray, and baptize. Is there anything a pastor does that you would feel scared or not fully confident to do? Why or why not?

Additional activity: Take time to define what each one of those words mean, teach, counsel, serve communion, pray, and baptize all can feel really intimidating because of the unspoken definitions we have for them.  For example, does teach mean we have to stand in front of a crowd and teach a lesson or could it mean teaching a child truths about Jesus or sharing what you learned on Sunday with a friend?

2. Larry mentioned the role of a priest to stand in the gap for others. Thinking back on your life, is there anyone you know who stood in the gap for you or declared God’s mercy to you? What effect did that have on your life?

The nature of this question could involve some sense of vulnerability in answering. Help the group focus on the second question, “what the effect was” because it gets to the heart of how acting like a priest can bring others to God.

LIVE IT

1. We have direct access to God who hears our prayers, and we can stand in the gap for others through prayer. Think about someone in your life who might feel like they don’t belong or are struggling. How can you act as a “priest” for them, standing in the gap through prayer or support?

Try to get a real practical answer. If it’s praying for someone then an answer could be to pray every time they eat lunch. If iit’s some other way of support, then when and how could help someone create a plan to actually do it.

2. Larry talked about our new assignment as priests. What’s your assignment this week? In other words, what’s one way you want to apply this weekend’s message throughout your week?

The answer to this question may be the same as the one above but the emphasis is more on how will we live it out this week.  As the leader maybe make note to follow up next week to ask how someone’s answer to this question went. 

Example: If someone said they were going to pray for a friend every day during their lunch, then ask next week how it went? Not just were they able to pray every day, but what did they notice anything about how God changed their heart, or conversations that opened with a friend etc.

This could also be a good question to end on, by breaking up your group into men’s and women’s groups. It could also be a time for updates on personal life as well.

We hope this guide is helpful and gives you more confidence and support as you lead your Life Group. Have a great evening, thanks Leaders!