This week we celebrate Memorial Day—a day where we honor those who have been lost in war, fighting for our country. This day reminds us not just of what we have lost but also what we are longing for. We long for peace. We long for things to be made right. We long for things to be made new; it is exactly this kind of thing Peter has been calling our attention to in our study of the book of II Peter over the last several weeks. This week we finished our series End in Mind. Through the book of II Peter, we have been learning how to live in the last days through wholesome thinking (purity), compassionate living (patience), and hopeful anticipation (peace). By partnering with God through these things and knowing He renews all things, we participate in bringing into fruition God’s heart for the world. So, we end this series with a call to action—to join God in bringing His heart to the world by the way we live, work, and play.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: End in Mind: FireFutureFaith // Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes

This week we celebrate Memorial Day—a day where we honor those who have been lost in war, fighting for our country. This day reminds us not just of what we have lost but also what we are longing for. We long for peace. We long for things to be made right. We long for things to be made new; it is exactly this kind of thing Peter has been calling our attention to in our study of the book of II Peter over the last several weeks. This week we finished our series End in Mind. Through the book of II Peter, we have been learning how to live in the last days through wholesome thinking (purity), compassionate living (patience), and hopeful anticipation (peace). By partnering with God through these things and knowing He renews all things, we participate in bringing into fruition God’s heart for the world. So, we end this series with a call to action—to join God in bringing His heart to the world by the way we live, work, and play.

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
The last days remind us not just of what we have lost but also what we are longing for.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes

Picture (What is the story saying?): What is the “last days”? Why is it important to live as people of the “last days”? What does it change for us to live as people of the “last days”? What does it mean to live in wholesome thinking? Why does Peter say there has been delay in Jesus coming back? (God’s Compassion) How does Peter say God is going to renew the earth? Why is this important?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Where are you waiting for God’s renewal of all things? How are you living in light of this renewal? How can you trust God’s judgment will be just as you wait for His renewal in these things?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What does it look like to live like the earth is going to be renewed instead of being disposed of? (disposable coffee cup vs coffee mug) How might this change the way you treat the earth, your relationships and your work? How can you partner with God this week in His renewal of all things through holy living (purity), compassionate thinking (patience), and hopeful anticipation (peace).

BE IT – Practice

Change UP // Memorial Day Memorandum

Take some time in your group this week to list and talk through the life and deaths of any veterans your group may know. Share the different qualities and character traits you have seen in these men or women. Talk through together how you might emulate these qualities and character traits in your own lives. Concentrate on what Memorial Day reminds us about what we have lost and what we are longing for. Work together to write a short Memorandum of the kind and quality of life these soldier’s lives and deaths are calling your group to live out and recite it together.

Change IN // Renewable Resources
Take a moment to take inventory of the resources of your group. This would include thinking through not just your finances but also your relationships, your time, and your continual investments like where you live, work, and play. Invite your group to identify three ways you could partner with God in renewing these resources for the renewal of all things.

Change OUT // Intentional Interaction
Use your Memorial Day cook out and celebration to create intentional interaction with people in your neighborhood or network. Eat and drink together and as you do remember you are participating in a foretaste of a future reality—one of purity, patience, and peace. Take a small step this week in both appreciating and communicating this possibility with those you are partying.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.