Welcome
As we journey through 1 Peter together, we want to equip you as households to have conversations with one another about the sermon series. Each week, there will be a blog post featuring a brief recap of the sermon passage for the week, and a few quick ideas for how your family can dive deeper into the passage together during the week.
Recap
1 Peter 4:7-11 by Lindsey
Peter gives us some great news in this passage! God has given each of us a gift. Each of us, really? Even kids? Yes! Even kids! God has given gifts to all of his people. And why? Peter says that the greatest gift God has given his people is LOVE. Everyone can be a part of what Jesus is doing by sharing the love that Jesus has given to his people with one another. But beyond this, Peter says that God has also given us other gifts. Did you know this? Each of you has received a gift. And why? To gather it up and collect great things for yourself? To make things just the way you want them? No! Peter says to use these gifts faithfully. To speak God’s words and to serve in the strength of God, to welcome others as Jesus has welcomed us. Why? SO that God will get all the praise and glory and credit.
Could you imagine what God’s people would be like if they did what Peter talks about here? I wonder what that would look like? What would it look like for you to use your gifts to serve your brother or sister? Your parents? Your neighbors? Your friends? Your enemies? Your church family? Your city? What would it look like if you shared love and welcome and help with people freely, because you know Jesus has given you more than you could ever need? Can you tell God about this? Could you talk about it with your family?
Check this out
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 as a family several times this week. What do you notice in these verses? What stands out to you? Talk about the different gifts. Share your spiritual gifts with your children and talk about some of the other people you know who have different spiritual gifts. Depending on your child’s age, you may wish to look at a Spiritual Gifts inventory together, or simply have a conversation about what areas they see God equipping them to serve others. Then, help your children find ways to serve others for God’s glory.
Going Deeper With …
Preschoolers
Print off this gift box outline (or draw one yourself) and invite your child to draw a picture of the things they are good at that they can do to serve others. Invite them to place their drawing in one of the offering boxes at church on Sunday, or hang it somewhere they will see it every day, and pray for chances to use their gifts for God’s glory.
Elementary Kids
Read 1 Peter 4:7-11 in a child-friendly version of the Bible (like the NIrV).
Peter tells God’s people to do two things so that they may pray. What are these things?
Why are these two things important to prayer?
How does it feel to hear that God has given you a gift? What do you think that gift might be?
Can you imagine what it would look like for you to use your gift faithfully?
Why does Peter encourage God’s people to use their gifts?
Pray together that God would give you opportunities to use your gifts to serve others for God’s glory.
Middle & High Schoolers
Read 1 Peter 4:7-11 in the New Living Translation.
How does God’s word challenge you in these verses?
How might your life change if you really believed that “the end of the world is coming soon”?
Peter says, “Use your gifts well to serve one another.” What gifts has God given you? How have you used them to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ?