The Big Idea
A bigger view of God’s calling, Christ’s cleansing grace, and our promised glory gives us hope and shapes how we live today.
Remember Sunday’s message
Sermon reminders
Peter’s View of God
Austin emphasized that Peter’s identity and his readers’ identity begin with God’s calling. God’s foreknowledge was presented as personal and relational, not merely knowledge of facts.
Peter’s View of Grace
Grace sets believers apart for obedience through the Spirit and cleanses them through Jesus’ blood. Forgiveness and growth belong together.
Peter’s View of Glory
The salvation the prophets anticipated is now announced to believers. Austin connected that gift with Christ in us and the future glory promised to his people.
Wednesday’s conversation
Reflect & discuss
Read the main passage together and pray. Briefly name a moment this week when you needed to step back and see a bigger picture.
An identity you receive
Peter calls himself an apostle and his readers elect exiles. How does beginning with God’s calling change the way you evaluate your worth or your progress as a Christian?
Purpose in this season
Austin connected God’s care with the time and place in which we live. Where do you need that larger perspective right now, and what would faithful participation in this season look like?
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Hebrews 13:14 (ESV)
Grace that cleanses and changes
The sermon held together being set apart for obedience and being cleansed by Jesus’ blood. Which is harder for you to live out right now: receiving forgiveness or taking the next step of obedience? Why?
Hope with your eyes open
How does the promised glory Austin described give you hope in a real difficulty today? What changes when you remember the end of the story without minimizing the pain of the present?
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Carry it into the week
Next Steps
From the sermon
- Read 1 Peter 1:3–9 before next Sunday’s sermon.
- Lift your eyes to Jesus and remember this week that the best is yet to come.
Application
Choose one situation to view through God’s calling, grace, or promised glory. Name one faithful next step and, if you wish, share it with someone in the group.
My notes
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible, © 2001 by Crossway. Text Edition: 2025. Used by permission. Permissions. Prepared for this small group from the September 6, 2026 sermon; questions and applications are editorial study material.