“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:14-16. 

 The Message paraphrases 1 Peter 1:14-16 like this: “…let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” From Genesis to Revelation, scripture is filled with verses on the holiness of God. Exodus 15:11 asks, “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord— glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?” And 1 Samuel 2:2 declares, “No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you;  there is no Rock like our God.”

At its essence, holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God. Many believe that holiness is a bridge too far, is out of our reach, and is unrealistic. Thinking of ourselves as holy people is a little intimidating. Holiness is a pretty tall order. When The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:15 to “be holy,” it is a goal rather than a destination. It is something to strive for. God knows we can’t be perfect, but His desire for us is to grow to become more like His Son, Jesus, as time passes and as we mature in our faith.

Fortunately, holiness is not just based on our efforts at being good. Holiness is who we are based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. We have been made holy… not because we follow a bunch of rules of things to do and not to do. This amazing work of God does not stop when I accept Jesus as my personal Savior. I’m not left alone to be holy from this point forward. Jesus is working through the Holy Spirit to make me holy. And what God starts, He will finish.“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6). God is not leading us to an unattainable level of perfection. Our lack of perfection should merely lead us to strive to meet God’s goal for us continually

Of all the goals we have for our life, the most important is to pursue holiness because it is God’s goal for our life. As Oswald Chambers said, “God has only one intended destiny for mankind—holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity—He came to save us because He created us to be holy.”

 Discussion Questions:

1. Does living a holy and pure life seem impossible? 
2. What is the most challenging part of living a holy life? 
3. What can we do this week to live a more holy life?

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” – Psalm 29:2 (ESV).

Glory is a difficult concept to get our arms around because most of us will not experience glory. Glory must be earned, and we are not all that good at it. If you lived during Solomon’s reign and were invited to the palace to meet the king, you would bow and give Solomon glory. But if Solomon wore the clothes of an ordinary man and walked into some isolated village, the villagers wouldn’t know he was king and wouldn’t give him the glory a king expects. Solomon doesn’t have glory in and of himself. His only glory is when he puts on the robe and crown and sits on the throne.

The glory of God is completely different. God never takes off His kingly garments. He never takes off the crown or leaves the throne. He is not God because of the throne, or the robe, or the crown. Rather, He has a throne, a robe, and a crown because He is God.

Defining the glory of God is impossible because God’s glory lives above and beyond any type of description or definition. The answer is as infinite as God’s glory itself, so the question can never be answered exhaustively. Now, when Isaiah 6:3 says that one angel is crying to another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts,” the next thing he says is this: “The whole earth is filled with his . . . ” People could guess that the next word would be “holiness,” but he doesn’t say that. He says, “glory.”  2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” Hebrews 1:3 adds, “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven”

The scriptures tell us: ”[He] has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? … all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. [to Him] …[He] spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them” (Isaiah 40: 12, 15, 22). The prophet attempts to give God’s glory some scale through word pictures. Still, even these very picturesque and helpful descriptions fall miserably short of capturing the awesome glory of God. God’s glory encompasses the greatness, beauty, and perfection of all He is. He is beyond our ability to estimate, understand, or describe.

Scripture associates worship with glorifying God far more than any other activity. At its heart, worship ascribes all glory to God alone. We can glorify God in many ways, but Scripture indicates that nothing we do delights God more than calling on His name with sincere hearts and declaring that all glory belongs to Him.

Discussion Questions:

1. The definition of glorifying God is to honor God by our lives, showing His splendor, love, and perfection, and that His presence is seen in us. In what ways does the believer do this in everyday life?
2. What can we do this week to glorify God? 

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Real estate flipping in Florida is a cottage industry. The Sunshine State is fertile ground for investors looking for the promise of profit by revitalizing properties. The objective is to buy a piece of property that is run down and seemingly without much value to most people. The real estate developer sees past what it is to what it could be once the process of renovation, refurbishing, or complete rebuilding takes place.

So it is with God and us. God is in the renewal business, not with buildings but with the heart. Renewal is a transformative process that Christians embark upon to rejuvenate their spiritual lives. It is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey of transformation and growth in the Christian faith.

We all tend to go through times of spiritual fear, sourness, and staleness. We need renewal. The good news is we can expect it. The Bible promises this to us: that when we are spiritually dry or defeated, God will give us the answer to our dryness and defeat.

Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV):“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

All of us do get weary. But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew, exchange, or regain their strength.  He exchanges our weakness for His strength. In the place of our difficulties and inabilities, He puts His abilities.  In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul is talking about all he has suffered for them and what he went through for them, but he said, “It’s worth it.” He did go through a lot, and he talked about the difficulties he met, and then in verse 16, he says: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

For Abraham, the place of renewal was Bethel, where he “built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD” (Genesis 12:8). For Moses and the Israelites, it was the tabernacle in the wilderness, where God’s glory rested. For the 12 disciples, it was their frequent meetings with Jesus.

We all need such times and places of renewal when our morale and vision are reignited and our spiritual batteries are recharged. God has an incredible plan for renewal in your life. He knows the trials, circumstances, and people that wear you down better than anyone. And He knows that you need time to be refreshed by Him. We can seek rest and renewal from many different outlets, but the only consistent and true source of renewal is God.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think renewal is essential?

THE INFLUENCE OF SALT AND LIGHT

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father?” – Matthew 5:13-16

Influence is a big thing in our culture today. Influencers have become an integral part of the online space, creating communities, working with brands to showcase products, and forming human connections online. These digital celebrities can shape our everyday norms, from shopping habits to trends to beliefs to lifestyles.

God expects us to be influencers in our own way. Does that mean we should start recording TikTok videos to showcase our Christianity?  Not necessarily. It does mean, however, that we are intentional about serving and being loving, kind, forgiving, and patient.  And if we are intentional and consistent, people will take note.

Jesus opened His Sermon on the Mount with a series of countercultural beatitudes in His day and remains so in ours. The assigned roles of salt and light show that Jesus wants His followers to be people of character who rightly influence the world.

We don’t always fully grasp the things that Jesus said. And this seemingly random pairing of salt and light is no exception. So why the two things—salt and light? Well, both serve a singular primary purpose. Salt serves the purpose of taste, and light serves the primary purpose of seeing. The point is that when salt has no taste and light can’t be seen, they are worthless and influences nothing.

But as followers of Jesus, we’re supposed to be different in all the ways He was different. His words were humble, engaging, substantial, and timelessly true. Two thousand years later, they haven’t lost their flavor. And His qualities still shine like the sun. People are drawn to Him just like we’re drawn out of darkness by light. He loved people, prayed for those who persecuted Him, and ultimately died for those who mistreated Him. He was joy-filled because He knew what lay beyond the moment.

Jesus tells His followers they are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” This means that Christians should help make the world a better place. Just like salt adds flavor to food and keeps it from spoiling, Christians are meant to be a positive influence, improving their communities and showing others kindness and love.

You don’t have to be famous, wealthy or successful. You don’t need an impressive degree or many followers on social media. A specific age, nationality, or personality is not a requirement, and your job, location, or marital status does not limit you. We have the power to be salt and light and positively influence others.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you allowed yourself to become less salty? In what ways have you hidden your light under a basket?
2. Can you think of one way or one specific person to whom you can be flavorful and light-giving today?

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4: 15-16.

As Christians, we have the opportunity and often the ability to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Every believer can impact someone else’s life for good or bad. We can make a difference in someone’s life at work, at a restaurant, at church, at home, or just by talking to a neighbor by the fence. They will be influenced one way or another by what you say and do.

What is influence? Influence is the power of producing an effect on someone without any apparent effort on our part. Whether we are trying to influence someone or not, we are impacting them just by being around them. And our kind of influence as believers is very important because we represent God.

As Christians, it often seems that God’s greatest moments for us are never for us alone. These pivotal moments are always about our lives touching the lives of others or someone touching ours. A life touched by God always ends in touching others.

Esther was a courageous woman who used her influence to save her people. Despite being the king of Persia’s bride, the king had no idea that Esther was a Jew.  When Esther learned of a proposal to eliminate the Jewish people, she faced a decision: to stand up for her people and risk her safety, or remain silent. In the end, her courage saved the day.

We may read this story and think, ‘Well, my life certainly doesn’t look like Esther’s. What influence do I have?’  Maybe you’re saying, “No, not me. I don’t have influence. I’m shy. I’m not special. No one follows me.”  Stop and remember that God created you to have influence. Not because you’re great but because God is great. And because He has allowed us to have influence. All influence requires is interaction with people—and we all have that ability.

Influence is relational. Think about the most influential people in your life—those who shaped or changed you the most—the people you admire, respect, and want to be like.  I’ll bet they built you up, empowered you, and called out the best in you. They gave you encouragement or opportunities to become a better you. Your influence grows when you stop thinking about being great or being an influence, and you start thinking about empowering others to be great.

We need to do the same for the people in our lives. We need to get up every day and ask God for ideas on how we can give of our time, attention, talents, and resources. People will learn a lot from us about the nature of God by watching what we do and how we do it. Our actions are a living sermon, and that sermon can have a significant influence on the lives of others.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do your views and opinions influence your friends? Why or why not? How do your peers respect your beliefs and values?
2. How do you positively influence your friends?
3. What can we do this week to be a better influence on others?

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”  – Matthew 6:25-26.

The 2024 results of the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll show that U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious. In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 to 32% in 2022. Adults are particularly anxious about current events (70%) — especially the economy (77%), the 2024 U.S. election (73%), and, in general, the future.

Maybe you’re lying in bed trying to sleep, but all you can do is worry. Maybe it’s over your bank account, the details of a mistake you made that day, a week ago, years ago, or the next day’s challenges. Anxiety is a real thing. It is prevalent in our culture, especially in the times we have been in the last two years.

The solution is to stop worrying. Many have tried. But every time we try to stop worrying about one thing, something else seems to rise to tempt us to worry anew. When we worry, our minds get an unnecessary workout. We run through all the possible outcomes of our situation. We jump to conclusions before getting all the facts. We weigh ourselves down with all the “what-ifs.” But worrying is a pretty pointless exercise when you stop to think about it.  Jesus put worry in perspective when He asked, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). If we do all we can and entrust the outcome to God, worrying is pointless.

Worrying will not improve our situation, but sometimes, we trick ourselves into thinking that we’re achieving something by worrying. The Biblical view is to pray and trust in God, which is an active thing to do and not simply a way of denying there’s a problem. Peter writes, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7). This view neither denies nor ignores the problem but places our focus on our heavenly Father. Trusting God and praying will make a difference since it releases faith. This allows God to move in the circumstances.

As Jesus discussed worry, He redirected our focus to God. Perhaps the most poignant phrase Jesus said to those who worry is, ” Your heavenly Father already knows” (Matthew 6:32).

Paul adds, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6).

Discussion Questions:

1. What are you worried about right now?
2. What do you need this week to worry less and trust God more?

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:1-2.

Worship is more than singing songs to the Lord. It is living a life filled with adoration that prompts us to honor and obey Him. Romans 12:1-2 reveals the how-to of living a life of worship. But how do emotions fit in with our worship? Emotions play a significant role in our lives. They motivate us, connect us, and add meaning to our experiences. But emotions can also rise and fall like a roller-coaster ride.

When we study Samson’s life, we quickly see how his emotions often got the best of him. Samson was a man of great potential but often made self-destructive decisions. In Samson’s story, we find a riddle. Samson has a competition with a bunch of other guys around a riddle. But he doesn’t leave it at a competition. He adds a bet. Here’s the riddle: “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14)

The answer to this riddle is a lion and honey. Samson killed a lion, returned later, and found a bunch of bees and honey in its corpse. The Philistine men can’t figure it out, so they threaten Samson’s Philistine wife, and she cries to Samson and gets the answer. He tells her, and she tells them. They solve the riddle, and Samson is furious.  He says: “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have solved my riddle.” (Judges 14:18)

Samson takes the lives of 30 men to pay his bet. Samson returns several weeks later and finds that his wife has been given to someone else.  So he takes 300 foxes, ties them together, lights their tails on fire, and sets them loose in the Philistine grain fields. Anger leads to a destructive cycle of violence in Samson’s life.

Allowing our emotions to control us is a bad idea. Denying our feelings is not a good idea either. Controlling and stewarding our emotions is the idea. The management of our emotions is critical to our spiritual life.

One way we can worship God with our emotions is by bringing every emotion to Him. He cares for us and welcomes our emotions. We bring our hearts, with all their contents, to Him. We pour out our hearts, pause, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Our emotions are a gift that opens the door to an intimate relationship with Him.

As our relationship with Him deepens, our worship does, too.

Discussion Questions:

1. Are emotions essential to worship? If so, why?
2. What can we do this week to control our emotions?

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” – Matthew 6:34 (MSG).

Have you ever been telling a story, recalling events, expressing an opinion, or asking for advice when you notice that the person across from you is not paying attention? Maybe they are watching somebody walk by or glancing at their phone in response to a text alert. Or maybe they simply have that glazed-over look accompanied by that pretending-to-listen head nod.

We’ve all been there. It’s hard, even at times, to give our full attention to something or someone for an extended period of time. There are so many things in this world that steal our focus. Our jobs, relationships, and worries are all aspects of our lives that try to take center stage.

If you look at Jesus’ life,  it becomes obvious He was present in all He did. Can you imagine Jesus sitting down with you at a meal and constantly looking out the window or asking you to repeat what you said, distracted and distant as if wishing He was somewhere else? When He went away to be alone with God, He listened fully to His Father’s guiding voice. And on the eve of His crucifixion, knowing full well that He would be tortured and killed the next day, He remained perfectly present to His disciples, to His friends. He ate with them. He prayed with them. He washed their feet in a spirit of humility and love.

Jesus gave us His full attention, but do we reciprocate? Or do we meditate on His Word while scrolling down our to-do list? Our prayers are interrupted by random thoughts and other pauses to take care of this or remember to do that. Our intentions are good, but it is a challenge to spend time alone with God. No phones. No television. Just you and God. No stray thoughts. No agendas. No to-do lists.

God deserves that when we spend time with Him, we shut everything else out and “focus completely on Him.” The living God doesn’t want just some of us when we spend time with Him; He wants all of us. Just like we need full attention in a heart-to-heart conversation, God wants the same from us.

Matthew 6:33 tells us that our attention should be on God first and foremost. “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” The best way to ensure that God always has our full, undivided attention is to stay connected with and focused on Him throughout the day.

With all our distractions, it takes intentionality and commitment to stay connected to Christ.  If you want to become more like Christ, we need to give God our full attention.

Discussion Questions:

1. What types of things are competing with God for your attention? 
2. How can we better give our time and attention to God this week? 

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

There are things we need to do over and over again. One example is doing the laundry. The laundry doesn’t do itself, so on a regular basis, especially when it starts piling up, we wash the clothes, dry them, fold them, and put them away, only to repeat the process when the need arises again. Unless you and the family want to spend your day in dirty clothes, the process needs to be repeated over and over again: wash clothes, dry, fold, repeat.

What are the things we need to repeat in our spiritual lives? The 1 Thessalonians passage is a brief series of commands that covers the basics of Christian living. These general commands are useful to the church in Thessalonica and today. If you understand and follow these commands, your life and faith will grow, and you will be able to experience the joy that God has for you.  He invites us to choose joy, to pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances. It’s a call to live differently, to anchor our hearts in the unchanging character of God. In other words, “Be joyful. Pray. Give thanks. Repeat.”

 When should we be joyful?  Paul tells us that we should always be joyful, not just when things are going great. It is not just when we feel like all is well with the world; we should be joyful in all circumstances, good and bad.  Psalm 28:7 gives us insight: “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” We can be joyful in the bad times because God is our strength and shield.

When should we pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says that we should never stop praying. Acts 1:14 tells us, “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” Paul tells us in Colossians 4:2 that we should “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

And when should we give thanks? When we’ve received what we seek from God in prayer. When we are completely satisfied? Yes, we should be thankful in those times. But, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we must be thankful in all circumstances, good or bad. Why? Because giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will for every one of us who belongs to Christ. A thankful heart is also a heart of worship. Psalm 50:23 says “…giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Be joyful. Pray. Give thanks. Repeat.

Discussion Questions:

1. Find things you can rejoice in daily.
2. Practice small prayers throughout your day.
3. Find time every day to thank God.

“The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.” – John Piper

Have you ever found yourself leaving a Sunday worship service saying to yourself, “The worship was awesome.” Or maybe you’ve had the opposite reaction: “The worship was dragging a little today.” No matter how you view worship, it was most likely predicated on the music portion of the Sunday service.

That is why when most Christians hear the word “worship,” they immediately think of music, which is understandable. Music is a very common way to worship in church and our communities. However, worship is more than just the music you hear on Sunday mornings. We are called to worship as Christians every day in everything we do. It is the most fundamental function of being a Christian.

The bottom line is that worship is a lifestyle. It is characterized by devotion, obedience, and love for God and others. Additionally, it is a conscious action. Worship requires effort. It can be expressed in numerous ways; one way is music. Worship can include praying, reading God’s Word with an open heart, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act or one way.

To worship is to admire something or someone so profoundly that your only response is extravagant love and incredible submission to that thing or person. That is what God desires of us. To know Him well, to love Him dearly, and respect Him so much that our only response is to live in honor of Him every day in all we do.

Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.” This verse expresses the psalmist’s recognition of God’s unique value and a passionate desire for God.  True worship acknowledges God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word.  Worship is to glorify and exalt God.

So, how do we worship as a lifestyle? We live a life of sacrifice. We devote every day to God. We worship in Spirit and in truth in a manner that is holy and pleasing to God. The music we sing moves us and allows us to express praise in a unique and creative way. But music isn’t the main avenue of worship—our lives are our ultimate worship vehicle to our Savior. How do you worship? How are you devoting your life to surrendering to God?

“Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.”  — D. A. Carson.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the purpose of worship?
2. Giving thanks is one way we worship. How do you regularly express thanks, gratitude, and praise of God?
3. How could worshiping God (re)order your schedule, priorities, and values?