May 18th - May 23rd Life Group Notes

May 14th, 2026
by Nancy Wiltshire

SIMON SAYS- Be Holy

I Peter 1:13-25

LEADERS - Take attendance in the TLC app. Read group guidlines.

Open in Prayer

Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision - Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines- See bottom of page.

Doing the Mission: Did anyone share Jesus or last week's passage?

Does anyone have a God story?

Opening Question: How did you get ready for exams when you were in school? Did you keep up? Did you cram? Did you get a good night’s sleep? Did you remember what you were taught easily?
Share background for the passage: The time frame for this chapter is that Christianity – being very new on the scene – was being persecuted severely by the Romans. This passage is about hope and love in the midst of suffering.

Thought/Focus: Peter is calling us to Holiness. What do you think this means?

Have someone read or tell this week's passage/story: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

How does Peter’s call to holiness challenge you at home, work, church or in your neighborhood?
What does it mean to “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear”? (verse 17)
What is a good test to see if a person has really had a change of heart? (verse 22)
What makes loving people deeply and actively even possible? (verses 21-23)
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, what grade would you give yourself on loving others lately?
Think of someone whom it is hard for you to love. How will you demonstrate love to them this week?
Read verses 24 and 25. Explain what you think these verses mean. How does this affect how you will view your life in the future?

Next week's passage/story: TBD
Select someone to tell next week's story
Dismiss in Prayer

Life Group Guidelines

This needs to be a place where people feel comfortable opening up and sharing with one another. Below are some group guidelines that will help create a safe environment.

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.

LISTEN: Let's value one another during the discussions by really listening to what is being shared. Try to avoid thinking about how you are going to respond or what you are going to say next.

PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a chance to finish and the group the opportunity to consider what was just shared before responding.

NO "CROSS TALK": Be considerate of others as they are sharing- no side conversations.

NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give
encouragement, empathize, point to Jesus. You may share solutions God has led you through. The other person should never feel shame or failure, but rather connection & hope.

NO HIJACKING of shared stories.

NO RESCUING: When people are sharing something deeply personal, there can be a tendency to try to make them feel better about themselves or the situation by providing immediate condolences. This will often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the temptation to rescue people.

SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time you share.

SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the group as it provides an opportunity for someone else to share and for members in the group to process the topic or question being considered.

BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are personally affecting the environment through your words, actions, and non-verbal communication.

"I"STATEMENTS: It's easy to talk about the issues of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put yourself on the table. Try to use "I" statements rather than "them', "they", "you", "the church", "us", "we", etc.

FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between group members, we want to make sure that we are honoring God and each other in the way we deal with these issues. We will fight for relationship. I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures in this regard (there are many others.)