Normal People (Week 4)
In our series Normal People: Living an Ordinary Life with Extraordinary Grace, we’ll look at Paul’s words to the Thessalonians and receive the encouragement we need to embrace the normalcy of our lives, allowing the grace of God to do the extraordinary.
This week Marty Solomon, BEMA podcast host and author of the new book The Gospel of Being Human joined Pete for a special Primer Podcast.
1. In the podcast, Pete and Marty talk about Marty’s new book, The Gospel of Being Human. What does “being human” mean to you? If you grew up in a faith community, what were you taught about being human? What have you learned about being human through your life experience?
2. Why do you think this is such an essential question for us, as readers of the Bible and followers of Christ, to ask?
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2.
3. Marty mentions in the podcast that Paul is emphasizing the importance of our daily lives in the present moment, right now, as opposed to what is to come after our time on earth. Is this a new way of thinking about your faith? If so, how does it challenge you?
4. How does our hope for the future impact our choices right now?
5. Paul’s instruction to these early Christians emphasizes how they were to be set apart from the Greco-Roman way of life. We live in a very different society, but how is our calling as Christians today similar? How is has our calling changed?
6. Marty and Pete emphasize that Paul is telling the Thessalonians to “avoid sexual immorality, and wronging/taking advantage of others”, not just because those things are sinful, but because they harm others and us. How does this subtle shift help to reframe how we are to live as Christians in community?
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.
7. Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of brotherly (and sisterly) love. This love flows from our identity as children of God. How have you been able to live into this identity? How does being a member in such a community help you live into your true identity?
8. Discuss how our mundane, material, day-to-day lives can “win the respect” of those who don’t know Jesus.
9. Scripture tells us that the God of the universe created us out of love, for love, and that we are God’s beloved children. How can we balance this incredible truth with the truth that we are all also “normal,” ordinary people?
(*Video available after Sunday services)
