Stand Firm

An Act of Worship and Defense of the Faith

Questions:
1. Prior to this session, how familiar are you with the practical of apologetics?

2. What do you find most intimidating about sharing why you are a believer?

3. What is something you find fascinating about evidence for God, the history of Christianity, or God’s design in creation?

4. What was a time where you wrestled with the faith? What helped you through? 

5. What is one question or subject that you would like to study next?

Peter reveals another aspect of our identity in Christ, a royal priesthood. The idea of a royal priesthood comes from Exodus 19:6, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Israel was chosen and separated for God to be His nation of priests in the world. As a chosen people in Christ, Christians are “living stones being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2:4-5).

As priests, it is our privilege to serve the King. There is no other duty more honorable than being in His presence in spiritual service to Him. And as royalty, it is also our privilege to sit with God on His table to dine and sit on thrones to rule (Luke 22:29-30). It is our duty to carry out priestly responsibilities.

Questions:
1. What is one challenge you are seeing being leveled at Christians most today?

2. Do you actively discuss hot-button subjects with your family or friends? Why or why not?

3. How would you respond if someone said they cannot trust the Bible because it’s oppressive toward women and marginalized groups?

4. Why is it important to model good critical evaluation of culture in front of your children? 

How boys and girls are being groomed by the secular sexual ideology and how to respond

Questions:

1. How has culture (and even health class) changed with regards to how sex/sexuality is portrayed since you were a kid?

2. Were your parents an open book when it came to your questions or was it more of a “don’t ask don’t tell” atmosphere?

3. Where do you think children and teens are being influenced most: friends, social media, or their parents?

4. What do you think it means when icons like Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato mean when they encourage “female empowerment”? What actions (if any) are they promoting?

5. What do you think  boys being taught what true manhood is by culture? What behaviors are being encouraged? What are being put down?

6. What do you think biblical manhood and womanhood is?

Preparing Kids for Apologetic Engagement

Questions:

1. What do you think it most important to teach/pass down as a Christian parent?

2. What is your approach to worldly influence: keep everything ungodly out, no boundaries, or boundaries with discussion?

3. Gen Z and Alpha are said to struggle with purposelessness. Why do you think that is?

4. Why is understanding the personality of your child important with regards to discipleship?

5. What is one area in which you need to help build up your child to give a defense for the hope within them: recognizing and defining buzz words, recognizing faulty logic and emotional appeals, not allowing their empathetic side to be manipulated, knowing why they believe Christianity is true, or how to navigate a conversation while keeping emotions in check? Your answer will likely vary from kid to kid.