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Leader Guide for Lesson 5

  1. When have you seen a person's self-concept affect what he or she attempted or accomplished?

    2. People can be reluctant to step out in faith if they have a low self-concept.

  2. What is the significance to you of the church being described as the temple of God; that is, God's dwelling place (2:5)?

    3. God lives in us and among us. This should make a difference in how we live.

  3. How does it affect your relationship with the world when you realize that you have accepted as Savior one whom the world has rejected (2:7-8)?

    4. We don't belong to the world and don't follow its standards.

  4. How is Jesus the cornerstone for your life?

    5. A cornerstone determines whether the building is square. Jesus is our standard and the rock on which we stand.

  5. Israel was God's chosen people in the Old Testament (the phrases in 2:9 are similar to those used in Exodus 19:5-6, when God chose Israel). God chose Israel to carry out a mission in the world: to be a light among the Gentiles. However, Israel took being chosen to mean that they were better than the other nations. Since they were chosen, they thought that they only needed to defend what they were doing and didn't have to be concerned about other people. How has the church also misunderstood being chosen and how have we turned inward in a similar way?

    6. We have sometimes been concerned with defending our positions and have often thought we were better than others.

  6. How do sinful desires war against your soul (2:11)?

    7. They try to pull us away from loyalty to Christ.

  7. Why would pagans accuse Christians of doing wrong (2:12)?

    8. They might feel threatened by righteousness and want to justify themselves.

  8. How are good deeds something your enemies can't argue against?

Two sides might argue about ideas, but you can't argue with a life.

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