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The Mission: Welcomed to Welcome Others

Ready for Impact (10 minutes)

Catch up on how things have been since the last time your Impact Group met. Allow anyone new to introduce themselves. Then ask group members:

  • What’s your strongest memory of arriving at university?

Ask for a volunteer to read 1 Peter 2:9-12 to the group, praying a short prayer that – however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d know him better as a result of your time together.

Watch

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Impacted by the Word (15 minutes)

Suggested questions to help your discussion.

  • Ask each group member in turn to read verse 9 aloud to the rest of the group. How do you think these descriptions are supposed to make us feel?
  • According to Peter, what has God done? Why did he do these things? (If your group comprises only Christians, you might like to tackle the stretch question below).
  • What strikes you about the responsibilities God has given his people?
  • How do the instructions in verses 11 and 12 relate to each other?
  • What’s your natural response to being misunderstood or mistreated? How might we better practise the call of verse 12?
  • What incentives to come back to uni and welcome new students does Peter give us?
  • Stretch Question: Read Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:6, Hosea 2:23 and Isaiah 43:20-21 –Old Testament passages to which Peter alludes in verses 9-10. How do these verses further clarify what Peter is saying about our identity and purposes today?

Peter alludes to several Old Testament passages in verses 9-10.

First, he takes the titles that described the people of Israel (especially Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 7:6) and applies them to all those who have come to know Christ. Just as God called Israel out of Egypt and appointed them to be his representatives in the world, so he has called followers of Jesus out of darkness and appointed us to be his representatives in the world today.

He also references Hosea. God gave names to Hosea’s children which illustrated that disobedient Israel would no longer be his people, and how they would no longer receive mercy. But God declares that, though this will be true for a season, this will one day be reversed (Hosea 2:23). Peter sees all God’s people within this picture: we did not deserve mercy, but God has shown us mercy and drawn us to himself.

Peter’s final reference is to Isaiah 43:20-21. In these verses, God speaks of how the jackals and owls – a poetic depiction of other nations – honour God because of what they’ve seen him doing for Israel, the people he formed for himself to proclaim his praise. Again, Peter applies this picture to us today. Having been qualified forever by Jesus to be God’s people, we’re charged with the task of joyfully praising God, abstaining from the desires which no longer match our new identity, and living beautiful lives which reflect the character of God to the world. Then the people around us – our equivalent of jackals and owls – can come to know and honour God too.

Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)

Watch ‘Rejoice’, performed by Dustin Kensrue:

  • Pray for any friends or family you know heading to uni in September who don’t yet know Jesus. Pray they’d discover ‘the affections of a Father who will never let them go.’
  • Pray that your CU would be ready to share the hope of Jesus with those who will arrive in the Autumn. Ask that God would give you all the help you need.

Impacting the University (15 minutes)

Peter has emphasised that God has given us each other to be representatives in his world together.

  • Where and with whom are you living next year? What opportunities and potential challenges does your living situation bring for welcoming those who don’t know Jesus?
  • Brainstorm ideas for events or activities the CU could run during welcome season. (Ideally these events will both help build relationships and allow us to verbally share something of our hope in Jesus). You might like to write your ideas onto post it notes and place on a large sheet of paper.

Make sure someone passes on your ideas to your CU’s leaders!

Here are some ideas to start thinking about now!

  • We have the opportunity to run a range of excellent events during welcome season. Which of these will best help the CU achieve its aims?
  • In the busyness of the first few weeks of term, clear and engaging publicity will help Christians and seekers find the CU. Who could you ask to help put it together?
  • If you’ve made contact with intrigued people, you’ll need a clear plan to help them keep investigating Jesus throughout the term. What next steps will you encourage them to take?

Wrap-up

  • Find out who’s in your university city this week. Who’d be up for a walk or meeting socially?

You may have people in your Impact Group who are new to reading the Bible.

  • Ensure that they know there’s a role for them in welcoming new students too!
  • Let them know how much you’ve enjoyed having them, and encourage them to keep coming to your Impact Group!
  • Invite them to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in John’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate Jesus for themselves. Make it easy for those who are keen to opt in.

Ask someone to close your time together in prayer.

Taking it further – links you might like to share with your Impact Group