1. 1 Peter 1:22–23a and 1 Peter 2:3 seem to be “bookends”—two ways to state the same thing. What are they talking about? *See John 13:33–34, John 17:20–23, and 1 John 3:11–15. How important is this command, according to God’s Word? *What will happen in our church if we all make a commitment to obey this command?
2. The experience that Peter refers to in those bookend passages leads to a clear command in the second half of 1 Peter 1:22. What is the Bible calling for?
3. Peter speaks of being “born again” for the second time in 1 Peter 1:23 (see also 1 Peter 1:3). What differences exist between our physical birth and our new birth, according to 1:23 and the quotation from Isaiah 40:6–8 that Peter mentions in 1 Peter 1:24?
4. Read 1 Peter 1:22–2:3 again. What does it say about spiritual growth to those who are now alive to God?
5. What is the main lesson you want to apply to your life from this study?

When Times Get Tough, 2010 Study Series • Copyright © 2010, Lake Avenue Church