1 Peter 2:19-25

For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Read the scripture above and discuss the questions on our Facebook page:

• Who do you think is the shepherd and guardian of the soul? (1 Peter 2:25) Do you find this image of Jesus comforting? Why or why not?  
• “If you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval” (v. 20). What reaction do you have when you read this? Have you had an experience like this? What does this say about the role of suffering in the Christian life? Does the Christian life always look like being “blessed”?
• How have we all strayed like sheep (v. 25)? 
• Read 1 Peter 2:25 “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls,” and Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.” Knowing God’s blessings are all around us and often the guardian (Jesus) uses us to reach out to others to bless them and share about Jesus, what are you going to do today and/or this week to be a blessing?

Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25
John 10:1-10