Maciek carries a torch, a foil blanket, water purification tablets and Bible verses, and has two barrels of supplies buried in the woods, in case there is no tomorrow. From this portrait of Polish preppers the sermon moves to the words of the apostle Peter: the end of all things is near (1 Peter 4). It turns out that the preparation Peter writes about looks nothing like what we might expect, it is fervent love, hospitality and service. Listen, and along the way you will hear the story of one supper after thirty-two years of silence.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Peter writes that "the end of all things is near" and immediately calls for clear minds, sober judgment and prayer (1 Peter 4:7). How might believers persecuted under Nero have heard these words?
- In verse 8 Peter grounds his call to deep love in the fact that "love covers a multitude of sins." How do you understand this, given that it is not about pretending someone's faults do not exist?
- The speaker compared preppers, who carry a survival kit with them every day, with the attitude of a Christian. What does being ready for the end Peter writes about look like in your life?
- The sermon says that bringing up old mistakes makes us unbearable to one another, while Christ's kindness led people to confess their sins. Whose failures do you point out most often, and what could change that?
- The story of inviting his father home after 32 years, and the question "What would Jesus do?" that brought Zacchaeus to mind, show hospitality as an expression of love. What makes it hard for you to open your home to others?
- The speaker said that through hospitality we love privately and through serving we love publicly. Whom could you invite over this week, or serve concretely with a gift you have received from God?
