Be Holy as God is Holy

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19:1-18 and 1 Peter

Through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday (Easter) we realize that God has offered us through Jesus. We who believe ARE FORGIVEN!

So, now what???   Well, we can live a new of life!

In Acts 24:14-16, the first century missionary Paul says that he is a “follower of the ” – who were followers of Jesus who were seen as a sect of Judaism at this point.

This way of life was called by the early Methodist Christians in the 1700’s, “ of Heart and Life.”

In Leviticus and 1 Peter, God challenges us to “Be for I am .” This is a high expectation!

But even Jesus said in Matthew 28 that we should help people to become Jesus’ disciples and this includes “teaching them to everything I have commanded you.”

SO WHY BE HOLY in our whole heart and life (according to 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 3:21, 1 Corinthians 6:1-3, Mark 10:40, Hebrews 11:35, and Matthew 6:1) ???

1. It’s the only way we know our in Jesus is true
2. It pleases God
3. It aligns us with real
4. It will be in eternity…somehow!

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do the people around you think it’s really great to be ‘holy,’ or is that looked down on as square, undesirable, uncool, etc.?
2. Why do you think many people think it’s a better way of life or more fun to be a little ‘bad’?
3. If you had followed Jesus around all day when he was on earth in the flesh, do you think his way of life would have been attractive to you or undesirable?

READ Lev. 19:1-18, 1 Peter 1:13-16, Matthew 6:1-2, Hebrews 11:35

A. Why do you think God wants us to be “holy” all the time?

B. How do you think God will reward holy behavior in eternity?

PRAYER: “God, while I often mess up and fall short, I want to be wholly yours and to live a holy life. Help me to have the holiness of Jesus in my heart and life that I may love and serve others as Jesus did. Amen!”