Bio: 

My name is David Cochran. I am an elder at Hill Country UT and a dad to two sons Ryan and Thomas. My wife Kristin and I enjoy reading, watching movies and spending time at the beach.  I am a big lover of nature, especially rivers, and like to get away to the mountains whenever the opportunity presents itself. We have been members of UT since Denny started raising folks to join up back in 2004.  I am a chemical engineer and love looking at complex things and figuring out how they work.

Passage:  1 Peter 5:10 

Central Truth:  Suffering instructs us in the grace of God

Devotional:

     Suffering can either open a window into the purpose of God, or detour lives into an ocean of despair.  Without care, we find ourselves engulfed in the latter.  Our plan starts off good, but fate refuses cooperation and suddenly, we are drowning in suffering.  From our previous devotionals, we have seen our pride (a.k.a. control) can leave us with a false since of power and purpose.  When we don’t succeed, fear and disappointment get the best of us and we feel like the poor soul bound to a stone in the rising tide, our spiritual life being suffocated.  The Devil can prey on that fear, but even more, he can prey on the unfulfilled desire we bury instead of taking to God.  Without warning, addiction, apathy, depression, and a host of other sin strikes at our heart.  Satan is shrewd.  He relentlessly attacks the belief that joining God in His purpose will result in our ultimate good.

      In 1 Peter 5:10, God chooses to identify Himself as “the God of grace”.  Difficulty in our lives will reveal what is inside.  As the pressure of hardship squeezes us, what is inside comes out.  Our response to life’s circumstances sometimes falls short of humility, faith, sober-mindedness, or the spiritual strength to resist.   Do not despair.  Christ did not die to showcase your brilliant performance, but to paint a masterpiece of His own work using you as the canvas.  The very purpose of these events in your life is to bring clarity in your understanding of His grace.  His “calling to eternal glory” is the declaration that you are a child of God.  Not someday, once you have met the standard, but presently, adopted into his home.  He is at work in those who had no hope to “present them holy and blameless and above reproach.”

      We can view suffering from the point of view of a refugee who believes it without purpose and to be avoided at all costs, or we can look at it from the eyes of a son and heir to the Father’s kingdom.  Suffering, if necessary, is the forge of righteousness in our lives, teaching us to be like Him.  Grace, like signposts along the way, reveals the path to the heart and nature of God.  Life, even with its suffering, is the adventure set before us.  Have faith Christian.  He is coming to confirm, restore, strengthen and establish you.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

Hi! I’m Tony Vega and I am truly blessed to be married to the best wife in the world, Joan. We started coming to HCBC-UT 2 ½ years ago (when we officially became empty-nesters) and before coming to UT, we were part of the HCBC-NW church for about 10 years.

We have a wonderful blended family and, as of October of last year, all of our kids (John, Ryan, Justin and Jessica) are now married. Actually, my oldest son, John and his wife, Cynthia, have started a nest of their own. Thus we have 2 grandkids (Oscar and Juanita) that we really enjoy being with.

We love to travel and someday hope to use that love in serving God in the mission field.

Passage:

1 Peter 5:8-9

Central Truth:

We cannot let our guard down as the enemy is always looking to attack.

Devotional: 

The Lion doesn’t Sleep Tonight

Back in 1996, a movie came out called “The Ghost and the Darkness” (with Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas).  The story is basically about a railroad company trying to install tracks across the jungles of Uganda, Africa. During the construction of these railroad tracks, the workers are terrorized by deadly lion attacks during the night. I usually do not care for scary movies. But since this movie was listed as an “action thriller” and based on a true story, I decided to give it a shot. It is one the scariest movies I have ever seen! I literally had nightmares the night after seeing this movie.

The thought of lions prowling during the night may not seem too threatening for someone living in Austin. But if you can imagine yourself actually living the jungles of Africa (some of you may have actually been there), you might be thinking of taking proper precautions. This is what God is telling us through the first part of this passage. We ought to be alert and sober, taking every precaution to make sure we do not fall prey. Not to wild animals, but to our adversary, Satan.

So then, are we to live in fear of the devil? Absolutely not! The second part of the passage tells us to resist Satan and to stand firm in the faith because we are not alone in this fight. Christ followers all over the world face the same threat and we have the best defense we can have in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Jesus himself tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

I am also reminded of God’s instructions in Ephesians 6:10-17. He gives some very practical advice as how we can defend ourselves every day against the enemy’s attacks. We actually have an armor we can use to defend ourselves. I would encourage you to daily put on this armor that God has made available to all of us who have put our trust in Him…the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sandals of the Gospel, the shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit (which is the word of God). Come to think about it…didn’t Jesus himself use the word of God to fight off Satan’s attacks while He fasted early in His ministry (Matthew 4). Must be pretty good advice!

Discussion Questions:

My name is Ben Padula, but you can call me Ben for short. In 2005, God led me to move from Bellwood, PA to Austin, TX for a job as a Web Developer. Just a few short weeks later, I was helping to plant Hill Country UT. A few years later, I fell in love with my Emily, and we got hitched in 2008. Now I am an elder and continue to work to see the name of Christ magnified at UT and around the world.

Passage: 1 Peter 5:7

Central Truth:

Genuine humility requires that we also relinquish our worries to God.

Devotional:

Simple concept, yet so difficult to work out in our daily lives. Why is that? Why do we seem to catch ourselves worrying so often. What should I wear to my interview? What if I don't finish my project by the deadline? What does my roommate really think of me?

Anxiety is defined as "distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune." I think giving our anxieties over to God is so difficult because we have an illusion of control. Our culture—particularly our American culture—wrongly teaches us to "take life by the horns." The quarterback is held equally responsible for a win or loss—no matter how well or how poorly he played. The CEO receives the blame or credit for the company's success or failure—even if it was primarily determined by outside market forces. Even in our own lives we have the same illusion of control. "If we plan our lives just right, and think of all the possible things that can go wrong, we can avoid our worst fears." It's all on us.

The problem is that we actually don't have such control. "And which one of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"  These words of Jesus from Matthew 6 expose our illusion. The notion that we could control anything, including the span of our lives is nothing short of pride.

Now we are ready to tie this verse in with the rest of the sentence to which it belongs. Since God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (v. 5), "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." I think these two seemingly separate commands are tied together by Peter because you cannot have one without the other. In order to relinquish our many worries, we must humbly admit that we are not so powerful as we think—but God is.

If we need any more reason to lay down our pride and cast our cares upon Jesus, Peter gives us one more—because he cares for you. Because you and me, we matter to God. What happens to us is of supreme importance to him. Oh how he loves us!


Discussion Questions: 

 
1. What fears or misfortunes worry you the most?

2. What is keeping you from giving up these concerns and entrusting them to Jesus?

3. "Anxieties" in this verse is translated from the Greek word "merimna" meaning "care, anxiety" and "distraction; to be drawn in different directions." In what ways are our anxieties spiritually dangerous?

Bio:

So a little about me, as ya know I’m a big Longhorn fan -born and raised in Texas, the

majority of my life in Austin. Five years ago Candice and I came down as part of the launch

team to Kick off this amazing church. Not enough words to describe what a journey it’s been,

and to top it off, I’ve had the privilege to server on the Elder team too! Best job, being Harleigh’s

Dad!

Passage: I Peter 5:5-6

Devotional:

“God opposed the proud and give grace to the humble” - Proverbs 3:34

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

So, just what is the point that Peter is trying to make? It’s rather simple, for us to be humble

people! But what does it mean to be humble? It really means to NOT be lot of the things that

our society tells us to be! We look all and it seems that everyone is focused on themselves. We

live in a world obsessed with drawing attention to ourselves where all the glory is about us! We

are very selfish people who want all the attention! But when we’re on center stage where is our

focus, on the Lord, or on us? When we want the attention who is glorified? Jesus or ourselves?

It’s easy to live a prideful and selfish life, I’m guilty of doing this without even trying! So much

of life teaches us to focus on ourselves. Yet we have the standard set right in front of us, Jesus

who reigned in heaven as “king of kings’ and ruled over the universe while commanding the

angles! Left all of that and “humbled himself” to live among sinful men in order to die a criminals

death, and innocent and sin-less savior, so we could know His love, forgiveness and power

working in our life! It doesn’t get any more humble than that!

So, how are you going to be humble yourself before the Lord?

Discussion Questions:

BIO:

Hi, I’m Rick Peralez and I’m one of the  elders at HCBC UT.  I have been married to my lovely wife, Vicki, for 28 years and have two adult children.  For my day-job, I run an accounting business that focuses on churches and non-profit organizations.  In my spare time I play guitar with The Rocket Brothers Band, drive all over Texas in my Miata, and catch as many movies as I can. 

PASSAGE: 1 Peter 5:4

CENTRAL TRUTH:

There is eternal reward for those who serve Christ faithfully.

DEVOTIONAL:

I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to skim through or just skip passages of Scripture that don’t seem to apply to me.  However, I’ve learned over the years that this can lead to missed opportunities to hear God speak to me.  This passage out of 1 Peter 5 can fall into that category.  After all, this is a passage addressed to elders and not everyone is called to be an elder.  Yet, there is an overarching truth presented in this passage that is applicable to all Christ-followers.  So, let’s listen in on this conversation to elders and see what God might be saying to us.

Peter opens chapter 5 by calling elders to a style of leadership that is very different than the leadership you typically see in the world.  A leadership that is selfless.  This begs the obvious question, “Is it worth it?”

I can’t help but think that Peter’s thoughts went back to a conversation with Jesus as he prepared to pen his response in verse 4.  In Mark 10:23-31 Peter basically poses the “is it worth it” question to Jesus.  And Jesus responds by saying that there will be reward in this life, but even more significantly, eternal reward in the life to come.  

So, in verse 4 Peter reminds elders of two important facts.  First, that Jesus will return.  He doesn’t say, “if the chief Shepherd appears”, he says “when the chief Shepherd appears.” Secondly, he reminds elders that there is an eternal reward awaiting those who serve well.  However, while the reward spoken of here is specific to elders, it echoes the promise of reward to all believers that Jesus speaks  of in Mark 10 and in Matthew 6 when he instructs us to “store up for ourselves treasure in heaven.”

Is it worth it to live a life that is selfless and yielded to Christ?  Absolutely!  It is an investment that will pay everlasting dividends.

QUESTIONS:

Bio:

  I love HCBC-UT, and I believe God has been preparing me my entire life for what we are doing together here. It started with being born to two UT alums. My dad brought me to Austin for the 1962 Texas-Arkansas game; I was 5. Texas won 7-3. We walked out of Memorial Stadium onto 23rd Street, I saw the Tower lit up in victory, and my blood turned orange on the spot. I never even bothered to apply to any other colleges, and graduated from UT in 1979. Desiring to stay close to UT kept Karen and me in Austin and led us to Hill Country Bible Church Northwest – the “mother church” – in 1993, and then full circle back to the campus when HCBC-UT opened its doors in 2005.

Passage: 1 Peter 5:1-3

Central Truth: Effective leadership within the body of Christ is servant leadership

Devotional:

   “Freshmen, get the gear!” Those are four words I never want to hear come out of the mouth of one of my seniors.

     As the head baseball coach at Hill Country Christian School, one of the fundamental concepts I want my players to embrace is that of servant leadership. A long-standing tradition in athletics is that the young guys and rookies have to do all the grunt work. But on a high school baseball team that is part of the Body of Christ, why shouldn’t it be different? The addition of just one little word – “let’s” – as in “Freshmen, let’s get the gear,” and then following through by being the first one to swing into action, would change everything.

     But that’s not our fleshly nature, is it? It’s also not the way of the world. In the earthly pecking order, you work hard all your life to achieve a status that earns you the right to have all the benefit of everyone else’s labor flow uphill to you.

     But Jesus calls us to something radically different. And he didn’t just call us to it; he showed us how to do it by living his entire life as the perfect Servant King, right down to the incredible act of laying down his life for us (see Philippians 2:5-11).

     Servant leadership calls us to a labor of love that is a sacrifice of ourselves for the benefit of those who are under our leadership and spiritual authority. The benefit flows downhill to those who are entrusted to our care. Thus the term shepherd. And only those who are willing need apply.

     So that raises an interesting question: Why would anyone in their right mind sign up for that? The answer lies in Jesus himself, and the amazing transformative sway he has over a person when they give themselves over to him. The fruit of the sinful nature, which is totally self-serving, begins to be replaced by character qualities that are others-focused. With the Savior dwelling inside them, they begin to see people through his eyes; care for them as he cares for them, see potential in them that they cannot see in themselves, love them more and more like he loves them, love them because he loves them.

     Now this transformed person is beginning to look a lot like a servant leader. He or she is following the Chief Shepherd, and when the Chief Shepherd appears… well, you’re going to have to keep reading these devotionals to find out what happens then!

Discussion Questions

Bio:

We’ve been married for 22 years and serving God for the majority of that time. We were lucky enough to come to know the Lord at the same time, while still young in our marriage. We have 4 kids: our 25 year old son Matthew lives in Boston, our 20 year old daughter Alyx is in Chicago, and our 14 year old twins Cole and Andrew are here in high school in Austin with us. Originally from Louisiana, we came to Austin almost 6 years ago, and began attending HCBCUT about 4 years ago. Glen is an elder in the church, and Stacy has counseled many of our female students over the years. We both love Austin and hike in the area whenever possible.

Passage: 1Peter 4:17-19

Central Truth:

Our suffering needs to be accepted as something God is allowing in order to refine us and make our witness attractive to the unbeliever. 

Devotional:

God is faithful to turn up the heat on us to burn off our impurities. This is never easy, and we normally run for the hills at the first sign of struggle. We pray to be taken out of the struggle. If God allows us to do that, we’ll never learn or grow. We’ll just continue to wander in the desert of our immaturity, and keep struggling with the same core issues in ourselves until we finally surrender to God and trust Him. When we come to a point of disruption in our lives, that’s one of the times when we’re  most open to the wisdom dispensed from God.

First, be honest about the struggles you’re in. Let the suffering happen. Don’t wish it away or avoid it. When we avoid our struggles and the suffering that accompanies it, we become hypocrites, the very type of surface level Christian that the world mocks and sees as unattractive. It’s only in the honesty about our struggles that our witness becomes truly attractive in a more deep and meaningful way. When we’re honest about our struggles, nonbelievers will see us as real people with a depth to our faith. Transparency is the key.

Discussion Questions:

1.     What does transparency look like to you?

2.     What choice do you personally need to make to allow God’s refining fire to work in you?

3.     Who is a nonbeliever in your life who needs to see your transparency?

Bio:

Jonathan Estill is a tech intern here at HCBC UT for 2010-2011, and has been working with our sound ministry for nearly four years. He graduated UT last May with an honors degree in film focused on sound engineering and mixing. He also oversees our tech teams (which are always looking for people to serve and are happy to train you how – it’s easier than you think!). When he’s not mixing, Jonathan is probably playing with one of his gadgets.

Passage: 1 Peter 4:12-16

Central Truth:

Anything we suffer for Christ is something to praise God for, not something of which to be ashamed.

Devotional:

  There’s an old anecdote that due to their fear of public speaking, most people would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy at a funeral. The real fear, of course, is not so much of getting up in front of people, but of being humiliated while doing so. I know this fear has stilled my tongue on more than a few occasions, even though my speeches have always been pretty well received. But in today’s passage, we see that God honors and blesses us for taking risks for Him. If fear of embarrassment or awkwardness has stopped you from sharing the gospel with a friend, co-worker, classmate, relative, or even a homeless guy on the Drag, let Peter’s words encourage you – and not only that, but also spur you to action. Christ commanded us to make disciples throughout the world in Matthew 28. If you get the words thrown back in your face as you follow that commandment, “you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” Peter exhorts you to “not be ashamed, but … glorify God.” Embarrassment is an ephemeral emotion, gone within minutes. Is your God not big enough to provide you with the resources to follow His commands, or to heal your bruised ego? Our church has always had the resources to do what God wanted us to; can God not do the same for you? Peter warns us that the way will not always be smooth – a “fiery trial” certainly doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience – but he also tells us to rejoice in sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Hey, it’s an easy way to be more Christlike! You don’t have to let God work on your character, you don’t have to spend months praying for the fruit of the Spirit, and you don’t even have to know what hermeneutics is. The moment you trusted in Christ’s completed work as your only means of salvation, you became equipped to share the same truth with others. If it doesn’t go as you planned, you can rest assured that it went as God planned and that He’s probably teaching you something along the way. Glorify God that you had the opportunity to become more Christlike, and do not be ashamed that your plans didn’t match His.

Discussion Questions:

1. What ways other than humiliation and insult can we suffer as Christians?

2. How can I change my attitude from one of shame to one of praise?

3. Have I been holding back from sharing the gospel with anyone?

4. With which one or two people does God want me to share the gospel?

(Optional) 5. Is God leading me to serve on the lighting or visual tech teams?

Also optional: See also: Philippians 1:27-30, Romans 1:16,

Bio:

My name is Candace McArthur, or C-Mac. I just married E-Mac back in December and am loving the whole wife thing. I also graduated from UT in December with a degree in Social Work. I’m starting grad school in June to get my Master’s in Social Work so I can pursue my career in counseling. I like to grab coffee with girls and talk about life, learn how to cook and beat my husband at any kind of game.

Passage: 1 Peter 4:8-11

Central Truth

It’s for “one another” in order that “in everything” God is glorified.

Devotional:

“Above all…” this means that it must be very important, above myself, above my needs, above my desires. Yes. Above all… keep loving. Peter is encouraging the exiles to continue in their love for one another. The kind of love he exhorts them to have is “agape” love, which means brotherly love, good will or benevolence. The word “agape” was also used in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Jesus told his disciples that they would be known by the love they had for one another. The disciples weren’t going to be known by their appearance or by their church attendance… it would be by their love. One of the definitions I love for “agape” is the brotherly love, because the love amongst a family is so different than any other kind of love. Your brother (or sister) could make you so angry, screw up so terribly, but they’re your family and you love them. Your love for your brother is too deep, too devoted and too good to be tossed aside. So that’s why Peter says that “agape” love covers a multitude of sins. The “feelings” kind of love is so easily tossed aside, that it can’t be counted on, but agape love is totally different. Agape love motivates us towards others, agape love calls us to be others focused, rather than self-focused. In this love we are hospitable to one another, which means we are receptive and loving to one another. In this love we serve one another, not for glorification of self, but for glorification of God. Friends, this is the key… we can’t love one another in this agape type way in and of ourselves. We first have to recognize that God, in Jesus Christ loves us first, and not only recognize His love, but receive it as well. In receiving His steadfast, pure and whole love for us, we then are able to love one another, to be hospitable to one another, and to serve one another, in the way that glorifies God and not ourselves. I love that Peter reminds the exiles about spiritual gifts, because in receiving God’s love we are more aware of who we are in Him, and therefore understand what our gift is.  How sweet of our God who, in his wonderful grace gave each of us a gift that we are to use in order to serve one another. When I serve others by using the gift I’ve been so graciously given, the glory then goes to my Father, not myself, because it’s of Him and not of me. And “to Him belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you say that you receive God’s steadfast, pure and whole love first?

2. What is your spiritual gift? Have you asked your Father what it is?

3. In examining yourself, would you say that you love with the “agape” love, that points back to Christ… or, are you loving in a way that points back to self?

Bio:

My name is Kristin Cochran. Five years ago our family came down from Hill Country Northwest to help plant the church on the UT campus.  In college I majored in business and than went on to grad school to get a degree in law. I have been married to my high school debate partner for 20 years and am the mom of two teenage boys. I am passionate about teaching, mentoring, speaking and writing. I especially love working with College Students.  In my free time I enjoy browsing bookstores, reading great books and drinking hot tea.

Passage: 1 Peter 4:7

Devotional:

Our passage starts today and says that the end of all things is near. My problem is I really don’t believe that. It is easy for me to take a concept like that and dress it up in religious jargon. I call it “eternal perspective” and am versed enough in “church language” to know that that means I need to live in light of eternity. If I am honest though that is still abstract. It doesn’t change my daily behavior. What if for one moment I take 1 Peter 4:7 completely at face value? The world that I know and see and touch and feel will end. If I really believed the kingdom of heaven is at hand how would that change my actions?

Peter goes on to write and tells us that things are ending and we need to be a people who are clear minded and self -controlled so that we can pray. If I think about that I am struck by how surprising that is. If I were writing the passage, I would say time is really short so go out and engage in action oriented activities that further the kingdom. Instead the briefness of time compels Peter to challenge his audience to a life deeply saturated in prayer.  Peter understood that it is out of a place of saturated prayer that God directs us into action that bears significant fruit for his kingdom. It is the difference between ministry driven out of self and ministry driven by the Holy Spirit.

In the second half of verse seven Peter writes, “Be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.” What does it look like to be self-controlled? What impact does that have on my praying? I tend to think of self-control in terms of my speech and actions. Typically I don’t pay a lot of attention to the state of my mind when I pray. My focus instead is more conversational. Often my prayers stem from an emotional response to things and events around me.  I believe God is seeking to move us from an elementary type of praying to a more mature type of praying where we wrestle with issue of truth and faith. In order to pray like this we have to do battle with self and bring into captivity our minds. Part of self-control is learning how to align our minds with His. When this occurs we lay aside our lists of the things we want and instead start earnestly seeking God in life changing ways. When we do this we can learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and let him direct us because the Kingdom of Heaven really is at hand and God has a specific plan and purpose he wants to achieve for our lives.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

 My name is Caleb Jones. Epic random adventures are what you can mostly find me doing.  I like spending time with and doing crafts with my girlfriend Ingrid, riding my bike, exploring and adventuring in new places in the world (most recently Greece and Israel), hanging out with friends, rock climbing, cliff diving, hammocking, snowboarding, road tripping, sleeping late, and occasionally enjoying finely crafted beer.

Passage: 1 Peter 4:3-5 

.

Central Truth:

By observing our actions, which set us apart, the world should be able to tell that our lives are fundamentally changed because of Christ.

Devotional:

 We are sinners.  By nature.  We will not be free of that this side of heaven.  But having now been covered by the blood of Christ we are ambassadors, as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”  The word which has been translated to ambassadors is the Greek word presbyoo’o which means ‘senior’ or ‘born first,’ and which in New Testament times implied that the senior was to act as a representative.   As people who are saved by the blood of Christ, we are to represent Christ in the way we live, meaning that we are to be done with living as the Gentiles live (yes, technically everyone not descended from the nation of Israel is a Gentile, but God’s promises to Israel now apply to us Gentiles because of the work of the Gospel).  The Gentiles lived in lawlessness and with respect to no higher power.  

It’s really difficult because those parties are fun to go to, beer pong is a great game, I suck at not yelling at motorists who get in my way on the road, and launching water balloons at people from the cover of my 6th floor apartment balcony provides me and my roommates hours of entertainment each weekend.  But when our friends who are not saved see us, do we stand out to them by the ways we conduct ourselves?  If not, maybe we should evaluate ourselves and have a “come to Jesus meeting” with the Man Himself.  If we do stand out to them, we just might get made fun of.  But as it says in 1 Peter 4:5, whatever reaction we get from our Gentile neighbors, ultimately they will not have the last word. 

If you grew up going to church with your family like I did, you might remember those semi-corny Christian T-shirts. I may have been seen wearing them from time to time; my little brother had one that had a picture of the moon on it and the words, “Be the moon; reflect the Son.” Haha. Basically, that is what this verse is telling us we should do: be reflectors, representatives, ambassadors of Christ. Be set apart.  Because our lives are fundamentally changed by Christ, being set apart means that our actions following sin are different from the world’s.  When we sin, we should repent and turn to Christ, grow and learn, and ultimately become more like Christ, which is called being sanctified.  Sanctification is an ongoing process while we are still living, so we must repent daily and continuously turn away from sin and to Christ.  That is what it means to be set apart.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

Hi, my name is Ben. I’m in my second year at UT, studying nursing. I feel that I’ve been called to a profession that is about serving people and being a light through that service. God has gifted me with many things, including a love for music and people. I know that wherever I end up in life, I will be doing those two things. If you haven’t met me yet, I would love to get to know you. Come say ‘hello!’

Passage: 1 Peter 4:1-2

Central Truth:

As we learn to let go of our desires and pleasing ourselves, we will see the things God has in store for us.  When we decide that he is all we need, we realize his plan is so much better than our own.

Devotional:

To live with the same attitude as Christ seems agreeable, but suffering as he did may be a little less appealing. To interpret this passage correctly, we must first seek to understand the attitude of Christ. Throughout the gospel, Jesus desired relationships with people but not in the same way many of us do. Many times, we look to see how the relationships we have benefit us and not the other person. Jesus didn’t seek ways to benefit himself through these relationships, but ways that he could serve and benefit others. For example, when he ate with sinners, he had very little to gain. In fact, he had a lot to lose. But when he looked to improve the lives of the sinners, he gave up his own gain, so that he could show them a way to gain a fulfilling life. So when we go back to the passage above we must understand that giving up what we desire in life for what God desires for our lives may be the suffering that Peter is talking about. We choose to suffer, meaning we give up what we want so that God is free to give us what we need. In this sense, suffering isn’t a bad thing, even though it’s not appealing, it’s a good thing. We must suffer, or let go of sin, to be able to see the life God wants for us. If we choose not to give up sin, we may live in a pleasing world for a little while, but inevitably we will have to deal with death brought on by sin. Instead, Christ freed us from that death and is asking us to live like him.

Discussion Questions:

Bio

My name is Jeff Saniuk and I’ve been going to HCBCUT since Spring 2007.  I graduated from UT Austin this past December with a degree in Nursing.  By now I’ll have taken my boards and am working at South Austin Medical Center on their telemetry unit.  I also live in the Hyde Park area with 5 other dudes.  Otherwise in my downtime I enjoy playing guitar, swimming, and things nerdy that are too numerous to list here. 

Passage 1 Peter 3:17-22

Central Truth

In the same way that Christ suffered for us, that he might reconcile us to God, we are called to suffer for others that they might see Christ and be reconciled to Him.

Devotional

Suffering sucks.  It’s painful and frustrating and causes us to doubt.  In the midst of suffering we seem to forget what we’re even suffering for, and not necessarily that we forget the source of our pain, rather we forget the ‘why’ behind the suffering.  We ask ourselves—and we ask God—why am I going through this?  Or to put it another way, is all this suffering worth it?

We suffer for many reasons, one main reason being His promise that by enduring we are made holy.  Romans 5:3-4, James 1:2-4, and Hebrews 12:1-2 all emphasize that suffering yields character and hope.  This has been my primary view of suffering for a while: something bad happens, I feel pain, I pray to God and in time He blesses me with endurance.  But in this letter Peter speaks to a different kind of suffering; or rather he speaks to a different ‘why’ behind suffering.  This ‘why’ is not solely for our personal growth or to enhance our understanding of the cross, but to do these things for others.

Peter focuses on Christ in this passage as both the model of how to suffer for others, and also as the source of our strength in suffering for others.  He also shows us that true suffering is not just any pain we feel, but when we accept this pain willingly and patiently.  In verse 18, Peter emphasizes how Christ’s willingness and patience in suffering brought us to God.  Even though Christ was blameless, He still accepted pain.  Even though He had done nothing wrong and everything right, He still took on the punishment.  In this selflessness, and amid our recognition of our depravity, we are reconciled to God in seeing Him for the Savior He is.

As a church body we long to do the same for others, to play a part in reconciling the lost to Him.  But what does this suffering even look like?  We aren’t dying on a cross for anyone.  We aren’t having to protect a friend in a fight, even if it means us getting beat up in the process.  But maybe we get yelled at by a roommate for leaving dirty dishes out—even though we didn’t do it—but we don’t yell back, and we don’t walk away, but instead clean the dishes.  Christ in the same way showed us that in humility we can fight this seemingly uphill battle against someone else’s anger—pain—fear—pride—to show them they are loved, that they are worth it.

Discussion Questions

1)      When you go through suffering, do you resent it?  Or do you rejoice knowing you’ll persevere?  Is there still something that you have suffered for that you resent having gone through?  Why?

2)      What do you suffer for; success, beauty, entertainment, friendship?  Is what you suffer for worth it?  What makes suffering for something “worth it”?

3)      In 1 Corinthians, chapter 6 Paul is writing concerning disagreements among believers.  In verse 7, why do you think Paul says this?  How does 1 Cor 6:7 relate to 1 Peter 3:18?  Why is it better to suffer wrong for others? 

4)      Who in your life do you refuse to suffer wrong for?  What is one way you can suffer for someone specific you know to show them they are loved?

 Bio:

I am Collin Huber. Back in May, I graduated from UT with a B.A. in Government and now I’m blessed with the opportunity to work on staff with Hill Country Bible Church UT. I love to read and listen to music whenever I get the chance and I’m always on the lookout for the best cup of coffee in Austin. So let me know if you have suggestions.

Passage: 1 Peter 3:14-16

Central Truth:

The hope we have in Christ is greater than the effects of our circumstances.

Devotional:

Suffering is a significant part of the life of a believer. Nearly every single book of the New Testament contains passages warning us about trials in our lives. Countless stories throughout Scripture tell of the champions of our faith dealing with obstacles that ultimately serve as signposts pointing to the presence of the Lord in their lives. So we shouldn’t be surprised when difficulties arise. Part of engaging this broken and decaying world is recognizing honestly that there will be times when we must stand in opposition for the sake of the Gospel. People won’t always like us for it. Circumstances might not always be favorable. But we are able to press into joy in the midst of these trials because we have a Savior who is so much greater than their effects.

Whether it’s a bad grade on a test, a dying relationship, poor health…we can experience joy because the love and faithfulness of God is not determined by the shade of our circumstance. This is the hope that we can cling to with assurance: that trials are temporary and serve only to usher us closer to eternity with Christ. Paul tells us in this passage to use those times of trial to reflect upon the character and nature of our Father in Heaven that we might find our hope in Him.

Once we come to know Jesus as our Savior, our identity is found in Him alone. So grades, relationships, money, health, reputations, and beauty no longer define us. Only Christ. When that happens, we can experience joy in sufferings because He is eternally sustaining.  And it is for righteousness’ sake that we endure, just as Christ did on our behalf. That Truth will change our impulsive reactions to difficulties and it will garner the attention of those who don’t know Christ to the point that they will ask “for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

So be prepared in every season of life, whether it be warm and fruitful or frigid and harsh, to give an answer for the hope that you profess. Because the great depth of the Gospel is that even so seemingly small a thing as an attitude can provide an open door to sharing the story of Christ to someone who needs to hear it. There are many in this world who do not know hope. But Christ is our hope. So rest assured in that. And remember that every shadow no matter how deep is cast aside by morning light. Our light is Jesus Christ and His love for us is truer than any deception, stronger than any trouble, and brighter than any darkness.

Discussion Questions:

1)     Where do you find your identity and hope? Is it truly in Christ?

2)     How do you react to difficult circumstances?

3)     What does it mean to experience joy during trials and how can that be real for you?

4)     How can you be prepared to share the hope you profess when someone asks?

Bio:

My name is Mark Townsend.  I am studying Mathematics in the UTeach program to become a math teacher when I am done here at UT.  That, however, is my temporary plan.  Ultimately, I am a missionary.  I want God to use me on campus as well as in Latin America to share the Gospel, to spark a fire, to bring revival.  For now, it is Jesus, math, rock climbing, and Harry Potter (Ideally in that order).

Passage: 1 Peter 3: 10-13

Central Truth:

Lasting satisfaction comes when one pursues righteousness because the Lord listens to the righteous. 

Devotional:

Peter is writing to Christians who are discouraged because they are being persecuted.  Often times, this turns into the game that I affectionately call, “The Let’s List All of the Things that God is NOT Doing in My Life Game.”  I am a professional at this game; I can go on for hours sulking, telling God how hard and miserable my existence is, and how He should speak louder to me, and how He doesn’t listen, blah blah blah…  I get so caught up in the game that I somehow neglect to inspect my heart and my behavior.  At these times in my life, I look back and notice a trend.  Whenever I have been unhappy with my life, those were the times in which I was not pursuing righteousness.  While vulgar jokes and getting even with someone seem unthreatening, in no way are they an example of seeking righteousness.  How does a “that’s what she said” joke edify the kingdom of God?  This is what Peter is addressing for this group.  If we want to love life, if we want to be happy with where we are, then we need to stop demanding from God a “better” life.   Rather, we are the ones that need to change.  God loves righteousness and hates sin.  Hence, God focuses on the righteous and eagerly listens to their prayers.  To be satisfied, we must turn away from evil and focus on good. 

It is pretty hard for me to describe Rupert Grint’s interests because, obviously, I know nothing about him.  This seems silly, but the same idea applies with God.  How can we pursue righteousness if we don’t know the character of God?  Knowing what God loves and hates definitely helps us because it allows us to know what is good and what is evil.  How do you know God better?  Read the Bible!  The Bible is what God says about Himself; this is probably a pretty legitimate source.  Also, spend time with God.  Talk to Him.  Listen to Him.  Dance, sing, laugh with Him.  Aligning your heart with God’s heart leads to a deeper and more fulfilling relationship. 

Paul writes in Romans, “…Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are free from sin and slaves of righteousness, constantly being led to sanctification.  Because of this new life, we should not be afraid of persecution.  Any suffering now is nothing compared to the eternity promised to us.

Get rid of evil in your life and replace it with good.  Pursue peace.  Seek righteousness, and God will listen.  Contentment naturally follows.  Life probably didn’t change; your perception of it did.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

I graduated from the University of Texas.  I’m teaching first grade, and I always have a funny kid story. I like the Big Bang theory, Mod Podge, baking, long walks on the beach. I mean....

Passage: 1 Peter 3: 8-9

Central Truth:

You can’t do it all by yourself.

Devotional:

God often gives us instructions on how to best live our life.  The hard part is when we try to do it on our own.  In these verses, God shows us ways he wants to be present in our lives.

Living in harmony with God’s will is living the life He planned for you.  I haven’t always done that.  The first two years in college were not in harmony with God’s goal for my life. I was in nursing school because that was what I thought was best for me.  I avoided praying about it because I thought I was in control.  As a result, my prayer life was absent, my friendships were dying, and I was drowning.  It took God’s endless pursuit of me to finally bow my head, and ask for God to show me his will for my life.  It wasn’t easy in the moment, and it wasn’t easy picking up the pieces of my mess, but everyday I walk into my classroom of first graders I have a sense of peace knowing that’s where He wants me to be.  

It’s through hard times that these simple things we can do, turn into a list of what God is doing.  I can be the most sympathetic person when I want to.  God really shows up when I would prefer to roll my eyes and say, seriously.  Likewise, I am the most loving friend.  I will go out of my way and drive you all over town, if I want to.  It’s easy to choose your friends.  God doesn’t just tell us to love people we like.  I would rather keep to the people I know, and deal with the situations I am most comfortable with.  He doesn’t work with comfortable. He will put someone in your life that is the most difficult person to get along with.  Relying on my love and compassion would involve avoidance at all cost.  God puts these people and situations in our lives to rely on his love and compassion.  He leaves us no other option than to turn to him. 

Even in my strongest friendships, sin creeps in and attempts destruction.  It’s easy to hurt those we are closest to because we know they’ll forgive us no matter what.  Our concern for them often shrinks when we are wrapped up in our own lives.  Keeping God in the center of our relationships through prayer is easily overlooked.  God helps us encourage our friends when we would rather tear them down. He shows us where the sin is.  God takes the focus and puts it back on him. 

We need to let God’s character be most evident in the hardest times.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

 I’m Natalie Schilling. I’m on the church staff as the Office Manager, and I moonlight in the wedding business.  I married my husband, Taylor, in March 2010 and we adopted a ridiculous puppy named Scarlett together. I spend a decent amount of time blogging and on Twitter, but I don’t really dig Facebook. It makes me crazy. I also like reading books, the St. Louis Cardinals, and there are rumors going around that I speak Spanish.

Passage: 1 Peter 3:7 

Devotional:

This verse might stir something up in you, particularly if you’re a woman.  This verse, in the Bible, which we regard as truth, just called women weaker than men. There’s no explaining it away, or saying, “What God really meant was…” It means what it says. And that’s okay.

There are some translations of this verse that specify that weaker here means physically. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that I’m not a scary body-builder chick and that my husband has muscles and is physically stronger than I am.

But what if it means to say that we’re emotionally weaker? Or spiritually? What does that say about how God feels about us?  I think God makes it clear here that we are no less important to Him, as we are equal heirs of grace, the best thing that God ever gave us.  This isn’t something to be overlooked.  We might be more delicate, but that also makes us precious to God, but most importantly, we are equal heirs.

And as far as being weaker, I know I am more emotional and need spiritual leadership. God responds to this weakness by charging the stronger vessel to care for us.  Not only that, but in the previous six verses, we see that in our weakness, we also have power to influence our husbands by our conduct. Doesn't sound like our weakness changes our effectiveness.

It seems to me that the people that should be looking at this verse saying “Oh, shoot” are the husbands, the men. They’re supposed to try to UNDERSTAND and treat you with respect when you are feeling and saying things that make no sense. And if they don’t: Their prayers are hindered- impeded, stopped.  Their communication with God is damaged. That’s a pretty hefty consequence, I’d say. As men, you also don’t have the option of disregarding women as lesser or unimportant. They are completely equal with you in God’s sight, which is conveniently the only sight that should matter to you.

But how does this apply to you if you’re not married? Well, you might be someday, but regardless, you are a man or a woman. And in this verse, it reminds us all that we are heirs of the gracious gift of life-not just being alive-but we are heirs of grace. Being an heir means not earning something, it is simply given to you because you are a part of a family that that something was already in. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, then you are adopted sons and daughters of God and become heirs of that legacy. The legacy being that Jesus Christ came to a broken world to save us from sin and death. And we are all equal in receiving that that.

Discussion Questions:

1.     How does women being called the weaker vessel strike you? Do you need to check your heart on that if it makes you feel prideful or angry?

2.     Is there something that God has told you to do, that you’re not doing, that could be or definitely is hindering your prayers? What are you doing about it?

3.     Men: How can you better respect and live with your wife (or the women in your life if you’re not married) in understanding? Women: In what ways is being the weaker vessel a blessing?

Bio:

Hi there! My name is Susan Richards. I’m married to my best friend, the amazing Dennis, mother of two sassy girls – Jerilynne & Lauren, and Gigi to two very energetic grandkids – Sarah & Robert. I love the creative arts. I love a new adventure. I love eggnog lattes. I love hanging out with Dennis.

Passage: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Central Truth

 Strive to be a hottie on the inside.

Devotioinal:

I saw a teaser for a segment on a national news morning program that said they had ways for me to look like a popular celebrity who’s of course gorgeous and leggy, etc. Um, yeah… unless they can increase my height by about a foot, shave off XX pounds, and make me look 20 again that’s probably not happening! I didn’t watch the segment. Not because of the impossibility, but because it’s not who I’m called to be.

I love the book of Esther in the Old Testament. Ever read it? Here’s the story of this beautiful young woman who’s taken to be a contestant in the “Are You Smarter Than Queen Vashti?” show. She’s given the best accommodations, cosmetics, and food, and given a year to prepare herself to be presented to the King. But as you read on, after all that preparation, it’s not her outward beauty but her inner beauty that shines through. She’s very intentional on when to act and not act; when to speak and not speak. And in the end, God uses her to save the Jews.

Fast-forward a little to Proverbs 31, beginning in verse 10, and you read about a woman who’s this amazing, beautiful wife and mother. She works hard. She’s intelligent. She runs her household and business affairs well. She stays busy with worthwhile and honorable things. She’s clothed in godly character and virtue. Because of all this her kids and her husband think she rocks!

I realize many of you may not be married. Marriage may be a while down the road for you. But I encourage you in this journey even now. Whether you are called to marriage or singleness.

Ladies, much like Esther was surrounded with the right environment, cosmetics, and the right food, we must also surround ourselves with those things that will help us grow in inward beauty. Strive to be in God’s Word daily; have people in your life that challenge you spiritually and hold you accountable. It’s a continuing journey of growth that can sometimes be painful and uncertain, but the beauty that comes forth is incomparable.

Men, I think there’s a nugget in here for you too (thought I forgot about you, didn’t you…). You can honor the women in your life by encouraging their growth toward “imperishable beauty.” Honor them with your eyes, with your touch, and your hearts.

“For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

I’m a 23-year-old Longhorn with degrees in Spanish and Communications. I have six siblings (no we’re not Catholic or Mormon), 2 siblings-in-law, and one six-week-old, perfectly beautiful niece named Raegan. I’m rather erratic, idealistic, and very passionate. I get really excited about little things like Sour Brite Crawlers, people playing with my hair, and food. But the two great loves God has given me are people and writing!

Passage: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Central truth:

We can’t tell God that we want His salvation but not His lifestyle. 

Devotional:

We, as Americans, avoid pain at all costs. We treat it like the plague. We get a little nervous even talking about it sometimes.  We like to be comfortable, for things to be easy. So when God says in 1 Peter 2:21-25 to follow in Christ’s steps in suffering and putting sin to death, we either excuse ourselves from having to deal with unsurrendered areas of our lives, or we simply ignore the command and remain comfortable in our rebellion.

I’ve never been one of those motivated, ambitious types.  You might say laziness is engrained in my personality. This is how I have excused my idleness over the past twenty-three years. I reasoned that this fault rarely affected others, and I’ve led a generally successful life, so it’s not one of the “egregious, serious sins.”  However, as a sister and brother in Christ pointed out to me, I am totally disregarding His command to be holy, and to do all things for His glory. As my blunt brother in the Lord said, it’s as if I’m “spitting in the King’s face” by stating through my actions that I do not care enough about my Savior or His sacrifice to confess this transgression and strive to glorify my Father through excellence.  (Ironic side note: my name means “to endeavor to excel.”  I guess I’m learning to live up to my name.)

I know this devotional is pretty heavy – but I have been so humbled by verse twenty-four in its convicting clarity.  Christ paid for our sin “so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”  He did not die in order to have a cordial friendship with us in which He is the constant Benefactor satisfying our every desire. We cannot say to Him that we want His salvation but not His lifestyle. Either we are His servants, called to suffering and sacrifice, or we choose to still submit ourselves to sin’s mastery.

BUT. We serve a God of grace and mercy. Verse twenty-five says He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls! He knows our weaknesses and our needs, and takes joy in bearing us up when we fall and in providing for us (Ps. 37:23-4). He is the faithful Protector, even when we are not faithful servants. This is the God we love! However, Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). We “have been called for this purpose,” brothers and sisters. We were healed by His suffering, so let us stop straying like sheep, and strive to follow in His steps.

Discussion questions:

Bio:

I am Andrew Raymund, many of you may have seen me and never met me, met me and don't remember, or know me already and will have skipped this bio. I am a Senior Aerospace Engineer at the University of Texas with a pastoral calling; which means that my engineering work not only teaches me engineering things, but makes me more like Christ, in "impossible" ways. I enjoy playing World of Warcraft, watching Chuck and Community, cooking, and eating.

Passage:  1 Peter 2:17-20

Central Truth:

Devotional:

Respect and do good for others so much and so often, that they cause you to suffer.

Take some time to pray. Ask God to show you two specific things:

1) to bring to mind people you interact with

2) to bring to mind how you treat these people.

Meditate over the persons that Paul (God) introduces us to first

I. The family of believers (Love): this is the "easiest" group. These are the people you know love you back, with Christ like love, the people you can count on, through thick and thin

II. God (Fear): Our Sovereign Creator, all powerful, awesome and mighty. Remember that he is the one you really serve. Remind yourself of how the weight of his glory, and his influence on your life, should drown out everything else.

III. King (Honor): A person with power, but not God. A person prone to failure just like you. A person who often we slander and condemn for their faults. Remember that this person has authority over you for God's Sovereign purpose, it is no accident that they are your "King" at this time and in this place.

Next, notice the contrast in the description of these groups and the way we are to treat them.

You are not asked to love your "kings" in the same way you are to love the family of believers, but instead, by honoring them well, you love them well. Similarly, your relationship with God is not the same as your relationship with the other groups. Your love for God is deeper, and your honor and respect for him is otherworldly intense and colored with an awesomeness not even Arthur or Aragorn could muster.

These distinctions are all well and good on their own; but importantly, take them and apply them as a foundation for the way you react to suffering, for suffering will come.

Paul talks about suffering in three ways here (verse 19 and the first part of verse 20), all with the backdrop of a Master/Slave relationship, a relationship that I wish I had more words to discuss. Imagine and pray about it instead :) Notice that all three "ways" are caused by three distinct actions, and are to be born differently, though all with God in mind.

Hear this. These "ways of suffering" will come upon you, from many different places, people, and at many different times. Never forget, however, that people are people, that kings will be kings, and that only God is God (forever and ever Amen!).Strive to do good. Deeply desire to love others as Christ loves them and treat them accordingly, and because of your actions suffer as Christ did, all the while becoming more like him. But I get ahead, that is tomorrow's devotional.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think you should "properly respect" those around you? Are there ways that this idea applies to "the family of believers," "God," and your "kings" that were not mentioned above? What about people that do not fit into one of those categories?

2. How do you react to suffering? Whom do you blame? Why do you think you react that way? Do you suffer well? Are you suffering well?

3. Can you imagine pursuing God's will for others in your life so whole heartedly that you suffer for the sake of that goal? It is not easy to see all the time. What are some first steps you can take today to begin to reach that goal? 

Bio:

Hey, I'm Sam, I'm a Freshmore at the Austin College for Champions (ACC), I'm an Electrical Enginerring major, and I am headed off the the US Marin Corps in June.  I have been a Christian most of my life but have only been truly pursuing a relationship with Christ since the fall of 2010.  In just the past six months my mom has becom cancer free and was also pulled out of a coma thanks to Christ.  He is so good.

Passage: 1 Peter 2:13-16

Central Truth: 

Chris's sacrifice has cleansed youa nd made you holy-set apart.  Live in that holiness

Devotional:

“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution...”

I am definitely one who struggles with this command a lot. What I think Peter means by this statement is that we need to obedient to the institutions that God has placed before us. For instance, traffic laws have been instituted by His grace that are meant for our personal safety, but how many times do we run a red light and play it off as being orange-ish? He has given us a government equipped with leaders who have been placed specifically by the Lord (Daniel 2:21). God has also given us a Police Department that is used to punish criminals. In the end, He means good by all of these and He accomplishes His will through all of them, both good and evil people. Remember Pharaoh back in Exodus?

Verse 15 says, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” When Christ came into this world of sinfulness, He put to silence its ignorance with obedience. For the Lord’s sake, He was subject to every human institution because it was the will of His Father – not because it was convenient. Granted, there were moments when He opposed the popular belief systems of the day, but He was obedient to the Lord above all and followed His commands. His hope was not in what the world thought of Him nor was it in His own desire to flex His authority. Instead, it was on what God thought of Him. Our perspective should be the same.

Who does God say we are? He says we are free! Christ’s mercy has swallowed up all of our misery, death and decay. There is no life in this world apart from Him and there is no purpose outside of Him. So we do not use that freedom to commit to old and wicked practices because we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. If we love Him, we will want to be like Him. One way God’s Word says we do that is through obedience to human institutions, but so long as they are commanding us to act in accordance to the will of Scripture. Make sure you understand that doesn’t mean you have the right to exceed the speed limit simply because you left your house late.

Ultimately, our allegiance lies with King Jesus. He is our final authority. Until we see Him face to face, He has commanded us to respect the leadership He has placed in this world. We have a responsibility to be obedient within the lines of Scripture and to pray for those in leadership positions around us whether that is in school, in government, or even the church. God’s loving mercy lies behind this commandment. Give yourself to it and you will experience the joy He desires for your life.

 Discussion Questions: 

 1. If we obeyed this passage, how would our daily life change (driving, working, etc)?

 2. Do you struggle with submitting to authority? If so, why?

 3. What does it look like to live free? What does that mean?

 4. How do people use their freedom as a cover up?

Bio:

I have my Master’s in Social Work from UT and I’m a charter member of the church.  I went to high school overseas where I gained a love for travel and photography.  I have a life goal of visiting the seven continents and I am only missing one (Antartica!).  I am also a very picky eater and I never, ever put milk on my cereal.  

Passage: 1 Peter 2:10-12

Central Truth:

  God’s mercy causes a response.

Devotional:

Growing up in church I learned mercy was not receiving the punishment I deserved for my sin.  This definition of God’s mercy served me fairly well throughout my life, especially during those times when I felt like the most wretched soul of all, but I’ve come to realize how incomplete this view of God’s mercy is.  His mercy is about more than just withholding punishment, it is about withholding whatever will not give us the most abundant life possible.  Elisabeth Elliot writes, “...He will withhold many things that look attractive to us.  It is His mercy to withhold them.”  

It is ironic in a culture where getting whatever you want is perceived as the way to make yourself happy, the opposite is in fact true.  To have a life most abundant God must be merciful and withhold from you, even if it is something you really want.  To think of my desires withheld from me as God’s mercy has not been an easy concept to swallow.  Our culture teaches us to stand like a petulant child before God with our hand out, demanding what we want and giving us permission to throw a tantrum if we do not get it.  Yet it is His wisdom and love for us that causes Him to be merciful, to not give in to our every whim, but allow us to wait for what is better, greater.  Camille Kingsolver writes, “If everything my heart desired was handed to me on a plate, I’d probably just want something else.”  

So how does going from people who “had not received mercy” to people who “have received mercy” make a difference.  Maybe it turns us into grateful people.  People who are different from the culture or “Gentiles” living around us.  People who are content with what they have and willing to wait on God’s providence for what they want.  Peter urges the Jews who scattered throughout the Roman empire to “abstain from passions of the flesh”, to be honorable.  He is asking them to be an example to the people around them.  Yes, they will look at you funny.  Yes, they will speak against you.  Yes, they will call you weird.  But maybe, just maybe, when they see the attitude of Christ in you, they will see something worthy of consideration.  

In Man’s Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, writes about how the one thing no one can ever take away from you, is your attitude.  We choose how we respond to God’s mercy.  I choose to respond as either the petulant child not getting her own way or the daughter of the King of Kings, grateful for everything He has and has not given to me.  

Discussion Questions:

I learned this especially well during last year’s 35-day journey.  At that time, Denny and I just found out we were pregnant after a miscarriage a few months prior, and we shared with our church the joy of our pregnancy news during the 35-day journey.  I hoped the gift of this pregnancy was one of the  blessings and work God had chosen to bestow in our lives during the 35-day journey.  But just weeks later, we discovered we had lost the baby.  I began wrestling with what God was trying to show us through this loss.  Why would this 35-day pursuit of God involve such devastating grief?  But what God gave me at that difficult time in my life was the greatest gift for which I could hope.  He gave me an overwhelming faith and trust in Him.  As much grief as I felt, I had the greatest certainty I’ve ever had in my life that God was for me and His plan for us was good.  I didn’t have any answers.  I didn’t know if I would ever experience the joy of another child.  I didn’t know exactly why He allowed us to experience that loss.  But I was utterly certain of this: God knew best.  That faith in the midst of loss and uncertainty is not anything I could have mustered up or willed for myself.  It was a good and perfect gift from the Father above. The verse God gave to me in that time in my life was Hosea 14:9.  It says, “Who is wise?  Let them realize these things.  Who is discerning?  Let them understand.  The ways of the Lord are right.” If you can come to the point in your life where you believe that verse (I mean TRULY believe it), it will change your life.  It has changed mine.  Even though I don’t fully understand why God allowed us to go through what we did, I know His ways are higher than mine, and His ways are right. John 20:29 says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  I have not yet seen the reason we have been through this trial, but I believe God is using it for good in our lives.  And I believe one day, we will see the bigger picture.  Never underestimate God’s plans and ways.  Never think He is sitting idly and apathetically by watching cruddy things happen to us.  He is at work.  Trust and believe that HE IS AT WORK.

So…last year’s journey didn’t end how I hoped.  But it started a work in me:  a process of faith and trusting God on a much deeper level.  This last year I have grown and trusted God more than any other time in my life.  And I can tell you that as I write this, I have tears in my eyes, not for my loss, but for the beautiful work of faith that my good and great God began in me last year.  Psalms 126:5-6 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!”  I know there is coming a day when Denny and I, after enduring our trial, will reap with shouts of joy at the end of this story.  And just as Denny and I have openly shared this journey with you every step of the way, you will be the first with whom we share those shouts of joy!  Stay tuned. The journey continues.

Bio: 

My name is Jennifer Youman. I recently graduated from UT with a degree in advertising and now work for a market research company. Things I love: music, sports, Dr. Pepper, watching the sun rise, drawing, reading, and chicken parmesan (in no particular order). My greatest desire is to see God moving and to live everyday day by day. My life verse: Psalms 46Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Passage:1 Peter 2:4-9

Central Truth:

 We are chosen to be sons/daughters of God, created in His likeness and adopted into His royal family; we were set apart by the Lord to declare His glory.

Devotional:

In scripture, there are whole sections devoted to the building of God’s temple. I mean, a lot of sections. In those passages, scripture intricately describes the entire building process of His temple, His place of dwelling and our place of worship. Every stone, every chair, every décor piece is hand- picked, blessed, and manufactured to extremely specific specifications. Anytime that God enables man to build something that will bring Him glory, he lays out very specific instructions for how it is to be built. 

The same theory holds true in the New Testament. It is just not as obvious because it is not something that is built. It is created. In the devotional scripture for today, Peter discusses our relationship with Christ as a house being built. We are described as living stones in this house while  Christ is the Cornerstone (***The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure). This means that we are created and placed to emulate Christ’s example. When building a house, all the stones are chosen because they have a specific function. Similarly, we are created in the likeness of our Creator in order that others may come to know Him.

Remember how I said that every time scripture talks about something being built, God has specific designs in mind to bring Him glory? This means that, according to scripture, we too were hand-picked, blessed, and manufactured in such a way to bring God the most glory. The beauty: We were made exactly the way God had planned. Every part of us has been designed by the Creator of the universe, down to the very small details. Not only are we considered part of God’s house, but we were chosen by him. We were created by Him and for Him.

You know that question that people ask about the purpose we have in life? It’s not about finding the right person to marry, finding the best job that makes the most money. It’s not about discovering your passions or living up to the ambitions of your parents. These things are all fine, but they are not what will bring your life purpose. Verse 9 says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Believe that. You were chosen. You are the elect. You are holy. You are God’s special possession. That, my friends, is where we find purpose.

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

I’m Anna Windle, and I’m a sophomore elementary education major here at UT. I am a huge nerd when it comes to books, movies, and TV. I’m a sucker for pretty journals. I sing all the time. I speak mostly in random movie quotes and song lyrics. I secretly wish I was Taylor Swift. And facebook says Gryffindor, but if I went to Hogwarts I think I’d be in Hufflepuff.

Passage:  1 Peter 2: 1-3

Central Truth:

 God’s Word is essential for our spiritual growth 

Devotional:

Imagine that you are a new parent. You awaken at 2 am to the sound of your baby crying on the baby monitor. You rush into the nursery to check on them, and you quickly realize that they are hungry.  You warm up a bottle of milk in the microwave, feed them, see the contentment and satisfaction on their face as they drink, and watch them peacefully drift back to sleep. Milk is very important for babies. They crave it, cry out with all their might until they receive it, and depend on it for nourishment and growth. Nothing else satisfies them.

Peter tells us that God’s Word is like “pure spiritual milk” for Christians. It nourishes our soul and gives us the nutrients we need for spiritual growth and maturity. Peter also says that we, as believers, should crave and hunger for God’s Word the way babies hunger for milk. In verses 1 and 3, he tells us how we can cultivate such a hunger

In verse 1, Peter instructs us to rid ourselves of anything that could dull our spiritual appetite (he lists malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander to name a few). There’s some truth to the old adage “you are what you eat.” If you feed your soul with the things of the world, the fruit of your life will reflect that, and your spiritual walk is going to suffer.  This 35-day journey provides us with a wonderful opportunity to do what Peter says and cut out the things in our lives that are hindering our spiritual growth.

In verse 3, Peter gives us the second step for developing a hunger for God’s “pure spiritual milk.” Taste it. When you go on a diet, you don’t just stop eating junk food. You replace the junk food with foods that are good for you. If you really want your world rocked by this 35 day journey, use the time and energy you would’ve spent on whatever it is you’re fasting from to get in His Word! Read it, meditate on it, let it transform you, and fall deeper and deeper in love with the God who wrote it. Once you get a taste, you can’t help but want more!

Discussion Questions:

Passage: 1 Peter 1:20-25

Central Truth:

  Through Jesus Christ alone we are saved and receive everlasting life.  Therefore, we should love one another with a deep, sincere love. 

Devotional:

                The passage begins by explaining that through Jesus we are able to be in relationship with God.  The first verse states that He was brought to Earth for “your sake.”  Peter makes it clear that God did not send His only Son to die on the cross just because.  Christ shed His blood with a purpose; He was thinking of YOU specifically and saving YOU from YOUR sins.  Maybe it’s just me, but I sometimes forget or find it hard to fathom that Jesus died for me and for YOU personally.  But, verse 20 reminds us that the Christian faith is personal, it’s ultimately about your individual relationship with God.   

                In verses 20-21 Peter confirms that we only have faith and salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ.  He explains in verses 22 and 23 that we are to love one another with the love that overflows from “obeying the truth” or, in other words, accepting Jesus as our Savior so that we may have a relationship with God.  Now that we are saved and know the love that God has for us we are better equipped to love those around us.  This makes sense; we know that God is love and He created the concept of love.  Of course we are going to be able to love people best when we know and accept the love of God. 

                However, as I’m sure you are aware, knowing the love of God does not automatically make loving others easy, especially those who are very difficult to love.  Although we have been purified through Christ, we are still affected by our flesh, and unselfishly loving others does not usually jive with our worldly nature.  In order to love each other “deeply, from the heart” as it says in verse 22, we must ask God to refine our hearts and give us the desires of His.  By spending time with God and growing in relationship with Him we will be more apt to love as God loves us. 

                The passage ends by quoting scripture from Isaiah 40:6-8 in verses 24 and 25.  The quotation from the Old Testament reminds us that what men do will fade away, but the things of God are eternal.   So, although we are saved by NOTHING we do, only by the blood of Christ, we should still desire to glorify and please God by loving those around us because, the things of God last forever.  How well we do in school, what kind of clothes we wear, and what kind of money we make will all pass away, but the love of God that we share with others is something that will last for eternity. 

Discussion Questions:

Bio:

I’m graduating from UT this spring with a degree in Philosophy. What will I do with it, you ask? Great question. I live in the freedom Christ has provided me through his death on the cross. This brings me to sing at the top of my lungs when I drive, live without shame, and take up every activity with full passion. 

Passage: 1 Peter: 1: 13-16

Central truth:

Christ’s sacrifice has cleansed you and made you holy—set apart. Live in that holiness.

Main devotional:

            When many eager hearts read this passage, they are often met with discouragement. We say, “I’ve tried to prepare my mind for action, but am always unprepared for what life throws at me… I try to be sober-minded, but I find my mind rushing towards sin and impure thoughts… I would love to have my hope founded on the grace Christ provides, but I often turn to things of this world in a time of need.” Our falling short causes us to hear God’s command to be holy, but all we can see is the gap between our unrighteousness and God’s perfection.

            Stop right there. Recognize that Peter (the author) addresses his audience (us) as obedient children. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14. Our identity is not that of an unprepared, impure, hopeless sinner—no, we are children of God. We are made righteous through faith in Christ, and are therefore holy in God’s sight.

            This passage is not a command meant to discourage, but a beckoning for us to share in God’s holiness. Holiness can be simply understood as being set apart. God is holy by his infinite, pure, perfect, righteous nature. He is set apart from the world as it is temporal, fleshy, chaotic, and full of sin. When we become sons and daughters of God, we share in God’s holiness. We are liberated from the bondage of sin, and the Holy Spirit works out our righteousness from within. We are free from what is temporary and ultimately unfulfilling, and claim a new identity as children of the Father described in Psalm 145. 

            This First Peter passage is a beautiful depiction of God the savior, reaching out to his creation and offering them salvation from a broken world. We were once ignorant and slaves to our sin. We are now obedient children, aware of our sin and able to step away 

from it towards righteousness. Live in that holiness. Be set apart, and you will find your innermost desires fulfilled, and you will become more yourself than you ever have been.

Discussion questions:

You know how every New Year ’s Eve, you plan a play by play of how you’re going to be SO different
“this year?” The possibilities are endless. Who am I kidding?! They aren’t possibilities. They’re going to be your new realities! Right? You’re going to die your hair different colors, lose a million pounds, stop eating little animals (aka cows and chickens) and only eat vegetables, learn three languages and become a musical prodigy. (I’ve thought similar things to most, if not all, of these before…so if you were ever like, “That’s me!” you’re not alone).

I sometimes feel like the 35 Day Journey starts off this way.  A very smart girl told me to be wary of a fast that just leaves us feeling improved. Because being able to check an achievement off of a list is not the point of this journey. This journey has the potential to change lives…it really does.

Does that sound sappy and Bachelor-ey (can I get a what-what, ladies? Well, and some men…?!)?

Well, even if it does sound sappy, it is true. Another wise woman (this one likes wolves) once told me that cliché, sappy things aren’t always so if they are legitimate and true. So this is the not-sappy truth: this fast could change your life.

Another someone once told me that the best things to give up will be the hardest. (I know…I’ve been doing the whole “an amazing soul once told me…” a lot in this little note…but like my wolf-lover friend says, it’s not so cliché because it’s sincere).

This will be my 3rd year doing the fast. My first year at Hill Country, I gave up Facebook, and it was awesome. Denny always uses giving up Facebook as an example of something to fast from, and let me just say that it is a surprisingly awesome thing to give up for those of you that ever waste time on it.

 Last year, I gave up verbal put-downs (which I used to do a lot). Giving that up really helped me view conversations with people differently.

Finally, this year has been the hardest for me thus far. My heart has felt really heavy the last couple of days, so I think I am on the precipice of something new. In fact, I have already fallen, and it is only the second day of my journey. It is hard feeling discouraged at the beginning of anything, but I have a feeling that I am struggling already because what I am giving up is such a stronghold in my life. I can’t even imagine living without what I am giving up, and sometimes I don’t even know if I want to.

I know you may be wondering what it is that I am giving up, but that really isn’t important right now, because it is sort of irrelevant to the idea that I want to communicate. I want you to understand that if you are struggling with your fast, I am struggling too, and there is something to be said about suffering. We are supposed to rejoice in it. Which is still a hard pill to swallow.

So, I am not the only one of this precipice. You are, too.

I guess what I am trying to say is most of the time, good things take time. And growing is painful almost all of the time. And they don’t call them struggles for fun. If they did, I don’t even think we would be having this conversation right now.

Now that you are at the end of this little blog entry (by the way, how trendy is Hill Country for having a blog?  Really…I don’t even have one of those, simply because I am paranoid by the predatory nature of the internet), I want to conclude by saying that freedom and peace seem impossible to achieve on your own.  

That’s because they are impossible to achieve on your own.

I repeat: you can’t achieve these things on your own. And isn’t that really the whole point? We are nothing on our own. And the cool part of it all is God knows we aren’t perfect.  And He still loves us. And He is faithful when we show up for the fight. God meets us where we are….and I think that is more than cool. So as the British say: keep calm, carry on.

Love and rockets,

Kat 

Bio:

I'm a UT Alum with no real interest in using the degree I earned. Been going to Hic-buh-cut since 2005. Love being active but hate exercising.  Oldest Child, retired Snare Drummer, native Texan and Eagle Scout.  Saint, adopted son and continuously learning to love.

Passage:  1 Peter 1:10-12 

Central Truth:

The Good News has always been Jesus

Devotional:

 It really wasn't more than a few years ago that someone pointed out to me that the bible is the story of Jesus. All of scripture points to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.  Now, this may not be news to you but it blew me away.   Not growing up in the church may have delayed my familiarity with the OT stories.  My attempts to make sense of what I was reading many times left me more bewildered.
In the verses preceding v10-12 Peter lays out what the faith of these early Christians has looked like and gives them continued hope and perseverance in their salvation through an inexpressible Joy. We too are participants in this redemptive history of salvation through Christ.  It has always been the purpose of God to send His son as the propitiation and redeemer of man. In His mercy prophets were raised up to declare the future coming of the Christ through the call of obedience and faith.  Jesus' arrival into history was not by accident and certainly not a contingency plan. The prophets "Searched and inquired carefully" listening to the Holy Spirit as they were given divine foreknowledge of what would one day be the single most important event in the history.
 I find it interesting that Peter, a man called to faith by Jesus himself, and eye witness of many miracles including the resurrected Christ would also look back to the prophets as the forerunners of his faith. He writes in v.12 "They were serving not themselves but you...". Huh? you mean the confusing old testament stories were written for you and me? Yes!!! They were written so that you may believe!
Read Luke 24:25-27. All of scripture is pointing to Jesus and is pleading with us to believe.  Not to belittle Christian literature, fine sounding sermons, or bible commentary because I do believe they are helpful in our growth; but all of those things are not the Word. Maybe the 2nd most important gift after Jesus himself is His Word and we have it! Not only that but the Holy Spirit who inspired the words of the prophets is the same Holy Spirit given to us to understand, obey, and believe in the Gospel. I think we have a pretty nice set up if you ask me.

Discussion Questions:

 
1. Is there anything you are looking for outside of scripture and Jesus in order to believe and obey? Confess these things to God. Ask Him to open your eyes and ears to His word.

2.  As you read through the Bible keep in mind that all of scripture is ultimately pointing to Jesus. Where do you see Jesus or a type of Christ in your favorite bible stories? If you don't know any OT stories like I did for the longest time, get to reading.

 3.  We all have a faith ancestry. The patriarchs, prophets, kings, and apostles are pioneers of your faith and mine. Who else in your life has God used to bring you closer to Jesus? Thank Him who sends faithful followers to serve the next generation. oh yeah, It's your turn!

Bio:

Hey there everyone, my name is Taylor D’Annunzio. I am an intern here at Hill Country and am a fifth year mechanical engineering student at UT. I often times call upon my engineering knowledge to make terrible jokes (and boy can they be terrible). When I am not dealing with engineering things you can find me playing video games (I am quite the avid gamer), playing basketball or doing some other fitness related activity.

Passage: 1 Peter 1:1-5

Central Truth:

God has given us salvation in the resurrection of His son Jesus Christ. Praise be to God!

Devotional:

I don’t know about you but often times I get very caught up in all the things that are going on in my life. I get focused on a lot of doing and subsequently my relationship with Christ often gets filled with, “Ok God, I have done this thing and talked to this person and worked this much on school… etcetera etcetera.” This busyness that consumes my life so many times blinds me from even the basic truth of the gospel. God has given us salvation in the resurrection of his son Jesus Christ.

In America we often times find ourselves caught up with all of things that fill our schedules. We don’t allow ourselves to be available to all of the little things that God may call us to everyday. What is it that stops us from walking in this true freedom? The passage tells us that our salvation is set, that it is “imperishable, … kept in heaven for [us], who by God’s power are being guarded.” So what can we possibly have to lose? Speak loudly about your faith and proclaim it to your classmates on campus. Go talk to the person that looks lonely and needs a friend. Stop letting your schedule dictate your life and let your identity, who you have been made to be in the resurrection of Christ, dictate you life. Remember that as you go. You have been given the greatest gift imaginable and you have done nothing to deserve it. Your freedom is freely given so give it openly to those around you.

            God has provided us with salvation in the resurrection of His son Jesus Christ. Praise be to God.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you allow your schedule to blind you to the truths that God has promised you?

2. What can you do to be more aware of what God is calling you to every day?

Bio:

My name is Dennis Richards. I’ve been married to the most incredible wife and best friend for twenty-seven years, Susan. We have two daughters that are amazing, Jerilynne and Lauren. Jerilynne lives in Florida and has two children, Sarah age six and Robert age 4. Our youngest daughter Lauren lives at home works and studies art. I have a passion for all things “guitar.” I also serve here at Hill Country UT as one of the Pastors.

Passage: 1 Peter 1:6-9 

Central Truth: 

Rejoice! Salvation is yours through Jesus Christ.

Devotional:

Do ever think, WOW life is hard! I mean how much easier would life be if only I didn’t have to study for a test, or I didn’t have to worry about money or deal with that difficult situation. Not having to deal with difficult situations or “various trials” seems like it would make life much easier. But then to think that I’m really told in scripture that these difficult situations are not only part of life, but I should rejoice in them seems odd and counter-cultural to what we are told we should experience or deserve. Personally, I’d like to avoid most of the trials in my life instead of embracing them or rejoicing in them, but that’s not what God’s plan is for our lives.

But here’s the deal, embracing and rejoicing in our trials is exactly what we are called to do as believers in Christ. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard stories about the refining of gold but the process is basically; put the gold in a giant pot and turn the heat up SO high that all the impurities are forced out. Once the refiner skims off all the impurities he then turns the heat up and repeats that process over again. He keeps on doing that until he has skimmed off all the impurities in the gold.  He knows he’s done when he looks into his pot and can see his reflection in the gold. So in the end the gold is tested and gives way to it’s impurities and found to pure only once it has undergone the trial of the heat.

Our Christian-faith calls us to be like Christ in how we live our lives. To be tested and to be found faithful in our faith journey, even when we haven’t seen the end result nor totally understand the outcome. God uses the situations in our life to help form our faith, to allow us to walk through many different seasons of joy, sorrow, plenty, and sometimes want, all to help point us back to Him as the provider and author of our faith. God’s goal for us is to love and worship Him, to have a unrelenting pursuit of Him as our heavenly Father. His plan for our lives is to build a faith in us that allows us to “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.”

Walking through various trials shouldn’t surprise us, and it shouldn’t really catch us off guard, though I’m the first one that would rather pass on walking through these times in my life. As we grow in our faith in Jesus Christ and enter various seasons of life our focus should be on the exceeding joy of knowing that God is ever present and sovereign.  That God is building our faith in Him to allow us to live lives of trusting in Him.

Discussion Questions