Today's Scripture
There will always be people who doubt the truth. It is part of living in a world affected by the fall. There will always be those people who think they have a list of reasons why your faith is wrong. But regardless what they say - what everyone around you may say - there is coming a day when Christ will return to the earth. And there is evidence of His work on the earth all around us. But the "scoffers" and doubters aren't able to see that. They won't accept that it is God who is in control and will one day return for us. But we know these things are true and they give us hope.
Study Questions:
1. What about the "evil desires" of these people do you think makes them scoff at the return of Christ?
2. Do you believe God is still working in the world? If so, how have you seen evidence of that?
3. Do you hope in His coming? How are you demonstrating that hope?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
3:1-2
Today's Scripture
We need to be reminded of good things. We don't naturally think "wholesome" or in godly ways. We think about things the way the world thinks about them. We worry and stress and try to impress those around us with our fashion or intelligence or movie trivia or whatever we think will impress them. We need to be reminded of God and what He has done for us in His son Jesus. We need to remember that He saved us and called us and made us different than the world. We need to be reminded that we're His and we're accepted and loved and desired by Him. We need to hear those things over and over because we forget them over and over. If you ever think you've arrived in a place where you don't need to hear about how Christ saves us and calls us and makes us His own, you're wrong. You always need to hear that story. And often the times you feel least like hearing it are the times you need it the most.
Peter asks his Christian brothers and sisters to remember the prophecies that they learned from the past and how these all came true through Jesus – the author of these words. So, now knowing Jesus and the truth, we follow our Savior’s command.
Study Questions:
List: Read all of 2 Peter 3 and make a list of the facts you can find in the chapter. See what God teaches you as you write them down. Example: verse 4 – They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. Have you ever heard or thought this before?
Link: Write 2 Peter 3:1-2 in your own words. What does wholesome thinking mean? What command did Jesus give the apostles? Hint: look-up Luke 24: 44 – 47.
Live: Are you excited to hear people talk about Jesus or do you groan about hearing another message about the "same old stuff"? How do you refresh your spirit when you grow weary and tired and feel like you already know the things you're hearing?
We need to be reminded of good things. We don't naturally think "wholesome" or in godly ways. We think about things the way the world thinks about them. We worry and stress and try to impress those around us with our fashion or intelligence or movie trivia or whatever we think will impress them. We need to be reminded of God and what He has done for us in His son Jesus. We need to remember that He saved us and called us and made us different than the world. We need to be reminded that we're His and we're accepted and loved and desired by Him. We need to hear those things over and over because we forget them over and over. If you ever think you've arrived in a place where you don't need to hear about how Christ saves us and calls us and makes us His own, you're wrong. You always need to hear that story. And often the times you feel least like hearing it are the times you need it the most.
Peter asks his Christian brothers and sisters to remember the prophecies that they learned from the past and how these all came true through Jesus – the author of these words. So, now knowing Jesus and the truth, we follow our Savior’s command.
Study Questions:
List: Read all of 2 Peter 3 and make a list of the facts you can find in the chapter. See what God teaches you as you write them down. Example: verse 4 – They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. Have you ever heard or thought this before?
Link: Write 2 Peter 3:1-2 in your own words. What does wholesome thinking mean? What command did Jesus give the apostles? Hint: look-up Luke 24: 44 – 47.
Live: Are you excited to hear people talk about Jesus or do you groan about hearing another message about the "same old stuff"? How do you refresh your spirit when you grow weary and tired and feel like you already know the things you're hearing?
2:20-22
Today's Scripture
Don't turn your back on following Christ. There are stern warnings in Scripture about those who profess faith and then turn to living like one who doesn't know Christ. When you choose to follow Him, committ with your whole heart and follow through with a life that reflects Him. This Scripture says that those who know Him have had a "sacred command" passed to them. Never treat what is sacred as something ordinary or common. This is an extraordinary calling meant to be pursued with our whole lives.
Study Questions:
1. In what way could you be "entangled in the corruption of the world"?
2. In the last verse what do mud and vomit symbolize?
3. Do you think of being a follower of Christ as a high calling? If you don't, read what Scripture has to say about being a Christ follower.
Don't turn your back on following Christ. There are stern warnings in Scripture about those who profess faith and then turn to living like one who doesn't know Christ. When you choose to follow Him, committ with your whole heart and follow through with a life that reflects Him. This Scripture says that those who know Him have had a "sacred command" passed to them. Never treat what is sacred as something ordinary or common. This is an extraordinary calling meant to be pursued with our whole lives.
Study Questions:
1. In what way could you be "entangled in the corruption of the world"?
2. In the last verse what do mud and vomit symbolize?
3. Do you think of being a follower of Christ as a high calling? If you don't, read what Scripture has to say about being a Christ follower.
2:19
Today's Scripture
We rarely choose to do something because we think it will make us a slave. It's the pursuit of freedom that we're after. And sin always promises freedom. It says drugs and alcohol will set you free from your inhibitions; premarital sex will set you free from your lust; pride will free you from your insecurities. But it's never true. Sin always leads to slavery. Drugs and alcohol enslave you to a false sense of relief that only lead to needing more drugs and alcohol. Premarital sex enslaves you spiritually, emotionally, and physically to a person you're not in a lifelong commitment with. Pride enslaves you to the praises of others and your own drive to exalt yourself. Sin always leads to slavery. The kicker is it always promises freedom. But you know what? Sin lies.
Study Questions:
1. Is there any situation where it is a good thing to be a slave? (Hint: think of other Scriptures about being a slave)
2. What sin most often tempts you with the promise of freedom? How does that sin really enslave you?
3. How can you best resist sin's temptation of freedom?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
2:17-18
Today's Scripture
We learned in verse 14 that these false teachers ‘seduce the unstable,’…those who are not walking closely with the Lord, those who have not put into practice what Peter talked about in 1:3-11. Once caught in this life of deception, the pleasure and desire soon vanish leaving the unexpected feelings of guilt, pain, shame, remorse, and sometimes even overwhelming feelings of emptiness. Escaping a lifestyle of deception can be extremely difficult and seem near impossible.
To escape literally means to ‘cut and run.’ If an imprisoned solider broke free from the enemy, you can be sure they’re not going to stand around outside the enemy camp. No, they’re going to take off running, full sprint in the opposite direction. When you’ve been freed from the entanglement of sin, you can’t camp out at its backdoor. Imprisonment is only a step away. The attraction of these sinful desires that allowed you to be deceived in the first place are dangled right in front of you enticing you to indulge in them once more. To stay free, you ‘cut and run’. Run in the opposite direction….you run to the truth. The opposite of what these false teachers are teaching is the truth Peter teaches in the first chapter. He tells us that God has given us ‘His divine power and precious promises’ which allow us to ‘participate in the divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.’
Study Questions:
1. Draw a line. On one side of the line write ‘life of error’ and the other write ‘life of truth’. Without stepping over the line into a ‘life of error’, where is the closest spot you could stand to that life?
2. Reading verse 18, if you’ve “just escaped from those who live in error” where would you be standing?
3. Is it okay to stand as close to the line as possible? Why or why not?
4. Peter says at the end of 1:10, “For if you do these things, you will never stumble.” If you’re not going to stumble, I get the feeling it’s implying you’re not even close to the stumbling block! Re-read 1:5-8 and list of some things you can work on so you do not stumble, become unstable, easily seduced into or enticed back into a life of sin?
We learned in verse 14 that these false teachers ‘seduce the unstable,’…those who are not walking closely with the Lord, those who have not put into practice what Peter talked about in 1:3-11. Once caught in this life of deception, the pleasure and desire soon vanish leaving the unexpected feelings of guilt, pain, shame, remorse, and sometimes even overwhelming feelings of emptiness. Escaping a lifestyle of deception can be extremely difficult and seem near impossible.
To escape literally means to ‘cut and run.’ If an imprisoned solider broke free from the enemy, you can be sure they’re not going to stand around outside the enemy camp. No, they’re going to take off running, full sprint in the opposite direction. When you’ve been freed from the entanglement of sin, you can’t camp out at its backdoor. Imprisonment is only a step away. The attraction of these sinful desires that allowed you to be deceived in the first place are dangled right in front of you enticing you to indulge in them once more. To stay free, you ‘cut and run’. Run in the opposite direction….you run to the truth. The opposite of what these false teachers are teaching is the truth Peter teaches in the first chapter. He tells us that God has given us ‘His divine power and precious promises’ which allow us to ‘participate in the divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.’
Study Questions:
1. Draw a line. On one side of the line write ‘life of error’ and the other write ‘life of truth’. Without stepping over the line into a ‘life of error’, where is the closest spot you could stand to that life?
2. Reading verse 18, if you’ve “just escaped from those who live in error” where would you be standing?
3. Is it okay to stand as close to the line as possible? Why or why not?
4. Peter says at the end of 1:10, “For if you do these things, you will never stumble.” If you’re not going to stumble, I get the feeling it’s implying you’re not even close to the stumbling block! Re-read 1:5-8 and list of some things you can work on so you do not stumble, become unstable, easily seduced into or enticed back into a life of sin?
2:15-16
Have you ever done something stupid and been humbled by the way God shows you your wrongdoing? Perhaps it was a younger sibling who held you accountable, or a friend who hasn’t been a Christian as long as you have. Just think how it would feel to have an animal speak to you and tell you you’ve messed up! That’s what happened to Balaam. You can read the whole story in Numbers 22.
The short story is that he was a not-so-good guy who had been called by the king of Moab to bring curses on Israel. God told him to go and only say the words HE would give Balaam. But Balaam’s heart and intentions were not right. God sent an angel to block his way, which he didn’t see, but his donkey did. The donkey tried 3 times to avoid the angel in her path. After beating his donkey each time to keep on moving, the donkey asks: “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” God then opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the Angel blocking the road. He realizes his sin.
Study Questions:
2. What are specific things you can do to keep from leaving the straight path/right road you are on now?
3. How can you recognize false teachers who may be trying to lead you astray?4. To do today! Study the Bible so that you can know when someone is giving misleading information. Have an accountability partner with whom you can honestly share your struggles.
2:14
Today's Scripture
Notice who is being targeted in this verse - the unstable. False teachers look for those who do not have a solid foundation. Stability means you know what you believe and why you believe it; you've made decisions about your faith that are personal and well thought out and you can defend your reasons for believing those things. If you are not stable, you put yourself at risk for being misled by people who are targeting individuals like you. Know what you believe. Know why. And be prepared to defend yourself against those who would deceive you.
Study Questions:
1. Do you know what you believe about things like salvation, the deity of Jesus, the cleansing of sin, etc.
2. Could you defend your belief against someone who disagreed with you?
3. How can you better prepare yourself for defending your faith?
Notice who is being targeted in this verse - the unstable. False teachers look for those who do not have a solid foundation. Stability means you know what you believe and why you believe it; you've made decisions about your faith that are personal and well thought out and you can defend your reasons for believing those things. If you are not stable, you put yourself at risk for being misled by people who are targeting individuals like you. Know what you believe. Know why. And be prepared to defend yourself against those who would deceive you.
Study Questions:
1. Do you know what you believe about things like salvation, the deity of Jesus, the cleansing of sin, etc.
2. Could you defend your belief against someone who disagreed with you?
3. How can you better prepare yourself for defending your faith?
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