5 Studies from the Book of 2 Peter

Transcription

1 5 Studies from the Book of 2 Peter Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:

2 An Introduction to 2 Peter 2 Peter is written shortly before the martyrdom death of Peter the apostle. There are some questions over the authorship. Some believe that Peter himself did not write it. And it is quite different in content from 1 Peter. But all that aside, what is the book about? First of all, Peter calls us back to faith. To keep building on our faith so we may grow as disciples of Jesus. He calls us to remember he reliability of the gospel, the eyewitnesses and testimonies and the prophecies. Why? Because there are false teachers. We need to remember the truth so we can be careful to avoid the false teaching of the gospel. This is always important. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. There will always be teachers seeking to undermine the truth of the gospel, and we must always be alert. People easily forget the truth, distracted by the things of the world and the desires of the flesh. But the day of the Lord is coming, when he will judge all people. No one will escape. Peter s message: you have been warned! Therefore, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. What effort are you making? 2

3 Study Contents Study 1: Grow in Christian virtue 2 Peter 1:1-11 Study 2: Peter's aim and authority 2 Peter 1:12-21 Study 3: Warning against false teachers 2 Peter 2:1-22 Study 4: The Lord will return 2 Peter 3:1-10 Study 5: Be prepared for his return 2 Peter 3:

4 Study One Grow in Christian virtue 2 Peter 1:1-11 Opening discussion What makes you certain of something? What makes you believe something is true? READ 2 Peter 1: How are our needs for a godly life supplied? (verse 3) What does that mean about our own efforts to live a godly life? 2. What does it mean to participate in the divine nature? How do God s promises enable us to do that? (You may like to read a passage like Ezekiel 36:25-27) READ 2 Peter 1: How can we add to our faith? (verse 5) What does that mean?! (Note: The HCSB version reads: make every effort to supplement your faith ) 4. What is the purpose of growing our faith in this way? (verse 8) 4

5 5. Look at the list of virtues here: faith, goodness, knowledge, selfcontrol, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love. Given the words Peter chooses here, what sort of issues or struggles do you think the church might have been facing? 6. Do you feel effective and productive in your faith? Why or why not? 7. When we don t have these virtues, Peter suggests in verse 9 that the problem is about forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. When we forget about our forgiveness, how can that impact the way we grow in our faith? READ 1 Peter 1: What do you think he means by the words confirm your election and calling? 9. Consider the way you have grown (or not) as a Christian over the past year. What has helped you to grow? What has hindered your growth? What about the Christians around you have you been a part of them growing in their faith? 5

6 Study Two Is the Bible reliable? 2 Peter 1:12-21 Opening discussion Who is the most reliable person you know? What makes them reliable? OR What is the most helpful thing someone has ever reminded you of? READ 2 Peter 1: What do you think Peter is facing himself as he writes these verses? Why is he so keen to write this letter now? 2. How does the certainty of your own death impact the way you share your faith? 6

7 READ 2 Peter 1: What is so important about eyewitnesses? 4. What sort of things were Peter and the apostle s eyewitnesses to? a. Why were these things important? b. What do they say about who Jesus is? READ 2 Peter 1: What is prophecy according to these verses? 6. Why is prophecy an important part of the Scriptures? 7. Do you believe the Scriptures (the Bible) are completely reliable? Why or why not? 8. How would you answer someone who said You can t trust the Bible!? 7

8 Study Three Warning against false teachers 2 Peter 2:1-22 Opening Discussion What heresies do you hear about being taught in the Christian Church these days? What problems can arise from this false teaching? READ 2 Peter 2: Paul outlines 3 outcomes for false teaching: (verse 1-3) o Destruction o Disrepute o Exploitation Can you think of an example for each of these as a result of false teaching? 2. What acts of judgment and salvation has God brought about because of sin, throughout the history of the Bible? (verses 4-8) 8

9 3. Verses speak of arrogant people who not only show contempt for people, but also for angels. They don t care about either! They have little understanding but do what they like. Is this relevant for today? READ 2 Peter 2: Now read also Numbers 22:21-34 the story of Balaam and his donkey. Why is the story of Balaam and his donkey helpful here? What is the point Peter is making? READ 2 Peter 2: Verse 18 who is being enticed? 6. What are your thoughts on verses 20-22? 7. Have you ever given in to false teaching or lies that have lead you away from Jesus? How did they entice you away? How did you return? 9

10 Study Four The Lord will return 2 Peter 3:1-10 Opening Discussion What events are you looking forward to in your life? What makes you sure that they will occur? READ 2 Peter 3: Why is Peter so eager to remind us of the promises of God? What might happen if we forget that God keeps his promises? 2. Why do you think people might doubt the return of Jesus? 3. What happens in your life when you are distracted and forget that Jesus will return one day? 10

11 READ 2 Peter 3: God works in a different time frame to us. He sits outside of time and sees everything. How does this affect the way we trust him each day? Like the way he answers prayers? 5. Verse 9 talks about God s waiting as his patience. Each extra day we wait for Jesus is another day for people to come to repentance. Is this good news? 6. When will Jesus return? 7. How does it affect the way we live to know that Jesus could return any day? Any hour? Any moment? Do you believe this? 8. If you knew Jesus was returning tomorrow (which you couldn t!) how would it affect the way you spent the rest of today? 11

12 Study Five Be prepared for his return 2 Peter 3:11-18 Opening discussion If you had one more week to live, what would you do?! READ 2 Peter 3: HOW do we live holy and godly lives? What does that look like? And is it an easy or difficult thing to do? 2. Just a note: Verse 15 is important Peter references Paul one of the verses that give apostolic authority to the apostle Paul. Peter says that Paul speaks with God s wisdom. 12

13 3. How do we ensure that we do not distort the Scriptures? (verse 16) 4. Verse 17 Is it possible to fall from our secure position of salvation? 5. The final verse is a call to grow in grace AND knowledge. a. What does it mean to grow in grace? b. What does it mean to grow in knowledge? c. Why are both of these things important? 6. Consider the whole book of 2 Peter. How would you sum up his message in one sentence? 7. How does the book of 2 Peter affect the way you live as a Christian? 13

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