Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
Ice-Breaker:
- What was the best day of your life?
Scripture
2 Peter 2
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.
These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.
4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.
These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.
Discussion Questions:
- In chapter 2, Peter talks about the JUDGEMENT of God, first upon the false teachers among them. He is holding up a big warning sign, saying, "Watch out!!" Not only WILL there be false teachers among us, there ARE right now! These false teachers will seek to undermine the gospel message, the deity of Jesus, Scripture's authority, Scripture's sexual ethic, suffering and judgement. Christians MUST think critically and TEST EVERYTHING! We are not to be tolerant over false teaching. Truth is paramount! How careful are you about the books, teaching and even worship you consume? How confident are you that you know enough Scripture in order to spot the fakes?
- Next, Peter gives examples of times in the past when God has released His judgement. First with the fallen angels, then with a sinful world during Noah's time, and then with Sodom and Gomorrah. False teachers will shy away from this part of God's character. He is infinitely loving and gracious, but at the same time infinitely holy, righteous and just. Because He is just, sin MUST be punished. In fact, one of the things Scripture tells us all the heavenly beings around the throne are worshiping God for is His JUSTICE. His judgements, punishments and disciplines are ALWAYS just and good and right. Do you find yourself fighting against this part of God's character? Do you trust Him even when you don't understand?
- Verse 9 tells us that God will always deliver His people from their trials, but He won't prevent them from experiencing the trials. The promise Peter is making is that God will never allow His people to be overwhelmed by the trial. Do you trust this truth in your own life? Can you trust Him IN the trial? How has God grown you in this area in the past?
- Verses 9 and 10 talk of the fact God IS judging people in this present time. He IS punishing people for their wickedness. One of the ways He does this is by allowing people to experience the consequences of their own sin. Anytime we feel like we are experiencing God's discipline in our lives, we should examine ourselves to see if there is an action or attitude that we need to repent of. And if there is sin, we should repent and run from it! How have you experienced God's discipline in your life over your own sin? How often is repentance a part of your prayer life?
- God HAS judged in the past, He IS currently judging, and there is still a final judgement to come. There is coming a day when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, and He will punish sin once and for all. Those who do not belong to Him will be cast out into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. On that day, God will JUDGE the UNRIGHTEOUS, but He will RESCUE the RIGHTEOUS. Just like Noah, those who call Him Savior will be spared God's wrath. Why? Because Jesus already took it all on the cross. Peter's message to all of us is, "RUN TO THE BOAT! RUN TO THE CROSS!" Run to Jesus, turn from sin, and don't look back. How might your life look differently if you lived with this final day of judgment in mind? Who in your life needs to hear this plea to turn to Jesus?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would trust God's justice.
- That we would be ware of false teachers.
- That we would live with the end in mind.
No Comments