Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
Ice-Breaker:
- Our study of 2 Peter is coming to a close... what has been your favorite part so far?
Scripture
2 Peter 3
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
Peter’s Final Words
17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
Peter’s Final Words
17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
Discussion Questions:
- As Peter closes his letter, he reminds the church what we should be doing as we await the return of Jesus. We should be eagerly awaiting his return, but also PREPARING for it. Most of us might think about going to heaven after we die, but not so much about Jesus' actual return that could happen at any moment. Although we aren't promised tomorrow, our deaths can feel a long way off. There is a very big difference between thinking "I'll see Jesus when I die" and "I could see Jesus ANY DAY!" How much different would your life look if you expected to see Him any day verses just expecting to see Him after you die?
- Next, while the church waits, we are to PROCLAIM His RECONCILIATION. Think about how you came to Jesus. Who was praying for you? Who invited you? Who showed you the love of Jesus? In verse 15, Peter reminds us that the Lord's patience is all that is giving people time to get saved. However, despite the Lord's patience, time is running out for those who don't know Him. A day is coming when your parents, your cousins, your best friend, your neighbor, your coworker, your children... will no longer have time to repent. So, this is what we do as we wait; we tell them about His saving grace! Who should you be praying for? Who should you be pleading with?
- In verse 17, he tells us to be on guard so we won't be carried away by wicked people or false teachings. While we wait, we are to PROTECT His REVELATION. We need to fill our hearts with HIS truth and reject anything and everything else. The hard part is, we are surrounded by dissenting voices that would carry us further away from His Word. Where have you let your guard down? Where are you letting other voices lead you away from Christ? Where have you lost your footing? What voices that you have allowed to influence you need to be silenced?
- In verse 18, Peter tells us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. While we await His return, we have to be growing! Attending church isn't enough to grow you spiritually. Your faith cannot survive if you only feed it once a week. Your soul will starve on a Sunday-only diet! Your faith and growth must be your own! Your growth can only happen when you take responsibility for it... it will not happen by accident. Are you growing in your faith? What does your private prayer life and time in His Word look like? Are you investing in your relationship with the Lord?
- The bottom line is, those who WAIT for Christ LIVE for Christ. This world is not our home. We eagerly await His return, and will live for Him in the meantime. FAITHFUL waiting means ACTIVE living! Are you actively preparing for His return, growing more and more like Jesus? Are you actively proclaiming Him to everyone around you that needs Him? Are you actively protecting and guarding your heart and mind against voices that would distract and mislead you? Are you actively growing in your knowledge of the Lord? What is He speaking to you through all of this?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would eagerly await His return.
- That we would do all we can to grow in our faith.
- That we would be ambassadors for His Kingdom until He returns.
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