1 2peter Studyguide

WALKING IN HOPE, HOLINESS, & HUMILITY IN A HOSTILE WORLD g Lessons from 1&2 Peter by Sue LeBoutillier CopyrightÊ©Ê2018ÊSueÊLeBouƟllier PublishedÊby: CalvaryÊChapelÊÊ—ÊOntario,ÊOregon g Walking in Hope, Holiness & Humility g in a Hostile World Lessons from 1&2 Peter DearÊFriend, WelcomeÊtoÊourÊWomenÊofÊtheÊWordÊBibleÊStudyÊthroughÊtheÊNewÊ TestamentÊbooksÊofÊ1Ê&Ê2ÊPeter!ÊÊWeÊareÊgladÊyouÊhaveÊjoinedÊusÊforÊ thisÊremarkableÊstudyÊthroughÊtheÊleƩersÊthatÊtheÊApostleÊPeter,Ê movedÊbyÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit,ÊissuedÊtoÊearlyÊChrisƟansÊwhoÊwereÊfacingÊ trials,ÊsufferingÊandÊdiscouragementÊinÊtheirÊlives. We’reÊaboutÊtoÊstudyÊaÊporƟonÊofÊGod’sÊWordÊthatÊwillÊstrengthenÊusÊ toÊliveÊholy,Êhumble andÊhopeful livesÊbeforeÊGod.ÊWe’llÊsharpenÊourÊ abilityÊtoÊperceiveÊdifficulƟesÊandÊsufferingÊasÊsomethingÊGodÊusesÊtoÊ formÊHisÊcharacterÊinÊus.ÊÊWe’llÊbeÊencouragedÊtoÊflourishÊasÊstrangersÊ inÊthisÊworldÊ—ÊlivingÊinÊtheÊnaturalÊandÊbelongingÊtoÊtheÊspiritual.Ê We’llÊbeÊinspiredÊtoÊpracƟceÊthatÊwhichÊdisƟnguishesÊGod’sÊkidsÊ— peopleÊwhoÊhaveÊhope,Êgrace andÊholiness emanaƟngÊfromÊourÊlives.Ê WeÊareÊgoingÊtoÊtakeÊtheseÊbooksÊatÊaÊratherÊquickÊpace--studyingÊ oneÊenƟreÊchapterÊeachÊweek.ÊYouÊwillÊuseÊthisÊstudyÊguideÊtoÊhelpÊ youÊasÊyouÊreadÊtheÊchaptersÊandÊanswerÊquesƟonsÊtoÊprocessÊwhatÊ isÊbeingÊconveyed.ÊThenÊweÊwillÊgatherÊeachÊweekÊforÊaÊteachingÊandÊ smallÊgroupÊdiscussion.Ê AsÊyouÊbeginÊyourÊownÊpersonalÊlessons,ÊhereÊareÊsomeÊremindersÊofÊ howÊtoÊapproachÊtheÊstudyÊofÊGod’sÊWord: 1) Pray—askÊGodÊtoÊkeepÊyourÊmindÊonÊtrack,ÊhelpÊyouÊunderstandÊ whatÊisÊbeingÊconveyedÊinÊtheÊpassageÊandÊspeakÊtoÊyourÊheart;Ê 2) Read—eachÊdayÊreadÊtheÊenƟreÊchapterÊbeingÊstudiedÊforÊtheÊ week—readÊaloudÊifÊpossible—weÊoŌenÊgetÊaÊdifferentÊsenseÊofÊ theÊpassageÊbyÊhearingÊitÊoutÊloud. 3) Apply—Remember,ÊourÊobjecƟveÊisÊtoÊaskÊourselves... · WhatÊdoesÊitÊsay? · WhatÊdoesÊitÊmean? · WhatÊdoesÊitÊmeanÊtoÊme?

TheÊquesƟonsÊinÊthisÊsimpleÊstudyÊguideÊshouldÊhelpÊyouÊwithÊthatÊ process.ÊÊThisÊisÊnotÊanÊin-depthÊorÊexhausƟveÊstudyÊofÊtheseÊbooks;Ê butÊhopefully,ÊifÊyouÊareÊdiligentÊtoÊworkÊthroughÊtheÊquesƟonsÊ offered,ÊyouÊwillÊgainÊinsightsÊintoÊhowÊGodÊextendedÊhopeÊtoÊhisÊ followersÊinÊthatÊday,ÊandÊvisionÊforÊyourÊownÊlifeÊandÊcircumstances.ÊÊ ManyÊofÊtheÊquesƟonsÊwillÊalsoÊserveÊasÊaÊsourceÊofÊtopicsÊforÊyourÊ smallÊgroupÊdiscussions.ÊÊSharingÊwithÊotherÊwomenÊandÊhearingÊtheirÊ perspecƟveÊoŌenÊsharpensÊusÊforÊmoreÊpurposefulÊKingdomÊuse! OneÊmoreÊelementÊthatÊweÊareÊaddingÊthisÊsessionÊisÊwhatÊweÊwillÊcallÊ MemorizingÊMondays!ÊÊThereÊwillÊbeÊspaceÊatÊtheÊendÊofÊeachÊchapterÊ forÊYOUÊtoÊchooseÊaÊverseÊthatÊhasÊmeaningÊforÊyourÊsituaƟon,ÊorÊ maybeÊoneÊyouÊsenseÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊpoinƟngÊoutÊtoÊyou.ÊÊYouÊwillÊbeÊ askedÊtoÊwriteÊthatÊverseÊinÊyourÊstudyÊguideÊonÊMondayÊandÊtryÊyourÊ hardestÊÊtoÊmemorizeÊitÊandÊshareÊitÊwithÊyourÊgroupÊthatÊweek.ÊÊIfÊ you’reÊsuccessful,ÊyouÊwillÊmemorizeÊEIGHTÊpassagesÊofÊScriptureÊthisÊ BibleÊStudyÊsession!Ê AreÊyouÊready?ÊÊLet’sÊgetÊstarted— Sue LeBoutillier sue@ccontario.com *TheÊbestÊtranslaƟonÊofÊtheÊBibleÊtoÊuseÊisÊtheÊoneÊyouÊunderstandÊ theÊmostÊÊeasily—andÊusingÊmoreÊthanÊoneÊtranslaƟonÊcanÊbeÊaÊgreatÊ aidÊtoÊstudy!ÊThisÊstudyÊguideÊwasÊcreatedÊusingÊtheÊESVÊ (EnglishÊStandardÊVersion)ÊwhichÊmayÊbeÊaÊhelpfulÊtoolÊas youÊworkÊthroughÊyourÊstudy.ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ToÊwatchÊtheÊvideoÊteachingsÊforÊthisÊBibleÊStudyÊgoÊto:ÊÊ ccontario.com/womens-studiesÊÊ orÊÊÊ YouTube.com/calvarychapelontario

ThisÊleƩerÊisÊfilledÊwithÊexhortaƟonsÊtoÊ liveÊaÊholy,Êhumble,ÊandÊsubmiƩedÊlifeÊ beforeÊGodÊinÊorderÊtoÊallowÊsufferingÊtoÊ workÊGod’sÊcharacterÊintoÊtheirÊlives.Ê PeterÊcalledÊhisÊreadersÊtoÊbeÊseparateÊpeople,ÊstrangersÊtoÊthisÊ world,ÊandÊyetÊfilledÊwithÊhopeÊandÊgrace.ÊPeterÊtoldÊthemÊnotÊtoÊfear,Ê butÊtoÊsetÊChristÊapartÊinÊtheirÊhearts.ÊThatÊisÊtrueÊforÊusÊtodayÊasÊweÊ seekÊtoÊbeÊaÊpeopleÊsetÊapartÊforÊChristÊandÊbringingÊhopeÊtoÊothers. ThisÊspaceÊisÊprovidedÊsoÊyouÊcanÊjotÊdownÊsomeÊnotesÊasÊweÊshareÊ anÊintroducƟonÊtoÊthisÊstudy.Ê ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Introduction to 1 Peter

Hope, Holiness & Humility in a HosƟle World Outline for 1 Peter OpeningÊGreeƟngs:ÊÊ1:1-2 1. How to culƟvate a living hope (1:3-2:10) KeyÊverse:Ê1:13Ê“Therefore, preparing your minds for acƟon, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelaƟon of Jesus Christ.” LivingÊinÊhopeÊ1:3-12 LivingÊinÊholinessÊ1:13-21 LivingÊinÊhumilityÊ1:22-2:10 2.ÊÊÊHow to live as a sojourner in this life (2:11-3:12) KeyÊverse:ÊÊ2:11Ê“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” SubmiƫngÊtoÊauthoriƟesÊ2:11-17 SubmiƫngÊtoÊmastersÊ2:18-25 SubmiƫngÊinÊtheÊhomeÊ3:1-7 SubmiƫngÊinÊtheÊchurchÊ3:8-12 3.ÊÊÊHow to flourish through suffering (3:13-5:11) KeyÊverse:Ê4:1Ê“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the Ɵme in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” HavingÊnoÊfearÊ3:13-22 HavingÊaÊpurposefulÊaƫtudeÊ4:1-11 HavingÊanÊexpectaƟonÊofÊsufferingÊ4:12-19 HavingÊaÊsenseÊofÊhumilityÊ5:1-9 HavingÊconfidenceÊinÊtheÊGodÊofÊallÊgraceÊ5:10-11 ClosingÊGreeƟngs:Ê5:12-14Ê

PRAY—AskÊGodÊforÊguidanceÊtoÊunderstandÊÊ theÊScripturesÊyou’reÊaboutÊtoÊstudy. READ—1ÊPeterÊchapterÊoneÊbeforeÊyouÊ beginÊthisÊstudyÊguide.ÊIfÊyouÊareÊable,ÊreadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊaloudÊ eachÊdayÊofÊthisÊweek.ÊThisÊstudyÊguideÊisÊnotÊbrokenÊintoÊdays-of-the- week,ÊbutÊjustÊmulƟpleÊpagesÊforÊeachÊchapter.ÊThisÊwillÊgiveÊyouÊtheÊ flexibilityÊtoÊstudyÊthisÊchapterÊinÊoneÊmarathonÊsession,ÊorÊbreakÊitÊupÊ howeverÊyouÊprefer. MARK—EachÊdayÊasÊyouÊread,ÊmarkÊtheÊrepeƟƟonÊofÊtheÊwordsÊhope andÊholy orÊholiness.ÊTheseÊareÊimportantÊthemesÊinÊchapterÊone. MEMORIZE—AsÊyouÊreadÊtheÊchapter,ÊthinkÊandÊprayÊaboutÊwhichÊ verseÊyouÊwillÊchooseÊtoÊmemorizeÊthisÊweek.ÊThereÊisÊaÊplaceÊatÊtheÊ endÊofÊthisÊchapterÊsecƟonÊtoÊwriteÊoutÊthisÊverse.ÊYou’llÊprobablyÊalsoÊ wantÊtoÊwriteÊitÊoutÊonÊanÊindexÊcardÊorÊslipÊofÊpaperÊtoÊmakeÊitÊmoreÊ mobileÊforÊyourÊrecitaƟonÊthroughoutÊtheÊweek. How to CulƟvate a Living Hope g LivingÊinÊHope:Ê1ÊPeterÊ1:3-12ÊÊÊg SinceÊweÊdiscussedÊtheÊauthorÊandÊtheÊaudienceÊinÊourÊintroducƟonÊ alongÊwithÊtheÊfirstÊtwoÊverses,Êlet’sÊbeginÊourÊstudyÊatÊverseÊthree... g Read v.3-5—Now... · IdenƟfyÊtheÊmainÊsubjectÊ(inÊyourÊopinion:) · DescribeÊourÊinheritance: · HowÊisÊourÊinheritanceÊprotected?Ê 1 Peter Chapter 1

HaveÊyouÊeverÊhadÊrealÊorÊimaginedÊfearsÊaboutÊaÊphysicalÊinheritanceÊ (IRA,ÊhomeÊvaluables,Êinvestments,ÊevenÊSocialÊSecurity)ÊevaporaƟng?ÊÊ It’sÊaÊvulnerableÊfeelingÊtoÊwonderÊwhatÊmightÊhappen.ÊHowÊisÊourÊ heavenlyÊinheritanceÊdifferentÊthanÊaÊphysicalÊinheritance? g ReadÊv.6-9—AsÊweÊcelebrateÊourÊsecurityÊinÊChrist,Êwe’reÊtoldÊ thatÊweÊwillÊbeÊgrievedÊbyÊvariousÊ______________. · WhatÊisÊtheÊpurposeÊofÊtheseÊtrials? · InÊgeneral,ÊwhatÊisÊtheÊapplicaƟonÊhereÊforÊaÊbelieverÊinÊJesus? · CanÊyouÊnameÊaÊspecificÊsituaƟonÊwhereÊyourÊfaithÊhasÊbeen,ÊorÊisÊ beingÊtested?ÊÊHowÊareÊyouÊbeingÊmadeÊmoreÊintoÊtheÊimageÊofÊ ChristÊthroughÊit? READÊJamesÊ1:2-4ÊforÊaÊdifferentÊApostle’sÊwordÊonÊtheÊsameÊsubject. The tesƟng process for precious metals oŌen involves fire —applying heat to determine whether the metal is genuine or counterfeit.

g ReadÊv.10-12—ÊTheseÊthreeÊversesÊareÊaÊparentheƟcalÊcommentÊ toÊputÊanÊexclamaƟonÊpointÊonÊtheÊawesomenessÊofÊourÊsalvaƟon. · HowÊdidÊtheÊprophetsÊreactÊtoÊtheÊknowledgeÊofÊtheÊcomingÊ salvaƟon? · WhatÊquesƟonsÊfilledÊtheirÊmindÊandÊinvesƟgaƟon? · WhatÊwasÊrevealedÊtoÊthemÊaboutÊthisÊmaƩer? g LivingÊinÊHoliness:Ê1ÊPeterÊ1:13-21 g g ReadÊv.13—ÊThisÊverseÊmay endÊupÊonÊourÊmemoryÊverseÊpage!Ê ListÊtheÊcallÊtoÊacƟonÊofÊthisÊverseÊinÊbulletÊform: · Ê · Ê · Ê It’sÊasÊthoughÊPeterÊisÊasking:ÊÊ’Do you know how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!’ÊYOUÊareÊaÊfullÊheirÊ toÊtheÊÊmessageÊofÊhopeÊtheÊprophetsÊpreachedÊthousandsÊofÊyearsÊ ago;ÊwithÊfullÊunderstandingÊthroughÊtheÊpowerÊofÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit.

AssumingÊyouÊwantÊtoÊmakeÊthisÊpersonal—let’sÊplanÊwaysÊtoÊprepare your mind for acƟon andÊbe sober-minded!ÊÊAsÊtheÊLordÊrevealsÊ suggesƟonsÊtoÊyouÊlistÊsomeÊconcepts: ProacƟveÊElements: ThingsÊtoÊEliminate: Example: Feed myself with at least one chapter Day-dreaming about a different situation of Scripture a day in life—capture those thoughts g ReadÊv.14-16—OurÊstudyÊisÊƟtledÊHope, Holiness & Humility. HereÊ weÊcomeÊtoÊaÊpassageÊthatÊexplainsÊwhatÊweÊmeanÊbyÊholy.ÊÊ · First,ÊwhatÊisÊourÊposiƟonÊinÊtheÊfamilyÊofÊGodÊasÊdescribedÊinÊ v.14? · WhyÊareÊweÊcalledÊtoÊbeÊholy? · HowÊisÊholiness expressed? g ReadÊv.17-21—ÊConsiderÊourÊspiritualÊcharacterÊdevelopment: · WhatÊrealizaƟonÊshouldÊmoƟvateÊusÊtoÊliveÊaÊholyÊlifeÊasÊweÊawaitÊ hisÊreturn?

· ExplainÊtheÊpaymentÊthatÊwasÊmadeÊinÊorderÊforÊYOUÊtoÊbeÊcalledÊ aÊchildÊofÊGod?ÊUseÊatÊleastÊthreeÊdescripƟveÊwords/phrasesÊfromÊ theseÊpassages.Ê · WhenÊwasÊthisÊredempƟonÊonÊyourÊbehalfÊplanned?Ê g LivingÊinÊHumility:Ê1ÊPeterÊ1:22-25Ê g TheseÊlastÊfourÊversesÊopenÊtheÊdoorÊtoÊtheÊnextÊimportantÊthemeÊofÊ thisÊleƩerÊ—Êhumility towardÊGodÊandÊsubmissionÊinÊourÊlives.ÊÊ HopeÊspringsÊtoÊlifeÊinÊusÊasÊweÊareÊborn again andÊjoyfullyÊpossessÊ ourÊinheritance.ÊItÊmoƟvatesÊusÊtoÊholyÊliving—justÊasÊourÊredeemerÊisÊ holy;ÊandÊitÊpersuadesÊusÊtoÊholdÊaÊproperÊviewÊofÊourselvesÊbothÊinÊ relaƟonÊtoÊGodÊandÊman. g Read v.22-25—ÊoneÊofÊtheÊmostÊtangibleÊwaysÊtoÊdemonstrateÊaÊ lifeÊofÊholinessÊisÊloveÊforÊoneÊanother. · OnÊaÊscaleÊofÊ1ÊtoÊ10ÊhowÊisÊyourÊloveÊtoward: · YourÊnaturalÊfamily? ÊÊÊÊÊ_____ · YourÊchurchÊfamily? ÊÊÊÊÊ_____ · DifficultÊpeopleÊinÊyourÊlife?ÊÊÊ_____ · WhoÊisÊtheÊLordÊbringingÊtoÊyourÊmindÊatÊtheÊmomentÊthatÊHeÊ wantsÊÊyouÊtoÊdemonstrateÊaÊgreaterÊexpressionÊofÊlove?

IÊwonderÊifÊourÊlackÊofÊloveÊmayÊbeÊdueÊtoÊanÊissueÊwithÊprideÊ—ÊweÊ mayÊbelieve,ÊdownÊdeep,ÊthatÊweÊareÊsuperiorÊtoÊothers.ÊÊIÊdon’tÊ thinkÊanyÊofÊusÊwouldÊsayÊthatÊoutÊloud,ÊbutÊifÊwe’reÊannoyedÊbyÊ simpleÊthings,ÊavoidÊcontactÊwithÊcertainÊpeople,ÊwithdrawÊfromÊ specificÊgatherings—weÊmightÊbeÊmoreÊpridefulÊthanÊweÊknow. ReadÊtheÊquoteÊinÊv.24: · NoteÊtheÊfirstÊwordÊofÊtheÊquote:ÊÊ_________ · WhatÊisÊall flesh beingÊlikenedÊto?ÊÊ_________ · NowÊwriteÊaÊsentenceÊthatÊdescribesÊtheÊhumanÊcondiƟonÊweÊALLÊ experience—includeÊsomethingÊaboutÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊcondiƟon: ForÊaddiƟonalÊwisdomÊonÊrelaƟngÊtoÊothers,ÊREADÊRomansÊ12.ÊÊListÊ ONEÊaddiƟonalÊinsightÊthatÊrelatesÊtoÊYOURÊrelaƟonalÊworldÊandÊ makeÊthisÊaÊpointÊofÊyourÊprayerÊlifeÊthisÊweek: g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊDate:ÊÊ______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 1

PRAYÊ—AskÊGodÊtoÊhelpÊyouÊunderstandÊ theÊScripturesÊyouÊareÊaboutÊtoÊstudy. READ—1ÊPeterÊchapterÊtwoÊbeforeÊyouÊ beginÊthisÊsecƟonÊofÊtheÊstudyÊguide.ÊTryÊtoÊreadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊ eachÊdayÊofÊthisÊweekÊandÊreadÊitÊaloudÊaÊcoupleÊofÊthoseÊdays. MEMORIZE—AsÊyouÊreadÊtheÊchapter,ÊthinkÊandÊprayÊaboutÊwhichÊ verseÊyouÊwillÊchoseÊtoÊmemorizeÊthisÊweek.ÊWriteÊyourÊverseÊatÊtheÊ endÊofÊthisÊchapterÊsecƟonÊandÊonÊanÊindexÊcardÊforÊmobileÊpracƟce. INTRODUCTION—LastÊweek’sÊlessonÊonÊchapterÊoneÊopenedÊourÊ mindsÊtoÊallÊthreeÊconceptsÊofÊthisÊBibleÊStudy—Hope,ÊHoliness andÊ Humility.ÊIt’sÊtheÊvirtueÊofÊhumility,ÊasÊseenÊthroughÊtheÊacƟvityÊofÊ submission,ÊthatÊwillÊbeÊinÊtheÊspotlightÊthisÊweek. g LivingÊinÊHumility:Ê1ÊPeterÊ2:1-10 g g Read v.1-3—ÊTheseÊversesÊseemÊtoÊbeÊtheÊconclusionÊofÊtheÊendÊ ofÊchapterÊone’sÊ‘love one another earnestly from a pure heart’Ê emphasis,ÊsoÊpleaseÊbackÊupÊandÊreadÊ1ÊPeterÊ1:22-2:3. Now,ÊlistÊandÊprocessÊtheÊrelaƟonalÊproblemsÊ(hindrancesÊtoÊourÊ spiritualÊgrowth)ÊgivenÊinÊv.1.Ê(BeÊpaƟent—thisÊwillÊtakeÊƟme) · _Malice___ÊwillÊhinderÊmyÊspiritualÊgrowthÊbecause:Ê__________ _______________________________________________________ · _________ÊwillÊhinderÊmyÊspiritualÊgrowthÊbecause:Ê__________ _______________________________________________________ · _________ÊwillÊhinderÊmyÊspiritualÊgrowthÊbecause:Ê__________ _______________________________________________________ · _________ÊwillÊhinderÊmyÊspiritualÊgrowthÊbecause:Ê__________ _______________________________________________________ · _________ÊwillÊhinderÊmyÊspiritualÊgrowthÊbecause:Ê__________ _______________________________________________________ 1 Peter Chapter 2

WhenÊweÊreadÊaÊstrongÊwordÊlikeÊmalice,ÊweÊmightÊskimÊoverÊitÊandÊ thinkÊitÊdoesn’tÊpertainÊtoÊus;ÊbutÊgrudge mightÊbeÊaÊwordÊweÊcanÊ idenƟfyÊwithÊmoreÊeasily.ÊBeforeÊweÊmoveÊforwardÊwithÊourÊstudyÊonÊ submission,ÊtakeÊaÊmomentÊtoÊcarefullyÊgoÊthroughÊthisÊlistÊandÊaskÊ theÊLordÊifÊyouÊareÊwalkingÊinÊanyÊmalice,Êdeceit,ÊorÊenvyÊtowardÊ someone;ÊorÊifÊyouÊslanderÊsomeoneÊbyÊmisrepresenƟngÊthem.ÊLet’sÊ takeÊthisÊseriouslyÊthisÊweekÊandÊconfessÊsinsÊthatÊmayÊhaveÊbecomeÊ habitualÊandÊaskÊtheÊLordÊfirstÊforÊforgiveness,ÊandÊthenÊforÊHisÊgraceÊ inÊourÊlives—whichÊisÊfedÊtoÊusÊthroughÊhisÊWordÊandÊhisÊSpirit. · CiteÊtheÊremedyÊinÊv.2ÊthatÊwillÊenableÊusÊtoÊhaveÊvictoryÊandÊgrowÊ spiritually: TheÊNIVÊsaysÊcrave pure spiritual milk.ÊYouÊknowÊthatÊsayingÊ—Ê“you are what you eat?”Ê—ÊwhatÊisÊtheÊspiritualÊrealityÊofÊfeedingÊonÊtheÊ WordÊinÊyourÊlife? · HowÊhealthyÊisÊyourÊdietÊinÊtheÊWordÊofÊGod? · WhatÊdoesÊyourÊspiritualÊdietÊconsistÊof? · DoÊyouÊgrazeÊfromÊverseÊtoÊverse,ÊorÊallowÊALLÊofÊtheÊspiritualÊfoodÊ groupsÊintoÊyourÊheartÊbyÊconsumingÊtheÊwholeÊBible? · AreÊyouÊdevelopingÊaÊgreaterÊcravingÊforÊpureÊspiritualÊmilk? · IsÊthereÊaÊchangeÊyouÊwantÊtoÊmakeÊinÊthisÊareaÊofÊyourÊlife? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ HereÊisÊsomeÊaddiƟonalÊreadingÊonÊpuƫng awayÊcharacterisƟcsÊwhichÊ areÊnotÊinÊagreementÊwithÊourÊlifeÊinÊChrist: RomansÊ13:11-14 ColossiansÊ3:6-10 JamesÊ1:21-22 You may not have a craving for God’s Word because of sin in your life. Someone has said that God’s Word will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from God’s Word. Confess it! And get back into the Bible.

g Read v.4-8—ÊAsÊmuchÊasÊweÊmayÊvalueÊindependence—weÊareÊ actuallyÊVERYÊinterdependentÊinÊtheÊbodyÊofÊChrist,ÊsoÊmuchÊsoÊthatÊ weÊareÊeachÊdescribedÊasÊoneÊliving stone amongÊtheÊmanyÊthatÊareÊ buildingÊtheÊspiritual house. · FromÊv.4ÊwhatÊareÊsomeÊcharacterisƟcsÊofÊlivingÊstones? · FromÊv.5ÊwhatÊisÊourÊpurposeÊasÊlivingÊstones? · FromÊv.6Ê(whichÊisÊaÊquoteÊfromÊIsaiahÊ28:16)ÊwhatÊisÊJesusÊ himselfÊdescribedÊas? TheÊrealityÊisÊthatÊnotÊeveryoneÊchoosesÊtoÊacceptÊthatÊcornerstone,Ê soÊweÊseeÊaÊcontrastÊinÊtheseÊversesÊbetweenÊthoseÊwhoÊbelieveÊandÊ thoseÊwhoÊdon’tÊbelieve!ÊÊ V.6ÊÊsaysÊwhoeverÊbelievesÊinÊhimÊ_____________________________ V.7ÊÊtheÊ_____________ÊisÊforÊyouÊwhoÊbelieve. ButÊforÊthoseÊwhoÊdoÊnotÊbelieve… V.8bÊÊtheyÊ___________ÊbecauseÊtheyÊdisobeyÊtheÊword. V.7ÊÊusesÊtheÊphraseÊdisobey the wordÊwhichÊmightÊmakeÊyouÊtoÊthinkÊ PeterÊisÊtalkingÊaboutÊthoseÊwhoÊsin;ÊbutÊgoÊbackÊtoÊ1:25,ÊnoteÊhowÊitÊ definesÊthe wordÊforÊus.ÊNowÊexplainÊwhatÊitÊmeansÊtoÊrejectÊorÊ disobey the word: TheÊstructureÊandÊdesignÊofÊaÊbuildingÊrestsÊonÊtheÊcornerstone.ÊTheÊ church,ÊcomposedÊofÊlivingÊstones,ÊisÊbuiltÊuponÊandÊrestsÊuponÊTHEÊ livingÊstone.Ê“No one can lay a foundaƟon other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”Ê(1ÊCorinthiansÊ3:11)

ThisÊisÊtheÊbeginningÊpointÊofÊsubmiƫngÊtoÊGod—accepƟngÊtheÊ realityÊofÊwhoÊHeÊis,ÊwhoÊJesusÊis,ÊandÊwhoÊyouÊare.ÊBelievingÊtheÊ gospelÊisÊsubmiƫngÊyourselfÊtoÊGod’sÊorder. g Read v.9-10—ÊOnceÊyou’reÊinÊsubmissionÊtoÊGod,ÊinÊaddiƟonÊtoÊ beingÊaÊliving stoneÊinÊGod’sÊspiritual house,ÊlistÊtheÊexpressionsÊofÊ valueÊthatÊGodÊplacesÊonÊyouÊfromÊv.9: · Ê · Ê · Ê · Ê WhichÊoneÊcanÊyouÊ(orÊdoÊyouÊwantÊto)ÊidenƟfyÊwithÊmostÊreadily? WhichÊoneÊmayÊbeÊmostÊdifficultÊforÊyouÊtoÊwrapÊyourÊmindÊaround? V.10ÊremindsÊusÊofÊtwoÊelementsÊofÊourÊoldÊformer condiƟonÊandÊourÊ newÊborn again condiƟon.ÊÊListÊthem: Before Now ______________________ ________________________ ______________________ ________________________ WeÊareÊnow God’sÊpeopleÊandÊhaveÊnow receivedÊmercyÊbutÊweÊnow findÊourselvesÊstrangersÊtoÊtheÊworldÊweÊliveÊin.ÊTheÊpeopleÊtoÊwhomÊ PeterÊwasÊwriƟngÊwereÊbothÊphysicalÊasÊwellÊasÊspiritualÊsojourners and exiles.ÊWeÊcanÊatÊleastÊidenƟfyÊwithÊtheÊspiritualÊsojournerÊpart!ÊÊ TheseÊnextÊsecƟonsÊdescribeÊtheÊhumilityÊrequiredÊtoÊpleaseÊGodÊbyÊ submiƫngÊourselvesÊtoÊHisÊplanÊwhileÊbeingÊstrangersÊhereÊonÊearth.Ê ThisÊshouldÊbecomeÊaÊpaƩernÊofÊlivingÊforÊusÊsojourners. AsÊweÊlookÊatÊeachÊareaÊofÊaÊlifeÊfullyÊsubmiƩedÊtoÊGod,ÊaskÊyourselfÊ theÊquesƟon,Ê‘Is this a suggesƟon of one opƟonal way to live as a child of God, or a command to follow?’

How to Live as a Sojourner in this Life g SubmiƫngÊtoÊAuthoriƟes:Ê1ÊPeterÊ2:11-17ÊÊg g Read v.11-17—ÊForÊwhoseÊsakeÊareÊweÊaskedÊtoÊsubmitÊtoÊthoseÊinÊ authorityÊoverÊus? Let’sÊre-arrangeÊv.17ÊaÊliƩleÊandÊemphasizeÊsomeÊimportantÊdirecƟves:ÊÊ _________ÊGod,Ê__________ÊtheÊbrotherhoodÊ(familyÊofÊGod),Ê ________Êeveryone,ÊevenÊ___________ÊtheÊemperorÊ (president?)ÊThereÊweÊhaveÊit—thoseÊareÊourÊordersÊasÊchildrenÊinÊtheÊ familyÊofÊGod! · ReadÊthroughÊPhilippiansÊ2:3-8ÊandÊdescribeÊwhatÊyouÊseeÊasÊanÊ exampleÊfromÊJesusÊinÊmaƩersÊofÊsubmission: g SubmiƫngÊtoÊMasters:Ê1ÊPeterÊ2:18-25ÊÊÊg g Read v.18-25—ÊNewÊTestamentÊpassagesÊlikeÊthisÊoneÊaboutÊ slavesÊandÊmastersÊwereÊwriƩenÊforÊexactlyÊthatÊscenario—notÊ employeesÊandÊemployers.ÊHowever,ÊwithoutÊminimizingÊtheÊ challengesÊofÊtheÊslave/masterÊrelaƟonship,ÊweÊcanÊcertainlyÊadaptÊtheÊ sameÊorderÊofÊsubmissionÊinÊanyÊemploymentÊorÊsocialÊseƫng. · InÊv.18,ÊtheÊdirecƟonÊisÊtoÊnotÊonlyÊobey,ÊbutÊtoÊadd: · IsÊthereÊanÊallowanceÊgivenÊforÊaÊmeanÊorÊharshÊoverseer? · ServingÊunderÊsomeoneÊharshÊisÊaÊuniqueÊtypeÊofÊsuffering.Ê · CanÊyouÊrecountÊaÊƟmeÊyouÊwereÊinÊthisÊsituaƟon?ÊÊ · AreÊyouÊcurrentlyÊsufferingÊunderÊthisÊsituaƟon?ÊÊ

· WhatÊareÊyouÊdoingÊtoÊmaintainÊgrace inÊthisÊsituaƟon? (ForÊmoreÊinsightÊandÊhelpÊread:ÊColossiansÊ3:22-24Ê&ÊRomansÊ12:14) · ListÊallÊofÊtheÊthingsÊyouÊlearnÊfromÊv.21ÊaboutÊsuffering: · WriteÊoutÊv.23bÊthatÊpointsÊoutÊhowÊChristÊsuffered: HumilityÊisÊexpressedÊthroughÊsubmission—Ê SubmissionÊisÊtheÊwillingnessÊtoÊrelinquishÊcontrol— ReleasingÊcontrolÊtakesÊfaith— ThroughÊfaithÊweÊcanÊentrustÊourselvesÊtoÊ God! WeÊhaveÊmoreÊtoÊstudyÊaboutÊsubmissionÊnextÊweekÊinÊchapterÊ3,ÊbutÊ asÊweÊcloseÊthisÊweek’sÊstudy,ÊprayÊaboutÊthoseÊfourÊwordsÊhigh- lightedÊabove:Êhumility, submission, control, faith andÊseeÊhowÊGodÊ mightÊministerÊclarityÊtoÊyouÊasÊyouÊsƟrÊthemÊaroundÊinÊyourÊheart. g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ_____________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 2

PRAY—AskÊGodÊforÊinsightÊonÊtheÊ ScripturesÊyouÊwillÊstudyÊthisÊweek. READ—1ÊPeterÊchapterÊthreeÊbeforeÊyouÊ beginÊthisÊsecƟonÊofÊtheÊstudyÊguide.ÊTryÊtoÊreadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊ eachÊdayÊofÊthisÊweekÊandÊreadÊitÊaloudÊaÊcoupleÊofÊthoseÊdays. MEMORIZE—HowÊisÊyourÊScriptureÊmemoryÊgoing?ÊKeepÊreviewingÊ theÊfirstÊtwoÊversesÊandÊchooseÊaÊnewÊoneÊforÊthisÊweek’sÊstudy.Ê INTRODUCTION—InÊourÊlastÊchapterÊweÊwereÊremindedÊthatÊweÊareÊ CHOSEN andÊsetÊapartÊforÊGod’sÊglory.ÊAsÊsuch,ÊweÊshouldÊconductÊ ourselvesÊasÊpeopleÊofÊGodÊinÊthisÊforeignÊworld.ÊThatÊmeansÊlivingÊinÊ suchÊaÊwayÊthatÊhonorsÊGodÊinÊourÊrelaƟonships:ÊsubmiƩedÊtoÊGod,Ê submiƩedÊtoÊcivilÊauthoriƟes,ÊandÊsubmiƩedÊinÊsocialÊandÊvocaƟonalÊ seƫngs.ÊNowÊlet’sÊstudyÊGod’sÊplanÊforÊtheÊhomeÊandÊtheÊchurch.Ê g SubmiƫngÊinÊtheÊHome:Ê1ÊPeterÊ3:1-7ÊÊÊg FromÊtheÊperspecƟveÊofÊourÊculture,ÊmarriageÊisÊviewedÊasÊaÊfiŌy-fiŌyÊ partnershipÊofÊtwoÊpeopleÊ(notÊnecessarilyÊrequiredÊtoÊbeÊoppositeÊ gendersÊanyÊlonger).ÊFromÊaÊBiblicalÊperspecƟveÊmarriageÊisÊaÊspecialÊ andÊsacredÊcovenantÊbetweenÊaÊmanÊandÊaÊwoman,ÊintendedÊtoÊ mirrorÊtheÊsymbolismÊofÊChristÊandÊtheÊchurch.ÊGodÊhasÊgivenÊspecificÊ instrucƟonsÊforÊhowÊaÊmarriageÊisÊtoÊfuncƟonÊinÊtheÊnaturalÊrealmÊsoÊ thatÊitÊcanÊalsoÊtellÊaÊgospelÊstoryÊinÊtheÊspiritualÊrealm.ÊÊ InÊthisÊpassage,ÊweÊshouldÊaskÊtheÊsameÊquesƟonÊasÊweÊdidÊinÊtheÊlastÊ chapter:Êis this a suggesƟon of one opƟonal way to live as a child of God, or a command that God desires all of his children to follow? g Read v.1-2—ÊHereÊareÊsomeÊquesƟonsÊasÊweÊbeginÊtheseÊverses:Ê · DoÊyouÊthinkÊtheÊBibleÊteachesÊthatÊallÊwomenÊshouldÊbeÊsubjectÊ toÊallÊmen?Ê(whyÊorÊwhyÊnot) · InÊaÊChrisƟanÊmarriageÊwhoÊisÊtoÊbeÊsubjectÊtoÊwhom?Ê(v.1) · NoteÊtheÊmodifierÊbeforeÊtheÊwordÊhusband:Ê_______ 1 Peter Chapter 3

It’sÊimportantÊthatÊweÊunderstandÊwhatÊtheÊwordÊsubject meansÊsoÊ weÊcanÊgraspÊourÊinstrucƟons.ÊÊNoteÊthisÊwordÊwasÊalsoÊusedÊin: 2:13Ê‘be subject to every human insƟtuƟon’,ÊandÊagainÊinÊ 2:14Ê‘servants be subject to your masters’ ItÊisÊtheÊGreekÊwordÊhypotasso,ÊandÊVinesÊdicƟonaryÊtellsÊusÊitÊisÊaÊ militaryÊwordÊwhichÊmeansÊto rank under.ÊÊ It’sÊusedÊ40ÊƟmesÊinÊtheÊNewÊTestamentÊregardingÊvariousÊrelaƟon- ships,ÊincludingÊJesusÊmakingÊhimselfÊsubject toÊhisÊfatherÊ(1ÊCor.Ê 15:28).ÊÊIsn’tÊthatÊsomethingÊinteresƟngÊtoÊconsider—JesusÊhimself,Ê beingÊinÊveryÊnatureÊGod,ÊwillinglyÊwalkedÊinÊthisÊhypotasso humilityÊ inÊhisÊownÊrelaƟonshipÊtoÊhisÊFather. Okay,Êlet’sÊdefineÊwhatÊ‘being subject’ doesn’tÊmean: · It’sÊnotÊblindÊobedienceÊtoÊanotherÊperson · ItÊdoesn’tÊstripÊoneÊofÊtheirÊvalue,ÊintellectÊorÊworth · ItÊdoesn’tÊdenoteÊinferiority AsÊweÊregardÊtheÊphraseÊ‘to rank under,’ÊlistÊsomeÊpossibleÊelementsÊ thatÊitÊDOESÊorÊCANÊmean: · Ê · Ê · Ê · Ê GodlyÊconductÊisÊaÊpowerfulÊwitness.ÊLet’sÊconsiderÊtheÊimpactÊofÊ willingÊsubmission.ÊV.1ÊsaysÊweÊmayÊwinÊoverÊ‘some who do not obey the word’.ÊThisÊdoesn’tÊreferÊtoÊpeopleÊwhoÊmerelyÊsinÊ(disobeyÊtheÊ Word),ÊbutÊtoÊunbelieversÊwhoÊrefuseÊtoÊacceptÊtheÊgospelÊ(disobeyÊ theÊWord).Ê · ReviewÊ2:8bÊandÊ1:25.ÊÊConsider:ÊWhatÊwasÊPeterÊtryingÊtoÊexplainÊ aboutÊtheseÊpeople?Ê

AsÊaÊbelieverÊinÊChristÊwillinglyÊsubjectsÊherselfÊ(ranksÊunder)ÊinÊherÊ marriageÊrelaƟonshipÊ(orÊtheÊcivicÊrelaƟonshipÊorÊtheÊoccupaƟonalÊ relaƟonship)ÊthereÊisÊaÊpossibilityÊforÊunbelievingÊpeopleÊtoÊbeÊ‘won without a word’ÊbyÊwhat?Ê · HowÊisÊthatÊconductÊdescribedÊinÊv.2? g Read v.3-6—Let’sÊnotÊmajorÊonÊtheÊminors!ÊÊ · WhatÊisÊaÊwifeÊNOTÊtoÊrelyÊonÊforÊherÊbeauty? · AndÊwhatÊshouldÊsheÊfocusÊon—majorÊon? CompareÊtheÊƟmeÊyou’veÊspentÊthisÊweekÊonÊoutwardÊpreparaƟonÊ (hair,Êwardrobe,ÊcosmeƟcs,Êetc.)ÊwithÊtheÊƟmeÊyouÊhaveÊspentÊ culƟvaƟngÊyourÊinnerÊbeauty.ÊÊ · WhatÊisÊyourÊassessment?ÊÊ OneÊaddiƟonalÊnoteÊaboutÊ‘without a word’—PeterÊwasn’tÊsuggesƟngÊaÊ wifeÊshouldn’tÊspeakÊorÊshareÊaboutÊherÊfaithÊinÊChrist—thatÊwouldn’tÊ beÊinÊagreementÊwithÊotherÊpartsÊofÊthisÊleƩerÊ(likeÊv.15ÊofÊthisÊchapter).ÊÊ WordsÊareÊpowerfulÊandÊusefulÊforÊexpressingÊtheÊtruthÊaboutÊtheÊgos- pel.ÊBut,ÊaÊwifeÊshouldÊrefrainÊfromÊendlessÊdiscussions,ÊremindersÊandÊ uselessÊargumentsÊaboutÊspiritualÊmaƩersÊthatÊwillÊprobablyÊleadÊtoÊnag- gingÊandÊmakingÊherÊmanÊdigÊhisÊheelsÊinÊfurther.ÊSheÊshouldÊratherÊfo- cusÊonÊpersonalÊholinessÊandÊprayerÊforÊherÊunbelievingÊhusband.Ê

· AnyÊchangesÊyouÊwantÊtoÊmakeÊtoÊyourÊlifestyle?ÊNameÊoneÊsuchÊ change: · WhoÊisÊourÊexampleÊforÊthisÊinnerÊbeauty,ÊfirstÊinÊgeneralÊandÊthenÊ specificallyÊ(accordingÊtoÊv.5)? WeÊcouldÊdoÊaÊlengthyÊstudyÊonÊSarah—herÊfaithÊinÊGod,ÊlessonsÊ learnedÊthroughÊherÊmarriageÊandÊjourneyÊwithÊAbrahamÊandÊspiritualÊ growthÊthroughÊwaiƟngÊonÊtheÊLord.ÊShe’sÊaÊvividÊOldÊTestamentÊsaintÊ toÊconsider—andÊweÊareÊaskedÊtoÊdoÊjustÊthatÊ—considerÊher. · HowÊwasÊSarah’sÊaƫtudeÊtowardÊAbrahamÊdescribedÊinÊv.6? TheÊwordÊobey isÊaÊdifferentÊGreekÊwordÊthanÊwasÊusedÊearlier—itÊisÊ hypakouo,ÊwhichÊmeansÊto listen under.ÊÊDoÊyouÊseeÊtheÊsimilarityÊ withÊÊhypotasso,Êto rank under?ÊÊIÊthinkÊthisÊisÊamazing!ÊÊSarahÊwasÊ commendedÊforÊlistening to the heart of her husband.ÊÊIÊsupposeÊsheÊ didn’tÊdoÊitÊperfectly,ÊbutÊasÊsheÊgrewÊinÊtheÊlistening department IÊ thinkÊsheÊlearnedÊtoÊovercomeÊinÊtheÊfear department.Ê IfÊyouÊareÊmarried,ÊhereÊisÊaÊsƟmulaƟngÊcontemplaƟonÊforÊyourÊ relaƟonship:ÊÊ · HasÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊalreadyÊshownÊyouÊanÊareaÊthatÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊ resistantÊtoÊhearÊwhatÊyourÊhusbandÊthinksÊaboutÊsomething,Ê muchÊlessÊreally listen andÊtake acƟon?ÊMakeÊnotesÊforÊprayer:

· V.6ÊinÊtheÊNIVÊreads:ÊYou are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. HaveÊyouÊbeenÊawareÊofÊfearÊasÊitÊ relatesÊtoÊallowingÊyourÊhusbandÊtoÊrankÊoverÊyou?ÊGodÊmayÊbeÊ usingÊthisÊpassageÊtoÊcreateÊaÊmoreÊstableÊfoundaƟonÊinÊyourÊ marriage.ÊWhatÊfearÊdoÊyouÊneedÊtoÊsurrender?Ê · CanÊyouÊthinkÊofÊotherÊrelaƟonshipsÊorÊareasÊofÊlifeÊbesidesÊ marriageÊthatÊhypakouoÊto listen under wouldÊbeÊprofitable?Ê WhatÊmightÊthatÊbeÊinÊyourÊlife? OneÊlastÊthought:ÊnowhereÊinÊScriptureÊdoÊweÊfindÊaÊwifeÊshouldÊ submitÊtoÊherÊhusbandÊoutÊofÊfearÊorÊinƟmidaƟon.ÊÊInÊfact,ÊasÊweÊreadÊ howÊhusbandsÊareÊtoÊtreatÊtheirÊwives,Êit’sÊquiteÊtheÊopposite:ÊÊ g Read v.7—Ê · WhatÊareÊtheÊcharacterisƟcsÊofÊaÊGod-honoringÊhusband? · HowÊmightÊyouÊdescribeÊ‘heirs with you of the grace of life’?ÊÊ (CheckÊsomeÊaddiƟonalÊtranslaƟons) · TheÊendÊofÊv.7ÊimpliesÊthatÊthereÊcouldÊbeÊanÊunwantedÊ consequenceÊtoÊhusbandsÊforÊnotÊtreaƟngÊtheirÊwivesÊwell.ÊÊWhatÊ isÊit? HinderedÊprayerÊdueÊtoÊourÊownÊrebellion,ÊdisobedienceÊandÊsinÊisÊaÊ themeÊweÊwillÊrunÊintoÊmoreÊinÊthisÊbook—inÊfactÊinÊjustÊfiveÊverses.ÊIÊ personallyÊthinkÊthisÊisÊsomethingÊweÊsimplyÊdoÊnotÊemphasizeÊinÊourÊ currentÊChrisƟanÊculture.ÊÊPeterÊboldlyÊpointedÊitÊoutÊforÊtheÊsakeÊofÊ hisÊaudienceÊandÊweÊshouldÊtakeÊnote!

g SubmiƫngÊinÊtheÊChurch:Ê1ÊPeterÊ3:8-12ÊÊÊÊg g Read v.8-9—IfÊyouÊwereÊputÊinÊchargeÊofÊassemblingÊanÊaward- winningÊteamÊofÊsomeÊtype:ÊmaybeÊanÊemergencyÊroomÊmedicalÊ team,ÊNCAAÊbasketballÊteam,ÊaÊwildfireÊcrew,ÊanyÊtypeÊofÊteamÊthatÊ wouldÊbeÊworkingÊtowardÊoneÊgoal,ÊyouÊwouldÊseekÊindividualsÊforÊ thatÊteamÊthatÊwereÊwillingÊtoÊworkÊwellÊwithÊothers,ÊhumbleÊenoughÊ toÊlistenÊtoÊother’sÊideas,ÊcaringÊtowardÊtheirÊteammates,ÊandÊnotÊ creaƟngÊunnecessaryÊdrama.ÊAsÊweÊreadÊthroughÊtheseÊverses,ÊweÊ canÊseeÊtheÊnecessityÊofÊtheseÊvirtuesÊinÊpeopleÊwhoÊareÊonÊGod’sÊ team,ÊinÊHisÊfamily,ÊworkingÊtowardÊHisÊgoals.Ê MakeÊbulletÊpointsÊofÊallÊofÊtheÊrelaƟonalÊvirtuesÊthatÊweÊareÊtoÊ displayÊasÊpartsÊofÊtheÊbodyÊofÊChrist: · · · · · · · CanÊyouÊdiscoverÊthatÊoneÊwordÊinÊv.9ÊthatÊexpressesÊaÊwonderfulÊ summaryÊofÊtheseÊvirtues: · WhatÊisÊtheÊpromiseÊgivenÊtoÊusÊasÊweÊpursueÊtheseÊvirtuesÊ(v.9)?

It’sÊinteresƟngÊtoÊconsiderÊwhereÊPeterÊfirstÊheardÊtheseÊconceptsÊ taught.ÊReadÊMaƩhewÊ5:38-48ÊforÊmoreÊunderstandingÊinÊGod’sÊplanÊ forÊhowÊweÊrelateÊtoÊbothÊbelieversÊandÊnon-believers.ÊÊThoughts? g Read v.10-12—TheseÊversesÊareÊaÊquoteÊfromÊPsalmÊ34.ÊNotÊonlyÊ doÊweÊdesireÊtoÊseeÊGod’sÊteamÊbuiltÊupÊandÊstrong,ÊbutÊwhatÊbelieverÊ isn’tÊeagerÊtoÊreceiveÊaÊpersonalÊblessingÊfromÊGodÊasÊwell?Ê · WhichÊofÊtheseÊinstrucƟonsÊforÊGodlyÊlivingÊwouldÊyouÊchooseÊforÊ aÊfocusÊrightÊnowÊinÊyourÊlife?ÊWhy? · WhatÊpromiseÊorÊrewardÊisÊgivenÊtoÊusÊinÊv.12ÊthatÊweÊcanÊholdÊonÊ to? HowÊtoÊFlourishÊThroughÊSuffering gÊÊHavingÊNoÊFear:Ê1ÊPeterÊ3:13-22ÊÊg AtÊthisÊpointÊinÊPeter’sÊleƩerÊweÊturnÊaÊcornerÊtoÊemphasizeÊtrials,ÊÊ persecuƟon,ÊandÊhosƟlityÊfromÊtheÊworld.ÊTheÊpreviousÊpassageÊandÊ quoteÊfromÊPsalmÊ34,ÊifÊleŌÊtoÊstandÊonÊit’sÊownÊstrength,ÊcouldÊleadÊ usÊtoÊconcludeÊthatÊifÊweÊkeepÊourselvesÊfromÊevil,ÊdoÊgoodÊthings,Ê blessÊpeopleÊinÊourÊpathÊinÊtheÊsameÊwayÊoneÊtossesÊoutÊparadeÊ candy;ÊthenÊweÊshouldÊliveÊaÊwonderful,Êhappy,Êblessed,Êtrouble-freeÊ life.ÊThisÊisÊobviously,ÊnotÊtheÊcaseÊsoÊlet’sÊdiveÊintoÊthisÊdiscussionÊonÊ theÊinevitableÊhosƟlityÊweÊwillÊreceiveÊfromÊtheÊworldÊthatÊweÊareÊ sojourningÊthrough. TheÊwordÊblessedÊcanÊbeÊdefinedÊasÊhighly privileged. ItÊhasÊ nothingÊtoÊdoÊwithÊbeingÊprivilegedÊinÊcircumstances,ÊratherÊitÊ meansÊthatÊnoÊoneÊcanÊharmÊyouÊspiritually,ÊorÊtakeÊfromÊyouÊ theÊpromisesÊofÊGod.

g Read v.13-17—Ê · WhatÊdoesÊPeterÊsayÊaboutÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊsuffersÊforÊrighteousnessÊ sakeÊinÊv.14Ê?Ê · WriteÊoutÊtheÊlastÊeightÊwordsÊinÊv.14,ÊwhichÊisÊbothÊaÊquoteÊfromÊ IsaiahÊ8:12ÊandÊaÊwordÊofÊencouragementÊforÊthoseÊwhoÊareÊ sufferingÊforÊrighteousness: · IsÊthisÊaÊbuƩonÊforÊyou?ÊDoÊyouÊfearÊpeople’sÊopinionsÊofÊyou?ÊDoÊ youÊfindÊyouÊcraveÊaffirmaƟonÊfromÊothers?ÊDoesÊthisÊverseÊneedÊ toÊbecomeÊaÊprayerÊpointÊforÊyouÊthisÊweek?ÊÊWriteÊyourÊ thoughts… · WeÊmightÊbeÊtemptedÊtoÊmeetÊpersecuƟonÊbyÊtoningÊdownÊourÊ zealÊforÊtheÊthingsÊofÊtheÊLord.ÊButÊinÊv.15ÊweÊareÊencouragedÊtoÊ alwaysÊÊbeÊpreparedÊforÊwhat? · WhatÊshouldÊtheÊtoneÊofÊthatÊpresentaƟonÊlookÊlikeÊ(v.15)? AreÊyouÊpreparedÊtoÊgiveÊanÊanswerÊforÊtheÊhopeÊthatÊyouÊhaveÊinÊ Christ?ÊHaveÊyouÊwriƩenÊaÊthree-minuteÊtesƟmonyÊofÊhowÊyouÊ answeredÊGod’sÊcallÊandÊaskedÊhimÊtoÊforgiveÊyourÊsins?ÊIfÊnot,ÊourÊ WomenÊofÊtheÊWordÊstudyÊthroughÊtheÊbookÊofÊRuthÊisÊaÊgreatÊ resourceÊforÊaÊstep-by-stepÊprocessÊtoÊputÊyourÊstory of redemp- Ɵon intoÊwordsÊandÊtoÊbeÊprepared!Ê(FoundÊinÊourÊCalvaryÊ bookstoreÊandÊonÊourÊwebsite)

· V.16ÊspeaksÊofÊhaving a good conscience—inÊotherÊwordsÊweÊ shouldÊbeÊfoundÊonÊtheÊrightÊsideÊofÊmaƩers.ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊreason? AsÊIÊamÊwriƟngÊthis,ÊaÊfamousÊChrisƟanÊfootballÊplayerÊisÊbeingÊ ridiculedÊthroughoutÊsocialÊmediaÊbecauseÊofÊhisÊmoralÊstandardsÊ pertainingÊtoÊphysicalÊinƟmacyÊbeforeÊmarriage.ÊWhatÊhe’sÊ experiencingÊisÊaÊformÊofÊpersecuƟonÊfromÊ‘those who revile your good behavior in Christ.’ÊItÊisÊanÊexampleÊofÊtheÊnextÊphraseÊ‘to suffer for doing good...rather than for doing evil.’ HowÊmuchÊbeƩerÊtoÊbeÊ reviledÊforÊholyÊlivingÊratherÊthanÊpretendÊtoÊengageÊinÊholyÊliving,ÊbutÊ beÊfoundÊoutÊtoÊbeÊaÊhypocrite. WhatÊdoÊweÊdoÊifÊweÊdon’tÊfeelÊthatÊweÊhaveÊaÊgoodÊconscience?Ê WhatÊifÊitÊfeelsÊbad?ÊGuilty?ÊWeÊhaveÊonlyÊoneÊremedyÊforÊaÊclearÊ conscience… · ReadÊHebrewsÊ10:22-23.ÊÊHowÊwouldÊyouÊexplainÊthisÊtoÊaÊfriendÊ whoÊisÊsufferingÊfromÊaÊguiltyÊconscience? SupposingÊweÊhaveÊconfessedÊourÊsinsÊtoÊestablishÊthatÊiniƟalÊgoodÊ conscienceÊ—ÊwhatÊdoÊweÊdoÊwhenÊourÊconscienceÊbecomesÊviolatedÊ againÊ—ÊwhenÊweÊfeelÊthatÊnudgeÊfromÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊthatÊsomethingÊ isn’tÊquiteÊright:ÊsomeÊacƟon,ÊsomeÊthought,ÊsomeÊconversaƟonÊthatÊ isÊlurkingÊatÊtheÊdoorÊofÊourÊheartsÊandÊmindsÊtoÊdefileÊourÊ conscience.Ê · StepÊOne:ÊReadÊJamesÊ1:12-15.ÊUnderstandÊthatÊmereÊtemptaƟonÊ doesÊnotÊdefileÊaÊperson.ÊWeÊallÊfaceÊtemptaƟonsÊofÊmanyÊkinds— itÊisÊacƟngÊuponÊthatÊtemptaƟonÊthatÊisÊsin.ÊSoÊdon’tÊletÊtheÊ enemyÊdefileÊyourÊconscienceÊjustÊbecauseÊyouÊfaceÊaÊtemptaƟon.

WhatÊifÊweÊdoÊsuccumbÊtoÊtheÊtemptaƟonÊandÊsin?ÊThenÊweÊmoveÊonÊ toÊstepsÊtwoÊandÊthreeÊ—Ê · StepÊTwo:ÊÊReadÊ1ÊJohnÊ1:9.ÊRunÊquicklyÊtoÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊ understandsÊourÊfragileÊstate;ÊconfessÊyourÊsin,ÊaskÊforgivenessÊ andÊaskÊforÊyourÊconscienceÊtoÊbeÊrestored.ÊConfessionÊmustÊbeÊ coupledÊwithÊrepentanceÊwhichÊmeansÊtoÊturnÊtheÊotherÊway—toÊ haveÊaÊchangeÊofÊmindÊandÊacƟon.ÊWeÊmustÊrepent. Ê · StepÊThree:ÊThereÊisÊoneÊmoreÊelementÊtoÊourÊconscienceÊandÊ thatÊisÊtoÊaskÊGodÊtoÊkeepÊusÊfromÊsin.ÊDoÊyouÊprayÊforÊGod’sÊ strength?ÊReadÊHebrewsÊ13:18ÊandÊnoteÊtheÊfirstÊthreeÊwords:ÊÊ g Read v.18-22—ÊWeÊcloseÊthisÊchapterÊwithÊaÊreminderÊofÊChrist’sÊ sufferingÊonÊourÊbehalf.ÊÊWe’veÊspentÊsoÊmuchÊƟmeÊinÊpersonalÊ applicaƟon—andÊweÊshouldÊapplyÊtheÊWord—butÊforÊtheseÊfinalÊfiveÊ verses,Êlet’sÊresistÊtheÊtemptaƟonÊtoÊrushÊtoÊapplicaƟonÊlestÊweÊmissÊ theÊelementÊofÊworship.Ê · ReadÊv.18ÊagainÊinÊsomeÊwayÊasÊtoÊpersonalizeÊitÊjustÊforÊYOUÊsoÊ thatÊyouÊcanÊpraiseÊGodÊandÊthankÊhimÊforÊreachingÊoutÊtoÊyouÊ andÊchoosingÊyouÊtoÊbeÊinÊtheÊkingdom. IfÊyou’reÊnotÊsureÊyouÊHAVEÊbeenÊpersonallyÊbroughtÊtoÊGod,ÊtodayÊisÊ theÊbestÊƟmeÊtoÊreadÊthatÊverseÊagainÊandÊjustÊtellÊGodÊthatÊyouÊ acceptÊtheÊworkÊthatÊJesusÊdidÊonÊyourÊbehalfÊtoÊmakeÊyouÊacceptableÊ toÊhim. PeterÊgaveÊtwoÊillustraƟonsÊtoÊassureÊusÊofÊtheÊamazingÊandÊ victoriousÊworkÊofÊJesusÊonÊtheÊcrossÊandÊourÊassurance.Ê 1)ÊÊÊThatÊaŌerÊhisÊresurrecƟonÊ(butÊbeforeÊhisÊascension)ÊJesusÊ descendedÊtoÊdeclareÊhisÊvictoryÊoverÊdeathÊandÊGod’sÊjudgmentÊ onÊtheÊdisobedient.Ê(v.19-20)

2)ÊÊÊThatÊjustÊasÊNoah’sÊfamilyÊwasÊshutÊintoÊtheÊarkÊofÊGod’sÊsalvaƟon,Ê evenÊso,ÊwhenÊsomeoneÊputsÊtheirÊtrustÊinÊChristÊforÊforgivenessÊ ofÊsins,ÊtheirÊspiritsÊareÊheldÊsafelyÊinÊGod’sÊhandÊunƟlÊtheÊdayÊofÊ heaven. OneÊfinalÊnote:ÊtheÊwordÊbapƟsm hereÊisÊaÊlinkÊtoÊtheÊillustraƟonÊofÊ Noah.ÊInÊtheÊsameÊwayÊthatÊNoahÊandÊhisÊfamilyÊwereÊnotÊsavedÊ simplyÊbecauseÊtheyÊwereÊcarriedÊthroughÊwater,ÊweÊareÊnotÊsavedÊ simplyÊbyÊimmersionÊthroughÊwater.ÊInstead,ÊimmersionÊisÊaÊsymbolÊ ofÊtheÊgreaterÊworkÊofÊtheÊremovalÊofÊsinsÊfromÊourÊheartÊthroughÊtheÊ resurrecƟonÊofÊChrist.ÊÊ(YouÊmayÊfindÊthisÊverseÊeasierÊtoÊunderstandÊ inÊtheÊNIVÊorÊanotherÊthought-for-thoughtÊtranslaƟon).Ê ReadÊalsoÊTitusÊ3:4-8. g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ_____________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 3

PRAY—AskÊGodÊtoÊhelpÊyouÊunderstandÊ theÊScripturesÊyouÊareÊaboutÊtoÊstudyÊandÊ howÊtheyÊrelateÊtoÊtheÊpassagesÊyouÊhaveÊ alreadyÊstudied. READ—1ÊPeterÊchapterÊfour.ÊReadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊeachÊdayÊofÊthisÊ week.ÊÊUnderlineÊorÊnoteÊtheÊrepeƟƟonÊofÊtheÊthemeÊwordsÊinÊthisÊ chapter:Êsuffer, suffered, suffering. MEMORIZE:—ChooseÊoneÊverseÊfromÊthisÊchapterÊasÊyourÊmemoryÊ assignmentÊforÊthisÊweek.Ê INTRODUCTION—IÊknowÊit’sÊcorny,ÊbutÊdoÊyouÊrememberÊthoseÊ phrasesÊfoundÊonÊmoƟvaƟonalÊposters?ÊAƫtude Determines AlƟtude? OhÊboy.ÊWell,ÊPeterÊisn’tÊquiteÊasÊquippy,ÊbutÊheÊbeginÊbyÊexhorƟngÊusÊ aboutÊourÊaƫtude:Êarm yourself with the same aƫtude as Jesus,ÊwhoÊ alsoÊsuffered!ÊGetÊpreparedÊforÊthisÊbaƩle,ÊknowÊtheÊenemy,ÊcheckÊ yourÊaƫtude,ÊitÊwillÊdetermineÊyourÊalƟtude!ÊÊ AreÊyouÊexpecƟngÊsufferingÊinÊlifeÊthatÊparallelsÊyourÊsavior?ÊOrÊareÊ youÊexpecƟngÊaÊpain-free,ÊpersecuƟon-free,Êsuccess-filledÊexperienceÊ hereÊonÊplanetÊearthÊwhileÊyouÊwaitÊforÊyourÊtripÊtoÊheaven?ÊWeÊ shouldÊexpectÊtoÊbeÊarmed!ÊArm yourself inÊv.1ÊisÊaÊmilitaryÊtermÊthatÊ requiresÊpurpose,ÊexpectaƟonÊandÊservice.ÊInÊthisÊchapterÊweÊfindÊallÊ theseÊelements,ÊsoÊlet’sÊdiveÊin. Ê How to Flourish Through Suffering g ÊHavingÊaÊPurposefulÊAƫtude:Ê1ÊPeterÊ4:1-11ÊÊgÊ g Read v.1-6—ÊOnceÊweÊbecomeÊunitedÊwithÊChrist,ÊweÊhaveÊtheÊ abilityÊandÊprivilegeÊtoÊliveÊtheÊremainderÊofÊourÊlivesÊonÊearthÊfor the will of God (v.2).ÊÊÊLet’sÊinvesƟgate… · UnderlineÊeachÊphraseÊ‘in the flesh’ andÊalsoÊ‘in the spirit’ · WhatÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊ‘in the flesh’ means?Ê(youÊmayÊwantÊtoÊreadÊ anotherÊtranslaƟonÊforÊhelp) 1 Peter Chapter 4

· TheÊpointÊofÊv.1-2ÊisÊtoÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊtheÊcontrastÊbetweenÊ twoÊpossibleÊmoƟvaƟonsÊinÊourÊliving,Êeither: ÊÊÊÊÊÊ______________________ÊÊorÊÊ___________________________ · IfÊweÊchooseÊtoÊliveÊoutÊourÊdaysÊforÊtheÊwillÊofÊGod,ÊwhatÊ responseÊshouldÊweÊexpectÊfromÊpeopleÊaroundÊusÊasÊweÊnoÊ longerÊparƟcipateÊorÊliveÊforÊhuman passions (v.4)? PeterÊlistedÊacƟviƟesÊthatÊdoÊnotÊbelongÊinÊaÊbeliever’sÊlife,ÊwithÊtheÊ understandingÊthatÊweÊwouldÊpurifyÊourselvesÊfromÊsin-basedÊliving.ÊÊ · WhatÊtypesÊofÊresponsesÊhaveÊyouÊreceivedÊfromÊunbelieversÊ whenÊyouÊhaveÊputÊasideÊformerÊwaysÊorÊhumanÊpassions?ÊÊWhatÊ typesÊofÊlabelsÊhaveÊyouÊacquired?Ê BecauseÊJesusÊwasÊatÊoddsÊwithÊtheÊpeopleÊandÊtheÊsystemÊofÊtheÊ worldÊaroundÊhim,ÊweÊtooÊareÊatÊoddsÊwithÊtheÊpeopleÊandÊsystemÊofÊ theÊworldÊaroundÊus.ÊNon-believersÊ(whichÊisÊwhatÊtheÊwordÊGenƟle inÊv.3Êmeans)ÊwillÊoŌenÊchaffÊinÊtheÊpresenceÊofÊsomeoneÊwhoÊisÊ livingÊaÊlifeÊofÊholinessÊmodeledÊaŌerÊJesus.ÊÊ ReadÊ2ÊCorinthiansÊ2:15-16ÊforÊtheÊApostleÊPaul’sÊexplanaƟonÊofÊthisÊ phenomena.ÊÊ SlanderingÊaÊChrisƟan’sÊwayÊofÊlifeÊorÊconvicƟonsÊisÊanÊunbeliever’sÊ aƩemptÊatÊmakingÊthemselvesÊfeelÊbeƩer,ÊbutÊv.5-6ÊremindsÊusÊthatÊ GodÊwillÊalwaysÊhaveÊtheÊfinalÊsay.ÊÊWeÊwillÊallÊgiveÊaccountÊtoÊGod!Ê g ReadÊv.7-11—ÊTheseÊversesÊcreateÊaÊgreatÊlistÊofÊpurposefulÊ aƫtudesÊonÊholyÊlivingÊthatÊwillÊhelpÊusÊflourish,ÊevenÊthroughÊ suffering:Êprayer, love, hospitality and service.ÊTheseÊbecomeÊaÊ snapshotÊofÊwhatÊaÊholyÊlifeÊsurrenderedÊtoÊtheÊwillÊofÊGodÊlooksÊlikeÊ inÊcontrastÊtoÊtheÊsensualityÊlistÊfromÊtheÊpreviousÊsecƟon.

WriteÊtheÊfirstÊeightÊwordsÊofÊv.7ÊasÊaÊheadingÊandÊreasonÊforÊtheÊfourÊ bulletÊpointsÊtoÊfollow: ________________________________________________________ 1)ÊÊÊPurposefulÊinÊourÊPrayersÊv.7 · DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊshouldÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊourÊprayerÊ life: ReadÊtheÊnarraƟveÊfromÊMaƩhewÊ26:36-46.Ê Note:ÊthisÊsameÊPeterÊinÊtheÊgardenÊofÊGethsemaneÊisÊtheÊauthorÊofÊ thisÊleƩer.ÊWeÊcanÊgainÊaÊlotÊofÊinsightÊfromÊoneÊwhoÊhasÊtried,Êfailed,Ê andÊlearnedÊfromÊtheÊexperience.ÊPlusÊweÊknowÊthatÊtheÊgarden- variety PeterÊwasÊlackingÊtheÊindwellingÊpresenceÊofÊtheÊHolyÊSpirit;Ê andÊtheÊepistle-wriƟng PeterÊwasÊlaterÊempoweredÊwithÊtheÊSpiritÊofÊ Jesus.ÊWhatÊaddiƟonalÊinsightsÊonÊprayerÊcanÊyouÊapplyÊfromÊhisÊ gardenÊexperience?Ê PracƟcally,ÊhowÊcanÊyouÊmaintainÊaÊclearÊmindÊwhileÊpraying?Ê DiscussÊthisÊinÊyourÊgroup—someƟmesÊweÊcanÊreallyÊlearnÊfromÊoneÊ anotherÊasÊweÊshareÊourÊaƩempts,Êfailures,ÊandÊsuccesses. 2)ÊÊÊPurposefulÊinÊourÊLoveÊv.8 · DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊshouldÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊlove:

· WhatÊisÊtheÊposiƟveÊbenefitÊofÊloveÊamongÊChrisƟans? LoveÊisÊaÊdeliberateÊdecision,ÊnotÊaÊfeeling.ÊReadÊtheseÊaddiƟonalÊ passagesÊforÊinspiraƟonÊonÊaÊlifeÊofÊlove: Proverbs 10:12 John 15:13 1 John 2:10-11 ReadÊ1ÊCorinthiansÊ13:4-7.ÊThisÊpassageÊmayÊbeÊfamiliar,ÊbutÊthisÊƟmeÊ asÊyouÊread,ÊchooseÊjustÊTWOÊcharacterizaƟonsÊofÊloveÊthatÊriseÊtoÊtheÊ topÊofÊtheÊlist...maybeÊbecauseÊofÊaÊcertainÊconvicƟonÊdueÊtoÊ circumstancesÊinÊyourÊlife,ÊmaybeÊbecauseÊofÊaÊtypeÊofÊloveÊshownÊtoÊ youÊrecently;ÊforÊwhateverÊreason,ÊwriteÊdownÊTWOÊandÊprepareÊtoÊ explainÊtoÊyourÊgroupÊwhyÊyouÊchoseÊthem: · Ê · Ê 3)ÊPurposefulÊinÊourÊHospitalityÊv.9 · DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊshouldÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊhospitality: HospitalityÊcanÊbeÊaÊtangibleÊexpressionÊofÊloveÊsimilarÊtoÊworks thatÊ followÊfaith—hospitality followsÊlove—it’sÊaÊchoiceÊnotÊaÊfeeling. · IfÊyouÊleaveÊoffÊtheÊlastÊthreeÊleƩersÊofÊtheÊwordÊhospitalityÊwhatÊ doÊyouÊhave?ÊÊ______________________.ÊÊHowÊdoesÊthatÊchangeÊ theÊemphasisÊofÊwhatÊyouÊmightÊnormallyÊthinkÊofÊasÊhospitality?

· ReadÊRomansÊ12:13.ÊHowÊcanÊYOUÊbeÊanÊavenueÊofÊhealing,Êcare,Ê loveÊandÊkindnessÊinÊthisÊnextÊweek?ÊWriteÊatÊleastÊONEÊthingÊyouÊ believeÊGodÊmayÊcallÊyouÊtoÊinÊtheÊareaÊofÊpracƟcingÊhospitality: 4)ÊPurposefulÊinÊourÊServingÊv.10-11 · DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊshouldÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊserving: V.10ÊexplainsÊthatÊeachÊandÊeveryÊbelieverÊhasÊreceivedÊaÊspiritualÊgiŌÊ fromÊGod—noneÊofÊusÊisÊwithoutÊsomethingÊtoÊoffer. V.11ÊdropsÊ spiritualÊgiŌsÊintoÊtwoÊcategories.ÊUsingÊoneÊwordÊeach,ÊwhatÊ headingsÊwouldÊyouÊgiveÊtheseÊcategories: ÊÊÊ_________________________ ÊÊÊÊÊ_______________________ · ExplainÊtheÊmoƟvaƟonÊbehindÊthoseÊwhoÊemployÊspeaking giŌs: · ExplainÊtheÊenergyÊbehindÊthoseÊwhoÊemployÊserving giŌs: · ExplainÊtheÊkingdomÊresultÊofÊGod’sÊkidsÊusingÊtheirÊgiŌsÊrightlyÊ andÊwisely: gHavingÊanÊExpectaƟonÊofÊSuffering:Ê1ÊPeterÊ4:12-19g g ReadÊv.12-19—ÊÊ · DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊSHOULDÊNOTÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊtheÊ trialsÊandÊsufferingsÊofÊthisÊlife:

· DescribeÊwhatÊourÊaƫtudeÊSHOULDÊbeÊwithÊregardÊtoÊthoseÊtrialsÊ andÊsufferings: ThisÊpassageÊdescribedÊdifficultÊƟmesÊwithÊlabelsÊlike:Êfiery trials, tesƟng, sufferings, insults. IÊsupposeÊthereÊareÊevenÊmoreÊwaysÊtoÊ describeÊtheÊdifficultÊpartsÊofÊlifeÊin the flesh (asÊPeterÊwouldÊsay).ÊÊ AsÊweÊstudy,Êlet’sÊrememberÊtheÊbroaderÊrealityÊofÊlifeÊinÊaÊhosƟleÊ world.ÊWeÊnotÊonlyÊfaceÊblatantÊpersecuƟonÊbecauseÊweÊbelongÊtoÊ Jesus,ÊbutÊweÊalsoÊfaceÊdisappointmentsÊandÊconsequencesÊdueÊtoÊ ourÊpersonalÊsin,ÊandÊtragediesÊdueÊtoÊtheÊpresenceÊofÊsinÊinÊgeneral.ÊÊ AsÊweÊcloseÊthisÊchapter,ÊgoÊbackÊandÊreadÊv.19Êagain.Ê · WhatÊdoÊyouÊunderstandÊaboutÊourÊsuffering? · WhatÊacƟonÊareÊweÊtoÊtakeÊinÊtheÊmidstÊofÊsufferingÊandÊwhatÊ doesÊthatÊlookÊlikeÊinÊpracƟcalÊterms? · HaveÊyouÊexperiencedÊaÊsoul-raƩlingÊtrialÊofÊsomeÊsort?ÊÊAsÊyouÊ learnedÊtoÊentrustÊyourselfÊtoÊGod’sÊgrace,ÊwhatÊwasÊtheÊulƟmateÊ outcomeÊofÊthatÊtrialÊonÊyourÊspiritualÊlifeÊandÊserviceÊtoÊGod.ÊÊ ShareÊwithÊyourÊgroupÊtheÊposiƟveÊeffectsÊsufferingÊandÊtrialsÊ haveÊhadÊonÊYOURÊlife... g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ_____________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 4

PRAY—AskÊGodÊtoÊleadÊyouÊinÊ understandingÊofÊthisÊlastÊchapter. READ—1ÊPeterÊchapterÊfiveÊbeforeÊyouÊ beginÊthisÊsecƟonÊofÊtheÊstudyÊguide.ÊTryÊtoÊreadÊtheÊwholeÊchapterÊ eachÊdayÊofÊthisÊweekÊandÊreadÊitÊaloudÊaÊcoupleÊofÊthoseÊdays.ÊÊ MEMORIZE—ChooseÊoneÊverseÊfromÊthisÊchapterÊasÊyourÊmemoryÊ assignmentÊforÊthisÊweek.ÊReviewÊyourÊotherÊversesÊandÊseeÊifÊyouÊcanÊ reciteÊallÊfiveÊtoÊsomeoneÊthisÊweek.Ê INTRODUCTION—We’veÊlearnedÊthatÊsufferingÊisÊinevitableÊinÊaÊ hosƟleÊworld.ÊWe’veÊlearnedÊthatÊweÊdon’tÊliveÊonÊanÊisland—weÊareÊ interdependentÊinÊtheÊbodyÊofÊChrist.ÊSinceÊweÊliveÊinÊcommunity,ÊitÊ makesÊsenseÊthatÊGod’sÊpeopleÊneedÊwiseÊandÊstrongÊleaders.ÊThatÊisÊ exactlyÊhowÊtheÊfinalÊchapterÊbegins,ÊwithÊanÊappealÊforÊeverythingÊinÊ theÊchurchÊtoÊbeÊhealthyÊandÊinÊorder. How to Flourish Through Suffering gÊÊHavingÊaÊSenseÊofÊHumility:Ê1ÊPeterÊ5:1-9ÊÊg g Read v.1-5—TheÊfirstÊfourÊversesÊofÊtheseÊclosingÊremarksÊareÊ directedÊtoÊtheÊeldersÊofÊtheÊchurch—meaningÊthoseÊwhoÊhaveÊbeenÊ givenÊchargeÊoverÊtheÊflock.ÊPeterÊincludedÊhimselfÊasÊaÊfellowÊelder,Ê withÊtheÊsignificantÊdisƟncƟonÊofÊhavingÊbeenÊanÊeye witness ofÊ Christ’sÊsufferings. · AccordingÊtoÊv.2ÊWhatÊisÊtheÊprimaryÊroleÊofÊanÊelder? · WhatÊposiƟveÊaƫtudesÊshouldÊanÊelderÊorÊshepherdÊhaveÊwhileÊ carryingÊoutÊthisÊimportantÊministryÊ(v.2-3)? 1 Peter Chapter 5

· WhatÊnegaƟveÊaƫtudesÊshouldÊbeÊavoidedÊ(v.2-3)? · ReadÊHebrewsÊ13:17ÊandÊexplainÊmoreÊresponsibilityÊthatÊcomesÊ fromÊbeingÊaÊleaderÊinÊtheÊbodyÊofÊChrist: · WhatÊrewardÊisÊpromisedÊtoÊthoseÊwhoÊdoÊtheirÊworkÊdiligently? IfÊyouÊhaveÊtheÊƟme,ÊreadÊEzekielÊ34.ÊListÊsomeÊthingsÊyouÊlearnÊinÊthisÊ passageÊaboutÊGod’sÊloveÊandÊcareÊforÊHISÊflock:ÊÊ Let’sÊmoveÊtoÊtheÊyoungerÊgeneraƟon… · ExplainÊtheÊsimpleÊjobÊdescripƟonÊofÊthoseÊwhoÊareÊyoungerÊ(v.5): · DoÊyouÊgetÊtheÊsenseÊthatÊthisÊisÊaÊcommandÊorÊanÊopƟon? BeforeÊweÊleaveÊthisÊsubject,ÊthinkÊaboutÊtheÊpastors,ÊeldersÊandÊ leadersÊinÊyourÊownÊchurchÊfellowship.ÊTakeÊƟmeÊtoÊprayÊforÊthemÊtoÊ beÊstrengthenedÊbyÊtheÊLordÊtoÊprovideÊtheÊlevelÊofÊcareÊthatÊPeterÊ justÊexpressedÊinÊthisÊleƩer.ÊÊTheyÊcanÊuseÊyourÊprayers!

g Read v.5-7—TheÊfirstÊtwoÊwordsÊofÊv.5ÊareÊclothe yourselves.ÊToÊ beÊundressedÊisÊtoÊbeÊvulnerableÊtoÊtheÊelementsÊofÊourÊworld.ÊWeÊ humansÊareÊfairlyÊfragile.ÊItÊdoesn’tÊtakeÊveryÊlongÊinÊsub-zeroÊ temperaturesÊforÊusÊtoÊsuccumbÊtoÊhypothermia;ÊandÊonlyÊaÊshortÊ ƟmeÊinÊ100+ÊtempsÊtoÊfeelÊtheÊeffectsÊofÊheat-exhausƟon.ÊÊ AppropriateÊclothingÊcanÊgoÊaÊlongÊwayÊtoÊhelpÊusÊendureÊthoseÊ extremes.ÊInÊaÊsimilarÊway,ÊweÊneedÊourÊsoulsÊtoÊbeÊclothedÊwithÊ humility toÊmoderateÊtheÊeffectsÊofÊeitherÊthinkingÊofÊourselvesÊtooÊ highlyÊ(pride)ÊorÊtooÊlowlyÊ(notÊwithinÊGod’sÊwatchfulÊeye). · LookÊupÊtheÊwordÊhumility andÊwriteÊaÊdefiniƟon: · V.5ÊwarnsÊofÊextremeÊofÊpride —ÊtheÊassumpƟonÊthatÊweÊdon’tÊ needÊGod’sÊauthorityÊorÊguidanceÊinÊourÊlife.ÊWhatÊisÊGod’sÊ reacƟonÊtowardÊsomeoneÊthatÊthinksÊlikeÊthis? · If,Êhowever,ÊsomeoneÊchoosesÊtoÊclothÊthemselvesÊwithÊhumility,Ê whatÊdoesÊGodÊfreelyÊgive? · V.6ÊwarnsÊofÊtheÊotherÊextremeÊofÊnotÊbelievingÊthatÊGodÊnoƟcesÊ orÊcaresÊforÊus.ÊWhatÊadviceÊyouÊseeÊinÊv.6-7ÊtowardÊthisÊfallacy.Ê HereÊisÊCharlesÊSpurgeon’sÊsimpleÊdefiniƟon:ÊÊ Humility is to make a right esƟmate of one’s self.

DoÊyouÊmistakenlyÊthinkÊJesusÊonlyÊcaresÊaboutÊyourÊsoulÊinÊeternity?ÊÊ HeÊalsoÊcaresÊaboutÊtheÊeventsÊofÊtoday:ÊthatÊemergencyÊroomÊvisit,Ê thatÊ$200ÊshorƞallÊonÊbillsÊthisÊmonth,ÊthatÊbiƟngÊremarkÊfromÊyourÊ teen,ÊthatÊdeadÊwashingÊmachine,ÊthatÊspill-crazyÊtoddlerÊwhoÊisÊ drivingÊyouÊcrazy!ÊAÊrightÊesƟmateÊofÊourselvesÊ(humility)ÊcanÊhelpÊusÊ toÊcastÊALLÊofÊlife’sÊanxieƟesÊonÊHimÊbecauseÊweÊcanÊreallyÊbelieveÊ thatÊHEÊCARES—aboutÊallÊofÊit! · ListÊsomeÊofÊlife’sÊanxieƟesÊthatÊyouÊrealizeÊyouÊhaveÊNOTÊcastÊonÊ theÊLord: NowÊtakeÊthisÊlistÊandÊofferÊthoseÊthingsÊupÊinÊprayerÊtellingÊGodÊyouÊ believeÊthatÊHEÊisÊinÊcontrolÊandÊnotÊYOU,ÊthatÊyouÊdon’tÊknowÊforÊ sureÊhowÊtheseÊthingsÊwillÊworkÊout,ÊbutÊthatÊyouÊtrustÊhimÊbecauseÊ HeÊisÊGodÊofÊheavenÊANDÊearthÊandÊyouÊknowÊHeÊcaresÊaboutÊthingsÊ onÊearth. g Read v.8-9—TheseÊtwoÊversesÊareÊlikeÊaÊbigÊyellowÊcauƟon sign.Ê OnceÊweÊhaveÊaÊproperÊesƟmateÊofÊwhoÊweÊareÊ(viaÊhumility),ÊweÊ shouldÊalsoÊhaveÊaÊhealthyÊrespectÊforÊourÊenemy,ÊwhoÊalsoÊhappensÊ toÊbeÊGod’sÊenemy.ÊWeÊneedÊtoÊavoidÊtheÊtwinÊtrapsÊofÊeitherÊ dismissingÊhisÊpowerÊthroughÊjestÊandÊcartoonÊorÊelevaƟngÊhisÊ authorityÊtoÊgod-likeÊstatus.ÊBeforeÊweÊabsorbÊinstrucƟonÊfromÊv.8-9,Ê let’sÊtakeÊaÊmomentÊtoÊseeÊwhatÊScriptureÊteachesÊusÊaboutÊSatan.Ê ReadÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊtakeÊnotes: HisÊacƟvityÊinÊthisÊworld:Ê · MaƩhew13:19 · 2ÊCorinthiansÊ4:4 · 2ÊCorinthiansÊ11:14

HisÊlimitaƟons: · JobÊ1:6-12 HisÊulƟmateÊdesƟny: · MaƩhewÊ25:41 · 1ÊJohnÊ3:8 · RevelaƟonÊ20:1-3 HowÊtoÊdealÊwithÊSatan: · 2ÊCorinthiansÊ2:10-11Ê · EphesiansÊ6:16 · JamesÊ4:7 · AndÊnow,ÊfromÊourÊversesÊinÊ1ÊPeterÊ5:8-9,ÊwhatÊaddiƟonalÊ instrucƟonsÊareÊweÊgivenÊtoÊtameÊtheÊbeast? · WhatÊparƟcularÊadviceÊwouldÊyouÊgiveÊsomeoneÊonÊhowÊtoÊresist theÊdevil?ÊÊGiveÊanÊexample... gConfidenceÊinÊtheÊGodÊofÊallÊGrace:Ê1ÊPeterÊ5:10-11g g ReadÊv.9-11—WeÊdoubledÊupÊreadingÊv.9ÊtoÊremindÊusÊaboutÊtheÊ commonÊbondÊofÊsufferingÊexperiencedÊbyÊbelieversÊthroughout the world.ÊÊ

· ThereÊareÊmanyÊtypesÊofÊsuffering.ÊBasedÊonÊtheÊcontextÊofÊv.7-9,Ê whatÊtypeÊofÊsuffering,ÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊPeterÊmayÊbeÊreferringÊtoÊthatÊ isÊsoÊuniversal? · InÊv.10ÊwhatÊfourÊwordsÊdidÊPeterÊuseÊtoÊexpressÊhowÊGodÊwouldÊ actÊforÊus? · WhenÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊweÊcanÊexpectÊthoseÊacƟonsÊfromÊGod?ÊWhy? g Read v.12-14—TheÊfinalÊthreeÊversesÊrepresentÊaÊtypicalÊclosingÊ forÊaÊfirst-centuryÊleƩer:Ê · GivingÊcreditÊtoÊ_____________ÊforÊhisÊworkÊasÊsecretary · RemindingÊofÊPeter’sÊpurposeÊinÊwriƟng—whichÊwas:Ê__________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ_____________________________________________________ · SendingÊgreeƟngs,ÊincludingÊthoseÊfromÊ_____________________ · AndÊfinallyÊdeclaringÊtheÊopportunityÊforÊpeace toÊallÊwhoÊareÊinÊ Christ.

AsÊweÊcloseÊtheÊfirstÊleƩerÊwriƩenÊbyÊPeterÊandÊbeforeÊweÊbeginÊtheÊ nextÊone,ÊweÊshouldÊexamineÊourÊhearts,Êminds,ÊandÊemoƟons.Ê · AreÊYOUÊatÊpeaceÊwithÊGod?ÊÊItÊisÊtheÊmostÊimportantÊquesƟonÊ youÊcanÊaskÊyourselfÊinÊanyÊgivenÊday!ÊÊ · AreÊyouÊtrusƟngÊthatÊJesusÊtookÊtheÊpenaltyÊforÊYOURÊsinsÊandÊ haveÊyouÊaskedÊforÊhisÊforgivenessÊandÊacceptedÊhisÊgiŌÊwhichÊ makesÊyourÊmoralÊdebtÊpaid in full?ÊÊIfÊyouÊdon’tÊrecallÊeverÊaskingÊ forÊthatÊiniƟalÊactÊofÊforgiveness—stopÊandÊdoÊthatÊrightÊnow. · DoÊyouÊliveÊwithÊaÊclearÊconscienceÊtodayÊasÊyouÊaskÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊ toÊhelpÊyouÊliveÊaÊlifeÊpleasingÊtoÊGod—includingÊrepenƟngÊwhenÊ youÊdoÊsinÊandÊacƟvelyÊaskingÊforÊGod’sÊstrengthÊtoÊpleaseÊhim?ÊÊ RightÊnowÊisÊaÊgoodÊƟmeÊtoÊprocessÊtheseÊthingsÊwithÊtheÊLord. · IsÊyourÊhopeÊaliveÊandÊacƟve?ÊÊDoÊyouÊmakeÊdecisionsÊbasedÊonÊ theÊimpactÊtheyÊwillÊhaveÊonÊeternity?ÊÊHasÊGodÊsƟrredÊupÊsomeÊ changesÊinÊyourÊheart?ÊÊIÊhopeÊso!ÊÊWeÊshouldÊALLÊbeÊchangedÊasÊ weÊspendÊƟmeÊinÊGod’sÊWordÊandÊlistenÊtoÊHisÊvoice. MayÊyouÊbeÊblessedÊabundantly!Ê g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 5

OneÊbookÊdown,ÊoneÊtoÊgoÊasÊweÊstudyÊ throughÊtheÊwriƟngsÊofÊtheÊApostleÊPeterÊ verse-by-verse!ÊÊWeÊhaveÊthreeÊmoreÊ chaptersÊtoÊstudyÊnowÊasÊweÊopenÊtheÊ bookÊofÊSecondÊPeter—meaningÊitÊwasÊhisÊsecond leƩerÊwriƩenÊtoÊtheÊ preciousÊbrothersÊandÊsistersÊwhoÊareÊinÊChrist.ÊHereÊisÊourÊoutlineÊforÊ theÊnextÊthreeÊweeks: OpeningÊGreeƟngs:ÊÊ1:1-2 1. Our knowledge of Christ Increases our Faith (1:3-21) KeyÊverse:Ê1:3Ê“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” FaithÊisÊkeyÊtoÊspiritualÊgrowthÊ1:3-15Ê ScriptureÊisÊkeyÊtoÊspiritualÊgrowthÊ1:16-21 2. FalseÊteachersÊwillÊaƩemptÊtoÊdestroyÊourÊfaithÊ(2:1-22) KeyÊverse:Ê2:1Ê“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destrucƟve heresies…” BewareÊofÊfalseÊteachersÊ2:1-3 ExamplesÊandÊcharacterisƟcsÊofÊfalseÊteachersÊ2:4-22 3. TheÊComingÊRewardÊofÊourÊFaithÊ(3:1-18) KeyÊverse:Ê3:9Ê“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is paƟent toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” RememberÊwhatÊGod’sÊWordÊrevealsÊ3:1-10 WaitÊwithÊanÊeternalÊperspecƟveÊ3:11-18 AsÊyouÊbeginÊthisÊfinalÊstretch,ÊrememberÊto... PRAY—AskÊGodÊtoÊleadÊyouÊtoÊaÊfullÊunderstandingÊofÊtheÊScripturesÊ youÊareÊaboutÊtoÊstudy.ÊÊTheÊworkÊthatÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊdoesÊinÊourÊ mindsÊtoÊhelpÊusÊunderstandÊwhatÊwasÊwriƩenÊisÊincredible! 2 Peter Chapter 1

READ—2ÊPeterÊchapterÊone.ÊÊReadÊtheÊenƟreÊchapterÊasÊmanyÊƟmesÊ duringÊthisÊweekÊasÊyouÊcan—everyÊdayÊifÊpossible. MARK—UnderlineÊtheÊwordsÊknow orÊknowledge.ÊTheseÊwordsÊwillÊbeÊ usedÊatÊleastÊthirteenÊƟmesÊinÊthisÊshortÊepistle.ÊJustÊaÊhead’sÊup—theÊ wordÊdoesn’tÊmeanÊmereÊintellectualÊunderstanding,ÊbutÊalsoÊaÊlivingÊ parƟcipaƟonÊinÊtheÊtruthÊofÊGod—aÊgrowingÊup! MEMORIZE—ConƟnueÊyourÊweeklyÊmethodÊofÊmemorizingÊoneÊverseÊ fromÊtheÊchapterÊthatÊseemsÊmeaningfulÊforÊyourÊlifeÊrightÊnow!ÊÊ WriteÊitÊoutÊatÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊchapterÊsecƟonÊandÊprepareÊtoÊshareÊ withÊyourÊgroupÊorÊyourÊprayerÊpartner.Ê INTRODUCTION—InÊtheÊlastÊfiveÊweeksÊwhileÊweÊstudiedÊPeter’sÊfirstÊ leƩerÊweÊfoundÊstrengthÊforÊƟmesÊofÊsuffering.ÊTheÊleƩerÊencouragedÊ usÊinÊhope,ÊexhortedÊusÊtoÊliveÊaÊlifeÊofÊholinessÊandÊremindedÊusÊthatÊ maintainingÊaÊpostureÊofÊhumilityÊisÊlikeÊtheÊspiritualÊsuperÊglueÊthatÊ helpsÊitÊallÊtake hold.ÊÊ Now,ÊasÊheÊwritesÊaÊsecondÊƟmeÊ(probablyÊfromÊprisonÊinÊRome)ÊhisÊ passionÊisÊaimedÊatÊincreasingÊtheÊspiritualÊmaturityÊofÊhisÊbrothers.Ê He’sÊconvincedÊthatÊaÊtrueÊknowledgeÊofÊtheirÊsaviorÊcoupledÊwithÊaÊ determinaƟonÊforÊspiritualÊgrowthÊwillÊhelpÊthemÊdetectÊandÊrejectÊ theÊsubtleÊdecepƟonÊofÊfalseÊteachers.Ê Knowledge Increases Faith g FaithÊisÊKeyÊtoÊSpiritualÊGrowth:Ê2ÊPeterÊ1:1-15ÊÊÊg gRead v.1-4—ThereÊisÊaÊsubtleÊdifferenceÊbetweenÊv.1ÊinÊthisÊbookÊ andÊv.1ÊinÊtheÊpreviousÊbook.ÊPeterÊintroducedÊhimselfÊaÊbitÊ differently.ÊGoÊbackÊandÊreadÊ1ÊPeterÊ1:1ÊandÊthenÊ2ÊPeterÊ1:1... · WhatÊdifferenceÊinÊwordingÊdoÊyouÊdetect? · WhatÊdoesÊtheÊaddiƟonalÊdescripƟonÊofÊhimselfÊpotenƟallyÊ suggestÊaboutÊPeter’sÊownÊspiritualÊgrowthÊsinceÊtheÊfirstÊleƩer?

· God’sÊpowerÊflowingÊfreely throughÊusÊisÊeverything!ÊWriteÊoutÊv.3Ê andÊmarkÊwordsÊthatÊareÊimportantÊtoÊyouÊasÊyouÊwrite: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ · AccordingÊtoÊv.3ÊhowÊdoÊweÊreceiveÊGod’sÊpowerÊinÊourÊlives? · AccordingÊtoÊv.4ÊwhatÊcanÊweÊexpectÊtoÊseeÊasÊaÊresultÊofÊ genuinelyÊknowingÊGodÊandÊbelievingÊhisÊpromises? · IfÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊin Christ forÊawhileÊandÊhaveÊbeenÊintenƟonalÊ aboutÊapplyingÊHisÊnature,ÊwhatÊkindÊofÊ‘corrupƟon that is in the world’ haveÊbeenÊsparedÊfromÊbyÊGod’sÊgrace? g Read v.5-11—GodÊcaresÊaboutÊyourÊspiritualÊgrowth!ÊÊWeÊareÊtoÊ lookÊmoreÊlikeÊChristÊtomorrowÊthanÊweÊdidÊtoday.ÊÊ WithÊwhateverÊresourcesÊyouÊhaveÊavailable,ÊlookÊupÊeachÊofÊtheseÊ characterisƟcsÊthenÊdefineÊandÊcommentÊonÊeachÊofÊthem:

· Faith · Virtue · Knowledge · Self-control · Steadfastness · Godliness · BrotherlyÊaffecƟon · Love WhichÊofÊtheseÊqualiƟesÊdoÊyouÊsenseÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊworkingÊtoÊ improveÊinÊyouÊatÊthisÊseasonÊofÊyourÊlifeÊ? It’sÊokay,ÊevenÊhealthy,ÊtoÊtakeÊinventoryÊofÊwhatÊGodÊisÊdoingÊinÊourÊ lives—likeÊPeterÊsaysÊinÊv.8ÊweÊwantÊtheseÊqualiƟesÊtoÊbeÊincreasing. · WhatÊcanÊweÊbeÊsparedÊfromÊ(v.8)ÊifÊindeedÊweÊareÊincreasingÊinÊ theseÊChrist-likeÊqualiƟes? · OnÊtheÊotherÊhand,ÊwhatÊareÊweÊlikeÊ(v.9)ÊifÊweÊdon’tÊtakeÊSpiritualÊ growthÊseriously?

SpiritualÊgrowthÊ(acƟngÊmoreÊlikeÊChrist,ÊalsoÊcalledÊsancƟficaƟon)ÊisÊ theÊkeyÊtoÊmanyÊthingsÊinÊlife,ÊnotÊtheÊleastÊofÊwhichÊisÊbeingÊableÊtoÊ knowÊforÊsureÊthatÊyouÊtrulyÊare aÊchildÊofÊGod.ÊThatÊisÊwhatÊPeterÊ meansÊbyÊconfirming your calling and elecƟon.ÊÊV.10-11ÊissueÊbothÊanÊ encouragementÊandÊaÊchallenge.ÊOtherÊApostlesÊmenƟonedÊtheÊsameÊ challengeÊinÊtheirÊwriƟngs:ÊÊReadÊandÊcomment… FromÊtheÊApostleÊPaul:Ê2ÊCorinthiansÊ13:5-6 FromÊJohnÊtheÊBeloved:Ê1ÊJohnÊ2:4-6 IfÊyouÊcanÊmeasureÊfromÊtheÊƟmeÊyouÊfirstÊaskedÊJesusÊtoÊforgiveÊyourÊ sinsÊandÊobserveÊGodÊgrowingÊChrisƟanÊvirtuesÊinÊyou,ÊthatÊcanÊbeÊaÊ greatÊencouragementÊandÊconfirmaƟonÊofÊyourÊsalvaƟon. IfÊthisÊtypeÊofÊreflecƟonÊsƟrsÊupÊdoubtÊaboutÊyourÊfaithÊthereÊareÊtwoÊ possibiliƟes:Ê 1) PerhapsÊyouÊhaven’tÊbeenÊasÊdiligentÊaboutÊyourÊresponsibilityÊtoÊ allowÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊtoÊGROWÊChrist-likeÊcharacterisƟcsÊasÊyouÊ shouldÊbe.ÊYouÊmayÊneedÊtoÊadmitÊthat,ÊmakeÊchangesÊinÊyourÊ lifestyleÊandÊaskÊGodÊtoÊenableÊyouÊtoÊreallyÊknow HimÊandÊaddÊ theÊvirtuesÊlistedÊinÊthisÊchapterÊtoÊyourÊcharacter. 2) TheÊsecondÊpossibilityÊisÊthatÊyouÊhaven’tÊtrulyÊaskedÊJesusÊtoÊ forgiveÊyourÊsinsÊandÊbeÊtheÊLordÊofÊyourÊlife.ÊItÊisÊveryÊcommonÊinÊ ourÊcultureÊforÊsomeoneÊtoÊbecomeÊinterestedÊinÊtheÊBible,ÊJesus,Ê evenÊtheÊlifeÊofÊtheÊchurchÊandÊthenÊoneÊdayÊrealizeÊit’sÊƟmeÊforÊ thatÊdefiningÊmomentÊofÊactuallyÊadmiƫngÊneedÊofÊsalvaƟon.ÊÊ IfÊthatÊsecondÊpossibilityÊhitsÊhomeÊwithÊyouÊtoday,Êit’sÊsimple—justÊ stopÊreading,ÊlookÊupÊtoÊheavenÊandÊtellÊGodÊthatÊyouÊrealizeÊyouÊ need toÊhaveÊyourÊsinsÊforgivenÊandÊyouÊwantÊtoÊreceive rightÊnow,ÊasÊ aÊfreeÊgiŌ,ÊtheÊpaymentÊthatÊJesusÊmadeÊforÊYOURÊsins.ÊPaulÊwroteÊitÊ thisÊsimply:

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 V.11ÊsaysÊ“For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” g Read v.12-15—ThisÊsecƟonÊhasÊaÊpersonalÊtone—youÊcanÊtellÊbyÊ theÊmulƟpleÊuseÊofÊtheÊpersonalÊpronounÊ“I”ÊinÊtheseÊfourÊverses. · WriteÊasÊmanyÊphrasesÊthatÊbeginÊwithÊ“I”ÊasÊyouÊcanÊfind: (eg. I intend to remind you…) HaveÊyouÊknownÊsomeoneÊwhoÊknewÊtheyÊwereÊdying,ÊorÊsomeoneÊ whoÊwasÊjustÊveryÊoldÊandÊhadÊaÊpassionateÊaƫtudeÊofÊwanƟngÊtoÊ passÊonÊpersonalÊknowledgeÊtoÊtheÊnextÊgeneraƟon?ÊOŌenÊpeopleÊ writeÊaÊbookÊ(orÊinÊPeter’sÊcaseÊaÊleƩer)ÊaboutÊtheirÊlifeÊorÊmemories.ÊÊ YouÊcanÊtellÊitÊwasÊPeter’sÊpassionÊthatÊhisÊreadersÊwouldÊbeÊ remindedÊofÊtheÊvalueÊofÊspiritualÊgrowth. IfÊYOUÊknewÊthatÊyouÊwereÊapproachingÊheavenÊsoonÊandÊhadÊanÊ opportunityÊtoÊshareÊthreeÊremindersÊwithÊaÊyoungerÊbeliever,ÊwhatÊ wouldÊtheyÊbe? The ChrisƟan who is sure of his elecƟon and calling will never "stumble" but will prove by a consistent life that he is truly a child of God. He will not always be on the mountaintop, but will always be climbing higher. If we do "these things" (the things listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7, cf. v. 8), if we display ChrisƟan growth and character in our daily lives, then we can be sure we are converted and will one day be in heaven. —Bible ExposiƟon Commentary (BE Series) 1

1.ÊÊ 2.Ê 3.Ê g ScriptureÊisÊKeyÊtoÊSpiritualÊGrowth:Ê2ÊPeterÊ1:16-21ÊÊg g Read v.16-18—AÊwriƩenÊaccountÊofÊaÊperson’sÊexperiencesÊisÊaÊ greatÊtreasureÊforÊgeneraƟonsÊtoÊcome.ÊThere’sÊnothingÊlikeÊhearingÊ historyÊdirectlyÊfromÊsomeoneÊwhoÊlivedÊandÊbreathedÊit. HaveÊyouÊponderedÊtheÊfactÊthatÊtheÊNewÊTestamentÊinÊyourÊBibleÊ wasÊinspiredÊandÊwriƩenÊbyÊmenÊwhoÊwereÊactuallyÊthere?Ê · WhatÊphrasesÊfromÊv.16ÊandÊv.18ÊidenƟfyÊPeterÊasÊaÊreliableÊ source? · v.16ÊopensÊwithÊanÊexplanaƟonÊofÊwhatÊtypeÊofÊalternaƟveÊtoÊ eyewitnesses:Ê HaveÊyouÊnoƟcedÊhowÊpeopleÊloveÊtheÊmysteryÊandÊintrigueÊofÊlegendÊ andÊtale?ÊIt’sÊsadÊhowÊmanyÊpeopleÊareÊseducedÊintoÊcleverly devised mythsÊwhichÊhaveÊnoÊabilityÊtoÊachieveÊeitherÊforgivenessÊofÊsinsÊORÊ spiritualÊgrowth.ÊÊ TheÊeventÊPeterÊwasÊreferringÊtoÊinÊv.17-18ÊwasÊtheÊTransfiguraƟonÊofÊ JesusÊ—ÊGodÊtheÊFather,ÊmeeƟngÊwithÊGodÊtheÊSon,ÊinÊtheÊpresenceÊ ofÊeyewitnesses!ÊWhatÊaÊgreatÊprivilegeÊandÊresponsibilityÊtoÊhaveÊ beenÊwithÊJesusÊatÊthatÊƟme.ÊReadÊMaƩhewÊ17:1-7ÊandÊanswer:Ê · WhoÊdidÊJesusÊtakeÊwithÊhimÊonÊtheÊmountain?

· AnyÊideasÊwhyÊheÊchoseÊthoseÊthreeÊmen? · WhoÊappearedÊtoÊtalkÊwithÊJesus? · WhatÊdidÊtheÊvoiceÊinÊtheÊcloudsÊsayÊandÊwhoÊwasÊspeaking? · HowÊdidÊtheÊdisciplesÊrespondÊ(v.6)? · WhatÊdidÊJesusÊdoÊ(v.7)? g Read v.19-21—AsÊreliableÊasÊanÊeyewitnessÊaccountÊis,ÊPeterÊ remindedÊhisÊreadersÊaboutÊanÊevenÊgreaterÊassuranceÊthatÊJesusÊisÊ God’sÊson—theÊHolyÊScriptures,ÊwhichÊheÊcalledÊtheÊpropheƟcÊword.ÊÊ · WhatÊshouldÊbeÊourÊaƫtudeÊ(v.19)ÊtowardÊScripture? · ExplainÊtheÊanalogyÊgivenÊinÊv.19— · WhatÊisÊtheÊlamp? · WhatÊisÊtheÊdarkÊplace? · WhenÊdoesÊtheÊdayÊdawn? · WhatÊimportantÊunderstandingÊaboutÊtheÊwriƟngÊofÊourÊBibleÊdoÊ weÊlearnÊfromÊv.20-21? OnÊtheÊMountÊofÊTransfiguraƟon,ÊPeter,ÊJames,ÊandÊJohnÊlearnedÊ thatÊsufferingÊandÊgloryÊgoÊtogether,ÊandÊthatÊtheÊFather'sÊspecialÊ loveÊandÊapprovalÊareÊgivenÊtoÊthoseÊwhoÊareÊwillingÊtoÊsufferÊforÊ theÊsakeÊofÊtheÊLord.ÊWeÊneedÊthisÊsameÊlessonÊtoday.ÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ—Bible ExposiƟon Commentary1

BackÊtoÊourÊlamp shining in a dark place—readÊandÊenjoyÊtheseÊ addiƟonalÊthoughtsÊonÊtheÊScriptureÊGodÊhasÊleŌÊusÊwithÊasÊweÊ navigateÊourÊwayÊthroughÊthisÊdarkÊworld: · PsalmÊ119:105 · MaƩhewÊ4:16 · MaƩhewÊ5:14-16 · PhilippiansÊ2:14-16 g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 1

PRAY—AskÊGodÊforÊhisÊguidanceÊasÊyouÊ readÊtheÊScripturesÊthisÊweek.ÊÊ READ—2ÊPeterÊchapterÊtwoÊallÊtheÊwayÊ throughÊandÊtryÊtoÊreadÊtheÊenƟreÊchapterÊasÊmanyÊƟmesÊduringÊthisÊ weekÊasÊyouÊcan. MARK—YouÊwillÊbeÊinstructedÊtoÊmarkÊcertainÊwordsÊtoÊhelpÊidenƟfyÊ characterisƟcsÊofÊfalseÊteachers—beÊwatchingÊasÊyouÊgoÊthroughÊtheÊ studyÊguide. MEMORIZE—ChooseÊoneÊparƟcularÊverseÊfromÊthisÊchapterÊthatÊ seemsÊmeaningfulÊtoÊyou!ÊÊWriteÊitÊoutÊatÊtheÊendÊofÊthisÊchapterÊ studyÊandÊprepareÊtoÊshareÊwithÊyourÊgroupÊorÊyourÊprayerÊpartner.Ê INTRODUCTION—HowÊadeptÊareÊyouÊatÊrecognizingÊaÊgenuineÊitem?Ê DoÊyouÊknowÊaÊvaluableÊbaseballÊcardÊfromÊaÊcommonÊoneÊatÊaÊyardÊ sale?ÊProbablyÊnotÊ—ÊmyÊguessÊisÊyouÊhaven’tÊstudiedÊupÊonÊbaseballÊ cardsÊtooÊmuchÊlately.ÊButÊIÊhopeÊyouÊAREÊstudyingÊupÊonÊGod’sÊWordÊ soÊyouÊrecognizeÊgenuineÊgospelÊteachingÊandÊareÊableÊtoÊdiscardÊ falseÊteaching.ÊInÊthisÊchapterÊweÊwillÊputÊintoÊpracƟceÊtheÊimportantÊ lessonÊofÊgrowingÊinÊtheÊKNOWLEDGEÊofÊChristÊsoÊthatÊweÊcanÊeasilyÊ castÊasideÊbad,ÊevenÊharmfulÊteachingÊwhenÊyouÊhearÊit. g BewareÊofÊFalseÊTeachers:Ê2ÊPeterÊ2:1-3ÊÊÊg g Read v.1-3—ANDÊreviewÊtheÊpreviousÊthreeÊversesÊ(1:19-21)Ê becauseÊPeterÊwasÊbuildingÊaÊbridgeÊfromÊtheÊGodlyÊprophetsÊwhoÊ wereÊinspiredÊbyÊtheÊSpiritÊandÊtheÊfalseÊprophetsÊwhoÊfollowedÊtheirÊ ownÊways. · ListÊwhatÊyouÊlearnÊaboutÊtheÊgodlyÊprophetsÊfromÊthoseÊverses: · ListÊcharacterisƟcsÊinÊv.1-3ÊaboutÊfalseÊprophetsÊ(teachers): 2 Peter Chapter 2

· InÊPeter’sÊwarning,ÊwhatÊsenseÊdoÊyouÊgetÊaboutÊwhere theseÊ falseÊteachersÊwillÊbeÊfound? · WhatÊmightÊweÊanƟcipateÊasÊanÊunfortunateÊconsequenceÊinÊtheÊ churchÊasÊaÊresultÊofÊthem? gÊÊCharacterisƟcsÊofÊFalseÊTeachers:Ê2ÊPeterÊ2:1-3ÊÊg Now,Êlet’sÊreadÊwhatÊweÊcanÊexpectÊwillÊhappenÊtoÊthem... g Read v.4-9—andÊcircleÊtheÊwordsÊifÊandÊthen,ÊitÊwillÊhelpÊyouÊ followÊtheÊlogicÊthatÊPeterÊisÊcraŌingÊasÊheÊcitesÊcasesÊfromÊtheÊpast. · WhatÊareÊthreeÊexamplesÊofÊpastÊjudgementsÊfromÊtheseÊverses: · Ê · Ê · Ê ThisÊlistÊshouldÊremindÊusÊthatÊGodÊdoesÊnotÊexemptÊanyÊwhoÊrejectÊ himÊ(evenÊangels).ÊHeÊisÊaÊGodÊofÊjusƟceÊandÊfairness.ÊButÊheÊisÊalsoÊaÊ GodÊofÊmercyÊandÊgraceÊforÊanyÊwhoÊwillinglyÊbelieveÊinÊhimÊandÊ confessÊtheirÊsins—toÊthoseÊpeopleÊheÊwillÊprovideÊprotecƟon.Ê · V.9ÊsaysÊ‘the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials’ referringÊtoÊbothÊNoahÊandÊLot.ÊListÊsomeÊwaysÊtheyÊwereÊatÊoddsÊ withÊtheÊcultureÊaroundÊthemÊthatÊcreatedÊaÊtrialÊinÊtheirÊlives:

· WhatÊtrialsÊdoÊyouÊpersonallyÊfaceÊdueÊtoÊdifferencesÊinÊtheÊ cultureÊaroundÊyou? g Read v.9-17—WeÊincludedÊv.9ÊagainÊwithÊthisÊreadingÊsinceÊtheÊ subjectÊofÊtheseÊversesÊisÊtheÊcharacterisƟcsÊandÊpunishmentÊofÊtheÊ unrighteous.ÊItÊmayÊhelpÊyouÊtoÊsortÊoutÊtheirÊcharacterisƟcsÊbyÊ readingÊthroughÊtheseÊversesÊandÊunderliningÊeachÊoccurrenceÊofÊtheÊ wordsÊthey, these andÊthose. · ListÊtheÊcharacterisƟcsÊPeterÊexposedÊinÊfalseÊteachersÊfromÊv.10: · InÊcontrastÊtoÊtheÊboldnessÊofÊtheÊfalseÊteachersÊwhatÊcommentÊ didÊheÊmakeÊaboutÊtheÊangels: · V.12-17ÊholdsÊsomeÊimaginaƟveÊmetaphorsÊasÊPeterÊcomparedÊ falseÊteachersÊtoÊvariousÊthings.ÊListÊasÊmanyÊasÊyouÊcanÊfind: · IrraƟonal animals v.12 · · · (circle the one that intrigues you the most) · FromÊv.17ÊsummarizeÊtheÊoutcomeÊofÊtheseÊfalseÊteachers: g Read v.18-19—Remember,ÊtheÊmainÊpointÊwasÊaÊwarningÊaboutÊ falseÊteachersÊwithin theÊcommunityÊofÊbelievers. · WhatÊkindÊofÊpeopleÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊPeterÊreferredÊtoÊwithÊtheÊ phraseÊ‘those who are barely escaping?’Ê(v.18)

· WhyÊdoÊyouÊthinkÊfalseÊteachersÊdon’tÊgoÊaŌerÊstrongÊbelievers,Ê butÊratherÊweakÊorÊyoungÊones? · WhatÊmakesÊtheirÊteachingÊalluring?Ê WeÊshouldÊpauseÊtoÊmeditateÊonÊtheÊsecondÊhalfÊofÊv.19.ÊThoseÊwhoÊ areÊleadingÊothersÊastrayÊhaveÊunwiƫnglyÊbecomeÊslaves of corrupƟon.ÊThereÊisÊaÊwarningÊhereÊevenÊforÊusÊtoÊheedÊtoÊensureÊWEÊ areÊnotÊovercomeÊbyÊsinÊthatÊwouldÊenslaveÊus. · ReadÊJohnÊ8:31-36.ÊExplainÊwhatÊJesusÊsaidÊaboutÊbondageÊtoÊsin: g Read v.20-22—TheÊfinalÊpointÊisÊaÊstrongÊoneÊthatÊunderscoresÊ theÊdisƟncƟonÊbetweenÊtrueÊbelieversÊwithÊaÊnewÊnatureÊandÊthoseÊ whoÊlearnedÊtoÊmimicÊcleansing from the defilements of the world. · TheÊproverbÊinÊtheÊlastÊverseÊremindsÊusÊofÊtheÊnatural wayÊofÊ things.Ê · WhatÊisÊnaturalÊforÊaÊdog? · WhatÊisÊnaturalÊforÊaÊsow? FollowingÊthisÊreasoning,ÊitÊwouldÊbeÊsupernatural forÊaÊpigÊtoÊstopÊ goingÊtoÊtheÊmudÊholeÊaŌerÊonceÊbeingÊcleanedÊup—someÊelementÊofÊ insƟnctÊwouldÊbeÊchangedÊthatÊwouldÊcauseÊthisÊchangeÊinÊbehavior. TheÊcontextÊofÊthisÊchapterÊisÊtoÊbewareÊofÊfalseÊteachers.Ê · WhatÊdoesÊthisÊpassageÊexplainÊaboutÊthoseÊwhoÊknowÊtheÊtruth,Ê butÊreturnÊtoÊtheirÊnatural state? ThroughoutÊthisÊwriƟngÊweÊhaveÊbeenÊremindedÊthatÊitÊisÊtheÊyoungerÊ orÊlessÊmatureÊbelieversÊwhoÊareÊmostÊvulnerableÊtoÊwrongÊteaching.Ê

ReadÊthroughÊtheseÊpassagesÊandÊmakeÊnotesÊonÊwhatÊyouÊlearnÊ aboutÊSpiritualÊGrowth: HebrewsÊ2:1 HebrewsÊ3:12-13 HebrewsÊ5:11-14 HebrewsÊ10:22 HebrewsÊ10:23 HebrewsÊ10:24 HebrewsÊ10:36 g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

ÊDate:ÊÊ_______________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 2

PRAY—WeÊneedÊtoÊaskÊforÊGod’sÊrevelaƟonÊ whenÊweÊreadÊHisÊWord.ÊBelieveÊthatÊGodÊ givesÊtoÊtheÊoneÊwhoÊasks—becauseÊthat’sÊ whatÊheÊsaid!Ê(MaƩhewÊ7:8)Ê READ—2ÊPeterÊchapterÊthreeÊmulƟpleÊƟmesÊthroughoutÊthisÊweek.Ê MARK—SomeÊofÊtheÊkeyÊwordsÊtoÊbeÊwatchingÊforÊinÊthisÊchapterÊare:Ê remember, paƟence, waiƟng, Day of the Lord,ÊandÊpromise! MEMORIZE—ChooseÊoneÊverseÊfromÊthisÊchapterÊandÊwriteÊitÊoutÊasÊ yourÊmemoryÊverse.ÊCanÊyouÊreciteÊallÊeightÊofÊyourÊverses?ÊÊ INTRODUCTION—ThisÊisÊsoÊperfectÊthatÊourÊleƩerÊendsÊwithÊtheÊ reminderÊofÊGod’sÊpromiseÊthatÊeverythingÊweÊsee,Êtouch,ÊandÊfeelÊisÊ temporary.ÊGod’sÊjudgmentÊISÊcoming—evenÊthoughÊitÊhasn’tÊcomeÊ yet—andÊallÊwillÊbeÊexposed.ÊBeingÊremindedÊofÊthisÊshouldÊmoƟvateÊ usÊtoÊbeÊfound by him without spot or blemish. TheÊComingÊRewardÊofÊourÊFaithÊÊ gRememberÊwhatÊGod’sÊWordÊReveals:Ê2ÊPeterÊ3:1-10Êg g Read v.1-2—TheÊmainÊthemeÊforÊusÊatÊtheÊbeginningÊofÊthisÊlastÊ chapterÊisÊremembering!ÊOh,ÊhowÊquicklyÊweÊgetÊdistracted,Êforgeƞul,Ê lazy,ÊbecomeÊunawareÊofÊGod’sÊbigÊpicture.ÊÊEncouragingÊoneÊanotherÊ toÊrememberÊGod’sÊplanÊisÊalwaysÊaÊgoodÊthing! · WhatÊtwoÊthingsÊdidÊPeterÊspecificallyÊwantÊbelieversÊtoÊ remember? · Ê · ÊÊ YouÊmayÊbeÊthinkingÊwhich commandment of the Lord are we to remember?ÊÊWell,ÊthereÊisÊaÊsummaƟonÊthatÊwasÊevenÊspokenÊbyÊ Jesus: 2 Peter Chapter 3

· ReadÊMaƩhewÊ7:12,ÊJohnÊ13:34-35,ÊRomansÊ13:9ÊÊandÊexplainÊ whatÊweÊareÊtoÊremember: g Read v.3-4—DidÊyouÊknowÊthatÊlast days meansÊtheÊenƟreÊƟmeÊ betweenÊJesus’ÊresurrecƟonÊandÊhisÊreturn?ÊItÊcanÊalsoÊbeÊcalledÊthe church age.ÊWeÊcouldÊsayÊwe’reÊlivingÊinÊtheÊlastÊdaysÊofÊtheÊlastÊdays. · WhatÊisÊaÊcharacterisƟcÊofÊtheÊlast days accordingÊtoÊv.3? · WhatÊisÊcharacterisƟcÊofÊscoffersÊaccordingÊtoÊv.3? · WhatÊisÊtheirÊfailedÊlogicÊaccordingÊtoÊv.4? g Read v.5-10—WhenÊdoingÊinvesƟgaƟveÊworkÊit’sÊimportantÊnotÊtoÊ overlookÊanyÊinformaƟon.ÊInÊtheÊESV,ÊPeterÊusesÊtheÊcompoundÊwordÊ overlook twice.ÊFindÊthoseÊtwoÊinstancesÊandÊunderlineÊthem. · TheirÊscoffingÊisÊnotÊgoodÊbecauseÊtheyÊoverlook what? · IsÊthisÊanÊaccidentalÊerrorÊdueÊtoÊmissingÊinformaƟon? (ReadÊRomansÊ1:19-20ÊforÊmoreÊinsights) · WhatÊareÊWEÊnotÊtoÊoverlook (readÊv.8-9)? (ReadÊIsaiahÊ65:17-25ÊforÊmoreÊinsightsÊaboutÊGod’sÊpromise)

GoÊbackÊthroughÊtheseÊversesÊandÊmarkÊwater,Êfire/burned.Ê · WhatÊdoÊyouÊdiscoverÊaboutÊhowÊGodÊformedÊourÊworld? · WhatÊwillÊHeÊuseÊtoÊendÊourÊworld? PeterÊimploredÊusÊtoÊholdÊontoÊthisÊtruth.ÊWeÊcanÊbeÊcertainÊthatÊinÊÊ historyÊpastÊGodÊcreatedÊtheÊworldÊweÊknowÊwithÊwaterÊandÊweÊcanÊ beÊsureÊofÊhisÊpromiseÊinÊtheÊfutureÊ(evenÊthoughÊweÊcan’tÊseeÊitÊ now)ÊthatÊheÊwillÊjudgeÊtheÊworldÊweÊknowÊwithÊfire. · AsÊanÊinteresƟngÊsideÊnoteÊtoÊtheÊuseÊofÊwaterÊandÊfire—ReadÊ MaƩhewÊ3:11.ÊÊWhatÊdoÊyouÊdiscover?Ê · V.9ÊexplainsÊwhy GodÊhasÊbeenÊdelayingÊtheÊfulfillmentÊofÊhisÊ promiseÊforÊaÊnewÊheavenÊandÊnewÊearth—whatÊisÊit? Thinking—ifÊGodÊhadÊbroughtÊHisÊjudgmentÊonÊtheÊearthÊlastÊyear,Ê wouldÊyouÊhaveÊbeenÊsafeÊinÊChrist?ÊÊHowÊaboutÊ5ÊyearsÊago?Ê10Ê yearsÊago?ÊWhatÊdoesÊthisÊteachÊyouÊaboutÊGod’sÊmercy? · V.10ÊtellsÊusÊhow theÊdayÊofÊtheÊLordÊwillÊarrive.ÊÊWhatÊareÊweÊtoÊ expect? ReadÊJesusÊwordsÊinÊMaƩhewÊ24:35-44:Ê · WhatÊwasÊtheÊgeneralÊaƫtudeÊofÊtheÊpeopleÊinÊJesus’Êparable?

· WhatÊtypeÊofÊaƫtudeÊdidÊJesusÊexhortÊhisÊchildrenÊtoÊhaveÊ(v.42)? Thinking:ÊOnlyÊtwoÊthingsÊinÊlifeÊareÊeternal—God’sÊWordÊandÊGod’sÊ People.ÊÊHowÊdoesÊthisÊinspireÊyouÊasÊyouÊsetÊyourÊprioriƟesÊinÊlife?Ê PrayÊaboutÊthisÊandÊlistÊspecificÊthingsÊthatÊyouÊfeelÊtheÊHolyÊSpiritÊisÊ speakingÊtoÊyouÊtoÊdo,Êchange,ÊdiscardÊinÊorderÊforÊyouÊtoÊstay awake: g WaitÊwithÊanÊeternalÊperspecƟve:Ê2ÊPeterÊ3:11-18ÊÊg g Read v.11-16—MarkÊtheÊwordsÊwaiƟng andÊpaƟence. WeÊdon’tÊ careÊforÊeitherÊdoÊwe?ÊWeÊdon’tÊmuchÊlikeÊtoÊwait forÊanythingÊ (especiallyÊinÊourÊculture)ÊandÊtheÊvirtueÊofÊpaƟence isÊveryÊdifficultÊtoÊ culƟvate. YetÊweÊjustÊfinishedÊreadingÊaboutÊGod’sÊpaƟenceÊwithÊtheÊ worldÊHeÊcreatedÊsoÊthatÊmoreÊpeopleÊwouldÊcomeÊtoÊrepentance.Ê · PeterÊasksÊinÊv.11Êwhat sort of people ought you to be? WhatÊisÊ theÊrhetoricalÊanswerÊfoundÊinÊbothÊv.11ÊandÊv.14? WeÊhaveÊbeenÊstudyingÊhope,ÊholinessÊandÊhumilityÊandÊweÊareÊ convincedÊthatÊGodÊwantsÊallÊofÊthoseÊtraitsÊtoÊbeÊdisplayedÊinÊourÊ lives;ÊbutÊwhileÊweÊareÊwaiƟng (v.12)ÊandÊwaiƟng (v.13)ÊandÊwaiƟng (v.14)ÊWhatÊelseÊshouldÊweÊbeÊdoing? · V.12:_______________ÊtheÊcomingÊofÊtheÊdayÊofÊGod:Ê · V.14:ÊBeÊ_______________ÊtoÊbeÊfoundÊbyÊhimÊ WithoutÊ________ÊorÊ___________ÊandÊatÊ_________. Don’tÊyouÊloveÊtheÊagreementÊinÊtheÊScriptures—itÊdoesn’tÊmaƩerÊifÊ weÊareÊreadingÊtheÊwordsÊofÊJesusÊfromÊtheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMount,Ê theÊleƩersÊfromÊJamesÊorÊJohnÊorÊPeter,ÊthereÊisÊaÊconsensusÊaboutÊ what sort of people we ought to be.ÊSo,ÊtheÊcommentÊinÊv.15ÊaboutÊ theÊwriƟngsÊofÊtheirÊbelovedÊbrotherÊPaulÊisÊaÊgreatÊcomfortÊandÊ confirmaƟon.

g Read v.17-18—AsÊYOUÊawaitÊChrist’sÊreturn,ÊwhatÊareÊyouÊdoing: · ToÊtakeÊcareÊthatÊyouÊareÊnotÊcarriedÊawayÊbyÊerror? · ToÊensureÊyouÊdon’tÊloseÊyourÊownÊstability? · ToÊgrowÊinÊtheÊgraceÊandÊknowledgeÊofÊtheÊLord? May you be especially blessed as you take to heart what you have read and learned in these letters! May our Lord richly bless you! g My Memory Verse g ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

ÊÊÊÊÊDate:ÊÊ_____________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Notes for Teaching on Chapter 3

References ESVÊBibleÊverses… ScriptureÊquotaƟonsÊareÊfromÊtheÊESV®ÊBibleÊ(TheÊHolyÊBible,ÊEnglishÊ StandardÊVersion®),ÊcopyrightÊ©Ê2001ÊbyÊCrossway,ÊaÊpublishingÊÊÊ ministryÊofÊGoodÊNewsÊPublishers.ÊUsedÊbyÊpermission.ÊAllÊrightsÊÊÊÊ reserved. 1—ÊWiersbe,ÊWarrenÊW.ÊThe Bible ExposiƟon Commentary – New Testament, Volume 2.ÊColoradoÊSprings,ÊCO:ÊVictor,Ê2001.Ê WORDsearchÊCROSSÊe-book.

TheÊfollowingÊWOWÊBibleÊStudiesÊwriƩenÊbyÊSueÊLeBouƟllierÊareÊ availableÊthroughÊtheÊCalvaryÊChapelÊOntarioÊbookstore,ÊandÊthroughÊ ourÊonlineÊstoreÊatÊwww.ccontario.com. ÊÊOldÊTestament: ·ÊÊGenesisÊ—DivineÊDesign,ÊFromÊEdenÊtoÊEgypt ·ÊÊExodusÊ—DivineÊDeliverance,ÊFromÊEgyptÊtoÊSinai ·ÊÊNumbersÊ—TheÊWildernessÊWay,ÊFromÊSinaiÊtoÊtheÊJordan ·ÊÊJoshuaÊ—TheÊPathÊofÊPromise,ÊFromÊtheÊJordanÊintoÊCanaan ·ÊÊJudgesÊ—ÊAÊTimeÊofÊTurning ·ÊÊRuthÊ—ÊRescueÊandÊRest ·Ê1ÊSamuelÊ—ÊTheÊComingÊKing ·ÊÊJonahÊ—TheÊCallÊofÊCompassion ÊÊNewÊTestament: ·ÊÊTheÊWayÊofÊJesusÊÊ—TheÊSermonÊonÊtheÊMountÊ(MaƩhew)Ê ·ÊÊSimplyÊJesusÊ—TheÊ“IÊAMs”ÊofÊChristÊ(John) ·ÊÊActsÊ—WalkingÊinÊtheÊSpirit,ÊTheÊFirstÊDaysÊofÊtheÊLastÊDaysÊ ·ÊÊGalaƟansÊ—FindingÊGraceÊinÊaÊDemandingÊWorld ·ÊÊPhilippiansÊ—FindingÊJoyÊinÊaÊDisjointedÊWorld ·ÊÊColossiansÊ—WalkingÊinÊStrengthÊandÊPower ·ÊÊTitusÊ—WhileÊWeÊWait ·ÊÊJamesÊ—RealÊFaithÊforÊDailyÊLife ·ÊÊ1Ê&Ê2ÊPeterÊ—Hope,ÊHolinessÊandÊHumilityÊinÊaÊHosƟleÊWorld ·ÊÊ1,2,3ÊJohnÊ—Light,ÊLoveÊandÊLogic Women of the Word Bible Studies