Union Lake Baptist Church

Transcription

1 Union Lake Baptist Church Adult Sunday School The Denial of St Peter by Gerard van Honthorst ( ) 2 Peter Reading Schedule & Discussion Questions 4 th Quarter (6 Weeks)

2 ULBC Sunday School Page 2

3 Week 1: Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, April 15, ) Read 2 Peter 1:1-11 2) How does Peter see himself in comparison to his readers? Explain your answer using the language of v.1 3) Compare the blessings showed in v. 2 to the similar one Peter used in 1 Peter 1:26. What is different? a) What is he emphasizing by adding this extra phrase in v.2? b) How many times do you see this idea of knowledge in our passage? c) Extra Credit: If knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord brings grace and peace, we should be careful to a. gain more knowledge and b. not lose that knowledge. Where do you see these two ideas in our text? ULBC Sunday School Page 3

4 Week 1 (continued) 4) Verses 3 & 4 contain a long sentence loaded with great spiritual realities. Let s break it down, to explain its parts. a) It begins in v. 3 with a rich promise. In your own words, explain how God gives (grants in ESV) us everything we need. b) What else does God grant (v.4)? c) List all of the ideas that belong to Jesus (e.g., his divine power v. 3) d) His divine power makes it possible to participate in the divine nature. This idea is mind-blowing! i) Why is this a shocking concept? ii) How is this possible? Use the text to support your answer. ULBC Sunday School Page 4

5 Week 1 (continued) 5) vv. 5-7 urge believers to put their faith into action ( supplement your faith with virtue, etc.) a) What do the presence of such qualities accomplish (see v.8). b) According to v. 9, if these qualities are not present, what has to happen? 6) How can you be sure your faith is genuine according to v.10? ULBC Sunday School Page 5

6 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 6

7 Week 2 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, April 22, ) Read 2 Peter 1: ) Back in v. 9, Peter makes the shocking statement that someone could forget that he was cleansed from his former sins. a) In respect to this, what idea is repeated three times in vv b) Particularly in vv , how do we know this is very important to Peter? 3) Peter makes it clear that what he teaches is true. How does he prove this in vv ? 4) Go read Matthew 17:1-8 a) What happened before the disciples eyes? b) Peter had two reactions v.4 & v. 6 ULBC Sunday School Page 7

8 Week 2 (continued) c) Surely this spectacular experience is one of the highlights of Peter s life. Knowing this, explain the shocking statement he makes in 2 Peter 1:19a. i) Compare with 1 Peter 5:8-9 5) Are the Scriptures objective or subjective? Explain your answer using the text. 6) How were the Scriptures produced? ULBC Sunday School Page 8

9 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 9

10 Week 3 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, April 29, ) Read 2 Peter 2:1-10a 2) Despite the sure word of the Scriptures, enemies of the Truth arise. (v.1) a) When do they show up? b) What is their weapon? 3) Verses 2-3a seem to suggest their false teaching incudes teaching about behavior. Do you agree? If so, what do you see in the text that convinces you? (cf. v10) 4) Verse 3b states an ominous truth and in metaphoric language. a) Explain this truth in your own (plain) words. b) How might this truth encourage the church? ULBC Sunday School Page 10

11 Week 3 (Continued) 5) Make a chart using vv4-6. a) Identify the words of God s judgement/punishment b) Who was punished and? c) Why they were punished? 6) Go back and read v. 3. a) Why do you think Peter follows it with vv4-6? 7) The focus in vv 7-9 change from judgement to something else. What is it? Explain your answer using these verses ULBC Sunday School Page 11

12 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 12

13 Week 4 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, May 6, ) Read 2 Peter 2:10b-22 2) Peter uses a lot of similes (comparisons using the word like or as ) and metaphors (comparisons without using like/as) in this text. a) List the similes and metaphors used. b) Why do you think each was used? 3) Not everyone agrees on who the glorious ones are in 2:10b. Assume for now that v10 is speaking of fallen angels (or demons). Peter describes the false teachers as (1) not being afraid of them ( they do not tremble ) and (2) reviling or slandering them ( blaspheme ). a) Why would these things be inappropriate? Why are they listed as examples of the false teachers being bold and willful (or proud and arrogant New Living Translation)? b) According to v11, how do the angels act differently? c) Why should demonic forces be treated with the proper attitude? In giving your answer, remember what Peter wrote earlier (see 1 Peter 5:8-9) ULBC Sunday School Page 13

14 Week 4 (Continued) 4) Back in 2:1-3, Peter described the false teacher s sinful teaching ( destructive heresies, even denying the Master ) and their sinful behavior ( sensuality and greed). From our text, make a list of specific evils of these false leaders in both of these categories (i.e., wrong teaching and wrong behavior) 5) Why is the description creatures of instinct (v12) a criticism? 6) Who are the false teachers victims? 7) What does Peter say about what will become of the false teachers? (follow-up? How would this be an encouragement to the church?) 8) Restate the proverb in v22 in your own words. How does its truth relate to the false teachers? ULBC Sunday School Page 14

15 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 15

16 Week 5 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, May 13, ) Read 2 Peter 3:1-10 2) Peter says he was stirring up [their] sincere mind by way of reminder in v1? List all of the clear statements Peter makes in this section. (Clue: some of them begin with words that sound like he is reminding them: e.g., don t forget this or be sure to remember that ). 3) By contrast, what do the false teachers choose not to remember? 4) How could the scoffing described in vv3-4 negatively impact the church? 5) Verse 9 put forward an interesting idea: with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. a) What do we know about who God is in relation to time? b) Can you think of a Bible verse that mentions God and how He relates to time? (Clue: maybe a passage that speaks of Him knowing the future) c) What does this statement in v8 mean? How is it meant to help Peter s readers? ULBC Sunday School Page 16

17 Week 5 (Continued) 6) What is one reason Peter offers to explain why God has not yet judged the world? 7) What will happen at God s final judgment of this world? ULBC Sunday School Page 17

18 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 18

19 Week 6 Prepare for Discussion on Sunday, May 20, ) Read 2 Peter 3: ) Looking at immediate context (i.e., the verses immediately before and after the ones you are reading) is very important in studying the Bible. Verse 11 starts, Since all these things are thus to be dissolved Use immediate context (both verses before and after v11) to figure out what this is referring to. 3) How should Christians behave in light of the coming judgment? Extra Credit: Contrast the behavior listed in v14 with something you learned about how false teachers behave earlier in the book. 4) Why should Christians look forward to the Day of the Lord (i.e., His final judgment of this world)? Use the passage to support your answer. 5) What does Peter say about Paul s writings? Be specific! ULBC Sunday School Page 19

20 Week 6 (Continued) 6) What do false teachers do with the Scriptures? a) What is Peter s warning for Christians in light of this? b) What should Christians do to prepare themselves for the false teaching they will face? c) Give an example of something you have heard false teachers do with the Scriptures in our day. ULBC Sunday School Page 20

21 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 21

22 Notes: ULBC Sunday School Page 22