JESUS IS LOVE PATIENCE THAT LEADS TO REPENTANCE 2 PETER 3:8-9 MARCH 13, 2016
2 PETER 3:8-9 MARCH 13, 2016 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying 2 Peter 3:8-9. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for our pastors, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: The Lord doesn t want anyone to perish, but longs for all people to come to the knowledge of truth. TEACHING AIM: We are called to show love to all people, even those who oppose the gospel. By doing so, we become the instruments God uses to bring the lost to saving faith in Christ. 2 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
TEACHING PLAN MARCH 13, 2016 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 What is your general attitude toward people who oppose the gospel? Notes 2 Are you prone to befriend or avoid non-christians? 3 Are there people in your life who you fear are too far gone for God to save? The movie Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II prisoner of war who spent 47 days floating in the shark infested waters of the Pacific Ocean after his plane went down. Zamperini s raft floated into enemy territory and he was captured and tortured as a POW for more than two years while in Japanese captivity. The movie doesn t share what transpired in Zamperini s life following the war. In 1949, while suffering from post-traumatic stress and alcoholism, Zamperini and his wife attended a Billy Graham crusade and made the decision to follow Christ. In 1950, Zamperini returned to Sugamo Prison in Tokyo where multiple war criminals were imprisoned. Zamperini shared the gospel with some of the men responsible for holding him captive, forgave them, and as a result, some of them made a decision to follow Christ. God doesn t want any one of us to be hopeless in this life, or perish in the life to come. Jesus didn t come to the world to condemn the world, but rather to save it. His desire is that His patience will lead us to repent of our sin and trust Him as Lord. 3 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
TEACHING PLAN MARCH 13, 2016 UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. > Have a volunteer read 2 Peter 3:8-9. According to this passage how does God s view of time differ from ours? Why is it so difficult for us to wait for God to act? Why does the Lord show such patience to mankind? Sometimes it s tempting to forget that God s view of time dramatically differs from ours. God is in control of time and nothing will come to pass on the Kingdom calendar until He ordains it. While God s apparent delay in the second coming is because of a difference between how we view time from the way God views it, it also speaks to God s incredible love for mankind and His desire that no one perish. God s delay is not a reflection of His abilities, nor is it because of indifference. His delay is motivated by grace. Although Christians long for Christ s return and the permanent removal of evil, as long as this present period of history lasts, an opportunity remains for people to turn to God in faith. Repentance Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ. Repentance, like faith, is an intellectual understanding that sin is wrong, an emotional approval of the teachings of Scripture regarding sin, a sorrow for sin and a hatred of it, and a personal decision to turn from it. > Have a volunteer read 1 Timothy 2:1-4. For whom does Paul say Christians are to pray? In verse 2, Paul specifies that we are to pray for our leaders in government. Do you find it difficult to pray for political leaders with whom you disagree? If so, how does this text speak to that issue? 4 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
TEACHING PLAN MARCH 13, 2016 Take another look at verse 4. What does Paul say God desires for all people? Notes Evangelistic prayer should be motivated by the fact that God desires all people to be saved. Notice that Paul wrote that we are to offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. In other words, we are to offer multiple types of prayers on behalf of all people so that they may come to the knowledge of truth. This phrase refers to being converted to Christ followers. Truth is often used as a synonym for the gospel. When we understand that apart from Christ all people are lost and separated from the truth, it motivates us to pray for their salvation with fervency. Do you devote as much time to evangelistic prayer as you would like? If not, what are obstacles that prevent you from doing so? How does prayer change our heart toward those for whom we pray? > Have a volunteer read 2 Peter 3:10. Do you think about the reality that God s patience toward sinners is not inexhaustible? Why or why not? How should this reality motivate our prayer life and evangelism efforts? How does Peter describe the coming of the Day of the Lord? What do these images communicate? 5 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
TEACHING PLAN MARCH 13, 2016 The Day of the Lord is another description of the second coming of Jesus Christ, consistent with the imagery of the Old Testament Scriptures that Peter often points back to. The Old Testament refers to time in terms of two ages: the present age and the age to come. The transition from one to the other cannot come by human means, but will be a work of God. Peter writes that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. In other words, it will happen quickly and unexpectedly. It will catch those who are unprepared off guard. Evil will be completely destroyed when Christ returns, and righteousness will dwell forever in the new heavens and new earth. But for those who haven t trusted Christ as their Savior, there will be a time of no turning back. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. Definition of Day of the Lord In the New Testament the Day of the Lord is identified with the Second Coming of Christ and is also called the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time of universal accountability, when final judgment occurs and final rewards are assigned. 1 Who are people in your sphere of influence who need your evangelistic prayers and kindness? What are practical ways you can meet those needs this week? 2 In light of impending judgment, Peter s reminder of Christ s command to love is especially important. What are tangible ways you can demonstrate the love of Christ to the lost in Middle Tennessee? 3 How might this require us to get out of our comfort zones and build relationships with those who are different from us? 4 Make a list of people you are regularly in contact with who don t know the Lord. Spend some time each day this week praying for their salvation. 6 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
TEACHING PLAN MARCH 13, 2016 P R A Y Give thanks to God for His mercy and patience. Ask Him to connect members with those who are lost and hurt in Middle Tennessee and around the world. Pray that He would give group members opportunities where they can show the love of Christ to the lost in their communities. FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up email to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: What ways have you identified that you can connect with the lost in your community? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize 2 Peter 3:8-9. 7 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 2 PETER 3:8-10 3:8-9. Peter wrote in the midst of a daunting task. There were many false prophets among the people (2 Pet. 2:1) whose errors he had to expose. These false teachers denied the imminent return of Christ. This denial drastically affected all who believed it. They lost their zeal and urgency for the gospel. Notes Peter realized this troubling context as he wrote his second letter. He reminded believers that time is not the same to God as it is to humanity. Rather than expecting God to work on our time-table, we must realize that He answers our prayers in His own perfect timing. We must seek to be patient and wait on His timing. While this often is not an easy task, it is important if we are going to discern and live within God s will. In the specific context of this passage, Peter tried to convey this same message to fellow believers. He demonstrated to his audience that it is entirely possible to remain steadfast in the understanding that Christ s return is near, while not seeing immediate evidence of that return. Peter reminded his readers that just because Christ had not already returned did not mean there was a delay in His promise. Rather, He is patient. God is not a God of randomness or chance. He is a God of order and purpose. Peter shed some light on why God had (and has) yet to return: His not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. Any delay in His return provides opportunity for evangelism. 3:10. This is excruciatingly plain to see in light of the ultimate destination the universe is headed for. The day of the Lord is another description of the second coming of Jesus Christ which is entirely consistent with the imagery of the Old Testament Scriptures which Peter regularly points back to (cf. 3:2). The Old Testament basically sees time in terms of two ages this present age and the age to come, the age of God. The transition from one to the other would not come by human effort or evolution, because the world is headed for destruction. The transition would be by the direct intervention of God. The time of that intervention was called the day of the Lord. It was to be a time when the universe would be shaken to its 8 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 foundations. It was to be a time when the judgment and punishment of sinners would occur. Despite all the warning of the Old Testament, people still did not (and do not) believe and are not prepared for the world-ending day of the Lord. Thus Jesus taught, and Peter here reaffirms, that his coming will be as unexpected as the coming of a thief at night. Notes: Christ s unexpected though predicted coming will bring the destruction of the present creation. The heavens likely refer to the galaxies and solar systems beyond the earth s. The elements could refer to the earth s solar system, or the elements of earth, air, fire, and water, or to the atomic particles which are the basic structure of nature. The earth describes the planet we inhabit. All of these things will disappear, be destroyed by fire, laid bare, and melt in the heat (cf. v. 13). All of these expressions are meant to emphasize that God s final judgment will be total and complete nothing will escape. The exact methodology of God s intervention should not be pressed from the terminology of destruction that Peter uses. The point being made is that everything that God has created and everything that humankind has made will be laid bare before Almighty God. Then God will create a new heaven and a new earth (see 3:13; cf. Rev. 21:1). 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4 2:1 Paul didn t write 1 Timothy as an exhaustive treatise on church organization. Instead, he wrote to give Timothy confidence to face those who spread false doctrine and undercut the church s commission to evangelize. Therefore, Paul s first line of defense was prayer. In this verse, the apostle mentioned four different words for prayer. Petitions included requests individuals made of God. The term prayers was the most general word. Intercessions included prayers for other believers. The thanksgivings Paul mentioned probably included gratitude for God s blessings. The apostle may not have intended any sharp distinction among the four terms. The use of all four terms emphasizes the importance of prayer in overcoming the false teaching in Ephesus and in winning the lost to Christ. The subject of these 9 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church
COMMENTARY MARCH 13, 2016 prayers included everyone indicating the breadth of Paul s concern. 2:2 Paul encouraged Timothy to pray for governmental authorities who could help provide an environment conducive to evangelism. 2:3 A quiet life of dignity and godliness pleases God. God is also pleased when believers express concern for the salvation of others. 2:4 Paul directly connected evangelism with pleasing God in this verse. Prayer for the lost pleases God because God wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The false teachers promoted lies, but Paul encouraged Timothy to pray that those lies would be exposed. Come to the knowledge of the truth is a way of referring to being converted. The truth is often used in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus as a synonym for the gospel. The Greek word translated saved can convey various meanings, including to deliver, preserve, protect, heal, and make whole. In the context of 1 Timothy 2:4 the word refers specifically to conversion, to the transformation that occurs when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul understood salvation in the believer s experience as embracing the past, present, and future. The initial moment of salvation, occurring when an individual accepts Christ as Savior, is sometimes referred to as justification. At that moment a believer enters into an eternally secure relationship of peace with God. Salvation, however, also continues in a process called sanctification or becoming more like Christ. The believer is enabled to progress toward spiritual maturity through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ultimately the believer s salvation will culminate in a future glorification, or deliverance from the power of sin. Such is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed with Christ. These various aspects of salvation motivated Paul to share the gospel with unbelievers. 10 Patience that Leads to Repentance Brentwood Baptist Church