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pt 3 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3

Introduction This is a guide to help you spend daily time in God’s Word in conjunction with our teaching series in 2 Peter. It is meant to take approximately 15-30 min, and includes time for reading, studying, and prayerful meditation. We will work through approximately one chapter of the book per week, studying a few verses each day. There are five days each week, which will allow you some space to take a break (or catch up if you fall behind). Below are some tips for getting the most out of this guide as we jump into God’s Word together!

Everyday… Read this week’s chapter everyday to begin your time with the Lord. This may feel a bit repetitive to do everyday, but by the fourth or fifth day you will understand why it’s important! Read the focus verse for the day and the accompanying study notes. These notes are not God’s Word, but they are helpful for learning about the historical, cultural, and language background of the passages we will be studying. A few meditation questions have been provided to help you pray and reflect on your response to the passage we have been studying and what God’s Spirit might be saying to you. There is also some space for you to write down your thoughts and prayers (or to doodle!). RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 Scattered throughout the guide are video or web resources designed to enrich your experience as you study God’s Word. Just hover your smartphone camera or QR Reader over the logo (like the one to the left for an overview of the book) and click the link that appears on your phone.

Want to listen to the chapter instead or listen while you read along? Check out the Streetlights Bible App! Streetlights has put much of Scripture to a musical backdrop and is great for meditative listening! RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 Day 1

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:1-4 NIV Both the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter have noted the importance of Scripture memorization. Paul says: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” (Colossians 3:16)…. Since the Scriptures cannot be recalled to mind unless they've first been installed in the mind, and since they cannot abide in our hearts unless we first hide them in our hearts, it is surely pleasing and honoring to God that we learn "by heart" as much of His Word as we can.1 Jesus Christ is coming again! How many Christians actually live as if they believed this fact? Indeed, many liberal theologians over the years have "spiritualized" this belief, denying any literal significance to Jesus' own promise of his return. While Scripture itself indicates "that in the last days scoffers will come ... saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming?"' (2 Peter 3:3-4)—an attitude characteristic of many in every generation since Christ came.2

1 Days of Praise Daily Devotion June, July, Augutst 2016 Tuesday June 28th 2 Truth Aflame page 488 to 489 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 The word for “scoffer” in the Greek is empaiktes. It is one who makes fun of by mocking—‘mocker.’ ἐπ’ ἐσχάτου τοῦ χρόνου ἔσονται ἐμπαῖκται ‘in the last times mockers will come’ Jd 18.3

Why is it important to remember or commit scriptures to memory? What scripture can you commit to memory within the next two weeks? What are examples of mocking in our culture today? Why does Peter bring this to attention? How can we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ?

3 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 434). New York: United Bible Societies. RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 Day 2

5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:5-8 NIV We also worship the Creator and praise Him for His wonder- full works (vv. 6-9). Out of nothing, He created everything by the power of His Word (vv. 6, 9; 119:89-91; 147:15, 18; 148:5; Gen. 1:1-2:1; Heb. 11:3). The Word that created the universe is also holding it together (Heb. 1:3; 2 Peter 3:5-7).4 The business of trust —Sara longed to establish a career as a church youth leader. She'd trained for it in Bible college and felt that was what God was calling her to do. So why was it taking so long to find that job? Sara chose not to force things. She continued to do her best in her current office job and to hang onto God's promises. One Sunday her pastor pulled her aside after service. "Sara, the church has been growing, and we're now able to hire a full-time youth leader. Would you pray about taking the position?” God's timing is never off. We may grow impatient at times, but we must never give up on his promises. They will come to pass. Often God is preparing us for the gift we're about to receive. If we continue in faithfulness, waiting expectantly for his next command, his promised blessing will come right on time. Have you been impatient about something? Ask God to help you

4 Be Worshipful: Glorifying God for Who He Is page 129 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 continue in faithfulness until he fulfills his promise. FURTHER STUDY: Gen. 17:15-21; Daniel 9-10; 2 Peter 3:8-9.5

Why do many people try to discredit or distort the way God created this world? Why is it important to keep in mind that the same Word that created the universe is the same Word that is holding it together? Why is it good to be patient concerning God’s promises?

5 YWAM Study Bible - Old Testament 6 page 212 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 Day 3

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 2 Peter 3:9-12 NIV

God wants us to pay attention to outsiders because he cares about them. The Bible says he patiently gives everyone time to turn to him (see 2 Peter 3:9). He is described as a father who waits for the safe homecoming of his children, even if they have disappointed him (see Luke 15:11-32). As Christians, we should have this mindset toward outsiders. And because of the sheer number of outsiders, we need to recognize their concerns. There are about twenty-four million outsiders in this country who are ages sixteen to twenty-nine. It is significant to note that outsiders are becoming less and less a "fringe" segment of American society. Each generation contains more than the last, which helps explain their growing influence. For instance, outsiders make up about one-quarter of Boomers (ages forty-two to sixty) and Elders (ages sixty-one-plus). But among adult Mosaics and Busters, more than one- third are part of this category, a number that increases to two-fifths of sixteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds.6

6 UnChristian page 18 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 My Prayer for Today — Lord, please help me to live soberly and to invest not only in the present, but also in the eternity that is to come. I don't want to be among those who lived only for the present and therefore suffered loss because they forgot to invest in heaven. Teach me how to manage and increase the material possessions You have given me so that I can use them to increase my wealth in heaven. I am grateful for the things I own, but I am more thankful for the souls who are in heaven because I used my resources to invest in eternity. Help me to use my life wisely and to live as I ought to live in light of eternity. I pray this in Jesus' name!7

What outsider has God been calling you to reach? What steps can you take this week to connect with the person God has called you to share his love? Why has God delayed the time of judgment? What is encouraging about 2 Peter 2:10?

7 365 Days of Power: Personalized Prayer & Confessons to Build Your Faith & Strengthen Your Spirit by Rick Renner page 339 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 Day 4

13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:13-16 NIV

Death has been around almost as long as humans have. Romans 8 tells us that the whole of creation is suffering because of Adam's sin. As terrible as things are, however, they are not a permanent part of creation. God, in His great mercy, has promised not to leave His creation in its sinful state. He has promised to do away with the corruption that Adam brought into the world. He has promised to remove, in the future, the curse He placed on His creation (Revelation 22:3) and to make a new heaven and a new Earth (2 Peter 3:13). In this new place there will be no death, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). Those who have repented and believed in what Jesus did for them on the Cross can look forward to the consummation of God's kingdom—this new heaven and Earth— knowing they will enjoy God forever in a wonderful place. In the future, God will take away the corruption that was introduced in the Garden of Eden, giving us once again a perfect place to live! A worldview based on a proper understanding of the history of the world, as revealed in the Bible, is what every Christian needs to combat our society's evolutionary propaganda.8

8 War of the Worldviews page 167 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3

Why is a biblical worldview important? What are the ways God has empowered us to be found spotless and blameless? In Verse 15, Peter said bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation. What this portion of scripture mean to you? RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3

Day 5

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV The word knowledge in Greek in verse 18 is gnosis. It is “the content of what is known—‘knowledge, what is known.’ ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ ‘because you have in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth’ Ro 2:20; οἴδαμεν ὅτι πάντες γνῶσιν ἔχομεν ‘we know that we all have knowledge’ 1 Cor 8:1.9

Why do you believe some believers are carried away from error as it refers in verse 17? What does it mean to grow in grace? What does it mean to grow in knowledge? How are the two related?10

9 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 335). New York: United Bible Societies. 10 When God Whispers your name Page 233 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3 RECALCULATING Week 3: 2 Peter 3

Study Resources:

How to Read The Bible Video Series by the Bible Project

Literary & Historical Context of the New Testament Letters by the Bible Project

Rightnow Media Complete Library of Bible Study Resources for ALL ages and FREE