. SERIES‐BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . Series Overview 2 Peter FALL 2014 Objective Premise Theme What we hope to see God accomplish in Why we are studying this What the study is about us through this study Our western world is increasingly Peter’s second general letter has four We continually grow up in Jesus. intolerant of Christianity precisely because great themes that stir the hearts of God’s it claims to have absolute truth. This people throughout the ages: STATEMENTS OF THE OBJECTIVE certainty angers a world that desires to 1. Faith is based in revelation from God. “His divine power has granted to us all hide sin under a pretense of malleable things that pertain to life and godliness, ideas that have no value beyond the 2. Growth is critically important. collective desires of humans. In such an through the knowledge of him who called 3. False teachers are coming. us to his own glory and excellence . You environment it is very important—for both therefore, beloved, knowing this current effectiveness and eternal delight— 4. Jesus will return. beforehand, take care that you are not to remember the solidity of God’s words. STATEMENTS OF THE THEME carried away with the error of lawless STATEMENTS OF THE PREMISE people and lose your own stability. But “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise grow in the grace and knowledge of our “Therefore I intend always to remind you as some count slowness, but is patient Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3; of these qualities, though you know them toward you, not wishing that any should 5:17–18a ESV) and are established in the truth that you perish, but that all should reach have. I think it right, as long as I am in this “Peter is about HOPE: repentance. But the day of the Lord will body, to stir you up by way of reminder . Heed what you know; come like a thief, and then the heavens knowing this first of all, that no prophecy Open your eyes and ears; will pass away with a roar, and the of Scripture comes from someone’s own Pursue a godly lifestyle; and heavenly bodies will be burned up and interpretation. For no prophecy was ever Expect Christ’s return.” dissolved, and the earth and the works produced by the will of man, but men —Charles R. Swindoll, Conquering Through that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 spoke from God as they were carried Conflict, 8 [edited by WB] Peter 3:9–10 ESV) along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:12–13; 20–21 ESV) “As we look at a world full of turmoil, abuse, disease and conflict, it is easy to TABLE OF CONTENTS “Just as sheep are prone to wander, so wonder why God is delaying Christ’s Christians are prone to forget the basic return. From God’s vantage point, he sees Series Overview 1 truths of the faith . 2 Peter is a reminder one more ambulance with one more of the basis for Christian faith (cf. 1:12–13). You’ve Got it All 3 needy person heading for the boat.” Faith in Jesus as Messiah is not grounded —Dan Bolin, “Fresh Bread” blog, Grow on! 5 on myths or clever stories (1:16). It is June 25, 2014 Our Great Foundation 7 based on sure revelation from God (1:16– 21).” That’s Messed Up 9 —Edwin Blum, 2 Peter, 263 The Trap of False Freedom 11 Battle Plan for Victory 13 Now and Forever 15 Appendix 17 1 . SERIES‐BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . Acknowledgements The content of this study guide is based on the sermon and personal study notes of Dr. Wayne Braudrick Senior Pastor, Frisco Bible Church Lesson plans are developed by the Frisco Bible Curriculum Team. PERMISSION You are welcome to copy and distribute this study guide for your personal or group study. FOR MORE INFORMATION Frisco Bible Church 8000 Sanctuary Drive Frisco, TX 75033 972.335.8150 [email protected] www.friscobible.com 2 . SERIES‐BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . You’ve Got it All 2 Peter 1:1–4 LESSON OVERVIEW LESSON 1 OBJECTIVE: We Know and Live by Our Rich Blessings. Peter wants Christians to get stirred up. He loves us too much to let us Theme spiritually stir up the church of his day. settle. We mustn’t settle: Though they were already established in Peter lays out his plan to stir up the the faith and knew the truths he was for less than robust, experiential churches of Jesus. He does so in a going to deliver, he felt compelled to growth in God; manner reminiscent of the Old reiterate these vital truths with them for less than the real Jesus and Testament prophets: contrasting the anyway. wretchedness of the world and the the real scripture; Why? So they would grow in their richness of God’s provision. for false freedoms that actually relationship with God, resulting in a life enslave; Ever Felt Spiritually Stuck? of effective and productive ministry. After stirring up their place of spiritual for this world when Jesus will At some point in our spiritual journey, “stuckness,” he exposes and describes bring a better one. due to a variety of reasons, we can find false teachers and leaves them with the ourselves spiritually stuck. Like the —Wayne Braudrick hope of Christ’s coming return. proverbial elephant that was chained for (Personal study notes) so long, when its chains were The Federal Bureau of finally removed, it stayed right Investigation (FBI) does where it was. Sometimes not train their agents to DISCUSSION Christians can mentally identify counterfeit disconnect with being currency by studying the Would you describe yourself as amazed by God and find various counterfeits but being more amazed or apathetic themselves not growing or by studying the original in your relationship with God? living freely in His grace and intensely. Similarly, Peter Explain. power. Rather, we are stuck in the same charges believers to remember to What has led you to be stuck spiritual state that we were in six months saturate their lives with the knowledge of during your spiritual journey? ago or even longer than that. We find God and His word. Then the counterfeit What helped you get out of your ourselves living off yesterday’s manna or will be obviously different from the real rut? reminiscing over that spiritual nugget we thing because they have spent so much found two weeks ago. Or maybe it was time with the truth. As you reflect on Peter’s life, in that college bible study, evangelistic what ways do you identify with What are the truths that Peter wanted him? (2 Peter 1:1–4) experience, or prayer group impacted us hammered into these believers? so deeply. Do you agree that the world is God has given all we need for real When we live off yesterday’s manna, we wretched? How do you see the life and godly living. seem to lose track of time and find wretchedness of the world? We can know God. ourselves stuck on an endless treadmill, We can be transformed according to How do you translate the concept not going anywhere. His glory, nature, and excellence. of a bondservant into your Stirring . We have God’s promises. relationship with Christ? We can escape sinful corruption. As Peter’s life quickly comes to an end, what is most important to him is to 3 . SERIES‐BASED CURRICULUM . FRISCO BIBLE CHURCH . 2 PETER 1:3; 5:17–18A His divine power has granted to us all Read 2 Peter 1. things that pertain to life and godliness, Who is Simeon Peter? How is he described? through the knowledge of him who called What is an apostle? us to his own glory and excellence . You To whom is Peter writing? Who is “ours” in verse 1? therefore, beloved, knowing this What is the means by which we have received His divine power? (verses 1, 3). beforehand, take care that you are not What is the purpose of granting His “precious and very great promises?” carried away with the error of lawless (verses 3–4 ESV). people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (ESV) Peter is about HOPE: Heed what you know; Unlike the opening words of Peter’s first letter, Peter begins his second letter Open your eyes and ears; by Simeon Peter. Why might he have used the name “Simeon?” Pursue a godly lifestyle; What is the meaning of a “faith of equal standing,” and why do you think Peter and Expect Christ’s return. emphasized that? (verse 1 ESV). —Charles R. Swindoll, What does knowledge mean in verse 3? Conquering Through Conflict, 8 (edited by Wayne Braudrick) What does it mean to be “partakers of the divine nature”? (verse 4 ESV). Does the last line of verse 4 mean that we no longer sin? “In the Bible, we have all that we need for life and godliness. While the writings of If through God’s divine power, He “has given us everything for life and teachers and preachers can help us better godliness”, how can we become more purposeful in seeking to know Him? (verse 4 International Standard Version). understand the Bible, only the Bible can impart life to our souls.” What are some of the “precious and very great promises” that God has granted to us? (verse 4 ESV). —Warren Wiersbe, 2 Peter As you reflect on your life, do you live in the abundant freedom provided in Christ, or is your life weighed down by the corruption of this world? If you are living in freedom, what does that looks like? If you are weighed down, what does that look like? 4 .