Read 2 Peter 2.
1. What does this text tell you about the character of God?
2. What does it say about God’s nature?
3. Where do you see God’s love at work in the midst of these verses?
4. What section or verses in the text speak most personally to you?
Reflect on the verses at the beginning of the text, verses 1-2 and answer the following questions:
5. What’s the primary purpose of Peter’s direction here?
6. What’s the difference between a false prophet and a false teacher?
7. What does it mean to “deny the Sovereign Lord?”
To deny Jesus Christ is to deny His incarnation, that He left heaven and came to this earth. To deny Jesus Christ is to deny His salvation, that He lived the perfect life that we could never live, and then paid the atoning death. To deny Jesus Christ is to deny His substitution, that He bore our sins, that He took our punishment. To deny Jesus Christ is to deny His resurrection, that He conquered death and He promises to us eternal life. And to deny Jesus Christ is to deny His ascension, that He’s actually seated at the right hand of God and is worthy of our praise and worship. In a nutshell — to deny Jesus is to deny Christianity — to deny Christianity is to deny Jesus.
9. How important is “right doctrine” in our world?
10. How have you seen wrong doctrine seep into the Church, or into lives of Jesus followers?
11. How do you resist the temptation of falling into false teaching?
Reflect on the words of Jesus as recorded Matthew 23.1-15, Matthew 7.16-20 and answer the following questions:
12. How does the passion of Jesus encourage, inspire, and convict?
13. Specifically, what does Jesus mean when He uses the word “fruit”?
Reflect on verses 2 Peter 2 10-14, 18-19, and answer the following questions:
14. Why does Peter gives so much attention to the details of the “fruit” of these false teachers?
15. How do you examine the fruit of teachers?
16. How do you self-examine?
Reflect on verses 2 Peter 2.4-10, and answer the following questions:
17. What do these verses say about Divine Justice and Divine Judgement?
Jesus holds our belief and our behavior together. Reflect on the following verses and answer the following questions:
- “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14.15)
- “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” (Matt. 7.24)
- By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13.35)
18. How is your theology not merely stated, but lived?
19. Where are their gaps between your orthodoxy, and orthopraxy?
20. How do you sense God leading you in living a fully congruent life?
21. Who is joining you on this journey of healing, wholeness and holiness?
22. How do you find yourself joining others on their journey?
Spend time standing in God’s presence on behalf of our neighbors and neighborhood.
