The Life and Letters of Peter
Lesson Thirteen: Remember!
|
Review Peter wrote this letter as a follow up to his previous letter to the Jewish followers of Jesus scattered throughout Asia. |
|
Introduction Who is this letter from?
How does he describe himself?
Who is the letter written to?
What things has God given them?
There are two things mentioned as precious. What are they? What does precious mean to you?
In verse 4, what do the pronouns these and them stand for? These-- Them-- What are the two things we gain through the promises? 1. 2. |
2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. |
|
This paragraph begins "for this very reason". What's the reason? |
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. |
What things are we to add to our faith?
|
+ |
L |
Rating |
||||||
|
+ |
B |
|||||||
|
+ |
G |
|||||||
|
+ |
P |
|||||||
|
+ |
S |
|||||||
|
+ |
K |
|||||||
|
+ |
G |
|||||||
|
Faith |
Rate yourself on a scale from 1-10 for each area, with 1 being low & needing work, and 10 being mastery. How are you doing in your spiritual growth? What areas do you need to work on?
|
Results from Spiritual Growth What things does Peter say increasing these qualities will do for the believer? What about the people who don't have them?
What does he mean by "he has forgotten he has been cleansed from his past sins"?
What's the "therefore" there for? What is Peter's conclusion?
|
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. |
|
Peter's Reminders Circle all of the words that refer to remember. What does Peter want them to remember?
Why is Peter so concerned about this? |
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. |
We're going to jump ahead to v 19, then return to 16-18 at the end of our study.
|
Peter's Reinforcers What does Peter remind the believers that they have to help them remember?
How does he describe scripture?
Where does scripture come from?
|
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. |
|
Where does Paul tell Timothy scripture comes from? |
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. |
|
How does the author of Hebrews affirm what Peter is saying in his letter?
How does he describe Jesus here? |
Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. |
|
Peter Reminisces Peter is remembering an event that had a profound impact on him. What did he hear?
What did he see? |
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. |
|
Remembering the event Who was there as a witness to this? What happened to Jesus?
What did they see and hear?
What did Peter want to do?
What were Jesus' instructions to them?
What would you do if you saw Jesus like this? |
Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." |
Read the following excerpt from "The Heart of a Worshipper", by Fuschia Pickett, from Spirit Led Woman, Feb/Mar 2001
|
I went to my room after the service and got on my knees. I said to the Lord: "All right, what is it? You said I could have the thing that made that girl so 'lost' she didn't know I was there. What is that?" The Lord answered, "I seek a people who worship Me in spirit and truth." I asked, "Is that worship? Then what have I been doing all these years?" "Without this revelation of worship," He replied gently, "you have simply been having religious services." "How can I have that?" I cried out. REVELATION OF WORSHIP Then the Lord asked me three simple questions. First He inquired, "What would you do if you had just heard the gates of heaven click behind your heels, and you knew you were through with the devil forever?" I responded, "I would shout, 'Glory!'" He said, "Shout it." And I did. I told Him that I would cry, "Hallelujah!" He said, "Do it." And I did. Then He asked me what I would do if I looked up and saw Jesus for the first time. I said that I would bow at His feet, kiss His nail-scarred hands and wash His feet with my tears. He said, "Do it." I meditated on the efficacious, vicarious, substitutionary and mediatorial work of Calvary, and suddenly I experienced a fresh glimpse of the Lamb of God. I began to bow before the Lamb who was slain, but He asked me to look up into His face. "When you see Me face to face," He asked, "what will you tell Me?" When I heard those words, it was as if a dam within my soul broke, allowing torrents of praise to flood my lips. I told Him how wonderful He was. I recited the attributes of God I had learned in Bible college. When I finished, He asked me if these were the only adjectives I had for Him. With a sense of awe I responded simply, "You are wonderful." A picture came to my mind, and I saw the face of Jesus before me as if it were framed. Then the frame faded. As I looked into His face, I told Him how much I loved Him. I had never done that in my life. I told Him how precious He was to me. I went on and on, trying to express my love for Him with my limited vocabulary. When I was answering His three questions, it seemed as if just a few moments had passed. But it had actually been an hour and a half since I first knelt there. For the first time in my life I had been in the presence of God in such a way that I had lost all consciousness of time. I had begun to experience true worship--my heart responding to the love of God and expressing adoration and love to Him. All my years of Bible training, study and ministry had not evoked the response of worship from my heart that a few moments of divine revelation in His presence had…. |
How would you answer those three questions:
Spend the close of your study time telling Him in praise and worship.