SURREY CHAPEL – Fellowship Group Notes for the 25th/26th June 2014
2 Peter 1
Precious promises

2 Peter is about ‘Jesus our strength’. Do you not think that the Christian life is often less about discovering new things as to remembering and applying the same old truths? This is something of what Peter was doing here. The Christians at that time were experiencing confusion from false teachers. So Peter reminds them what they have already received of the truth in Jesus. He wants the believers to think right and straight about what God has done –and look to where they are heading – then to STAND FIRM. Therefore how relevant that is for us today.

PRECIOUS FAITH   v 1 – 4
Two precious things mentioned (v1 & v4)
v1	How does Peter describe himself and other believers? Notice that there are no ranks etc. but all equal, having ‘received a faith’ (literally ‘LIKE faith’)
v3-4	What blessings have we received in Christ? How do we get them?
God has ‘given us everything we need for life’ - -do we appreciate this?
v2	How can the grace and peace be ‘yours in abundance’?
All we need to know for living this life and getting into the next is to be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord (and in no other).	

PRODUCTIVE FAITH   v 5 – 9
The Christian life is all about faith alone in Christ. But that does not mean we do not have input. V5-7 show us a progression in holiness. ‘knowledge’, ‘self-control’ and ‘perseverance’ – unpack what these mean for you in daily life. 
The other two additions of ‘goodness’ and godliness’ –what do these mean for us?
v8-9	Teaches us that we need these qualities to life productive lives, and the need to be increasing.  So if we do not bother, what is this a sign of? (v9)

POSITIVE FAITH    v 10 – 15
Reassurance –v10-11 –What is the application from v5-9 in v10?
Reminder – v12-15 Peter is coming to the end of his life on earth (v13-14) See what Jesus said to him in John 21v18-19.
What is his priority? (v12 & v15)
‘able to remember’ - - what ways may we make sure we remember?
We all have limited time – may this remind us we live in God’s time and for His glory.

PROVEN FAITH    v 16 – 21
v16-18	for the background read Mark 9v2-13
How does Peter claim that his message (and the ‘we’- other apostles) is different?
Who is Jesus? Read v17.
Peter is saying ‘trust me’ (and us) as witnesses v16-18. Then he further says ‘trust me’, as it is also in the Scriptures -  the prophets also predicted beforehand–v19-21
How might these words help someone who says ‘this is a leap of faith’?
Notice where it all comes from – ’from God’  v17 and v21
In closing read -2 Timothy 3v16-17
											D.J.
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray that we might have a renewed certainty in the reliability of God’s ‘precious promises’.
May we also value our faith in Jesus –as ‘precious faith’.
Pray for confidence in God’s word (v20-21) – to enable us to share the gospel with others.