The Love of God (vv. 29-34)

Nothing Can Separate Us (vv. 35-39)

Perceiving the Love of God (vv. 36-37)

Unity Among the Apostles and Prophets (vv. 14-16)

The Twin Errors of Legalism and Antinomianism (vv. 11, 13-17)

Slowly Hastening the Last Day (vv. 11-14, 17-18)

The Second Letter (vv. 1-3)

What the Prophets Said (vv. 5-7)

What the False Teachers Say (vv. 4-5)

The Day is Coming (vv. 8-10)

Discussion Starters

Monday—How are false teachers foolish (like irrational animals)? How are they bold and brazen?

Tuesday—Does saying that false teachers are foolish mean that they’re dumb? Why do we need to understand that they are crafty if we don’t want to be devoured by them?

Wednesday—Why is it more dangerous to go back to sin than to never have left it? (vv. 20-22) Why is the image of a dog returning to its vomit so helpful to understand the danger (and folly) of returning to the sin that once enslaved us?

Thursday—How can the gospel cost you both nothing and everything? What does it mean that “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Friday—What does the Bible mean that when we are weak, we are strong? (2 Corinthians 12:10) How does remembering our weakness help us to stand strong?

Motivated by Greed (vv. 3-4; cf. Isaiah 14:12-14)

Promising Freedom (vv. 2-3, 5; cf. Genesis 3:1-6; 6:5-6; Judges 17:6; 21:25)

Denying Reality (vv. 1, 3, 6-10)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What are false prophets/teachers? Why do you think Peter feels the need to warn us that they will be around until the end?

Tuesday—How was Satan motivated by greed? (Isaiah 14:12-14) What are some different things that we can be greedy for? Which do you struggle with?

Wednesday—What do false teacher promise freedom from? Do they ever deliver that freedom? Why not? Are you ever tempted to think freedom means fighting God’s commands?

Thursday—What does it mean to deny reality? How did those in Sodom and Gomorrah do it? How can we be tempted to deny reality?

Friday—How are these acts of judgment (and deliverance) from history meant to comfort you? How do they help you see the future (and prepare for it)?

Perseverance and the Danger of Being Near-sighted (vv. 1-4, 8-11)

Partaking in the Divine Nature (vv. 5-7)

• Knowledge / Identity (v. 5)

• Self-Control / Purpose (v. 6)

• Love / Community (v. 7)

The Last Wish of a Dying Apostle (v. 1, 12-15)

Discussion Starters Monday—Why is it necessary for Christians to bear fruit? (v. 8) What does it mean to be nearsighted? (v. 9) Why is it detrimental to Christians? Tuesday—What does it mean that people want to know who they are? How does being a Christian define who you are? Can you follow Jesus well if you don’t understand this? Wednesday—Why is purpose so important to people? What is your purpose? How do you exercise that purpose? Why is self-control necessary to do so? Thursday—Why is love so important? Why is it impossible to grow as a Christian apart from being a part of a church? Friday—What does it mean that you already have all things that pertain to life and godliness? (v. 3) If you have everything you need, why aren’t you living a perfect life? What do you need in order to grow in godliness?

The Goal of Creation (Ascending in Victory) (vv. 1-5)

Another Way (Ascending in Defeat)

The God of Jacob (vv. 6-10)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What does the “fullness of the earth” refer to in verse 1? What was Adam’s job in creation (Genesis 1:28)?

Tuesday—What reward would Adam have received for doing his job well? How does that relate the description of the righteous person described in verses 4 and 5 (clean hands, pure heart and an honest tongue)?

Wednesday—Who was Jacob and what was he known for (Genesis 25:29 - 28:5)? Did Jacob deserve to see heaven because of clean hands, a pure heart and an honest tongue? What did he deserve?

Thursday—What did God promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22)? What did it take for Jacob to be blessed by God (Genesis 32:22-32)? Why does God conquer and subdue them?

Friday—Psalm 24 presents God as ascending back up his holy mountain into his house. What does it mean that he has first descended to the earth (Ephesians 4:8-10)? Whom does he bring with him as he goes back up to his home (Psalm 24:7-10)?ean that you will have no problems? Is where does it teach you to set your hope (v. 6)?

Jesus’ resurrection on the third days tells us that the enemy is conquered, peace with God has been restored, and Gentiles are now invited in to share in these blessings.

The Original Tabernacle (and Temple)

The Exile, Destruction and Rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 6:1-18)

Jesus the True Tabernacle / Temple (John 1:14; 2:19)

Discussion Starters

Monday—What was the tabernacle? When was it made and why? What was it meant to represent and communicated to Israel?

Tuesday—How is the temple related to the tabernacle? Can you remember any of its features? What was the most important place in it? Why was it important?

Wednesday—Why did God send his people into exile in Babylon? Why was it for 70 years? How does the exile teach God’s people that the law could not save them?

Thursday—How was God’s declaration that the exile would only be 70 years tell his people that there was hope and a future? What did the rebuilding of the temple communicate after the exile?

Friday—Could Jesus have chosen to be raised on the 4th day or the 5th? Why not? Why does he call his body the “temple”? What does his resurrection tell us in light of the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra 6?

The only way to stand strong against the devil is the humbling habit of submission.

Why Submitting is Hard (v. 8; Genesis 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11)

Resisting the Devil (vv. 5-7, 9-14; Matthew 4:1-11)

Submitting (v. 5)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Is submission a good thing or a bad thing? Is it easy or hard? Why? Is this an area that you need to grow?

Tuesday—What is pride? Why does the devil always use our pride against us? What are some ways you have seen him do that in your life?

Wednesday—Re-read Matthew 4:4, 7, & 10. How did Jesus resist the devil? What does that show you about how you can resist the devil?

Thursday—What does submitting to your elders look like? (v. 5) Do you have to agree in order to submit? What are some things you can do to support your elders?

Friday—Is the suffering of this life forever? (vv. 10-11) How can that reality help you to stand strong when the world seems unfair?