Not Slow, But Patient

In one paragraph

The morning centered on 2 Peter 3:9 and the chapters surrounding it, with a courtroom drama called "The Liberator" setting the stage. Pastor Scott walked through what it means that God's judgment is certain and coming, that His patience in the meantime is not slowness, and that the right response for believers is to press toward holy and godly living while the door is still open. The drama showed...

Read together

1. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, patient that all would come to repentance
2. John 3:16 God so loved the world, quoted by Jesus character in the play and referenced by the preacher
3. Isaiah 53:5-6 Quoted by the Jesus character in the play to explain substitutionary atonement
4. Acts 16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved, spoken by Jesus character in the play
5. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the Father except through me, spoken in the play and referenced by the preacher
6. Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
7. Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, read as the judge's sentence in the play
8. James 2:10 If you err in even one point of the law you have broken the whole thing
9. Matthew 24:43 If the master of the house had known when the thief was coming he would have stayed awake
10. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, while people say peace and security
11. Revelation 16:15 Behold I am coming like a thief, blessed is the one who stays awake
12. 2 Peter 3:10-13 The heavens will disappear with a roar, elements destroyed by fire, looking forward to a new heaven and new earth
13. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 No foundation other than Christ, work tested by fire, builder saved as through flames
14. 1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved
15. 2 Peter 3:14 Make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and at peace with him
16. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Stand firm, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, your labor is not in vain
17. 1 Peter 5:6-9 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, cast your anxiety on him, be sober and alert, resist the devil
18. 1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered a little while God himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you
19. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Used as benediction, may God sanctify you completely, spirit and soul and body kept blameless at the coming of the Lord

Talk about it

1. The pastor used the play to illustrate that both 'little' sins and 'big' sins carry the same verdict of guilty. How does James's point, that breaking even one point of the law means breaking the whole thing, challenge the way we tend to rank our own sins?
2. Second Peter 3:9 says God is patient because He is not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance. The pastor described two camps within the church: those who long for Jesus to return quickly and those who pray He holds off so more people can come in. Where do you find yourself, and what does that reveal about your priorities?
3. The pastor said that the day of the Lord coming like a thief is a warning aimed at Christians, not just unbelievers. What does it look like practically to 'stay awake' and live as though that day could arrive at any moment?
4. The passage from 1 Corinthians about gold, silver, wood, hay, and straw describes how a believer's work will be tested by fire. As you look at how you spend your time, energy, and resources, what do you think would survive that fire and what might not?
5. The pastor closed with four imperatives from 1 Peter: humble yourself, be sober, be alert, and resist the devil. Which of those four is the hardest for you personally right now, and why?