Patient With You

In one paragraph

This message came from 2 Peter, continuing a series through the letter. Pastor Blake walked through Peter's warnings about false teachers before turning to Peter's direct encouragement to the congregation and his argument for why God's apparent slowness to act is not indifference but patience. Peter's sustained use of "they" through chapter two was not accidental. Pastor Blake pointed out that...

Read together

1. Psalm 1:1-3 quoted by Mike to the graduating seniors about being like a tree planted by streams of water
2. Psalm 63 quoted in prayer: 'your unfailing love is better than life itself'
3. 2 Peter 2:10b-22 reviewed as already-covered material on false teachers, enticers, and those who return to corruption
4. 2 Peter 3:1-9 the main preaching text, covering reminders to wholesome thinking, scoffers, God's patience, and not wanting any to perish
5. Ephesians 2:19-21 quoted to show the church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone
6. John 3:16 referenced to support the point that God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but to have everlasting life
7. 1 Corinthians 1:18 quoted to show the message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved
8. Habakkuk 2:3 quoted to affirm the vision will come at its appointed time and will not delay
9. Hebrews 10:37 quoted to affirm that he who is coming will come and will not delay

Talk about it

1. Peter draws a clear line between 'you' and 'they' throughout this letter. How do you respond to that kind of either/or framing, and where do you see yourself in it?
2. The sermon described a situation where someone comes to know the way of Jesus and then is enticed away from it, ending up worse off than before. Why do you think Peter says that is a harder place to be than never having known it at all?
3. The scoffers in 2 Peter point to the fact that nothing seems to have changed since creation as proof that Jesus is not coming back. What would you say to someone making that argument today?
4. Peter writes that the Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting everyone to come to repentance. What does it do to your understanding of God's character to sit with the idea that His delay is patience rather than slowness?
5. The sermon closed with a call to live in the light of eternity, asking whether you are building your life on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. What does that actually look like in the day-to-day decisions you face?