David Edgren Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Every TV show ends the season with a cliffhanger, making us wait until the next season for the resolution to some huge impending catastrophe. How is the Second Coming of Jesus similar? While you wait for the TV show to return, it slowly fades to the back of your mind. When the new season arrives, what do the show producers do to get you back into the story? How is our wait for the return of Jesus similar? Scoffer to Believer Read 2 Peter 3:1-4 What does it mean to scoff at someone else? How is being called a scoffer worse than being a person who scoffs? (Scoff refers to the nature of the act. Being called a scoffer refers to the nature of the person. A scoffer has made scoffing a way of life and is now defined by it.) How do the scoffers in these verses reveal themselves? What do they say? (2 Peter 3:3,4) What traits are evident in the personality and character of a scoffer? (following evil desires) What is the opposite of scoff? (encourage, compliment, approve, admire, trust, praise) What is the opposite of scoffer? (believer, optimist) Do Christians, at times, scoff at unbelievers? How? Is the Kingdom of God made up of scoffers or believers? What actions can we take to ensure our temptation to scoff at others does not lead us to become scoffers? (2 Peter 3:1,2) Servant to Hypocrite Read Matthew 24:45-51 Compare/contrast the wise and wicked servant. How were they the same? (Responsibilities - In charge of Master’s household. Waiting for Master’s return.) How were they different? (Actions – Wise: feeding household faithfully. Wicked: Attacking household and eating/drinking elsewhere.) What was the difference in character between the wise and wicked servant? (focus: others/self) Do we see both wise and wicked servants in our local church today? Why? In the parable, how did this difference develop? (Time / Delay. Wise: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Wicked: Absence makes the heart go yonder. Until bit by bit they two servants become opposites.) What can we do to ensure we fall deeper in love with Jesus as we wait? Destruction to Salvation Read 2 Peter 3:14-18 Why do you think Peter puts this challenge to grow in Christlike character at the end of this letter? What encouragement do you gain from these verses? What challenges you the most in these verses? A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. (Maranatha, 224)Read Hebrews 12:1-3How does a Christlike character change scoffers to believers and hypocrites to servants leading us from destruction to salvation? How long does this process take? To be continued… (this is actually the end of this study, but your character development is never ending!) View the full article Quote Adventures in the Bible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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