There are dire warnings here about false prophets and false teachers, who seek to exploit others. Their ways deserve condemnation and will be punished with destruction.
(2 Peter 2:1-10a)
SERMON OUTLINE
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” (2 Peter 2:1a)
The Rebuke of False Guides (2 Peter 2:1-3)
- False guides deny the authority of Jesus as Lord (2:1, 10a)
- False guides indulge in sexual desire at odds with Christ (2:2)
- False guides bring the way of Christ into disrepute (2:2b)
- False guides cloak their exploitive greed in religious trappings (2:3a)
- False guides are setting themselves up for destruction (2:3)
Three Examples of Divine Judgment and Two of Divine Rescue (2 Peter 2:4-8)
- 3 Examples of Divine Judgment:
- The angels (sons of God) and the daughters of men (2:4; Genesis 6:1-4)
- The flood on the ungodly (2:5a; Genesis 6:5-17)
- Sodom and Gomorrah burned (2:6; Genesis 19:1-29)
- 2 Examples of Divine Rescue:
- Noah and his 7 family members from the floodwaters (2:5b; Genesis 6:8-10, 13-18)
- Lot (2:7-8; Genesis 19:1-29)
Judgment and Rescue Now (2 Peter 2:9-10a)
- God will rescue the godly
- God will hold the unrighteous to account
- God will especially deal with the false teachers
Making it Real
- Upholding apostolic teaching
- Avoid false guides
- Live in light of the end
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever been led astray by someone? What happened? How did it impact your life?
- This week we continues our series “Growing in Faith” by looking at 2 Peter 2:1-10a. Whether you are on your own or with others, begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you, and then read that passage aloud.
- Background: There are evidently some false prophets or false teachers who have influenced the disciples receiving the letter of 2 Peter. The author is concerned to steer his readers away from “cleverly devised stories” (2 Peter 1:16) in order to bring them back to the heart of the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- The first three verses of chapter 2 outline the nature and actions of these false teachers. Based on what you read here, how would you describe them in your own words?
- Would you say we encounter false teachers like this today? How so? (Perhaps consider 2 Peter 2:1-10a along with Jeremiah 23:9-40 and Matthew 7:21-23.)
- In verses 4-8, Peter uses three examples from the Hebrew Bible to illustrate both the cost of false teaching/living and the rescue for those who hold onto God’s truth and live accordingly. What are these examples?
- How do these examples speak to you about your own life and situation, if at all?
- Peter closes this section with an encouragement in verses 9-10a. What is Peter’s encouragement?
- What is one specific thing God is speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then pray about what you shared. If you are on your own, write it down, pray about it, and share this with someone during the next few days.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize 2 Peter 2:9
- Our passage for this week focuses a lot on false teaching that may lead us astray. Take some time to reflect on what you think might be false teaching in our own day. Write some of your ideas down. Prayerfully ask God if there are any ways you have been led astray by this or other false teaching. If he brings something to mind, confess it to God and ask God to lead you in true ways.
- If you haven’t already, consider watching the Bible Project overview videos on 2 Peter
- You may also want to dig deeper into a commentary on this passage or the book as a whole. Consider exploring:
- ◦ Richard Bauckham, Jude-2 Peter in the World Biblical Commentary series
- ◦ Douglas J. Moo, Jude, 2 Peter in the NIV Application Commentary series