[1]NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: 2 Peter 1
Discussion Questions:
- What are some ways we receive the knowledge of Jesus?
- How do believers escape the corruption in the world because of sin?
- What are some habits or routines you can establish that will help you seek to know God even when your flesh may not desire Him?
Food for Thought:
Read 2 Peter 1:1-4. When a man and woman mutually agree to date for the purpose of getting to know one another, for a season it could appear that the two are inseparable. Their days are probably filled with text messages, phone calls and many dates in between – some planned, others spontaneous. Whether they like it or not, the two of them occupy one another’s thoughts for the majority of the day.
[2]Our desire to know more about Jesus should be similar to this, but greater. Christ is infinitely glorious. He is far more radiant, far more gracious and far more grand than anything or anyone we could ever imagine. Thus, we should desire to search the Scriptures, pray and commune with God in order to discover more about Him. After all, how can we possibly get bored with the One who is more captivating than anything or anyone we could ever lay our eyes upon?
It is by God’s power that we have this knowledge that enables a life of godliness. Because our God and Savior Jesus Christ (v. 1) lived the perfect life as a human being here on earth – the life we were incapable of living because of our sin nature – we can be saved in Him. All of God’s holy requirements are met in Christ. By faith, God’s people get the incredible privilege of living purposeful lives infused with godliness because of our blameless, risen Savior. Through knowing Him, we can be like Him.
God makes many great promises throughout Scripture, and each one finds its fulfillment in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). For God’s glory and our good, Jesus was sent so we might share in a new “Jesus nature,” having been transformed and enabled to properly bear God’s image. Now we don’t have to succumb to our own evil desires or co-sign on the evil desires of this world. In Christ, with this new divine nature, we can now escape the temptations of this world and have victory over the evil one.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/gospelproject [3].
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool [4] or ordered at LifeWay Christian Resources [4].