June 30. 2 Peter 3 GRACE LESSONS: We have a clear summary of Peter’s letter in this passage. Let’s look at verses 17 and 18: “You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” There it is. Be reminded often of what you already know. Be on guard so you don’t get tripped up. Be ever so careful to not be led astray and lose your way. The way to do this is to grow in the grace and […] Read more »

June 29. 2 Peter 2:12-22 GRACE LESSONS: This is basically a continuation of Peter’s righteous anger over the false teachers attempting to corrupt his flock. Quite honestly, I don’t see much grace in this passage. I see his fierce love for those who accepted Christ and his desire to protect them. Perhaps the graciousness is the intensity of his words and his passion for these Christians even in the midst of his own tremblings at his impending death. OUR PASSAGE: God hates it when we mix up right and wrong, trying to justify wrong by making it seem right. When supposed ministers of the gospel distort it, there are serious consequences for them. Isaiah says it this way: “Woe to those who call evil good, […] Read more »

It's hard to believe tomorrow is our last day together. Please listen to this "last chat" and either answer in the comments or email me at sharon@sweetselah.org. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for doing this study with me!   Read more »

June 28. 2 Peter 2:1-11 GRACE LESSONS: I love the way Peter helps us notice that God sees individuals who are trying to get it right even in the darkest of times. Noah was alone, practically, in being righteous, but God did not sweep him away with those who were beyond hearing. And then there was Lot. Lot chose the best land when Abraham gave him a choice and continued to live in a violent and vile place when—let’s face it—maybe he should have moved. Anyways, God showed him grace when he provided a way of escape for him and his family. God sees His people even in the darkest times. OUR PASSAGE: And here, in this passage, we see harsher words from Peter. He […] Read more »

June 27. 2 Peter 1:12-21 GRACE LESSONS: Let’s remember back to when we read John 21. Jesus gently prepared Peter for his death with these words in verses 18-19: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter was not given a shallow description of how grand life would be following Christ. No, Jesus told him the truth about his hard ending. And then, after Peter knew what was involved, Jesus […] Read more »

June 26. 2 Peter 1:1-11 Well just LOOK at you! Yes, you. You are still reading, still studying, still meeting with the One who loves you. Here we are on the last letter Peter wrote before his martyred death. And you are here with me, finishing strong. Thank you and praise God! GRACE LESSONS: As Peter pens this last letter—possibly the last letter he ever wrote—he again extends so much grace and kindness to all. Note verse 2 where he again asks God to give his readers more and more grace. Read verse 3 where Peter encourages us that God, in His grace, gives us “everything we need for living a godly life.”  Rejoice with Peter that someday “God will give you a grand entrance […] Read more »

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June 25. I Peter 5 GRACE LESSONS: One of the most fascinating references to grace comes in the last part of Peter’s first letter to the suffering Christians in Asia Minor. Let’s look at verse 12: “I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” We don’t always get a clearly stated purpose for a letter, do we? But here it is. Peter states that his purpose is to tell these persecuted believers that all the hardship is truly part of […] Read more »

June 24. I Peter 4:12-19 GRACE LESSONS: Let’s focus in on verse 16 for our grace lesson, today: “But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” I can imagine good, upstanding citizens who were Christian feeling terribly embarrassed to be considered criminals in their time. Wouldn’t you and I feel weird if we were singled out as villains in our neighborhoods and towns? Peer pressure is a powerful thing and it sure is nice to be viewed as a good and respectable soul. Yet, these poor Christians, already displaced by the anger of Nero and the spread of persecution, have to face being viewed as terrible people when they are not. […] Read more »