2 Peter - Eyes Wide Open - Lecture Notes

Brock, Ivy, and Pastor Kyle play a game where they answer questions or eat unappealing food.

Kyle refuses to name his favorite grandchild and eats maple spam.
Brock refuses to name his favorite child and eats dried anchovies.
Ivy shares her secret talent of imitating Toad from Mario Kart.
Kyle admits to forgetting people's names, even after officiating their wedding.
Brock avoids answering if he's said anything inappropriate on stage and eats something unpleasant.
Ivy encourages her generation to be ambassadors for Christ.
Kyle explains his focus on the next two generations is influenced by becoming a grandfather and wanting them to have a strong faith.

Brock introduces the new series, "Eyes Wide Open," focusing on the book of 2 Peter.
He humorously reflects on his experience in the "Answer It or Eat It" game.
The series will explore the letter of 2 Peter within the New Testament.
2 Peter was written after Jesus' death and resurrection, likely between 65-68 AD, by the Apostle Peter.

While 1 Peter addresses external hostility towards the church, 2 Peter addresses internal hostility caused by false teachers and false doctrine.
False teachings were poisoning the church from within, leading Christians to believe lies.
The series will explore these lies, suggesting some may still be believed today.
Peter's response is a strongly worded letter, despite his seemingly impulsive personality.
Peter likely wrote the letter from imprisonment under Emperor Nero, making it his closing statement and final instructions for Christians.

Brock shares a personal story about creating a "death document" after being diagnosed with a tumor behind his eye. This document contained critical information for his family in case of his death.
This mirrors Peter's letter, which serves as his final instructions and wisdom for the church after his departure.

Peter identifies himself as a "slave and apostle of Jesus Christ," highlighting both his high position and humble service.
This reflects Jesus' example in Philippians 2:6-7, where He humbled himself to become a servant.
Peter challenges readers to follow Jesus' example of humility and service.
He wishes his readers grace and peace as they grow in their knowledge of God and Jesus.

Peter emphasizes the importance of "knowledge," a recurring theme throughout the letter because believers are surrounded by false teaching that corrupts their understanding.
We live in a "distraction factory" where Christians may know more about TikTok trends than God's Word.
Peter challenges the church to remain true to their discipleship to Jesus amidst the noise of the world.
Everyone is a disciple of something; the question is, who or what are you a disciple of?

Peter provides a basic overview of the gospel, emphasizing that salvation is not based on our own efforts but on what Jesus has already done.

Through divine
{power}, God has given us everything we need to live a godly life.
The original language uses a word that translates to dynamite, indicating God's explosive power in our lives.
This power is received through a relationship with Jesus, not earned.
We receive God's promises, enabling us to share in his divine nature and escape corruption.
When we know Jesus and are baptized, the old is gone, and the new has come, rebuilt by the Holy Spirit.

Peter urges believers to make every effort to respond to God's promises and grow in their faith.
This effort is rooted in grace, not in earning God's love.
Grace is not opposed to effort, but it's opposed to earning.
Peter encourages Christians to grow in their relationship with Jesus and demonstrate effort in their daily walk with Him.

Failing to grow leads to being shortsighted, blind, and forgetting that we have been cleansed from our old sins.
Spiritual amnesia causes us to forget the gospel and become vulnerable to false teaching and false doctrine.
We forget our Christ-given identity and seek fulfillment in worldly things.
Such individuals are not grounded in Scripture and lack alertness.

Examples of potential lies
- I said a prayer, so I'm a Christian.
- I got baptized, so I'm good.
- I remember raising my hand, so I'm fine.
- I'm a member of this church, so I must be a disciple.
Peter is calling for active living faith, showing signs of life as a body does.

Our responsibility is to work hard, make every effort, and daily walk with Jesus.
It's due to God's grace that we seek to believe and behave as disciples of Jesus.
The reward is that we will never fall away and will be grounded in Christ.
The grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ is the ultimate reward.
Following Jesus isn't easy, but it's worth it.

Don't lose sight of God's grace; you don't earn your way into heaven, but you must be baptized into Christ and commit to knowing and following Jesus.
Today is the perfect time to repent and turn towards God's way, allowing Jesus to take his rightful place in your life.