Holy Smoke!

August 14, 2017

Daily Reading (Click to read each Scripture)
Genesis 37:29-36
2 Peter 2:4-10
Psalm 28
This week’s sermon text: Romans 2:17-29

Field Notes
Peter is writing to give some final words of instruction and encouragement to Church. He especially warns of false teachers who use the teachings of Christ for their own benefit or preach the Word while not living the teachings of Jesus. They do just what they feel like doing; they are boastful and proud AND they assuredly will suffer the consequences. If I am a false teacher I am in big trouble…what happens if I am only a false Christian? And what would that be? Perhaps a person who talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk; not the person who momentarily stumbles, but the one for whom Christianity is only a façade or lip service or a social nicety or not remembered beyond the hour of Sunday worship.

In 2 Peter 1:1-11, Peter hopes for and prays that faith within the Church will grow to become solid and beautiful, and this is my prayer for us all.

“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Questions for the Field

• Using our text, how would you identify a “false teacher” today?
• On an average day, how can you continue to grow in faith that produces the virtues that Peter mentions?
• Not wanting to disappoint Peter, I will…[fill in your daily practice to grow in faith].

Family Field Talk
Imagine that worldliness is the false teacher. What are the ways in which the ‘ways’ of the world can lead us away from our faith and tempt us with false promises? How can we avoid temptation and get back on the path of Jesus?

Prayer Guide
Holy God, help me to be faith-filled no matter where life takes me. Guard my heart when I am faced with temptations that would harm my Christian walk. Amen.