CONNECT
If new people have joined your group, take time to introduce yourselves to each other.
Some questions to get the conversation rolling:
1. What’s something really important you’ve been wrestling with or thinking about this week?
2. What’s something you waited for that was worth the wait?

PRAY TOGETHER
Allow a moment for silence. This is often the most meaningful moment.

Then spend a few minutes asking God to meet each of you personally, right where you are. Pray that He would show you new and beautiful things and lead you further along the path of life. Allow time for everyone to contribute as God leads.

STUDY AND DISCUSSION
◾ Resist the urge to get through all the questions. It’s OK if you don’t. That’s not the point. Let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection and discussion. Spend time reading and really thinking about what the Bible is saying.

◾ If your group has eight or more people, it might be helpful to break into circles of four or five for greater participation and deeper discussion. When you come back together, invite each group to share a few takeaways from their conversation.

1. When you read about Jesus promising to return, what stands out most to you—and why? (See also: Matthew 24:1-14; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:11-14).

2. What might be underneath a person’s resistance to believing in judgment or eternity?

3. What do you think Peter means when he says people deliberately forget God’s past actions?

4. What does this passage teach you about God’s perspective on time?

5. Have you ever wrestled with doubt about God’s timing or promises? What did that look like for you?

6. How does Jesus’ first coming shape your understanding of His second coming?

7. How do you personally make sense of suffering or delay in light of God’s promises?

8. Who in your life might God be patiently waiting for—and how might you be part of their story?

9. What specific instructions does Peter give us about how to live while we wait?

10. What does it mean for you personally to live a peaceful, pure and blameless life (vs. 14)?

11. Where do you sense an invitation to grow in holiness—not out of fear, but out of love and purpose?

12. How do you balance urgency (sharing your faith) with patience and compassion toward others?

13. What does it look like to create a space where questions about faith are safe to explore?

14. If someone asked you what you believe about Jesus’ return, what would you say?

15. How would you summarize Peter’s main message to discouraged or skeptical believers?

The return of Jesus is not only a hope but a summons to live in readiness and responsibility.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

PERSONAL APPLICATION
After this week’s lesson, what’s one thought, question or takeaway you’re sitting with right now? Pause and ask God what He wants to say to you. Allow time for Him to speak, being sensitive to thoughts that come to mind. Growing often comes by simply making yourself available to God.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Memorizing Scripture enables us to carry within us the life-giving, life-shaping words of God at all times in all places. Here’s a verse to memorize based on this week’s teaching:

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT)

PRAY
◾ Invite someone to close your time in prayer.

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.