2 Peter: Power Under PressureSample

Roughly two thousand years ago, there was a fisherman who was working at his family business with his brother Andrew in Israel. But everything in Peter’s life changed in ways he could have never anticipated on the day he started following Jesus. Before long, the brothers were early members of Jesus’ ministry, leaving the family business to spend three years learning the Scriptures from and doing ministry with Jesus. Peter was chosen by Jesus as the leader of the disciples, which is why his name always appears first when they are listed in Scripture. But like every Christian other than Christ, Peter was far from perfect. 

Peter begins his second letter to Christians who were increasingly despised and opposed in their culture under the godless emperor Nero by outlining how they could continue to become like Christ and point others to Christ. The tone of the letter is like that of a spiritual father with a family who wants to do what is right and is wrestling with how to do it. 

There are two primary purposes for the writing of 2 Peter. One, the churches and Christians were experiencing an escalating battle externally with the Roman culture and government. Two, the churches and Christians were experiencing an escalating battle internally with false teachers seeking to hijack the message of Christianity by blending it with a popular ideology in that day. 

Christians were seen as outcasts, rebels, and an oddly annoying minority group because they were determined to not compromise their faith by adding elements from other religious and spiritual groups. For the ancient Christians, it was always Jesus and only Jesus! In response, the culture and government of the Roman Empire increased the pressure for Christians to compromise until full-fledged persecution broke out to eliminate the Church altogether. 

Peter teaches all Christians that, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The Christian life, contrary to a lot of popular opinions, is a life we live for God. No, the Christian life is God working for us in Jesus, as well as in us and through us by the Holy Spirit. This truth provides the courage to live through suffering for Christ, and the humility to live through the Spirit like Christ.  

Questions: 

Peter opens by calling himself a servant. How do different people serve you? What are some ways you could serve other people, starting with the family?

In your own words, what does it mean that God does not choose favorites and loves all of His kids equally?   

How does the Holy Spirit help us to live a righteous life like Jesus?

What are some ways in which the Holy Spirit empowers us? (e.g. to serve God, to say no to sin, and to grow as Christians to be more like Jesus).  

Peter says that all Christians have “equal standing” with him in Christ. Do you really and truly believe there is no such thing as junior varsity Christians and that you are as loved, forgiven, and empowered as Peter?