May 8 Sermon: Is God's Word Good Enough For You? (2 Peter 1:12-25)

Pastor: Ryan Laughlin

Series: 2 Peter

1) The sermon identified two main reasons our confidence in the Bible might falter: the pace of our lives or the pain of our lives.  How has your confidence in the Bible been influenced by both?  

2) Peter insists that we need to be reminded of the gospel often -- one person has said, "we must preach the gospel to ourselves every day." In your own words, explain his reasoning in verses 12-15.  

3) In light of Peter's reminder, reflect together on the following passage from Richard Lovelace:

“Only a fraction of the present body of professing Christians are solidly appropriating the justifying work of Christ in their lives. . . . In their day-to-day existence they rely on their sanctification for justification. . . . Few know enough to start each day with a thoroughgoing stand upon Luther’s platform: you are accepted, looking outward in faith and claiming the wholly alien righteousness of Christ as the only ground for acceptance, relaxing in that quality of trust which will produce increasing sanctification as faith is active in love and gratitude.

In order for a pure and lasting work of spiritual renewal to take place within the church, multitudes within it must be led to build their lives on this foundation.  This means that they must be conducted into the light of a full conscious awareness of God’s holiness, the depth of their sin and the sufficiency of the atoning work of Christ for their acceptance with God, not just at the outset of their Christian lives but in every succeeding day.”

-Richard F. Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life (Downers Grove, 1979), pages 101-102, italics his.

4) Often our confidence in the reliability of Scripture is eroded by doubt.  Can you remember a class, a conversation, or simply a moment in life when this doubt seemed especially acute?  How did you respond?  What helped you the most?  Which of Peter's responses resonates: the Bible as observed events, confirmed experiences, or inspired Word?  

5) The sermon ended with three lines of application: 

• Some of us need to reconsider our doubts about the Word of God
• Some of us need to read the Word of God
• Some of us need to relish the Word of God 

Which of these three challenges do you most need to hear?  What are you going to do about it?

Footnotes:

• The opening illustration about the shoebox full of letters might be interesting "warm-up" conversation for the group.  This image has always been a powerful one for me since I heard Ryan Adams' poignant but sad song "Houses on the Hill."  You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBPa_JzNWBg.
• Richard Bauckman's book helped me consider the importance of eyewitness accounts to the Scriptures 
• Here's the book: http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Eyewitnesses-Gospels-Eyewitness-Testimony/dp/0802831621.  
• Here's an article about the book: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/juneweb-only/123-42.0.html. 
• Richard Lovelace's challenging gem "Dynamics of Spiritual Life" spearheads my realization of the importance of the gospel, the gospel, the gospel...I'm only 100 or pages into it but it's been very helpful: http://www.amazon.com/Dynamics-Spiritual-Life-Richard-Lovelace/dp/087784626X.  
• For those who struggle to maintain consistent Bible reading, this might help: http://www.ransomfellowship.org/articledetail.asp?AID=378&B=Margie%20Haack&TID=5.