2 Peter 1:12-21



2 Peter 1:12-21

“God’s Word!”

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Memory Verse: “…for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21

Lesson Focus: God’s Word is true!

Activities and Crafts: Coloring Sheet; Hidden Word Activity Sheet; What is the Bible Sheet; and Craft for 1st & 2nd Grades:

Craft: Bible Ship

Introduction: Game: Play “Truth Tag”

1. Tell the kids that you are going to tell the first person in the row a secret.

2. They are to whisper the secret to the child setting next to him/her. They cannot repeat it. Everybody needs to pass on the message as they heard it.

3. When you get to the end, have the last child tell the secret.

4. You may play a couple of times. (Just make up a phrase to pass along.)

Explain to the kids that often we hear things that are not true or are not what someone was trying to say. Today we are going to talk about that everything in God’s Word is true. It is exactly what He wanted us to know. We may hear non-truths in the world but the Word of God is always true!

Bible Lesson:

2 Peter 2:12-15: “Final Words!”

√ If you knew that you were dying what would you want to tell people?

Peter knows that his readers know the truth. He wants to make sure that they are “established” in that truth. The word “established” means to stabilize or strengthen. Like a strong building built on a firm foundation. Peter wants to make sure that they do not stumble in their walk with Jesus.

(2 Peter 1:1-10). Our faith needs to always be growing. Peter learned this in his own life and he wants to remind all of us.

√ What does Peter want to remind the reader of?

(Peter in the first part of chapter 1 reminds us how we should live in Jesus. We need to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge; self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These are the qualities that should we should be building in our lives.)

√ Why do you think we need to be reminded of things?

The Bible is often reminding us of how we should live. It needs to remind us because we quickly forget. Peter is telling us that as long as he is alive he must remind people of how to follow Jesus. In order to follow Jesus well, we need to be constantly reminded of what we have already learned.

√ Do you think that we forget easily? In Isaiah 17:10 it says, “Because you have             forgotten the God of your salvation and have not been mindful of the Rock             of your stronghold.” Just like the people of Israel would forget their God              we tend to forget the things about God that we already know. We seem to forget how He has worked in the past and we whine about the present.

√ When Peter refers to “this tent” what is he talking about? (His body) It is a “word picture” of a Middle Eastern nomad living in portable tents. Our body is in a temporary house and some day that tent will pass away and our souls will live eternally with God in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2

√ What does it mean when Peter says that he wanted to “stir them up”? These words mean to awaken from being asleep. We need to be reminded of what God has done for us and to wake up and live it out.

√ Does Peter think that he is going to die soon?

Peter knows that his time on earth is almost over. He is writing these things so that when he is gone and in heaven these words will remain and remind people of how to live. He is reminding people to finish well by following the Word of God. Peter was told by Jesus of the way that he would die in John 21:18. History tells us that Peter was crucified like Jesus but he insisted on being crucified upside down.

2 Peter 1:16-18: “The Majesty of Jesus.”

Peter makes clear claims here in these verses:

1. We do not follow “made-up” stories. He is referring here to the second coming of Jesus (that He will return with power and glory.) Matthew 25:31-32, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” This is not a tale; this is what Jesus Himself told us about. Jesus has come and Jesus is coming back.

2. We were eye witnesses of the majesty of Jesus. The word majesty means splendor or magnificence. It is used in other places in the New Testament to refer to the “greatness of God.”

3. They heard the voice of God tell them who Jesus was

a. My beloved Son (Jesus is equal with God)

b. I am pleased in Him (Jesus is perfectly righteous – there is not sin in Him)

Peter is talking about the transfiguration event in Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9. On that one day Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain. Before their eyes Jesus was transfigured in brilliant light, and on either side of Him stood Moses and Elijah. And then God’s voice came from heaven. Peter physically saw who Jesus really is. He saw the Jesus that will return to reign on earth.

2 Peter 1:19a: When Peter says “we” he is speaking to all believers. As a group we all have the Word of God. Peter is saying that even though he had this great “experience” everything was confirmed through God’s written word in the Old Testament. Even though it was really cool for Peter, James and John to see Jesus transfigured, it is more “cool” to realize that God’s word is true. God’s word will shine in this dark world we live in. God has told us that, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God’s Word allows us to see clearly. (Psalm 19:8b)

2 Peter 1:19b:

“Until the day dawns” is a reference to the second coming of Jesus as Lord. Jesus will return in glory. He will put an end to sin on earth. He will establish His Kingdom forever.

“Morning star” means “light bringer” which is used for the planet Venus which appears right before the dawn of each morning. So just like the “morning star” Jesus will return to earth and begin His new Kingdom.

When the morning star rises in our hearts we will be changed. When Jesus returns in His glory we will be changed to be like Him. Sin will no longer control us. We will be transformed!

1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

2 Peter 1:20-21: “God’s Holy Word”

√ What does Peter tell us about the Word of God?

1. No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation (Interpretation of Scripture matters.) All of Scripture is important. You cannot build a “theology” out of one verse because all of Scripture is linked together. Where people often get in trouble is when they pick out one verse and say that God has shown them a “new idea” to follow. But Peter here is not talking so much about understanding Scripture but the source of the Scripture. False prophets speak their own words, not the Words of God. It originated with them not God.

2. The Word of God did not come by man

3. The Word of God is through the Holy Spirit

4. The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of men to write down God’s truth. The word “moved” means to carry and is where we get the word “ferry.” Peter is saying that God moved men through the power of the Holy Spirit in the same direction. He used their own personalities to write, but they all landed in the same place. 1 Corinthians 2:11b says, “Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

Boys and girls it is very important what you believe about the Word of God. So let’s take a Bible quiz….

1. Is the Bible true and how do we know it is true? (2 Timothy 3:16)

a. The Words of the Bible were written down a long, long time ago. As we learned today they were written by men moved by the power of the Holy Spirit.

b. These words were very carefully copied.

c. In the 1940’s a little shepherd boy found ancient scrolls that were put into jars and hidden in a cave by the Dead Sea. These ancient manuscripts are called the “Dead Sea Scrolls.” These were studied and it confirmed that that we had the correct words for several Old Testament Books.

d. God protected His book through the ages so that we could know Him, but we have to believe by faith.

2. Why do we need to read the Bible? (2 Timothy 3:17 and 1 Peter 2:2)

3. Is the Old Testament still important for our lives? What does it teach us? Luke 24:27; John 5:39

4. Is the creation story in the Bible true? (Psalm 33:6)

These are only a few questions. Go back to class and look at the Bible Worksheet and talk about any more questions that you may have about the Word of God.

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