The Day of the Lord—2 Peter 3:1–18 Open It 1. When was the last time someone wrote you an encouraging letter? 2. *With what sort of people do you find it hard to be patient? Explore It 1. Why did Peter write this letter as well as his first letter? (3:1) 2. What did Peter want these believers (his audience) to recall? (3:2) 3. What did Peter say would occur in the last days? (3:3) 4. What will the “scoffers” say in the last days? (3:4) 5. What will the “scoffers” deliberately forget? (3:5) 6. How was the world once destroyed and how will it be destroyed in the future? (3:6–7) 7. *What did Peter tell his readers not to forget? (3:8) 8. *Why is the Lord patient? (3:9) 9. How will the day of the Lord appear? (3:10) 10. What reason did Peter give his readers for living holy and godly lives? (3:11–12) 11. What will the day of God bring? (3:12) 12. What reason did Peter give his readers to hope for the future? (3:13) 13. What did Peter urge his readers to make every effort to do? Why? (3:14) 14. *What does the Lord’s patience mean? (3:15) 15. What did Peter say about the apostle Paul’s writings? (3:16) 16. Why did Peter instruct his readers to be on their guard? (3:17) 17. What final instruction did Peter leave with his readers? (3:18) Get It 1. What stimulates you to wholesome thinking? 2. What discourages you from engaging in wholesome thinking? 3. About what biblical truths have you heard people scoff, and why were they scoffing? 4. How does the fact that the earth will one day be destroyed affect your daily life? 5. How should the reality that the earth will one day be destroyed affect the way we live our lives from day to day? 6. *How have you personally benefited from God’s patience? 7. When have you thought that God was either not patient enough or too patient with you or someone else? 8. Why is it easy to spend little time looking forward to the new heaven and new earth? 9. How can we guard against falling into error in what we believe? 10. How can we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ? 11. *How do you need to alter your life-style in light of the certain future destruction of the earth? Apply It 1. What specific step will you take this week to grow in Christ? 2. *How can you change your routine to reflect your hope for Christ’s return? 3. What will you do this week to stimulate wholesome thinking? 4. To whom can you write a letter of encouragement this week?