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(Monday) 1 Peter 1: Converted Coward

1. By what different routes did news of salvation come to the readers of Peter’s letter (vv. 10-12)?

2. How could the conditions that Peter describes in verses 21-25 promote sincere love among Christians?

3. How does the Future, as Peter describes it here, offer you hope in your own setting?

4. How might an honest attempt to “be holy” improve your relationships with people close to you?

Family Devotional: Read verses 7-9. What did Peter believe to be true of genuine faith?  What are some ways that you see this in your life?

Prayer:  Ask that God will give you a heart that rejoices in suffering.

(Tuesday) 2 Peter 1: Hidden Dangers

1. In verses 1-2 we are told that we will receive the gifts of faith, grace and peace though Christ’s righteousness and knowledge of God.  How does your own spiritual well-being depend in part on Christ’s righteousness and in part on your knowledge of God?

2. How are knowledge of Jesus and godly living related to each other (vv. 8-9)?

3. What do you think in means for a person to be called and elected by God (vv. 10-11)?

4. Verse 3 says that the divine power of Jesus has given us everything we need for godliness here and also for eternal life.  If you were to draw more fully on his power that Jesus makes available to you, what changes would you hope to see in yourself?

Family Devotional: Read verses 5-7.  Select one of the Christian qualities mentioned that you would liek to become more prominent in your own life.  If you were to practice this quality more faithfully, how would it help you escape the pollution of evil influences around you?

Prayer:  Ask Jesus to reveal to you areas in your life that he wants to change and reshape.

(Wednesday) Jude: Sounding the Alarm

1. What can you know of the circumstances of the people receiving this letter and of Jude’s purpose in writing to them (vv. 3-4)?

2. In the face of the this problem, Jude gives his readers two sets of instructions; “Remember” (v. 17) and “Build yourselves up” (v. 20).  Notice the specific instructions under each of theses.  How would remembering, in the way Jude describes, help believers keep the essential ingredients of Christian faith?

3. How would building ourselves up in the ways Jude outlines (vv.17-23) help us keep on living in a way that is true to our faith?

4. How can you protect yourself, and other believers whose lives you touch, from falling into these errors?

Family Devotional: Read verses 12-13.  Jude used a series of six metaphors.  How does each illustrate the danger of teacher who have perverted the gospel?

Prayer:  Ask Jesus to protect both you and your church from false teachers.

(Thursday) 1 John 3: Merest Christianity

1. How does John’s definition of sin (v. 40 compare with some of the viewpoints people have today?

2. Although Christians can and do sin, how does knowing Christ change our relationship to sin (v. 6)?

3. Why does the new birth make it impossible for God’s children to have a life characterized by sin (v. 9)

4. In what other practical ways might we “lay down our lives” for each other?

Family Devotional:  Read verses 11-15.  John begins this passages by talking about love and hate. How can Cain and Abel illustrate the two basic categories of humanity?  Who in your life is hardest to love?

Prayer:  Pray that the Holy Spirit would make you more into the image of Christ.

(Friday) 2 and 3 John: Pesky Deceivers

1. We tend to love only those Christians who agree with us or who we feel are compatible with us.   But what does it mean to love them “because of the truth” (v. 2)?

2. Obtaining a future reward for faithful service was a strong motivation for John (v. 8).  In what sense does the prospect of receiving a reward from Jesus Christ motivate you to walk in truth and love?

3. Why is Gaius an especially good example for us to follow?

4. Would you identify yourself as someone whose truth needs to be balanced by love or whose love needs to be balanced by truth?  Explain.

Family Devotional:  Read verses 4-6.  The unity of truth and love is applied to our relationships within the church.  what distinction is made between the commandment and the commandments?

Prayer:  Prayer that Harbor Church would be a place filled with truth and love.