Central Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Virginia Pastor Steve Grieme

Some of us enjoy vegetables while for others they may be an acquired taste. However, almost all of us recognize their nutritional value so we try to develop in our kids a palate for vegetables because we want them to be healthy and strong. We come to a passage in 2 Peter that most would not run to as their favorite passage in Scripture. However, this warning passage from Peter is of critical importance for the health of the church.

Waiting is one of the most difficult things to do. Whether it’s waiting for graduation, Christmas, or waiting all day for Sunday night in the fall. We want things to happen quickly, as they should be, and on our timetable. But what do we do when the unexpected happens and what we have been waiting for turns into an impossible situation? We will dive into what our response should be in the waiting.

Have you ever had to raise your voice at someone – not in a sinful, emotional way, but in a protective way? Or maybe there was a dangerous moment in your life when someone raised their voice towards you and saved you from a lot of harm. As we continue our study of 2nd Peter, Peter effectively raises his voice to the church to save them from what would be certain destruction. His warnings are just as important today.

Have you ever been conned? Maybe someone sweet talked you into a deal that sounded to good to be true and then it was. It usually happens because someone gains your trust, but then turns out not to be trustworthy. As it turns out there are those who use the name of Christ, and call themselves Christians only out of greed. Peter has a lot to say about the effect of false teachers. This important message is very relevant for our day.

What causes you to stop and pay attention to what someone is saying? Maybe it’s the seriousness of their voice, or the seriousness of the situation. Peter grabs the attention of his audience by telling them he doesn’t have much time left. That, maybe like nothing else, has a way of grabbing your attention. He had a reminder that was of critical importance for the church. It remains of critical importance for the church.

Sometimes, you will run into someone you haven’t seen in a long time and they will say, “you haven’t changed a bit.” As we age, that’s always a nice thing to hear. No one wants to be greeted with someone saying, “wow, I can’t believe how you’ve changed.” However, what may be true physically is not true spiritually. We should all be changing.