A few years ago I was invited to Jakarta to be part of a weeklong gathering for evangelical leaders from around the world. The event was fantastic, but by the end of the week I had met several other leaders who were about to go crazy from sitting in meetings. So we decided to hire an Indonesian driver on our one day off and try to get to the beaches in south Java—about a five hour drive. We left after the last evening session, weathered the late-night traffic jams (Atlanta rush hour has nothing on Jakarta at midnight!), and finally made it to the empty maze of smaller roads winding from village to village.

Hours later, it seemed like we were getting close to our destination. But then something began to happen to the road. Pavement gave way to gravel. A few minutes later, gravel became dirt. Finally, the dirt dead-ended at several piles of large rocks and a wall of jungle.

What we thought was the way to the beach turned out to be the way to nowhere. Of course, we were able to make a U-turn and eventually find the coast sometime just before dawn.

But this sort of thing doesn’t just happen in Indonesia; it can just as easily happen in our souls. How do you know when you’re on a road to nowhere? And how can you turn around before you can’t anymore?

This is exactly the kind of language we find in 2 Peter 2, where the Scripture teaches us how to recognize and avoid the false roads and false teachers that lead to nowhere (or worse).

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: End in Mind: Watch Out for Destruction Zones // Scripture: 2 Peter 2

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes

Peter gives us a sobering warning about teachers with an agenda of lies that seeks to work against the truth that the disciples were instructed to preach and teach. Peter is strongly aware of the danger of false teachers who are hard to recognize. He warns us against the potential of being fooled and exploited by these wicked leaders that deny the return of Jesus and also deny an appointed time of God’s judgment. Even more, Peter reminds us that God sees all hearts and is able to guide those who earnestly seek Him and put their hope in Jesus while keeping the false teachers accountable to His full judgment.

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
False teaching is like a dry spring that leads the thirsty to disappointment.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes

Picture (What is the story saying?): How can we recognize a false teacher? (False teachers deny the coming of judgment; downplay the dangers of evil; indulge in desires of the flesh.) Where does false teaching lead? (Destructive lifestyles, “waterless springs” that enslave rather than bring freedom.) What’s the truth about judgment? (Jesus will return, set things right, and we should not grow weary of following Jesus—the center and source for wholeness.)

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Have you ever encountered false teaching? How does Peter’s strong language make you feel? What do you think is the best way to avoid false teaching?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Does Peter’s warning bring a sense of fear or a sense of hope and purpose? What is potentially at stake for our neighbors who don’t know Jesus? Can we trust God’s Spirit to guide us as we do our best to tell the truth about Jesus and the kingdom of God?

BE IT – Practice

Change UP // Search Me 10 minutes

Psalm 139:23-24 reads, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Sit still with God at least twice this week. Pray this prayer and ask God to show you any area where some false teaching may be at work in your life. When God brings something to mind, ask him for to show you the truth that needs to replace that lie.

Change IN // Know Me 5 minutes

God’s fathering heart is to place us in a spiritual family where we can grow and thrive in community. Write down a prayer of thanks to God for truly knowing you and loving you unconditionally. Write down a list of people who really know you. Find a way to thank one or two of those people this week. If there is a broken relationship because of some false teaching, ask God to show you a next step in the journey to reconciliation.

Change OUT // Lead Me 5 minutes

Who are the people in your life that may not have consistent voices of truth? Make a list of 5 people that you sense God is bringing to your mind and heart to serve in some way. Ask God to lead you in prayer for them and to show you the next step in connecting with them.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.