March 22, 2026 – Lent – Come Out of the Grave

Come Out of the Grave

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

What was the valley full of (verse 1)?

How did Ezekiel describe the bones (verse 2)?

What did the Lord ask Ezekiel (verse 3)?

Who was Ezekiel to prophesy to (verse 4)?

What will the Lord make the bones do (verse 5)?

When will the bones know that “I am the Lord” (verse 6)?

What happened when Ezekiel prophesied (verse 7)?

What were the bones missing (verse 8)?

Why were the four winds to “breathe into these slain” (verse 9)?

What happened when Ezekiel prophesied as the Lord commanded (verse 10)?

Who were the bones (verse 11)?

What is Ezekiel to prophesy to Israel (verse 12)?

When will the people of Israel know that the Lord is “the Lord” (verse 13)?

What will the Lord put into the people of Israel (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

Psalm 130 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
²     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Where is the Psalmist crying from (verse 1)?

What does the Psalmist want the Lord’s ears to be attentive to (verse 2)?

When would no one stand (verse 3)?

Why can we serve the Lord “with reverence” (verse 4)?

Where does the Psalmist’s put his hope (verse 5)?

How does the Psalmist wait (verse 6)?

Why can Israel put their “hope in the Lord” (verse 7)?

What will the Lord redeem Israel from (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how is the “redemption” of Psalm 130 related to the opening of the Israelite’s  graves in Ezekiel 37:1-14?

John 11:1-(32-45) – New International Version (NIV)

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 

What did Mary say when she saw Jesus (verse 32)?

Why was Jesus moved in spirit and troubled (verse 33)?

What did Jesus do (verse 35)?

What did the Jews say (verse 36)?

What did other Jews say (verse 37)?

How was the tomb described (verse 38)?

Why was Martha afraid to have the stone moved (verse 39)?

What had Jesus said (verse 40)?

Who did Jesus thank for hearing Him (verse 41)?

Who did Jesus want to believe (verse 42)?

What did Jesus call “in a loud voice” (verse 43)?

How did the “dead man” come out (verse 44)?

Who believed (verse 45)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how is Jesus calling Lazarus to “come out” in John 11:1-(32-45) different from the vision of dry bones coming to  life in Ezekiel 37:1-14?

In your opinion, how does the redemption promised in Psalm 130 align with Jesus’s power to raise from the dead in John 11:1-(32-45)?

Romans 8:6-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Which mind “is death” (verse 6)?

What is the “mind governed by the Spirit” (verse 6)?

What cannot “submit to God’s law” (verse 7)?

Who cannot “please God” (verse 8)?

Where are those in whom “the Spirit of God lives” (verse 9)?

What does the Spirit give to those who Christ is in “even though” their body is subject to death (verse 10)?

What will the “Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead” do to the mortal bodies of those He lives in (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how does the prophecy of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 provide a visual expression of the transformation from spiritually dead to spiritually alive described in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, how does the Lord’s forgiveness in Psalm 130 play a part in the righteousness described in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, how does Jesus weeping in John 11:1-(32-45) lay the foundation for the spiritual life promised in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, Psalms, John, and Romans reveal to us about contrast between the dry bones of the flesh and the life of the Spirit?

In your opinion, where do we see the glory of God today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 15, 2023 – John’s Writings – Putting the “Umph” in Triumph

Putting the “Umph” in Triumph

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

What filled the valley that the “hand of the Lord” set Ezekiel in the middle of (verse 1)?

How did Ezekiel describe the bones in the valley (verse 2)?

How did Ezekiel answer the Lord’s question “son of man, can these bones live” (verse 3)?

What was Ezekiel to say to the bones (verse 4)?

How was the Lord going to give the bones life (verse 5)?

When will the bones know that God is the Lord (verse 6)?

What happened when Ezekiel prophesied (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that there were tendons, flesh and skin, but no breath (verse 8)?

What did Ezekiel prophesy to next (verse 9)?

What happened when Ezekiel “prophesied as he commanded me” (verse 10)?

Who did the bones represent (verse 11)?

What does the “Sovereign Lord” say (verse 12)?

When will the people of Israel know that God is Lord (verse 13)?

What will the Lord do that will cause them to live (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what triumph of God is displayed in this passage?

John 7:37-43 - New International Version (NIV)

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

⁴¹ Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? ⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” ⁴³ Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 

Which day was the greatest of the festival (verse 37)?

What did Jesus say “in a loud voice” (verse 37)?

Who will have “rivers of living water” flowing from within (verse 38)?

What did the “rivers of living water” mean (verse 39)?

Why had the Spirit not been given yet (verse 39)?

What did some people say after “hearing his words” (verse 40)?

What did others say (verse 41)?

Why did “still others” doubt Jesus was the Messiah (verse 41)?

Where did the Scripture say the Messiah would come from (verse 42)?

Why were the people divided (verse 42)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what triumph of God is displayed in this passage?

In your opinion, how are the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 and the people who believe in Jesus in John 7:37-43 similar?

1 John 4:7-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

Where does love come from (verse 7)?

Who “has been born of God and knows God” (verse 7)?

What is God (verse 8)?

How did God express love for us (verse 9)?

How might we live (verse 9)?

What is love (verse 10)?

Why should we “love one another” (verse 11)?

When does God live in us (verse 12)?

How do we “we know that we live in him and he in us” (verse 13)?

Who does God live in (verse 15)?

What do we “rely on” (verse 16)?

Who are Christians like (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what triumph of God is displayed in this passage?

In your opinion, how are God’s promise in Ezekiel 37:1-14 that “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live” and John’s statement in 1 John 4:7-17 that “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit” related?

In your opinion, does the statement in 1 John 4:7-17 that “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God” help us understand how to respond to Jesus’s invitation in John 7:37-17 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink”?

Revelation 11:11-19 – New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”

¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.
¹⁸ The nations were angry,
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

When did the breath of life enter them (verse 11)?

How did “those who saw them” respond when they “stood on their feet” (verse 11)?

What did their enemies do when they “went up to heaven in a cloud” (verse 12)?

How did the survivors respond to the severe earthquake (verse 13)?

What is coming soon (verse 14)?

What do the “loud voices in heaven” say after the second woe (verse 15)?

What do the “the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God” say that the Lord God Almighty has begun to do (verses 16 and 17)?

How did the nations respond (verse 18)?

Who will be judged (verse 18)?

Who will be rewarded (verse 18)?

What is opened (verse 19)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what triumph of God is displayed in this passage?

In your opinion, how is the breath from the four winds entering the dry bones and making them into a mighty army in Ezekiel 37:1-14 similar to “breath of life from God” entering the two witnesses in Revelation 11:11-19?

In your opinion, are the people who respond to Jesus’s invitation to “come to me and drink” in John 7:37-43 a part of the “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah” proclaimed in Revelation 11:11-19?

In your opinion, how can the love that 1 John 4:7-17 proclaims help us understand what the “kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah” that Revelation 11:11-19 proclaims has come after the seventh trumpet sounds will be like? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, John, 1 John and Revelation teach us about God’s ability to bring the victory of life and love into every circumstance of our lives?

In your opinion, how can our lives today be the “umph” in God’s triumph?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

August 28, 2016 – Teachings from the Rock – From Dead Bones to Godly Life

From Dead Bones to Godly Life

Ezekiel 37:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”.

Where did the hand of the Lord set Ezekiel (verse 1)?

What were the bones in the valley like (verse 2)?

How did Ezekiel answer the Lord’s question “son of man, can these bones live” (verse 3)?

What are the “dry bones” supposed to hear (verse 4)?

Who is going to make breath enter the bones (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why will the dry bones, after receiving tendons, flesh, skin, breath and life “know that I am the Lord” (verse 6)?

What happened while Ezekiel prophesied (verse 7)?

In your opinion, how would Ezekiel feel to see the miracle of the bones with flesh on them, but know that they were not alive because “there was no breath in them” (verse 8)?

What was Ezekiel to prophesy to (verse 9)?

What happened when Ezekiel “prophesied as he commanded me” (verse 10)?

Who says “our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off” (verse 11)?

What was Ezekiel to prophesy and say to them (verse 12)?

When will they know that “I am the Lord” (verse 13)?

What will the Lord put in them (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 3:1-8 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Who was Nicodemus (verse 1)?

When did he come to Jesus (verse 2)?

Why did he know that Jesus was “a teacher who has come from God” (verse 2)?

How did Jesus reply (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what does the answer that Nicodemus gives show about his understanding of Jesus and the kingdom of God (verse 4)?

What has to happen before someone can enter the kingdom of God (verse 5)?

What gives birth to spirit (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus say “you should not be surprised at my saying, ‘you must be born again’” (verse 7)?

Where does the wind blow (verse 8)?

What can you not tell from hearing the sound of the wind (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “so it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the breath going into the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:1-14 and giving them life similar to the Holy Spirit moving like the wind and bringing people into new life and the kingdom of God in John 3:1-8?

1 Timothy 1:12-17 - New International Version (NIV)

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What three things does Paul thank Christ Jesus for (verse 12)?

What was Paul shown even though he was once a blasphemer, persecutor and a violent man (verse 13)?

How was the “grace of our Lord” poured out on Paul (verse 14)?

Why did Christ Jesus come into the world (verse 15)?

Why was Paul, the worst of sinners, shown mercy (verse 16)?

How does Paul describe the King (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the rebirth by the Spirit that Jesus says is necessary in John 3:1-8 demonstrated by Paul who says that the “grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly” in 1 Timothy 1:12-17?

In your opinion, how does the transformation of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 anticipate the transformation of Paul described in 1 Timothy 1:12-17?

2 Peter 1:3-11 – New International Version (NIV)

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What has God’s divine power given us (verse 3)?

Why has God given us His “very great and precious promises” (verse 4)?

What are we to “make every effort to add” (verses 5-7)?

In your opinion, how will possessing “these qualities in increasing measure” keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (verse 8)?

What are those who do not have these qualities forgetting (verse 9)?

What should we confirm (verse 10)?

What will we receive if we do these things (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion of the Lord’s grace being poured abundantly on him in 1 Timothy 1:12-17 show Jesus Christ saving sinners, and Peter’s instruction in 2 Peter 1:3-11 to make every effort to add to “faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” show how those sinners can confirm that calling and election?

In your opinion, how does Peter’s statement in 2 Peter 1:3-11 “so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” help us to understand about the rebirth that Jesus says in John 3:1-8 is necessary to see the kingdom of God?

In your opinion, how is God’s prophesy in Ezekiel 37:1-14 “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.” shown to have a new fulfillment in 2 Peter 1:3-11 by Peter’s statement that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, John, 1 Timothy, Romans and 2 Peter tell us about being reborn and the living productive lives?

In your opinion, what do these passages show us about ourselves today?

Next, back to 2 Peter 1:12 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)