Reminding & Repetition
good,
bad, or otherwise?
2 Pet. 3:1, 2 Why did Peter write
this letter to these Christians in which he is
stirring up their sincere mind by way of reminder?
[The words of
the prophets and the command of the Lord probably refer to warnings to beware
of false teachers or prophets – Deut. 13:1-3; Jer. 14:14, 15; Matt. 7:15].
Do you ever remind other Christians of things that the Bible teaches in order to help them keep the right perspective or obedience to God, so that they won’t be deceived with false teaching or have a wrong perspective? How often? Why?
2 Pet. 1:2-15 Why did
Peter want to always be ready to remind these Christians of these things (vss. 2-7), even though they already
knew them and had been established in the truth (vss. 8-11)?
Why
did Peter consider it right to remind them of these things (vss. 13-15)?
Do you ever feel like you are either boring people or “bugging” people by reminding them of important Bible truths? Why?
If so, should you feel this way? Why?
Why is repetition important?
How do you feel when another Christian reminds you of Bible truths or principles that you have already heard and have been established in?
Why?
Jude 1:3-7 What did Jude want to remind these Christians of, even
though they already knew all of these things that he was about to remind them?
Why did Jude remind them of this (vs. 4)?
Have you ever desired to remind a Christian, who you know, of the consequences of unbelief or apostasy (even though he/she already knew what you were going to tell him/her), because he/she was being influenced by false teachers to deny or abandon what he/she once believed (as taught in the Bible)?
If so, when did you do so, or what
did you remind him/her of?
Phil. 3:1, 2 What does Paul say about his writing the
same things again to these Philippian Christians?
What was it a safeguard for (vs. 2)?
Are Paul’s attitudes of verse 1 the same as yours when it comes to warning and protecting Christians you know from false teachers and false doctrines? Why?
If so, when was the last time that you wrote a Christian friend a letter warning him/her of wrong influences from false teachers?
Are you reminding Christians again
and again about the basic fundamentals of the faith? Why?
Do you forget things easily, lose your perspective quickly, or get swayed fast when surrounded by divergent influences, responsibilities, circumstances, or other things that capture your attention?
How do you deal with these?
Do you see why reminding each other
of what is important is necessary? Why?
1 Cor. 4:14-17 Because these Corinthians became Christians through the
gospel message which Paul spoke (thus he
became their spiritual father), Paul exhorts them to imitate him. For what
reason did Paul send Timothy to them?
Why
do you think that Paul sent Timothy to do this?
Have
you ever sent one of your disciples/trainees to a convert of yours in order to
have him/her remind your convert of your ways which are in Christ (e.g., 2 Tim. 3:10, 11)?
When
you have a disciple/trainee and some converts, do you plan to do this? Why?
2 Tim. 1:5-8 Because of Timothy’s sincere faith, what
does Paul remind him to do?
Why?
[Timothy’s
gift was that of a pastor – teaching, exhorting, etc. – 1 Tim. 4:14].
Do you ever remind people to kindle afresh the gift
of God (spiritual gift – Rom. 12:6-8;
Eph.
Why?
2 Tim.
Do you encourage or are you encouraging your disciples/trainees to remind those faithful people that they are working with or leading to remain steadfast in the performance of their God-given tasks, and to look to Jesus amid their many afflictions as the One Who will reward them for these hard times? Why?
1 Jn.
Is
your aim in writing or speaking to Christians ever to help them recall what
they already know?
Why?