Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.

1. Does this scripture challenge your understanding of the work of the Old Testament Prophets? In what ways, and how do you think they worked?
2. Is it important to you to know how the message of the Gospel has been handed down to you?
3. How do you propose to hand the message of the Gospel on to others who come after you, or is it your responsibility? Whose responsibility is it?

Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.

Personal comment: What I have written today is dear to my own heart because I have personally grappled with he Old Testament for years whilst teaching it as a tutor in a Bible College. I am extremely grateful that it was pointed out to me long ago that a Christian will find it hard to understand the Old Testament unless they do so through the eyes of the prophets. It is the key which unlocked much of it for me, and I pray it will be for others. It is certainly what Peter says here.

Ideas for discipleship programme

• Turn back in your Bible to some passage of the Old Testament prophets with which you are familiar. Read them again in the light of this study and see whether it makes a difference!
• Find a friend with whom you can talk about the blessings of God’s grace and the privilege of your faith. All of us need to do this from time to time to refresh our faith and our confidence in the Lord.

Great and Mighty Lord; fix my heart on You with such intensity that no temptations of the evil one can shake me. Keep my feet firmly on Your pathway, guide me securely through my troubles, and bring me safely into Your complete salvation and my journey’s end. I ask this through Jesus Christ my Lord; AMEN