GodSpeak for the Week of May 7
“What’s In [His] Name?” – Despotes
Day 1…Read 2 Peter 2:1-3
- Consider this – the Greek word Peter uses for “sovereign Lord” is the word “despotes”.
- Consider this – in our world, a “despot” is a leader who is: brutal, repressive, heartless, totalitarian (among other, unsavory qualities).
- Answer this – what does Peter’s use of the word “despotes” tell us about Jesus?
Day 2…Read 2 Peter 2:1-3, again.
- Answer this – given what Peter says, who are the real “despots” (in terms of how we usually understand the word in our day-and-age)?
Day 3…Read Jude 3-4 (btw – Jude only has one chapter)
- Answer this – what is the problem Jude is warning the faithful to fight against?
- Answer this – what quality does Jude use to describe our “despotes” in this case?
Day 4…Read Luke 2:25-35
- Consider this – this is the story of faithful Simeon, upon being presented with the Christ child.
- Answer this – what quality does Simeon attach to his use of the word “despotes”?
- Answer this – what is the effect/the byproduct Simeon notes, as a result of that quality having been lived out by God, our “despotes”?
Day 5…Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
- Consider this – in Paul’s day the buying and selling of human slaves was commonplace. It was part of the social landscape; and was an acceptable practice.
- Consider specifically, therefore, v. 23 in light of the rest of the passage.
- Answer this – what is Paul saying to the faithful, here, especially those who are actual slaves of human masters?
Day 6…Read Philemon 8-21 (again, Philemon only has one chapter)…
- Consider this – Onesimus was a runaway slave of Paul’s friend, Philemon. Having run to and found Paul, Onesimus was baptized becoming a Christian. Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon.
- Answer this – but, how/in what kind of relationship is Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon?
- Answer this – who has literally paid for Onesimus, such that Paul can dare to send him back to Philemon in this way?
- Consider this – note the length (especially in vv. 17-18) to which Paul goes to repurchase Onesimus from Philemon.
- Answer this – in v. 17 Paul makes a bold statement…how is Philemon to view Onesimus going forward?