Introduction to the Bible – Week 5
Looking back on the week:
New Testament: Epistles
Bible books:
Timeline:
The early church ________ and ______________ is destroyed (70 AD).
Paul’s Life and Letters
Paul’s conversion & early ministry (Acts 9:1-30; 11:19-30)
Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey (Acts 13 & 14)
Galatians Written
The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts 16:6-18:22)
1 & 2 Thessalonians written
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:14)
1 & 2 Corinthians written
Romans written
Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem, to Rome & Imprisonment (Acts 21:15-28:31)
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon written
Release & Further Travels
1 Timothy & Titus written
Paul’s Second Roman Imprisonment
2 Timothy written
What is an Epistle?
An ___________________ document.
What prompted Paul to write to the Colossians?
Key features of the Epistles
The Epistles were written ____________________________________.
The Law
Under the New Covenant:
The Old Covenant
(the Law) is ___________________. (Hebrews 8:13)
The Holy Spirit indwells _________________________. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
The Epistles root spiritual truths _________________________________.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
The Epistles _____________________ at the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection.
An important relationship you will see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has DONE for us.
“This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” – 1 John 4:10,11
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Ask: What has God DONE for us?
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and what God has DONE for us?
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions… Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
-Colossians 2:13-17
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Ask: What has God DONE for us?
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and what God has DONE for us?
The Epistles ____________________ to Christ’s return.
Ask: How should I live in light of the fact that Jesus will one day return?
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Col. 3:1-4
1 John 2:15-17
How to do an Epistle Overview
1. Read the letter in one sitting.
2. Reconstruct the “occasion” for the letter:
Colossians
|
Author |
Audience |
Opponents |
|
Who wrote the letter?
What information does the author provide about himself?
|
Who is the letter written to?
What information does the author provide about his audience?
|
Does the author mention anyone who opposes God’s work? If so, who are they?
What information does the author provide about the opponents?
|
Summarize:
3. Outline the letter by writing a short title for each paragraph.
|
Colossians: Paragraph Titles (NASB) |
|
1:3-8
1:9-14
1:15-23 |
4. Identify main themes in the letter (Colossians).
Ask: Are there any repeated words and ideas?
New Testament: Prophecy
Bible books: Revelation
Key historical events:
The Book of Revelation describes how Jesus will bring about an end to this present phase of history and re-establish his rule.
Quick summary:
Written by the apostle John in about 95 A.D. when he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos and received a vision from Christ. This was a time of widespread persecution of the fledgling Christian movement.
Has some of the characteristics of an epistle (see 1:4-6), but is essentially a prophetic book (see 1:3 “the words of this prophecy”).
Has lessons for daily living but also provides key details about future events.
Probably the most widely misused and misinterpreted book in the Bible.
Ties together many biblical themes we’ve been studying throughout the course – a fitting conclusion to an amazing story.
PURPOSE: To strengthen Christians to be faithful witnesses in a hostile world by describing Jesus’ authority over human history
See Gary DeLashmutt’s Central Teaching series on the book of Revelation for a good introduction.
What’s next?
Are you going to be reading and applying the Bible to your life one month from now? A year from now? A decade from now?
The key to continued learning of the Word and continued motivation to learn is to be a __________ of the Word.
______________ LEADS TO LEARNING
Matt. 7:24-27
Things you can DO that will lead to further learning and motivation:
Get involved in a _________________ where you receive & give truth in the context of close relationships (Col. 3:16; Eph 4:15,16).
Develop a _______ of regular, prayerful, scripture reading (Ps. 119).
See reading plans below
Be responsive to the _____________ of the Holy Spirit as He leads you out on His mission to share the truth (Matt. 28:18-20; Gal. 5:18, 25; Acts 16:6-10).
Learn to engage in __________________ (Ephesians 6:10-19).
Get involved in ____________ prayer that is based on Biblical priorities (Matt. 18:19,20)
Additional tips
1. Set specific goals for Bible reading
Helpful Bible Reading Plans
Discipleship Journal Bible Reading plans
www.navpress.com/Magazines/DJ/BibleReadingPlans.asp
The Original Discipleship Journal® Bible Reading Plan – Readings from four places in the Scripture every day: a Gospel, the Old Testament, an Epistle and the Wisdom Literature.
The Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan – Readings from two places in the Scripture every day: an Old or New Testament book and the Wisdom Literature.
Carson, D.A., For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998).
2.
Memorize scripture
3. Use the Study Center
4. If you haven’t taken Christian Growth yet, consider taking it as soon as you can. If you have taken Christian Growth, we encourage you to sign up for Christian Ministry. The Christian Ministry series provides a great foundation for a lifetime of ministry.