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…..What made Ephesus attractive as a base for missionary activities?

…..What conditions in the Roman Empire aided Paul in spreading the gospel?

 Into the Scriptures:

Read Eph. 2:1-10

…..What does this passage say about God?

…..What does it have to say about humanity?

…..What does it have to say about the relationship between God and humanity?

…..What does it have to say to us about our lives as Christians?

 Read Eph. 2:11-3:8

…..What does this passage say about God?

…..What does it have to say about humanity?

…..What does it have to say about the relationship between God and humanity?

…..What is the mystery that Paul believes is being revealed?

…..What does this passage say to you about our lives as Christians?

 Read Eph. 4:1-6, 17-5:20 silently, taking notes as you read

…..Which verses speak most powerfully to you?

…..What does this passage say?

…..What attitudes or situations might the writer be addressing?

…..What does the scripture say to us today?

…..What claims does God make on us through the passage?

 Marks of Obedient Community

…..What response to our condition is required by truth, righteousness, peace, …..faith, salvation God?

…..Share your responses to the questions on p. 231 of the Study Manual.

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                What new insights did you gain into Paul and how he viewed his ministry?

What does it mean to you to find Paul using language about mothers and children?

Into the Scriptures

                What lies behind Paul’s concern over circumcision and obedience to the Law of Moses?

According to Paul, how are people brought into a relationship with God?

How did the situation in Galatia threaten the unity of the church?

Skim Galatians 1,2

                Look for information about early Christian history.

Describe what you see happening.

Skim Galatians 3,4

                How does Paul describe Christianities’ continuity with Judaism?

What distinguishes the Christian movement from Judaism in Paul’s day and understanding?

Read Galatians 5:22-26 and the Study Manual on the fruit of the Spirit.

                Share how each of the fruit of the Spirit is produced and grows in your life.

Which fruit of the Spirit do you wish would be more present in your life?

What do you need to do to allow the Spirit to produce that kind of fruit in your life?

Read Galatians 3:19-29

                What does this passage say about God?

What does the passage say about human beings?

What does the passage say about the relationship between God and human beings?

Marks of an Obedient Community

                “Obedient community opens itself up to the Holy Spirit’s working freely in its midst.”

                How is the Holy Spirit nurturing the sense of peace, contentment, and purpose, for which so     many of us are longing?

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…..What new insights did you gain into Paul and how he viewed his ministry?

…..What does it mean to you to find Paul using language about mothers and …..children?

Into the Scriptures

…..What lies behind Paul’s concern over circumcision and obedience to the Law …..of Moses?

…..According to Paul, how are people brought into a relationship with God?

…..How did the situation in Galatia threaten the unity of the church?

Skim Galatians 1,2

…..Look for information about early Christian history.

…..Describe what you see happening.

Skim Galatians 3,4

 …..How does Paul describe Christianities’ continuity with Judaism?

…..What distinguishes the Christian movement from Judaism in Paul’s day and …..understanding?

Read Galatians 5:22-26 and the Study Manual on the fruit of the Spirit.

 ….. Share how each of the fruit of the Spirit is produced and grows in your life.

…..Which fruit of the Spirit do you wish would be more present in your life?

…..What do you need to do to allow the Spirit to produce that kind of fruit in …..your life?

Read Galatians 3:19-29

 …..What does this passage say about God?

…..What does the passage say about human beings?

…..What does the passage say about the relationship between God and human …..beings?

Marks of an Obedient Community

“Obedient community opens itself up to the Holy Spirit’s working freely in its midst.”

…..How is the Holy Spirit nurturing the sense of peace, contentment, and …..purpose, for which so many of us are longing?

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…..Listen to how Paul uses the language of sacrifice and transition to teach about …..a new way of life.

……How do we make our lives “living sacrifices?”

…..What are the purposes and characteristics of the transformed mind?

 Into the Scriptures

 Read Rom. 12:9-21

 …..Consider how we live as Christians in general.

…..Which two or three instructions in this passage speak clearly to you. Why?

…..What would you need to do to live out those statements in the next few  …..weeks?

 Read Rom. 15:14-29 and Acts 27:1-28:14

  …..What is Paul feeling and thinking about his journey to Rome?

…..What has his journey been like up to this point?

 Read Rom. 13:1-10

 …..What might the situation be that Paul is addressing here?

…..What advice is Paul giving the Roman churches? Why?

…..How should we apply the text today?

…..How does civil disobedience  fit in?

 Marks of an Obedient Community

…..Share your responses to the questions on p. 207 of the Study Manual

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…..In his dealing with scripture, why does Paul keep both Jew and Gentile in mind?

…..What perspectives does Paul bring to reading scripture?

Into the Scriptures:

Read each of the following passages: Rom. 1:1-17; 1:18-2:16; 2:17-3:31.

…..What is sin, and how does it affect us?

…..How are we to understand the idea that all are guilty and under judgement?

…..How does the idea that God both condemns sin and offers pardon help us …..understand God’s righteousness?

…..Read p. 187 (section on wrath). Respond to the question there. How doe this speak  …..to God’s justice and faithfulness?

Read Rom. 5.

…..What does the passage say about Adam and the world?

…..What does the passage say about Christ and the world?

…..What does all of this say to us?

Read aloud Rom. 3:21-31.

…..What does the passage say about God?

…..What does it say about human beings?

…..What does it say about the relationship between God humanity?

Marks of an Obedient Community

…..Share your responses to the questions on p. 191 of the Study Manual.

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…..What does Paul teach about sin and death as causes of suffering?

…..What is the relationship between suffering and being conformed to …..the image of Christ?

Into the Scriptures:

…..Read 2 Cor. 2:14-17

…..What does 2 Cor. 2:14-15 mean?

…..Read 2 Cor 4:1-6:13

…..For each chapter: What is the core meaning for being a Christian …..minister?

…..What does being a new creation mean for you? For the Christian …..way of life?

…..2 Cor. 1:20 “For in him every one of God’s promises is Yes.”

…..What does that mean for you? How do we experience this yes?

…..Skim 2 Cor. 8-9

…..What is the reasoning behind Paul’s appeal to give for the poor?

…..What are his theological and ethical reasons for generous giving?

…..How would you apply this to the church today?

…..Read 2 Cor. 5:11-6:13

…..What does this passage say?

…..What did it intend to say to the church Corinth?

…..What does it have to say to the church today?

…..If we were to take this passage seriously, what changes would we …..have to make?

Marks of and Obedient Community

…..Discuss the questions on p. 183 of the Study Manual.

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…..Listen for the differences between immortality of the soul & bodily resurrection.

…..Why do we base our belief in life after death on the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

…..What did you hear about the present body & future body? What do you think about this?

Into the scriptures:

Read aloud 1 Cor. 1:4-2:5

…..How & why was the cross a stumbling block in the 1^st century? How & why today?

…..Describe everything about the cross that gives it power.

Review & discuss the following passages: 1 Cor. 3-4, 5-7, 8-11.

…..Identify the issue being addressed.

…..What is Paul’s advice to the church? Why this advice?

…..What does this passage say to us in our context?

Read aloud 1 Cor. 13

…..Work individually to summarize the key ideas in this passage.

…..Work in pairs: discuss its meaning.

…..As a group: What does this passage teach us? How should we apply it?

Marks of an Obedient Community

Read aloud 1 Cor. 3:1-3

…..How does this passage speak to the church today?

…..Discuss the questions on p. 175 of the study manual.

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…..Listen for the discussion of Christ’s humanity and divinity.

…..How is Christ both completely human and divine at the same time?

…..What is the meaning of Christ’s self-emptying?

Into the Scriptures

Acts 16:1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-24, 25-34, 35-40.

…..Describe the events around the church at Philippi through Acts 16:

…..How would you describe Paul’s relationship with the church in Philippi?

Read Phil. 2:5-11 silently.

…..Share: how can we imitate Christ?

…..What would it mean to give up self completely?

…..What area the implications of this passage for naming Christ Lord?

…..Write two or three mottos for us, based on Paul’s  advice in Philippians.

Read Phil. 3:7-16 aloud.

…..Identify the key ideas and meanings from this passage.

…..Rewrite the passage in your own words. Share it with the group.

Marks of an Obedient Community

…..Share your responses to the questions on p. 167.

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Listen for how the Christians began to revise their expectations regarding Christ’s return.

What was the response of the early Christians when Christ did not return as they expected?

How do we live in the meantime?

Into the Scriptures:

“The letter bears striking formal similarities with 1 Thess. … But 2 Thess. depicts a deity who will exact an everlasting revenge upon the assembly’s afflicters (1:6-9). Also different is the letter’s presuppositions of a parousia, a return of Jesus at an unspecified time (2 Thess. 2:1-12) – as opposed to 1 Thess.’s support for and immanent parousia (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

The similarities lead some scholars to assume that Paul indeed wrote the letter shortly after writing 1 Thess., with the differences then explained as a development in Paul’s own teaching. Others, however, consider the similarities with 1 Thess. And other Pauline letters as a deliberate attemotby a later follower of Paul to imitate the apostle’s words and style. They also find it difficult to believe that Paul would support an imminent parousia in 1 Thess., shift to a delayed one in 2 Thess., and the return to an imminent one in later letters (1 Cor. 7:9; Rom. 13:11; Phil. 4:5).” (The People’s Bible, p. 1652)

Read and compare 2 Thess. 2:1-12 with 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11

……….From the notes in your Bible’s and your reading, reflect on the meaning of ……….each passage.

……….Compare the two descriptions of the coming of the Lord. What do you ……….see? What explanation of these passages have you heard? What can you ……….be sure of from scripture?

Read and compare 2 Thess. 2:11-12 with Rom. 11:32

……….What do you make of the difference between these two passages?

Read 2 Thess. 3:6-15

……….What questions or thoughts does this passage stir up in you?

……….What does God say to us through this passage?

……….What claim does this passage make on us?

Marks of an Obedient Community

……….What gives work meaning?

……….How does our faith speak to the meaning of our work?

……….What lessons do you find in these letters for our church today?

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Listen for what Paul believed about the resurrection of the dead.

What new understandings did Paul bring to the :day of the Lord?”

What provides the background for his understanding of the return of Christ?

Into the Scriptures:

Review the charts on the dating of Paul’s letters & his journeys.

…..Review the Study Guide. In general: How did Paul bring the congregation …..into being?

…..What guidance did he give them to form them into a community?

…..What do we learn from this that might help us today?

Read 1 Thess. 4:1-12, 5:12-28.

…..What do these passages say about holiness of life?

…..What are the struggles that people have relative to these issues?

…..In what sense have sexuality and sex become false gods in our society?

…..How can we encourage sexual purity in our Christian fellowship?

…..What strength is provided by the indwelling Spirit, self-control, and devotion …..to God?

Read 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11.

…..What do you think happens after death and about the return of Christ?

…..What are your feelings about these assertions?

…..What has the church taught about the meaning of this scripture?

…..What have you heard the church and your congregation say about these …..things?

…..How does what you have heard in the church and in scripture speak to your …..understanding?

…..How do you resolve any differences between your thinking and what the …..church has taught?

Marks of an Obedient Community

…..Discuss the questions on p. 153 of the Study Manual.

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…..Listen to how Paul used the letter writing forms for his purposes.

…..What difference does it make to recognize that the Epistles are really letters?

…..What is distinctive about Paul’s letter writing style?

Into the Scriptures:

Salutation: Rom. 1:1-7; 1 Cor. 1:1-3; 2 Cor. 1:1-2; Gal. 1:1-5; Phil. 1:1-2; 1 Thess. 1:1; Philemon 1-3.

Thanksgiving: Rom. 1:8-15; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 2 Cor. 1:3-11; Phil. 1:3-11; 1 Thess. 1:2-10.

…..Compare the relevant passages from each letter, and discuss:

…..What is included in the content? How is it like or different from other letters?

…..What seems to be Paul’s reasons for including what he did in each?

Body of the letter, More Doctrinal: 1 Cor. 1:10-4:21

Body of the letter: More Practical: 1 Thess. 4:1-5:22; Phil. 4:1-6

…..When does Paul seem to be writing more about theology? What is he saying? …..Why?

…..When does Paul seem to be writing about more practical things? Why these …..things?

…..How does Paul link his thoughts about God and his practical advice or ethical …..instruction?

Read silently Phil. 1:3-11.

…..Identify and list the key ideas. Rewrite the passage in your own words.

…..Share your work with the group.

…..Discuss: How are both information and feelings combined in this passage?

Marks of an Obedient Community

…..Share your responses to the questions on p. 147 of the Study Manual.

Close in Prayer