Week 51: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians

Prepare these questions for Sunday, March 30, 2014.

These books are all letters that Paul wrote to various churches in and around Asia Minor (modern Turkey-Philippi was across the Aegean Sea in Macedonia). They address similar concerns from letters we've studied previously-confusion over various teachings the churches have heard, conflict within and conflict from without their communities.

Galatians focuses on the question of whether or not Gentile believers in Christ (those not born Jewish) had to follow the same religious practices (like circumcision) that the Jews practiced in order to be saved.
1. Read Galatians 2:11-3:22. What is Paul's stance on observance of the law (especially circumcision) and what does this tell you about your own relationship with God?

2. Paul exhorts the Galatians to live by the Spirit. Chapter 5:13-26 explains how you can tell if you are living by the Spirit. What qualities does Paul call the "fruit of the Spirit?"

Ephesians may have been written specifically to the church at Ephesus, but it may also have been intended to be passed around and read in other churches Paul did not know as well as he knew the Ephesians. Therefore, this letter addresses topics that would be of concern to lots of new Gentile (non-Jewish) churches and, honestly, to us today.
3. Choose one of the following topics and find out what Paul's lesson was in the book of Ephesians. How can you apply this information to your life now or in the future? When you are finished, try to study the other topics throughout your week.

• Christ's love and reconciliation for all people
• body of Christ
• Instructions for Christian living
• Instructions for wives and husbands
• the Armor of God

Philippians is a letter Paul wrote after the people in Philippi had raised money to help him while he was imprisoned, probably in Rome. It is a letter of encouragement in the face of adversity and strife.

4. Read Chapter 4:4-9. Do you find these verses encouraging for your own life? How do you think they were received by the Philippians?

The people of Colossae were another group of Gentiles who had come to believe in the message of Jesus Christ. They, too, were confused by some of the teachings they were hearing about observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, and circumcision. Paul's letter reminds them that if they have Christ, they do not need to do anything else for their salvation. 

5. Read Chapter 3:1-17. What does Paul tell the Colossians to do instead of worrying about specific man-made rules of behavior? Is this practical advice today?

Week 50: 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians

Prepare these questions for Sunday, March 23, 2014.

The books of 1 and 2 Corinthians were letters written by the apostle Paul to the early church in the Greek city of Corinth. Paul had stayed for over a year in Corinth teaching and founding the early church, but then moved on to other cities, especially Ephesus. While in Ephesus Paul heard about quite a lot of turmoil and difficulty going on in the Corinthian church. They were judgmental of non believers, but oddly tolerant of their own sins. They fought over which teacher they liked best-Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter). These letters are Paul's answers to many of their arguments added with his own advice and judgement about their behavior.

1. What were some of the problems facing the church in Corinth? How do these types of distractions compare to problems in the modern American church?

2. Paul speaks a lot about sexual immorality and the role of marriage in this letter. Read 1 Corinthians, chapters 6 and 7. What is Paul's advice concerning these important topics?

3. Read 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. What does Paul say about spiritual gifts and the roles of different believers in the "body of Christ"?

4. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians is one of the most famous passages of the New Testament, largely because it is often read at weddings. Do your best to memorize this passage. What is Paul's advice about what love really is?

5. In 2 Corinthians Paul continues his advice to Corinth and focuses a great deal on false teachers and so-called "apostles" that have come after him. The people of Corinth were being led astray by teachers who said things they wanted to hear, but not necessarily things that fit with Jesus and his teachings. In Chapter 4 Paul attempts to encourage the Corinthians and remind them that they are one in a spirit of faith. Read this chapter and write down any words or phrases that you would find encouraging.

6. In chapter 12 of 2 Corinthians Paul talks about the benefit of being weak. What does Paul say about this topic and what do you think that means for your own everyday life?