Week #5: Week of February 7th

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Galatians

Be ready – Paul is very angry in this book. He is writing to the church at Galatia that he helped start. In his absence, some false teachers have come and are speaking against Paul and his teachings. Some of them are telling the Galatians that everyone has to follow the Jewish law to be saved. Paul’s response is…how should I say it…very confrontational.

Ephesians

Ephesians was written while Paul was in prison…probably very near to the end of his life. Some believe that Ephesians was a circular letter that was originally written to be passed from church to church.

Philippians

Paul wrote this letter to the church when he was in prison in Rome. Note that the famous passage in Philippians 2:5-11 about having the same attitude of Christ was probably an early hymn recited or even sang in the early church.

Colossians

The town of Colosse was the smallest and least significant town or city to which we have a letter from Paul. Colossians is perhaps the most different of all of Paul’s letters. If you put them side by side it would stand out as not fitting in as much. The reason is that in Colossians Paul is writing to counteract a heresy (we don’t know exactly what) and Paul speaks in spiritual language he doesn’t use in his other letters. We get to see another side of Paul here.

Discussion Questions

The Cost of Being a Disciple (Luke 14)

1. When has a family relationship or close friendship been a hindrance to your whole-hearted devotion to Christ?
2. What price have you had to pay to follow Christ? How hard or easy has that been?
3. What are some things you are currently doing that keep you from losing your saltiness?

Made Alive in Christ (Ephesians 2)

1. What does it mean to you that your salvation moved you from being dead to being alive? How is this different then being moved from bad to good?
2. We have been seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms. What are the implications of this verse in your life and how have you applied them to your life this week?
3. What good work do you feel God may have in mind for you?

Imitating Christ’s Humility (Philippians 2)

1. What does it mean to consider someone “better than yourself” (v. 3)? How does humility differ from being a doormat?
2. How do you balance meeting the needs of others with meeting your own needs?
3. Jesus “making himself nothing” is one of the more theological passages in the Bible. What does it say about God that He would include a theological truth in the context of a command for us concerning our attitudes? How do you balance studying theology with practical obedience in simple areas of life?

Jesus’ Triumph Over Sin (Colossians 2)

1. What does it mean that Jesus canceled the written code with His death on the cross?
2. If Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities by making a public spectacle of them then why do we struggle with overcoming spiritual warfare?
3. How can these verses help you fight the spirits/thoughts of accusation and/or guilt in your life?