LESSON 1 (background)

 

Overview

• Paul’s letters are like ‘answer sheet’. The questions to these ‘answers’ are the context and problems in his time.

• Letters build up chronologically.

 

Social Background of 1st CE Christians

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Roman Government

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Pax Roman

A time of peace from 27 BC to AD 180 where there were no war and internal dangers.

• No one dares to fight and the Romans left their own people to lead. (eg. a Galatian will rule the Galatians. Only Pontus Pilate from Rome ruled Jerusalem, cause the Jews always make trouble)

• No borders between cities, that’s why Paul could go in and out freely to plant churches.

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Language

Greek.

• Latin was legal language of Roman empires but cause majority of the places they ruled used Greek so they learned Greek.

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Transport

Efficient cause of Pax Roman.

• “All roads lead to Rome”. Efficient roads built for soldiers to run on to control rebellion.

• Sea travel was present but dangerous

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Conquest related Prob

Slaves and people displaced by wars often congregated in the Roman cities.

• Slaves save money as they are working to buy back their freedom (they can be quite rich)

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Roman Society

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Morals

Sexual promiscuity was rampant (pagan gods, prostitution, homosexual behaviours)

• In Romans paul used Homosexual acts as an example of sins because the Gentiles themselves think its wrong and acknowledge it. (what else can we still use as examples of sin? - adultery, lying, cheating)

• Being religious (pleasing the gods so they help you - most of the time don’t require you to be moral and righteous)

• Being righteous (tend to come from philosophies) - poorer people tend to be more religious, they got no motivation to be moral, leading to promiscuity.

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Family

Common for divorce (just walk out or just send them away)

• Man used to have 1 wife (to take care of slaves), Concubines, GFs (bring to parties). That’s why when Paul wrote about having one wife, it was a challenge.

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Status of Women

• Have an inferior status compared to male and often treated like properties. Occasionally some women able to rise above traditional roles (High Pristeress of Ephesus)

• When the Bible asks for equality for women, it is counter intuitive. In 1 Cor, Paul is telling them not to give outsiders a chance to slander the church.

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Slavery

• Could be educated or skilled workers (doctors/tutors).

• Protected by law by had minimal legal rights. Could control the money they accumulated and could be freed by their masters (eg. Philemon).

• It’s like they are given a scholarship and serve their bond but they are paid to work.

• It is an identity. (like PR, TR, Slave)

• Slavery is not a negative connotation in the Bible, sometimes translated to ‘servant’ because negative connotation in US.

• Voluntary slavery: bought me, freed by. Now I volunteer to be a slave to you. Will be marked with a seal/marl (christians)

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Religion & Philosophies

Greco-Roman Gods

• One god for every need and sometimes territorial.

• The gods need people to survive. The more you worship the more powerful they get. But to the Jews, sacrifices were something THEY needed, not what God needed. (clash)

• Many Roman gods were borrowed from Greeks, started to pair gods. But the Jews couldn’t pair god cause everything also become Yahweh.

Emperor Worship

• Seen in Book of Mark. Usually not overtly, because if they condemn Emperor worship they’ll die.

• Julius Casesar deified after he died, so Agustus Caesar, his son became “son of god’.

• When merchants built templyes to worship Caesar, they get benefits (politically motivated)

Mystery Religion

• Originated from Persia, came through Asian Minor.

• We know they exist but don’t know what they do.

• Gather in private, share a meal, say they’re one together with God. Most featured some god who had died and was resurrected. Their purposes was to have personal communication with deities, seek salvation and attain immortality.

• Christianity was seen as Judaism (legal) so it was allowed, it was when differences became obvious then they got persecuted.

Platonism

• All visible, material objects were shadows and copies of pure, invisible, ideal forms.

Cynicism

• Sought freedom from convention and compulsion.

• Gloried radical personal liberty of act and speech, strived for freedom from public opinion, and ridiculed those who conform to accepted social standards

• Anything social is manmade, why must follow? (Like our tradition vs conventional)

Stoicism

• Stressed concept of fate, the world is beyond our control as individuals

• Hence, the individual must create his or her own stability (self sufficiency) by forsaking excesses of pleasure and sorrow.

• THere is no good or evil, only and inscrutable, all powerful and impersonal cosmic logic)

• A stoic person is known for his apathy to emotions and desires and strict ethical standards) - don’t be too happy/sad. Be unaffected, be detached.

Epicureanism

• Complete opposite to Platonism. Reality is completely material, even if gods existed, they have no thought for mankind. Death is final dissolution of the atoms that constitute our body, no need to worry about after death.

• Sought to free people from fear of gods and death and redirect them to what was truly their concern - pleasant life, free of pain, anxiety and frustration.

• “Food for stomach and stomach for food”

Gnosticism

• Major cult that christianity had to deal with.

• Believed that Zeus and Hades are equal in power.

• Believed spirit is good, body is evil. (salvation is when we die and our spirit goes back to heaven) Therefore human problem does not consist in guilt which needs forgiveness, but ignorance which can be solved through gaining divine knowledge.

• Salvation could only be attained through knowledge - secret doctrines and passwords.

 

Resulted in 2 contradictory practices regarding physical body:

• Asceticism. Suppress bodily passions because it connects to evil matter. Leads to abstinence and denial of bodily needs. (fasting?)

• Licentiousness (what happens to the body is material and don’t matter. Leads to indulgence)

 

Christian view summarized:

• In the end, heaven and earth will become 1. The only thing wrong with earth was sin, when sin is eradicated, heaven and earth will become 1.

• When we wait at heaven, we’re uncomfortable because we feel ‘naked’.

• We’re make to have spirit and flesh. In new heaven and earth, our glorified bodies won’t waste away.

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Reflection Points:

1. Understand people’s worldview and concepts that they already have. (it’s about changing worldview not just practices)

2. Christian faith were presented many challenges to the culture at that time, and the early church constantly needed to address these issues as the Gospel spread within the society. How well do you know your culture? Are you able to discern and address potential points of clashes?

3. How well do you know the underlying worldviews of the people in your culture? Are you aware of the philosophical or religious assumptions that ground their beliefs? (eg. worldview of education, study hard if not your life will suck. 10 years later do I expect quality of life to be better? SHould change always be for the better? ‘Experience’ or ‘feeling’ god is a modern concept, it’s not biblical

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LESSON 2 (Intro to Pauline Letters)

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Overview

• Letters were a build up of the r/s between Paul and the churches. Initially meant to be read out and heard - see BIG picture, then go for details. Not meant to be complicated or textbooks. Most of them were slaves, Romans was not written to be complicated, we can’t understand cause we’re not 1st CE roman.

• There were other letters that we didn’t keep. We’re not collective letters, all the 13 we have have different theological themes.

• Paul had access to 3 worlds (top PHD scripture scholar, Born Roman citizen, Tokong Greek)

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General Background of Churches

• Roman people saw Christianity as a part of Judaism (legal).

• At the start majority was Jews, when Paul started, majority in church were gentiles resulted in conflicts. Jewish Christians were persecuted by non jewish christians (eg. malay & indian grp, indian grp will grow faster cause no persecution)

• Outward unity in the empire due to universal Greek language and strict government.

• There was a strong sense that fate was indeed in the hands of the individual, resulted in people who were actively searching for meaning in life and were very open to changes.

• Greco Roman world held that ‘old’ is better than ‘new’ cause has not been fully tested by life. Relition and politics began to mix.

• Jews had a fear of letting Gentiles in because they were the original ‘ppl of God’ and in the past they were exiled etc cause of intermarries etc.

 

Background of Paul

• Born into Israelite family (tribe of Benjamin) in Tarsus. Philp 3:5

• He was a Roman citizen and free man, taught by Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers in Judaism and became a Pharisee. Acts 22 - 23

• Received Greek education and showed acquaintance with Greek culture and their thinking.

• Jews misunderstood him as a traitor and gentiles were also weary of him.

 

Process of writing Ancient letters

Author:  Author physically writes by hand

Copywriter/Secretary:  Like how secretary writes for mp, writer write for illiterate ahmas.

Give ideas:  Author provide ideas to be included and rely on editor to flesh out thought flow and content/ Common for Paul’s letter due to different writing grammar.

Ghost writer:  Disciple can write content in name of author because he think he is reflecting idea of the person.

 

Format of Pauline Letters

• Content of letters is Christian, but formats of letter is the normal one. Only when it is unconventional should we make a fuss

• Opening (contained identity of sender and recipient, customary opening greeting, thanksgiving/prayer and subject starts - like email title)

• Body (Main text)

• Closing (few random commands that has nth to do with content of writers, this is a convention. Eg. take ur medicine, cover ur blanket etc)

 

Reflection Points:

1. Church will always be a mix of different cultures, age groups, races, languages with different worldviews. How can the church continue to grow powerfully in the midst of such diversity?

2. Our experiences in lives are not accidents, and can all work towards helping us to be a ‘bridge’ to a community that needs to hear the message from ‘one of its own’. Who are we a bridge to?

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LESSON 3 (Galatians & Thessalonians)

• Dealing with salvation (how to enter - galatians, what happens when Jesus comes back - Thess)

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Galatians

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Author

Paul (1:1)

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Recipients

Province of Galatia.

• Unconventional start as he elaborated in 1:1-2. (ppl were challenging the fact that Paul didn’t come from Jerusalem)

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Purpose

• Deal with whether Gentiles should submit to Jewish laws and traditions in addition to believing in Christ

• Paul refuted their false gospel of works

• Vindicated his apostleship and message and contend for true doctrine of grace and justification by faith alone.

• Used last 2 chapters to show that Christians living by Spirit will manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

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Righteousness

• We receive salvation by faith - trusting in Him - not in anything else.

• Becoming Christian is not based on our merits, heritage wisdom or character.

• Paul states clearly that is is ‘not by observing the law’ but by faith in Christ and effected in our lives through the power of the HS.

Law + Law = Law

Law + Faith = Law

Faith + Faith = Faith.

The first two i still can pride myself that I did something to earny my salvation.

The act that comes from faith is not a work. (eg. sinner’s prayer, is an expression, i’m making a choice. Salvation happened, you believed therefore you say it)

 

• Longkang analogy

1. Really in danger of dying, really cant save myself

2. Difference between “He died for me” and “He died so that I can live”

I’m waddling in ankle deep pool, someone jump down and save, died. (he died for me)

I’m swimming in a pool, but not drowning, someone jump down and save me but died. (he died for me, for my sake)

I’m drowning and can’t help myself. Someone jumped in, propped me up and he died. (he died so that i can live)

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Christian Freedom

• We are not under jurisdiction of Jewish laws and traditions but need to understand Christian freedom in context of what it is opposed to.

• Faith in Christ brings true freedom from sin and death, and from futile attempt to be right with God by keeping the law.

 

Thessalonians

 

Author

Paul (1:1, 2:18, 2 Thess 1:1)

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Recipients

• Church at Thessalonica.

• Paul went to Thessalonica with TImothy and Silas but had to leave cause of a riot (Acts 17:1-10). Church was only few months old.

• Timothy later sent back to strengthen church.

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Purpose

• Primarily a letter of praise and thanksgiving. Rejoiced over their progress in faith (1:2-3; 2:13)

• 3 main developments after the first letter. (Increasing persecutions, deal with reports of pseudo Pauline letters and wrong inference of his teachings, how some were responding to the belief in the imminent return of Jesus)

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Understanding End Times

• Before Christs return, there will be a great revellion against God led by the man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2)

• God will remove all restraints on evil before he brings judgement on the rebels.

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While Waiting

• Thinking that Paul was saying that Jesus was coming back any minute, they stopped working and started to watch for His physical return.

• We dk when He is coming but we are to live moral and holy lives, not neglecting responsibilities, lead a productive live to pleas God. Demonstrate courage and true christian conduct.

1. WALK (live moral and holy lives)

2. WATCH (be watchful for his return)

3. WORK (live productive life - credibility)

4. WAR (stand firm in midst of trial)

 

• Paul keeps telling Thess church that God of PEACE is with them. Peace in knowing that you’re not alone, GOd is just, Jesus is coming back. (not based on external circumstances or  cool slogans.)

 

Reflection Points:

1. How did you come to receive your personal salvation? That is the same way you have to strive in order to keep it. Read Gal 3:1-5. Why is the way of the law easier than the way of grace?

2. What is the Gospel? Read Romans. What happens if your gospel is correct but incomplete.

3. Many people understand ‘freedom’ to mean being free from all restraints and boundaries. What is wrong with such an understanding of freedom? Is this the Christian understanding of true Christian liberty?

4. There are alot of things we dk about end times and many people give up studying it altogether. It’s unwise because though we should not speculate about what is not revealed to us, whatever is revealed to us is definitely beneficial to build our faith and strengthen our hope. (be vigilant, don’t think that I will never fail)

5. Are you ready to meet Jesus if He were to return in the next 12 hours? How would you live your life different, what is hindering you from living that way now?

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LESSON 4 (Corinthians & Romans)

Corinthians

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Author

Paul (1:1)

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Recipients

• Believers in Corinth.

• Corinth was a cosmopolitan city (very accepting of new ideas / multi cultural), known for its wealth, indulgence and immorality.

• Had a reputation of gross materialism and deep sinfulness, filled with shrines and pagan temples. (Corinth church was a worldly church- christians who don’t live like christians)

• Christians in Corinth brought in their cultural worldviews to the faith. They were also criticising Paul for not fitting their mould of a good leader.

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Timeline

• Paul first visit during his 2nd missionary trip (Acts 18)

• 3 years later he was in Ephesus and heard about the Corinthian problems and wrote the first letter (5:9 shows that there was a letter 0.5 which addressed an incest problem). 1 Cor was addressing why they know it’s wrong but did nothing about it. He also addressed other issues that Chloe’s household and Stephanas brought (1:11, 16:17, 7:1)

• Paul made a visit to Corinth where some church members challenged his authority, painful visit (2 Cor 2:1, 12:14, 21, 13:1-4) - Paul planted and invested the church and now they treated him with contempt

• Paul then went back to Ephesus and sent a 3rd letter (2 Cor 2:3-9, 7:8-12), but now lost.

• Then came 2 Cor the 4th letter that Paul wrote to rejoiced in the good news that Titus brought to him.

• Paul made a 3rd visit to corinth.

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Purpose

• 1 Cor, how should the Christian’s new life be applied to every situation of life. New way of living through the HS (3:16, 17, 6:11, 19-20). God’s wisdom manifested to us in Christ changes us both individual and social levels. (Pastoral corrective, reflects the fundamental principles underlying his view of the Christian live which are rooted in the Gospel)

• 2 Cor most personal and intimate of Paul’s letters. Declared his love for the Corinthians and showed his 3 defences (expressed joy at their response to his ministry, remind them to for offering to the Judean christians, sought to defend his apostolic authority)

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Credibility of Christian Leadership

• Misguided loyalties in the church led to intellectual pride and created a spirit of division. Some started to openly criticize Paul’s credibility.

• While clarifying misplaced loyalties, Paul also taught how they should view spiritual authority and how to conduct ministry.

• Paul asserts his authority to preserve correct Christian doctrine. His sincerity, love for Christ and concern for the people were his defense.

• Christian leadership: people who serve everyone on top and give their lives to move the boats forward.

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Understanding the church

• Prominent problem was the division resulting from individuals or groups claiming superiority, living out the norms and expectations of their social status.

• Body of Christ (different in function, equal in value. Being faithful in spiritual gifts, if really want to glorify God, do the best wherever you are and with whatever GOd gave. ‘Between you and pastor Jeff who is more important?” Both. assuming you are faithful.

• Temple of God. (only sexual sin is against the Body of HS, all other sins is outside the body of HS. When Christians gather, it’s the temple of the HS, where He dwells.)

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Deciding the Christian Conduct

• How to apply Christian faith to all areas of our conduct, what a christian ought to do in various social and moral settings.

• First decide for ourselves who is the final ‘decision maker’ and ascertain a process of decision making that will be consistent with our Christian convictions.

• “Holiness” is to discipline yourself to listen to one voice. Responding to any other voices is sin.

• Romans 5 (Jesus is Lord, i’m the slave. We’re always slave to something) Romans 8 (God is my Father, I’m a Son). I’m both slave and son.

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The Way to Glory

• Sometimes believers hold to a theology of glory in that they view Christ as a means of self betterment, the way to succeed, the way to power and affirmation by peers.

• This puts the believers at the centre of things instead of Christ. The true Christian way is through the way of the cross - the way of suffering and death. Elevates the Lord and not man.

• Promise of the Gospel is the inheritance at the end when Jesus comes back.

 

Romans

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Author

Paul

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Recipients

• Christians in Rome (1:7)

• He did not plant the church in Rome but as apostle to the Gentiles he longed to visit them.

• Probably founded by Jews who were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

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Purpose

• Announce his plan to visit Rome.

• Present logical and systematic explanation of Christian message to ground church and establish his credibility (Romans 1-11) Book of hebrews and romans are theological books to explain the gospels, one to gentiles and one to jews. (Gospel can be simplified for you to go in. But the simplified version cannot make you stay for the long haul)

• Address tensions among Jewish and Gentile christians.

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Doctrine of Man & Sin

• Deep anthropology (beliefs about God’s will for human race.)

1. Humanity needs GOd’s grace in order to survive (God is in control over all things, His loving kindness enables us to live according to His will)

2. Humanity can never shape his own destiny (shallow to think that we can carve out our future)

3. Humanity cannot do good on his own efforts (there are some things such as forgiveness that are divine and cannot be humanly engineered)

4. Humanity has to choose (capacity of free choice is still given but there’s also accountability for them)

• We are guilty for our ungodliness which leads to us rejecting God’s will which results in our unrighteousness.

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Conventional Nomism

• Dealing with the Jewish law’s role in salvation.

• Law was given specifically to Israelites. God didn’t use the law against Gentiles. When He judged the nations around Israel it’s to do with pride, cruely etc. It’s not a universal moral code for all nations.

• Law was given to maintain and protect the Israelites. It’s the minimum standard (jesus came to show the Godly standard) to ensure that their sin don’t hurt the other person. It was give nso that they know there’s a difference ‘Israel is special and set apart”. So the rest of the world get a glimpse that a nation under God looks like this. (Required by Jews, revelation to Gentiles)

• Christian objective is not to avoid sin (we will just be looking at the law). We’re not living for the law but the law is no useless, Apostles and Jesus used the law to point forward.

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Predestination

• Calvinism (God predestined certain groups of people to salvation and thus predestined the rest to damnation)

• Arminian (God predestined to salvation only those whom He foreknew would choose Him)

• Romans 8:28-30. Two positions taken out of context, paul was discussing the theme of spiritual maturity and not salvation. Paul was stating that for those whom God knew beforehand would respond to Him, God also decided beforehand they will mature in Christ.

 

Reflection Points:

1. The bible does not stress the charismatic trait of a leader. Good communication helps but it’s not the most important. Bible describes how much man should lead, they’re designed to lead, not asking them to lead. But ask woman to submit.

2. You can’t pour into something that is already full. Our worldview is a sense of how things are supposed to work, renewing of our mind requires us to pour away our worldview and put the new thing in. Our confession is no count until our life shows. Being a Christian affects our worldview and our worldview affects the way we live our life. We make decisions based on our worldview (it’s either christian or worldly) Media, business, politics, peers, societal values, parents, devil, flesh and emotions etc are contenders who decide our ethics. Have I decided who gets to decide what I do? The devil goal is not to kill us but to derail us. The soil that is crowded out by weeds is concerned about worldly things. Saved but never bear fruit.

3. Some false teachers do not oppose the teachings of the Gospel, but instead speculate additional teachings based on human wisdom that tickles our ears. They are equally dangerous because they divert our attention from solid foundation. How pure is your Gospel? Why do we stress the rooting of believers in a local church? Why do we discourage the idea of church hopping? How you handle the Church or your part reflects your understanding of the spiritual nature of the Church, why are you in a church? (how do we treat each other. Who do we affirm, who needs more honoring so that all receive equal concern and the growth is balanced)

4. Am i always considering my own Christian experience? Whole Gospel of Mark is talking about denying myself, preparing to suffer and follow Him. Fulfilment cannot be our motivation to serve - our ministry will be very self centered. I’m not good at it doesn’t mean i don’t do it. I do it because the Gospel and the ministry requires it.

5. How much regulation does your new believers have to follow in order to be saved? On the other hand, does that mean they can live in whatever ways they want? Where is the balance?

LESSON 5 (Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians)

Background

• Paul in Rome, Philemon’s slave is with him - Onesimus a runaway slave. But he’s a fugitive so going back he can be captured and killed.Wanted to go back to seek forgiveness.

• Epaphras is a gentile, couldnt manage Jewish problems and was also in prison

• Tychicus brought Onesimus, letter of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians to Asia Minor through Ephesus. (Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians were written together)

 

Colossians (most Christ centered letter in the Bible) 

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Author

Paul (1:1) & Timothy

Theme
Sufficiency of the Gospel

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Recipients

• Christians at Colosse and mostly Gentiles (1:27 and 2:13).

• Also intended that Laodiceans read this letter (4:16)

• Growing well in faith but had false teachings going on (human traditions needed for salvation)

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Timeline

• Paul was in prison (4:10) with Epaphras and Onesimus.

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Purpose

• Epaphras told him heresy problems in Colosse.

• There's growth in witness and love (1:3-8)

• False doctrines deny Christ is God and that salvation comes through Christ’s death and resurrection

• Paul focused attention of Christ’s supremacy (is Christ and the gospel enough?) by showing how Christ is responsible for maintaining the entire universe, redeeming the world and overseeing his church.

• - Paul writing to tell the church to resist giving in to the wrong variations of the Gospel. 

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Supremacy of Christ

• Paint picture of how all consuming Christ is (God in flesh, Lord of all creation, Lord of new creation, eternal, preexistent, omnipotent, equal with the Father, supreme and complete)

• Therefore our life must be Christ centered, since to recognize him as God means to regard our relationship with him as most vital and to make his interests our top priority

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Man made Religion and Philosophy

• False teachers stressed that self made rules (legalism), discipline of the body (ascetism) and visions (mysticism). Created pride in their self centered efforts (2:20-23).

• We must not cling to our own ideas and try to blend them into Christianity or let our hunger for a more fulfilling Christian experience cause us to trust in a teacher, a group or a system of thought more than in Christ himself.

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Transformed Community

• In response to Christ’s supremacy and salvation we recieved, we should be transformed as a community

• Not to withdraw from the world but to live in the midst of social structures of the world. (be supreme in personal and ethical lives. VERY distinctly obvious and set apart for God)

 

Reflection Points:

1. If we’re not growing in our knowledge in God, it’s easy for us to belief in something that satisfies us but is not true; sound like Gospel but is not.

2. Do I still need / seek something else to ‘experience’ God? Is Christ not enough. Our only problem was a severed relationship. We are now seated in the heavenly realm, why is there a need to seek?

3. Often we hear of believers who claim that Christ is their Lord and yet at the next moment make decisions that are contrary to this claim. What does it mean to have Christ as the Supreme Lord in your life? Is there evidence that Christ is supreme in your life? (I’m whole and fully delivered - not lesser than other believers and not about how far we’ve been unrighteous experientially)

4. In modern day, there are many ‘Christian schools’ which seek to supplement the Christian faith with something additional in order to help “enjoy life to the fullest” that God has promised - some even base teachings on Scriptural texts, how should we view them?

5. Is my theology derived from human logic and traditions? Or is it biblical. 

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Colossians Book Study

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Introductory

- Author (1:1)

- Recipients (1:2a)

- Greeting (1:2b) 

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•  "faithful" brothers & sisters: in the Bible, faithful is not just consistency, but those who remains in faith. 

• Thanksgiving & Prayer in Greek culture (usually is just introductory, after this will be the main point of the letter) 

• But for Paul, Thanksgiving & Prayer section shows the solution to their problem. 

• "love God' is very abstract. to love God is a responsive action - love your neighbors, love the people around you. 

• Love God is seen when you desire something but you hold back your desires because you know that's not right before God.

• Fear God is the awareness of who God is. 

• Bible's idea of Hope. is always referring to AFTER Jesus returns. "hope stored up for you in heaven" - v5
     - when we are confident of this Hope in Christ, we are freed to from worldly troubles. 

• "Sincerity" is NOT enough. We must speak and teach in a way that people can UNDERSTAND. (we are denying people the Gospel if we don't preach it accurately, just saying things to convert/convince them) Give. Them. The. Gospel.   Sincere AND True. 

• It's impossible for a person to understand the Grace of God and not bear fruits. (book of James) 
  
  Prayer For Colossians

• Content: I pray that you really know what God wants of you. Not just assumptions and feels. (v9) 
                  - a lot of His will is already written in His word. 
                 - I must at least know where I am going, then I got chance to reach there. 

• Purpose: You will live a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him. (v10a) 

• Results: Bear Fruits. (it may not bear fruit according to what we prefer. but if we do it ACCORDING to God's will, it WILL bear fruits) 

• start with knowing God's will, decide if you want to do God's will. If you do, you will bear fruits and in the process, you will come to know God more. (grow in the knowledge of God) 

• Endure tough times and patient with difficult people 

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Exaltation of Christ (1:15-23) 

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1) Hymn on the Supremacy of Christ 

- Son is the image of the invisible God
- Supremacy over Creation (v15-16) 

- Supremacy of Christ in redemption (18b - 20) 

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2) Reminder to Continue in Christ (1:21-23) 

- You had experience this redemption (21-22).
- Condition of the Redemption (v23) IF you continue in the faith. 

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1) How Do you decide what to believe, and what to look forward to? How can we know what is God's will for us in the situations in our lives? 
Our faith is not built on what we wish to be true, but on what God revealed to be so. Our goal is thus to find out and then act according to God's will as revealed in His word and by the Spirit.. 

2) What is your perspective about who Jesus is? What do we mean when we acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God? What are the implications aboutu His identity, and how does it impact our lives? 

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Philemon

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Author

Paul (1:1) & Timothy

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Recipients

• Addressed to Philemon in Colosse (philemon 2).

• Man of means since he lived in house big enough to hold Christian meetings.

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Timeline

• WHile paul was in prison, letter to Philemon but meant to be read out to the Church.

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Purpose

• Personal plea encouraging Philemon to accept Onesimus (stole from Philemon, ran away and met Paul in Rome and accepted Christ)

• Paul was asking Philemon to swallow his right to punish his slave, forgive him and restore him.

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True fellowship

• Touching reminder of the power of Christ to transform people and relationships by his grace and love

• Christian love and fellowship should overcome barriers (onesimus is now an equal before the Lord, a dear brother to his master and useful to the Kingdom)

• True fellowship is tested when there are barriers.

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Power of ministry

• Onesimus  was a bishop of Ephesus. It’s possible that Onesimus served in Ephesus and eventually became an overseer in the faith.

• Testimony to the potential of ministry and leadership that is unleashed when God calls, supported by Christian community daring to live out the implications of our full and equal status before God.

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Reflection Points:

1. How would you describe the fellowship that you belong to? Is there any dividing walls of hostility? How far will you go to mend your fellowship, break down the barriers. What’s the point of proclaiming we want to live our old life behind if we can’t even reconcile. (difference in background, culture makes it difficult to build a solid friendship. But an empowering ministry can make this group work.)

2. Does your ministry empower people to seek after God’s truth and calling? How would it look like if your community dared to live out the implications of our equal status before God? (disciple a Paul/John/Stephen out of my LG)

 

Ephesians

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Author

Paul (1:1)

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Recipients

• Ephesus was largest city in province of Asia. Paul planted the church during 2nd mission journey, stayed there 3 years during his 3rd journey and left cause of a riot caused by silver craftsmen who felt their religion and trade was being threatened. (Acts 19:24 - 28; 20:1)

• Letter addressed to several churches in district around Ephesus.

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Timeline

• Paul in Prison (3:1; 4:1; 6:20)

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Purpose

• Letter of encouragement to deepen the walk of Christians who had no major spiritual problems.

• Included specific teaching on the implications of the Christian life for personal morality, marriage, family and r/s

• Remind Christians of some central and distinctive values and behaviours that characterize this group. .

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Position in Christ

• Phrases like “in Christ” and “ through Christ” help us see what believers have through their position in the Saviour.

• In Christ (1:1) blessed with every blessing in Christ, chosen in Him (1:4), adopted through Christ (1:5), in the Beloved, redeemed in Him (1:7) give an inheritance in Him, have a hope that is to praise of His glory (1:12), sealed etc (page 47)

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Mystery of reconciliation

• Central theme was the multidimensional ‘mystery’ (God’s will 1:9, Christ 3:3-4, 9, Christ and the church 5:32,)

• Things that were once hidden but now revealed. (points to the end of alienation between men & God and also man & man) - the church is a place where reconciliation becomes a reality.

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Dynamic Christian Living

• Live by Christ’s new standards (4-6)

• Live reconciled life of holy and righteous living (4) through preserving the unity in Christian marriage (5) and participating in the reality of spiritual warfare (6 - not just an individual thing but a community thing)

 

Reflection Points:

1. Whose view about who you are affects you the most? We are often most affected by how our closest loved ones view us. How can you make sure that only Christ’s view of you truly matters? How Christ centered is your faith (God, what do you really think of me?)

2. Are reconciliation regularly happening in the church? What usually causes hostility and how can you promote reconciliation with them? (Forgiveness is difficult because we cannot let go and get over the hurt. God says if I don’t forgive someone, it’s as if i’m not forgiven. Do I see the need for God to forgive me? Or am I too good to be forgiven - i don't deserve forgiveness. “Just as Christ forgiven me”)

3. Ephe 4:1 “live a life worthy of the calling you have received”. This is the true motivation for Christian living! How is your walk compared to what you have received from Christ? (what’s an area in your life that you’re not walking worthily? As we mature, our balance scale of “what Christ did” and “what I need to do” should be moving up)

 

Philippians

• One of the most mature church (mature perspective)

• Long time in faith, reach bottleneck, read Philippians! Then 2 Timothy

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Author

Paul (1:1) & TImothy

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Recipients

• Divine intervention brought Paul into Philippi (Acts 16:6-40)

• Met Lydia who became first convert and her hse became a church.

• First church Paul founded in Europe.

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Timeline

• From Prison in Rome AD 60-61

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Purpose

• Paul do not address any major theological or moral problems but is a encouragement for Christians who are experiencing opposition.

• Addressed problems in church

• Tell Philippians that their giving is enough

• Receive Epaphroditus as a hero

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Humility

• Before Christian movement, hulimity and meekness is seen as weakness.

• Christ showed true humility when he laid aside his rights and priveleges as God nad poured out His life to pay the penalty we deserve. Laying aside self interest is essential to all our relationship.

• Following the example of Christ to renounce personal recognition and merit, give up self interest and equality to serve with joy, love and kindness.

• You have a preference, but so what?

• Jesus was not shy about his abilities. He told people that with a snap of His fingers angels will come, But he left everything to serve us. (think of yourself less)

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Genuine Fellowship

• In an individualistic and competitive society it’s easy to follow patterns of the world. But true fellowship involves being expressed in service to one another.

• Goal of gathering is to edify God and Gospel.

• All it takes is one person who is conscious about what he wants out of this gathering, facilitate, lead people to God.

• There’s always divisive influences but paul encourage us to agree with one another, stop complaining and work together (2:1-4, 4:2-3). When we are unified in love, Christ’s strength is most abundant.

• “Keep” the unity not “build” the unity.

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Beyond living a good life

• Philippian 1

• Christian life is not about avoiding sin. Go church, outreach, doesn’t confirm that you are living a life God wants you to

• Don’t live below what you already understand / maturity level

• Don’t think that where you are is the end goal

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Persevering in face of Opposition

• Don’t rely on what we have or what we experience to give us joy but on Christ within us

• We can have a profound contentment, serenity and peace no matter what happens.

• It comes from knowing Christ personally and from depending on his strength rather than our own (3:1, 4:4-7, 4:10 - 13) not from outward circumstance but inward strength.

• Paul said: “Don’t pray that i will get out of this. But pray that I won’t chicken out of preaching to the king and governors)

 

Reflection Points:

1. Paul placed strong emphasis on virtue of humility and exhorts believers to model of Christ’s example. How do you usually measure yourself in terms of humility? (serving is not about action but the attitude. I’m not serving for your approval, no one affirmed Jesus)

2. How do you bring yourself to rejoice in the midst of suffering and pain? Does rejoicing in suffering and pain mean that you are to trivialize what you are going through? (why are you scared of dying)

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LESSON 6  (Pastoral Letters - Timothy, Titus)

Background

• Concerned with pastoral care of the church (order, false doctrine, leadership standards)

 

1 Timothy & Titus

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Author

Paul (1:1) & maybe Luke (cause vocab similar to Luke and Acts)

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Recipients

• Tim and Titus were sent to assist churches in establishing their ministries.

• Background of Timothy (pg 53)

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Timothy

• Encourage and instruct Tim to help deal with false doctrines (from pastors and rich young widows. - If the prime minister is an immature christian, will you allow him to speak? THat’s why paul didn’t let them teach. We will not let spiritually immature to teach)

• Give Biblical insight to deal with falses teachers and encourage Tim to continue in sound doctrine (1:3-11, 18-20, 4:1-16)

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Titus

• Instruct him of his respontibility to ‘straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town” 1:5

• Gave personal authorisation in view of opposition, how to meet this opposition and warn about Judaizers who were influencing people with false teachings 1:10-16

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The Christian Witness

• 1 Tim 3:15 thematic statement for thse letters, laying out how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household.

• Grace of God has appeared to believers and thus we should deny ungodliness and live righteously and soverly. Titus 3:8

• Charge to present the best possible ace to the Greco Roman society and live to enhance positive reputation of the Christian movement. Lifestyle should not bring shame to God and to the Christian teachings (1 Tim 4:15, 5:14, 6:1, Titus 2:5, 7-8, 10)

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Qualified Leadership

• Paul gave a checklist ON TOP of character. Every christian must have christlike character.

• Criteria deals with external reputation 1 Pet 5 (live your life as an example) i.e. if you don’t talk about scripture, they won’t talk about scripture.

• Proclaim transformative power of the Gospel not just with lips but with lives. Take seriously personal integrity and make his or her life congruent with the call of discipleship.

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Christianity and God’s creation

• Addresses Christian’s relationship with the cration and borth affirm the goodness.

• Purity is ultimately not a matter of  food or objects to be touched or not but conscience and mind.

 

Reflection Points:

1. Is not bringing shame to God and the Gospel sufficient reasons for you in deciding how you should behave in various circumstances? Especially in a public setting?

2. How do you evaluate your own leaders? What do you really look for when you consider whether someone is a good Christian leader? Are these what you think God would look for in a Christian leader or are these standards of the world?

3. How much of your spirituality is characterized by external things (whether what you do or do not do), how much of it is really characterized by what is within you?

 

2 Timothy

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Author

Paul (1:1)

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Recipients

• Tim who might still be in Ephesus, and John Mark before his impending execution

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Timeline

• In Rome before his second imprisonment and beheading, in a dungeon where he wrote 2 Timothy.

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Purpose

• Awaiting for his final trial and execution, last moment of his life and he desired Timothy and John Mark to join him

• Encourage Tim to not give up and give final instructions to his most intimate disciple.

• Contained some pastoral counsel and instruction for church but was a personal letter revealing his heart and soul to his dear friend

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Fortitude in the face of Hardship and shame

• Address need to overcome shame in the eyes of the dominant culture if one desire to be a genuine disciple and faithful leader.

• Christian commitment must remain independent of the opinion of non christians.

• “It’s okay, they don’t know what they are saying”

• Enduring hostility for the sake of Jesus brings the believer into conformity with the example and experience of Christ

• Resistance does not defeat the christian leader as “word of GOd is not chained” 2:9

• Assurance of future vindication and honour 1:12, 16-18

 

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Reflection Points:

1. It is easier to handle physical persecutions and verbal abuses for being a Christian than to handle the shame that people in your life place on you. How much shame can you really handle?