Download Ask: What does God want us to DO?

Introduction to
the Bible
Instructor: Bill Covert
Week 5 The Letters
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Questions
1. In listening for God, how can we
be sure it’s the Holy Spirit and
not our own thoughts?
- 2 Cor 11:14. “Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of
light.”
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
1
4
2
3
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Questions
2. How is it that the Trinity existed
first and not just God the Father?
- John 17:5. “Glorify me in your
own presence with the glory that
I had with you before the world
existed.” ~ Jesus
- Genesis 1:2. And the Spirit of
God was hovering over the face
of the waters.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Questions
is not
Father
is
Son
is
is
t
no
is
is
no
t
GOD
Holy
Spirit
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Questions
3. How can I grow spiritually and
build a deeper relationship with
God?
- Answer near the end of class.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
What is the Bible?
The Story of God’s Loving Pursuit of
Rebels in Jesus Christ
Have you responded to
God’s loving pursuit of you?
(Revelation 3:20)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
New Testament
27 books
– history (the Gospels and Acts)
– epistles (letters) (Romans – Jude)
– prophecy (Revelation)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
New Testament: Epistles
Bible books: Romans-Jude
Timeline: 48 – 95 A.D.
The early church grows as it is attacked by
persecution & false teaching
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
What is an Epistle?
A letter
A SITUATIONAL document that applies
the unchanging gospel
What prompted Paul to write to the
Colossians?
– “Gospel strengthening” (1:3-8; 1:23; 3:16)
– Warn them of “gospel distortions” (2:1-4; 2:8;
2:16-23)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
The Epistles were written during the New Covenant.
(Hebrews 8:1-13; 2 Cor. 3:5-18)
Recall week 3: Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Ezekiel 36:25,26
The Church
begins
Old Covenant
The
Epistles
2012
New Covenant
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Under the New Covenant:
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers.
(Romans 8:9-11)
Recall Exod. 29:45,46 (“I will dwell”) and
Jn.1:14 (Jesus “dwelt among us”)
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John
16:13,14) (example: floodlight)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Under the New Covenant:
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers.
(Romans 8:9-11)
Recall Exod. 29:45,46 and Jn.1:14
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John
16:13,14) (example: floodlight)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Under the New Covenant:
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers.
(Romans 8:9-11)
Recall Exod. 29:45,46 and Jn.1:14
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John
16:13,14) (example: floodlight)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Under the New Covenant:
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John
16:13,14) (example: floodlight)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that
we may know the things freely given to us by
God. (1 Cor. 2:12)
He leads you to be Christ-centered, graceawed, and generous.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
The Epistles unpack the gospel, which is
about the Person and Work of Jesus
Christ
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart
for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through
his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who
was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was
declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of
holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our
Lord. (Romans 1:1-4)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
1. HIS PERSON: The Epistles present
Jesus as fully God and fully man
(Col. 2:9; 1:15-18). (Read)
Why do you think this matters?
WHO Jesus is determines WHAT HE CAN DO
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
2. HIS WORK: The Epistles look back at
the significance of Christ’s death and
resurrection.
sin
Victory over _____
(Col. 2:13,14;1 Peter 3:18)
Victory over death
_____ (2 Tim 1:10; Heb.2:14,15)
Serpent (1 Jn. 3:8; Col. 2:15;
Victory over the
_________
Eph. 6:10-20)
“Substantial” and progressive victory
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already 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?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already 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 already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already 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 already DONE for us?
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and
what God has already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already 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 already DONE for us?
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and
what God has already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Ask: What has God already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Ask: What has God already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly
loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What does God want us to DO?
Ask: What has God already DONE for us?
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and
what God has already DONE for us?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
An important relationship you will
see again and again in the Epistles:
What God wants us to DO is based on what he has
already DONE for us.
Eph. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just
as in Christ God forgave you. 5:1Be imitators of God, therefore, as
dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ask: What is the relationship between what we DO and
what God has already DONE for us?
Romans 8:32 you will be provided for!
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
3. HIS WORK: The Epistles LOOK FORWARD
to what Christ will do when he returns.
Part of Christian identity is being an “heir”
(Romans 8:14-17)
If you have an informed and persistent trust in God’s
promises about the next life, your heart and lifestyle
will be radically transformed. How so?
• stability, hope, joy
• generosity, integrity, boldness/urgency
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Key features of the Epistles
3. HIS WORK: The Epistles LOOK FORWARD
to what Christ will when he returns
Ask: How should I live in light of the fact that
Jesus will one day return?
Read 1 John 2:15-17*
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
The “world”
James
4
I John 2:15-17
And the world is passing away, and also
its lusts; but the one who does the will
of God abides forever.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
The
“world”
James
4
I John 2:15-17
And the world is passing away, and also
its lusts; but the one who does the will
of God abides forever.
Temperature: 33º
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. HIS WORK: The Epistles LOOK FORWARD
to what Christ will when he returns
Ask: How should I live in light of the fact that
Jesus will one day return?
Read 1 John 2:15-17*
Read Philippians 1:21-25; 3:18-21
Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8
These truths should impact your values.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
How to do an Epistle Overview
1. Read the letter in one sitting.
2. Reconstruct the “occasion” for the letter:
PLEASE FILL OUT CLASS
EVALUTIONS NOW
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Reconstruct the occasion for Philippians
Author
Audience
Opponents
Who wrote the letter?
Who is the letter written to?
What information does the
author provide about
himself?
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?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Reconstruct the occasion for Philippians
Author
Audience
Opponents
Who wrote the letter?
Paul (1:1)
What information does the
author provide about
himself?
Who is the letter written to?
Does the author mention
anyone who opposes God’s
work? If so, who are they?
1:3, 7, 8
1:12-14
3:4-10
What information does the
author provide about his
audience?
What information does the
author provide about the
opponents?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Reconstruct the occasion for Philippians
Author
Audience
Opponents
Who wrote the letter?
Paul (1:1)
What information does the
author provide about
himself?
Who is the letter written to?
Does the author mention
anyone who opposes God’s
work? If so, who are they?
1:3, 7, 8
1:12-14
3:4-10
Church at Philippi (1:1)
What information does the
author provide about his
audience?
4:14-19
What information does the
author provide about the
opponents?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Reconstruct the occasion for Philippians
Author
Audience
Opponents
Who wrote the letter?
Paul (1:1)
What information does the
author provide about
himself?
Who is the letter written to?
Does the author mention
anyone who opposes God’s
work? If so, who are they?
False Teachers (3:2)
What information does the
author provide about the
opponents?
1:3, 7, 8
1:12-14
3:4-10
Church at Philippi (1:1)
What information does the
author provide about his
audience?
4:14-19
3:2
3:18
Summarize: From prison, Paul is
writing an affectionate and joyful letter to
the Philippians. He is thanking them for a
monetary gift and warning them of false
teaching.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8
1:9-11
1:12-21
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8
1:9-11
1:12-21
3
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every
prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of
your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am
sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this
way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all
partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the
defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness,
how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8 Gospel Partnership
1:9-11
1:12-21 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every
prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of
your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I
am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it
to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this
way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all
partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the
defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness,
how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8 Gospel Partnership
1:9-11
1:12-21 …you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my
witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And
it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is
excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled
with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to
the glory and praise of God.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8 Gospel Partnership
1:9-11 Prayer for “gospel discernment”
1:12-21 …you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment
and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my
witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And
it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what
is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8 Gospel Partnership
1:9-11 Prayer for “gospel discernment”
1:12-21
9And
it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is
excellent…
12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has
really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known
throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my
imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having
become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more
bold to speak the word without fear.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title for each paragraph.
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
1:3-8 Gospel Partnership
1:9-11 Prayer for “gospel discernment”
1:12-21 Paul discerns a “gospel opportunity”
9And
it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is
excellent…
12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has
really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become
known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that
my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having
become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more
bold to speak the word without fear.
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
3. Outline the letter by writing a short
title
forofeach
Let each
you look paragraph.
not only to
his own interests, but also to the
interests of others. 5 Have this
mind among yourselves, which is
in Christ Jesus, who,
1:3-8 Gospelyours
Partnership
though he was in the form of God,
not count
equality discernment”
with God a
1:9-11 Prayerdidfor
“gospel
thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied
by taking
form of a opportunity”
1:12-21 Paul himself,
discerns
a the
“gospel
servant… he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of
4. Identify maindeath,
themes
in the
letter
even death
on a
cross. (Philippians).
Philippians: Paragraph Titles (NASB)
Are there any repeated words and ideas?
Joy and the Gospel (1:5,7,12,27; 2:16, 2:22; 4:3,4)
Ask: where is the gospel? How are commands
connected to the gospel? (2:4-8)
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
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 reestablish his rule.
Quick summary:
• Written by the apostle John around 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
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Bible books: Revelation
PURPOSE: To strengthen Christians to
be faithful witnesses in a hostile world
by describing Jesus’ authority over
human history.
The Sovereignty of Christ
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
What’s next?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
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?
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
What’s next?
The key to continued learning of the
Word and continued motivation to learn
is to be a doer of the Word (James 1:22-25).
Matt. 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and
acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on
the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been
founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and
does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on
the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
What’s next?
The key to continued learning of the
Word and continued motivation to learn
is to be a doer of the Word.
The desire (and strength) to do comes
from God’s grace
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
All of the following will expose
you to the power of God’s grace
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
1. Get involved in a learning community
where you receive & give truth in the
context of close relationships (Col.
3:16; Eph 3:18,19; 4:15,16).
This is how grace is experienced (in
friendship).
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
2. Develop a habit of regular, prayerful,
scripture reading (Ps. 119).
Why?
See reading plans below
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
3. Be responsive to the promptings of the Holy
Spirit as He convicts you of sin and leads
you out on His mission to share the truth
(Gal. 5:16-25; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts16:6-10).
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
4. Take another class. Next class will be
offered in early January. It’s a 10-week
class on the following topics…
Christian Growth
- Sin, New Identity, Faith
- Holy Spirit, God’s Law
- Community as a Means of Growth
- God’s Word as a Means of Growth
- Prayer as a Means of Growth
- God’s Discipline as a Means of Growth
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Things you can DO that will lead to
further learning and motivation:
5. Read good books that teach on the Bible
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
Bible Reading Plans
Specific Goals for Bible Reading
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.
M’Cheyne Reading Plan
Carson, D.A., For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the
Riches of God’s Word (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998).
Memorize scripture
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation
EVALUATIONS
PLEASE FILL OUT THE
CLASS EVALUATION NOW
Week 5 NT Letters & Revelation