CHAPTER REVIEWS: Acts 15

Trumbull quizzers are officially invited to tonight's practice at Beacon Hill Church in Monroe, CT at 6:30 PM.  Your own practice on Wednesday was cancelled, but you can join us for some fun time.

If you'll miss practice this week we don't want you to miss out on the review of the chapter.  You can download Coach Mark's lesson by clicking here, or on the image below.

CHAPTER REVIEWS: Acts 14

Trumbull quizzers are officially invited to tonight's practice at Beacon Hill Church in Monroe, CT at 6:30 PM.  Your own practice on Wednesday was cancelled, but you can join us for some fun time.

If you'll miss practice tonight we don't want you to miss out on the review of the chapter.  You can download Coach Mark's lesson by clicking here, or on the image below.

GETTING READY: How do Romans & James relate?

This was posted earlier in the year during the run-up to the season, but we'll be posting this "Getting Ready" series for James again to refresh your memory.

Romans and James are such different books, why are we studying them together?

It would be hard to imagine how the books of Romans and James could be much more different.  Different authors, different audiences, different emphases.  Some even argue they have different theologies!  (Martin Luther even once called James "a false gospel", in one of his grumpier moments.)  The only thing they have in common, it seems, is that they're both in the Bible!

But, really, Romans and James highlight the two inseparable sides of Christianity.

Romans has a focus on the grace of God.  Paul talks over and over about the fact that our salvation is a free gift, and that there was nothing in ourselves that made us worthy of Christ.  He highlights the fact that the Old Testament Law can't save anyone, which is why Jesus had to come and die and rise.  Romans takes our eyes off of ourselves and our own good deeds, and puts them onto God.

James, on the other hand, has a focus on what we do.  James agrees wholeheartedly that our works don't save us, but points out that such an amazing gift should spur us onto good works that will please our savior.  He challenges lazy or sinful Christians to examine themselves and start doing all the things Jesus commanded us to do.  James reminds us to remember while our eyes are on heaven, we're on mission on the Earth!

If you have Romans without James, you have happy Christians who are of no use to anyone.  If you James without Romans, you have busy Christians without any joy.  You need them both to be the men and women God called us to be.

GETTING READY: How do Romans & James relate?

This is our last week of the "Getting Ready" series, where we consider the high-level questions about these books.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

Romans and James are such different books, why are we studying them together?

It would be hard to imagine how the books of Romans and James could be much more different.  Different authors, different audiences, different emphases.  Some even argue they have different theologies!  (Martin Luther even once called James "a false gospel", in one of his grumpier moments.)  The only thing they have in common, it seems, is that they're both in the Bible!

But, really, Romans and James highlight the two inseparable sides of Christianity.

Romans has a focus on the grace of God.  Paul talks over and over about the fact that our salvation is a free gift, and that there was nothing in ourselves that made us worthy of Christ.  He highlights the fact that the Old Testament Law can't save anyone, which is why Jesus had to come and die and rise.  Romans takes our eyes off of ourselves and our own good deeds, and puts them onto God.

James, on the other hand, has a focus on what we do.  James agrees wholeheartedly that our works don't save us, but points out that such an amazing gift should spur us onto good works that will please our savior.  He challenges lazy or sinful Christians to examine themselves and start doing all the things Jesus commanded us to do.  James reminds us to remember while our eyes are on heaven, we're on mission on the Earth!

If you have Romans without James, you have happy Christians who are of no use to anyone.  If you James without Romans, you have busy Christians without any joy.  You need them both to be the men and women God called us to be.

GETTING READY: What is the layout to James?

The second book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle of James.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

How is the epistle of James laid out?

Last year, we studied the Gospel of Matthew so the structure of the book wasn't a big deal.  It was a story where event followed event.  Essentially, it was a biography of Jesus (though it had a point of view and an intended message).

This year, we are studying an epistle.  It's a letter that James wrote to Jewish people in the Roman Empire (and he probably had no idea it would one day be included into the Bible as scripture).  We study chapter by chapter, but Paul intended it as one whole lesson and argument.

Here is an excellent outline from Bible.Org:

I. Salutation (1:1)

II. Enduring Trials (1:2-18)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Testing of Faith (1:2-6)
• 1. Faith in God’s Sovereignty (1:2)
  2. Faith and Perseverance (1:3-4)
  3. Faith and God’s Gifts (1:5)
  4. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:6)
• B. Specifics (1:9-18)
• 1. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:7-8)
  2. Faith and Finances (1:9-11)
  3. Faith and Perseverance (1:12)
  4. Faith and Fatalism (1:13-18)

III. Applying the Word: Faith Within the Church (1:19–3:18)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Obedience of Faith (1:19-27)
• 1. Anger Vs. Obedience (1:19-21)
  2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (1:22-25)
  3. Speech and Obedience (1:26)
  4. The Impartiality of Obedience (1:27)
• B. Specifics (2:1–3:18)
• 1. Partiality Vs. Obedience (2:1-13)
• a. Summary (2:1)
  b. Hypothetical Situation: Rich and Poor Enter the Assembly (2:2-4)
  c. Rebuke for Showing Partiality (2:5-7)
  d. Conditions of Obedience (2:8-11)
  e. Principle (2:12-13)
• 2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (2:14-26)
• a. Summary (2:14)
  b. Hypothetical Situation: Impoverished Believer in your Midst (2:15-17)
  c. Rational Argument: Demons’ Faith is Passive (2:18-20)
  d. Biblical Argument: Abraham’s and Rahab’s Faith is Active (2:21-25)
  e. Principle (2:26)
• 3. Speech and Obedience (3:1-12)
• a. Summary: The Tongue as a Measure of Maturity (3:1-2)
  b. Argument by Analogy (3:3-12)
• 1) Analogy One: The Tiny Tongue (3:3-6)
• a) Bits in Horses’ Mouths (3:3)
  b) Rudders on Ships (3:4)
  c) Sparks and Forest Fires (3:5-6)
• 2) Analogy Two: The Tamed Tongue (3:7-8)
  3) Analogy Three: The Forked Tongue (3:9-12)
• a) Praising and Cursing (3:9-10)
  b) Fresh and Salt Water (3:11)
  c) Schizophrenic Produce (3:12)
• 4. The Wisdom of Obedience (3:13-18)

IV. Witnessing to Divine Providence (4:1–5:20)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Reward of Faith (4:1-10)
• 1. The Prayer of Faith (4:1-3)
  2. Friendship with the World (4:4-6)
  3. The Humility of Faith (4:7-10)
• B. Specifics (4:11–5:20)
• 1. Avoiding Worldly Influences (4:11–5:6)
• a. Slander in the Community (4:11-12)
  b. Boasting about Tomorrow (4:13-17)
  c. Warning to Wealthy Oppressors (5:1-6)
• 2. The Patience of Faith (5:7-12)
  3. The Prayer of Faith (5:13-20)

GETTING READY: What is the layout to Romans?

The first book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle to the Romans.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

How is the epistle to the Romans laid out?

Last year, we studied the Gospel of Matthew so the structure of the book wasn't a big deal.  It was a story where event followed event.  Essentially, it was a biography of Jesus (though it had a point of view and an intended message).

This year, we are studying an epistle.  It's a letter that Paul wrote to real people in Rome (and he probably had no idea it would one day be included into the Bible as scripture).  He is trying to teach the Romans about Christianity, and address specific questions and problems that they had.  We study chapter by chapter, but Paul intended it as one whole lesson and argument.

Here is an excellent outline from Bible.Org:

III. Outline

I. Introduction: The Revelation of Righteousness (1:1-17)

• A. Salutation (1:1-7)
  B. Thanksgiving and Longing (1:8-15)
• 1. Paul’s Prayer of Thanks for the Romans (1:8-10)
  2. Paul’s Desire to Visit the Romans (1:11-15)
• C. The Theme of the Epistle (1:16-17)

II. Justification: The Imputation of Righteousness (1:18–5:11)

• A. Condemnation: The Universal Need of Righteousness (1:18–3:20)
• 1. The Guilt of the Gentiles (1:18-32)
• a. The Basis of Gentile Guilt (1:18-23)
  b. The Results of Gentile Guilt (1:24-32)
• 2. The Guilt of the Jews (2:1–3:8)
• a. The Stubbornness of the Jews (2:1-16)
  b. The Hypocrisy of the Jews (2:17-29)
  c. The Privilege of the Jews (3:1-8)
• 3. The Proof of Universal Guilt (3:9-20)
• B. Salvation: The Universal Provision of Righteousness (3:21–5:11)
• 1. Manifestation of the Universal Provision of Righteousness (3:21-26)
  2. Unification: The Universal God of Righteousness (3:27-31)
  3. Justification of Universal Justification: Proof from the Life of Abraham (4:1-25)
• a. Abraham Justified by Faith, not Works (4:1-8)
  b. Abraham Justified by Faith, not Circumcision (4:9-12)
  c. Abraham’s Seed Justified by Faith, not Law (4:13-17)
  d. Abraham Justified by Faith in the Promise (4:18-25)
• 1) Explanation of the Hope of Abraham (4:18-22)
  2) Application: Faith in Christ (4:23-25)
• 4. Exultation because of the Certainty of Justification (5:1-11)
• a. Present: Peace with God (5:1-5)
  b. Past: Powerlessness of Sinners (5:6-8)
  c. Future: Escape from God’s Wrath (5:9-11)

III. Sanctification: The Impartation of Righteousness (5:12–8:39)

• A. The Reign of Grace Vs. the Reign of Sin (5:12-21)
  B. The Rationale for Sanctification (6:1-23)
• 1. Union with Christ (6:1-14)
• a. The Divine Reckoning (6:1-10)
  b. The Believer’s Reckoning (6:11)
  c. The Believer’s Responsibility (6:12-14)
• 2. Enslavement to Righteousness (6:15-23)
• C. The Inability of the Flesh and the Law to Sanctify (7:1-25)
• 1. The Believer’s Relationship to the Law (7:1-6)
  2. The Law is Good but Sterile (7:7-13)
  3. The Flesh is Bad and Powerless (7:14-25)
• D. The Power of the Spirit to Sanctify (8:1-17)
• 1. Over Sin (8:1-8)
  2. Over Death (8:9-11)
  3. Over Slavery (8:12-17)
• E. The Goal of Sanctification (8:18-39)
• 1. Present Sufferings (8:18-27)
  2. Future Glory (8:28-30)
  3. Hymn of Assurance (8:31-39)

IV. Vindication of God’s Righteousness in His Relationship to Israel (9:1–11:36)

• A. God’s Past Dealings with Israel (9:1-33)
• 1. Preface: Paul’s Deep Sorrow because of Israel’s Great Privileges (9:1-5)
  2. The Grace of God’s Election (9:6-29)
• a. Seen in Israel’s History (9:6-13)
  b. Seen in Principle (9:14-29)
• 3. The Nation’s Rejection of the Messiah via Legalism (9:30-33)
• B. God’s Present Dealings with Israel (10:1-21)
• 1. Equality with the Gentiles (10:1-13)
  2. Obstinance of the Jews (10:14-21)
• C. God’s Future Dealings with Israel (11:1-33)
• 1. The Rejection is not Complete (11:1-10)
  2. The Rejection is not Final (11:11-32)
• a. The Present “Grafting” of Gentiles (11:11-24)
  b. The Future Salvation of Israel (11:25-32)
• 3. Doxology: In Praise of God’s Wisdom (11:33-36)

V. Application: God’s Righteousness at Work (12:1–15:13)

• A. In the Assembly (12:1-21)
• 1. The Consecrated Life (12:1-2)
  2. The Use of Spiritual Gifts (12:3-8)
  3. The Sincerity of Love (12:9-21)
• B. In the State (13:1-14)
• 1. In Relation to Authorities (13:1-7)
  2. In Relation to Neighbors (13:8-10)
  3. Because of our Eschatological Hope (13:11-14)
• C. In Relation to Weak Believers (14:1–15:13)
• 1. Judging and the Principle of Liberty (14:1-12)
  2. Stumbling Blocks and the Principle of Love (14:13-23)
  3. Selfishness and the Imitation of Christ (15:1-13)

VI. Conclusion: Paul’s Purpose, Plans and Praise in Connection with the Dissemination of Righteousness (15:14–16:27)

• A. Paul’s Mission Explained (15:14-33)
• 1. His Reason for Writing (15:14-16)
  2. His Work among the Gentiles (15:17-21)
  3. His Plan to Visit Rome (15:22-33)
• B. Final Greetings (16:1-27)
• 1. Greetings to Believers in Rome (16:1-16)
  2. Warnings about Divisive Brothers (16:17-20)
  3. Greetings from Believers with Paul (16:21-24)
  4. Final Benediction (16:25-27)