For Thurs. 4/8 – Ephesians 1:1-23
Read the Introductory Notes in your Lutheran Study Bible before reading the first chapter of the Letter to the Ephesians. While Ephesians is identified as a letter from Paul to the Church at Ephesus, most scholars now believe that it was probably written by one of Paul’s associates to the whole region around Ephesus. What do you think of this theory? Does it matter?
Compare the introductory structure of this letter to some of the other letters we’ve studied. Do you notice any differences or similarities?
Ephesians 1:3-14 is a description of what God has done and will do for the faithful in Christ Jesus. Sketch a timeline beginning with the foundation of the world and ending with the future redemption, highlighting the main points of God’s action for us according to these verses.
Ephesians 1:13 refers to “the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.” The Church imparts this seal liturgically at Baptism. What meaning, according to Ephesians, does this seal have? If we take this seriously, how does it change/affirm the way you think about Baptism and its meaning/purpose?
Read Ephesians 1:17-19. What things does the author pray for on account of the Ephesians? Presumably these are places that they can continue to grow and improve. Hearing these prayers in light of what God has already done for the Ephesians in 1:3-14, what word of hope do you hear for us? For you?
Compare Ephesians 1:22-23 with Psalm 8:6 (see also 1 Cor 15:28 and Heb 2:18). If you believe these words how do they change your perception of the world? Of the church?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Holy Communion (for 3/25)
Read the various accounts of the institution of Holy Communion (1 Cor 11:23-25; Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; John 6:48-58). What is different about each account? More importantly, what is the same?
Martin Luther talks about Holy Communion as a tangible sign of the promise that we have from God that He has given Himself for us. Think of a time that you were given or gave someone else a tangible sign of a promise? How did/does seeing or touching this sign help you to trust the promise?
What is the difference between believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead and believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead for you?
What is the difference between believing that God is present everywhere and that God is present for you in the bread and wine of Holy Communion? Does this distinction change how approach / perceive Holy Communion? (Consider Martin Luther’s explanation of Holy Communion in the Small Catechism, p. 17 in Communion Handbook)
What did Jesus’ friends “bring to the table” when they gathered with Jesus for the institution of the Communion meal? (See pp. 2-6 in Communion Handbook) What do we bring to the table when we come to receive Holy Communion?
What (if anything) does God ask/require of us to bring to the Communion table?
Martin Luther talks about Holy Communion as a tangible sign of the promise that we have from God that He has given Himself for us. Think of a time that you were given or gave someone else a tangible sign of a promise? How did/does seeing or touching this sign help you to trust the promise?
What is the difference between believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead and believing that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead for you?
What is the difference between believing that God is present everywhere and that God is present for you in the bread and wine of Holy Communion? Does this distinction change how approach / perceive Holy Communion? (Consider Martin Luther’s explanation of Holy Communion in the Small Catechism, p. 17 in Communion Handbook)
What did Jesus’ friends “bring to the table” when they gathered with Jesus for the institution of the Communion meal? (See pp. 2-6 in Communion Handbook) What do we bring to the table when we come to receive Holy Communion?
What (if anything) does God ask/require of us to bring to the Communion table?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Romans 15:14-16:27 for 3/18
What have you learned about God from our study of Romans?
What have you learned about our relationship as the Body of Christ?
If you take Paul’s words in Romans seriously, what would change in your life? In your ministry? What is God calling you to do / say?
Read Paul’s final instructions in Romans 16:17-18. How might we hold these words in tension with the commandment to love our neighbor and not to judge? How do these words inform how we might live into these first two commandments in the “real world”?
Why do you think Paul mentions so many people in such rapid succession at the end of this letter? What might it have accomplished?
Notice the roles of women that Paul mentions in chapter 16. Compare this to 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. What do you make of this?
What have you learned about Christian Ethics from Paul’s letter to the Romans? What does this mean for your own moral living? Your relationships with others?
What have you learned about our relationship as the Body of Christ?
If you take Paul’s words in Romans seriously, what would change in your life? In your ministry? What is God calling you to do / say?
Read Paul’s final instructions in Romans 16:17-18. How might we hold these words in tension with the commandment to love our neighbor and not to judge? How do these words inform how we might live into these first two commandments in the “real world”?
Why do you think Paul mentions so many people in such rapid succession at the end of this letter? What might it have accomplished?
Notice the roles of women that Paul mentions in chapter 16. Compare this to 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. What do you make of this?
What have you learned about Christian Ethics from Paul’s letter to the Romans? What does this mean for your own moral living? Your relationships with others?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Romans 12:1-15:13 for March 11, 2010
This section of Romans might be described as Paul’s primer on Christian Ethics. Note that it comes only after Paul has described in depth God’s relationship with humanity. How does what God has done in Christ Jesus effect how we are to live as Christians?
If we took Romans 1-11 seriously, how would it change how we live? Our ethics and behavior?
The Greek verb “be transformed” in 12:2 indicates an ongoing behavior. In what ways have you already experienced the Spirit’s transformation (e.g. baptism)? In what ways is the Spirit’s work an ongoing action in your life?
Romans 12:9-13 is frequently used in marriage services. In what ways do your closest personal relationships reflect the way in which we are called to be in relationship with the whole body of Christ? Is it easier to “let love be genuine” in these more intimate relationships or in the broader sense to which Paul is speaking? How might your behavior change if you took Paul’s words seriously among both groups?
Romans 13:1-7 has often been used by those in power to maintain their position and by those under repressive regimes to maintain the status quo. Do you think this is an appropriate use? Why or why not? Why might Paul have written these words and how do you think he intended them? (Pay particular attention to the role of God and the use of the term “due”)
Read Paul’s words in Romans 14 again. Consider these questions from the Lutheran Study Bible notes: “How can Christians with differing views be a part of the same church? What can you do to build up the church?” Is “mutual upbuilding” always possible? In our current church situation, how might we pursue this goal?
In what ways does / has “the encouragement of the scriptures” given you hope? (Romans 15:4)
If we took Romans 1-11 seriously, how would it change how we live? Our ethics and behavior?
The Greek verb “be transformed” in 12:2 indicates an ongoing behavior. In what ways have you already experienced the Spirit’s transformation (e.g. baptism)? In what ways is the Spirit’s work an ongoing action in your life?
Romans 12:9-13 is frequently used in marriage services. In what ways do your closest personal relationships reflect the way in which we are called to be in relationship with the whole body of Christ? Is it easier to “let love be genuine” in these more intimate relationships or in the broader sense to which Paul is speaking? How might your behavior change if you took Paul’s words seriously among both groups?
Romans 13:1-7 has often been used by those in power to maintain their position and by those under repressive regimes to maintain the status quo. Do you think this is an appropriate use? Why or why not? Why might Paul have written these words and how do you think he intended them? (Pay particular attention to the role of God and the use of the term “due”)
Read Paul’s words in Romans 14 again. Consider these questions from the Lutheran Study Bible notes: “How can Christians with differing views be a part of the same church? What can you do to build up the church?” Is “mutual upbuilding” always possible? In our current church situation, how might we pursue this goal?
In what ways does / has “the encouragement of the scriptures” given you hope? (Romans 15:4)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Romans 9:1-11:36 (For Thurs, Feb 25)
NOTE: There will be no Bible Study on Thursday, March 4. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Does/will God save the Jews who do not believe in Christ? (See Paul’s answer in 11:25-29)
Why does Paul believe that some Jews are “enemies” of the Gospel despite their divine election? (cf. 11:28) Why then should Gentiles continue to be faithful to the Gospel?
What does this mean for inter-religious dialogue and relationship between Jews and Christians? (See Paul’s discussion in 11:17-24)
Do you / have you ever known a faithful Jew? If so, what have you learned from him/her? What do you hope s/he has learned from you?
Why is it so important to Paul to emphasize God’s relationship with the Jews? What implications does he understand God’s relationships with the people of Israel to have for Christians?
Do you trust God? How is / would your life be different because of your trust in God?
What stumbling blocks do you encounter that make it difficult for you to trust God? How do Paul’s words in these chapters give strength and encouragement to you as you stumble?
What do you make of the “divine election” that Paul speaks of? To what has God elected us? How does/should this effect the way we live our lives? The way we relate to others?
Does/will God save the Jews who do not believe in Christ? (See Paul’s answer in 11:25-29)
Why does Paul believe that some Jews are “enemies” of the Gospel despite their divine election? (cf. 11:28) Why then should Gentiles continue to be faithful to the Gospel?
What does this mean for inter-religious dialogue and relationship between Jews and Christians? (See Paul’s discussion in 11:17-24)
Do you / have you ever known a faithful Jew? If so, what have you learned from him/her? What do you hope s/he has learned from you?
Why is it so important to Paul to emphasize God’s relationship with the Jews? What implications does he understand God’s relationships with the people of Israel to have for Christians?
Do you trust God? How is / would your life be different because of your trust in God?
What stumbling blocks do you encounter that make it difficult for you to trust God? How do Paul’s words in these chapters give strength and encouragement to you as you stumble?
What do you make of the “divine election” that Paul speaks of? To what has God elected us? How does/should this effect the way we live our lives? The way we relate to others?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Romans 6:1-8:39 (for 2/11)
If we are saved by God’s grace anyway, why don’t we just continue to live in sin?
With the above question in mind, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Cost of Discipleship, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” In contrast, he suggests, “Costly grace…is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” In what ways do you experience God’s grace as costly? In what ways do you experience God’s grace as cheap? Can (or should) it be both?
If you cannot achieve your own salvation by good works, what role do good works have in a Christian’s life? According to Paul? According to Bonhoeffer? For you?
Think of the baptisms you remember witnessing. Think about what you may have been told about your own baptism (or ask someone to tell you). Why do we baptize? According to Paul, what happens in baptism? What does this mean for us who are baptized? Read again 6:3-14.
What symbols do we use to represent baptism in the church? Which symbols holds the most meaning for you? Why?
Lutherans teach that the law functions as 1) a mirror (to reveal sin), 2) a measuring stick (to order society), and 3) a guide (to direct Christian living). Read again 7:7-13 – what function of the law does Paul describe? If we agree with what Paul says here, how might we live and act differently as Christians saved by God’s grace who have been gifted with God’s law?
In 8:15-17 Paul describes us as children of God. In what ways does/has your family reflected on you? Influenced you? In what ways does/can/should your membership in God’s family do the same?
With the above question in mind, Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Cost of Discipleship, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ living and incarnate.” In contrast, he suggests, “Costly grace…is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.” In what ways do you experience God’s grace as costly? In what ways do you experience God’s grace as cheap? Can (or should) it be both?
If you cannot achieve your own salvation by good works, what role do good works have in a Christian’s life? According to Paul? According to Bonhoeffer? For you?
Think of the baptisms you remember witnessing. Think about what you may have been told about your own baptism (or ask someone to tell you). Why do we baptize? According to Paul, what happens in baptism? What does this mean for us who are baptized? Read again 6:3-14.
What symbols do we use to represent baptism in the church? Which symbols holds the most meaning for you? Why?
Lutherans teach that the law functions as 1) a mirror (to reveal sin), 2) a measuring stick (to order society), and 3) a guide (to direct Christian living). Read again 7:7-13 – what function of the law does Paul describe? If we agree with what Paul says here, how might we live and act differently as Christians saved by God’s grace who have been gifted with God’s law?
In 8:15-17 Paul describes us as children of God. In what ways does/has your family reflected on you? Influenced you? In what ways does/can/should your membership in God’s family do the same?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Romans 5:1-21 (for Feb 4)
Recall your past (and present) sufferings. In what way(s) have these produced endurance, character, and hope? How is God at work in the midst of your suffering? How do you respond to Paul’s suggestion that we “boast in our sufferings”?
What meaning does Paul attribute to Christian suffering? What do you think he might have meant when he talked about suffering in this way?
Read again 5:6-10. What do we / have we done to earn God’s salvation? Contrast this to an understanding of “accepting Jesus” into one’s life?
What does the term “original sin” mean to you? Read Genesis 1-3. What does Paul mean when he says that sin came into the world through one man? How (if at all) are we inheritors of Adam’s sinfulness?
Read again 5:18. According to Paul, who is saved on account of Christ’s righteousness?
How does God show his great love for you? Take some time alone to contemplate God’s love for you and for all of humanity. If you take this love seriously, how might it change the way you live – change your life?
What meaning does Paul attribute to Christian suffering? What do you think he might have meant when he talked about suffering in this way?
Read again 5:6-10. What do we / have we done to earn God’s salvation? Contrast this to an understanding of “accepting Jesus” into one’s life?
What does the term “original sin” mean to you? Read Genesis 1-3. What does Paul mean when he says that sin came into the world through one man? How (if at all) are we inheritors of Adam’s sinfulness?
Read again 5:18. According to Paul, who is saved on account of Christ’s righteousness?
How does God show his great love for you? Take some time alone to contemplate God’s love for you and for all of humanity. If you take this love seriously, how might it change the way you live – change your life?
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