Day 7: 5:1–6:19 — Practical Instructions for Church Relationships Reading: Guidelines for various groups within the church community Study Questions: 1. Observation: How does Paul address different ages, social classes, and roles within the church? The heart of interactions with those in the church is to be treated as family. Older men are father figures, […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 7 – 5:1–6:19 — RelationshipsDay 6: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 — Combating False Teaching and Personal Godliness Reading: Warnings about future false teaching and Timothy’s personal conduct Study Questions: 1. Observation: What specific false teachings and practices does Paul predict? Forbidding marriage and saying certain allowable foods shouldn’t be eaten. These are the specific ones mentioned after the general mention […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 6 – 4:1–16 — Combat FalsehoodDay 5: 1 Timothy 3:1–16 — Qualifications for Church Leadership Reading: Requirements for overseers and deacons, plus the church’s purpose Study Questions: 1. Observation: What character qualities are emphasised for church leaders? Blameless, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle, diligent, dignified, full of integrity. 2. Interpretation: Why does Paul focus more on character than on skills […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 5 – 3:1–16 — QualifiedDay 3: 1 Timothy 1:12–20 — Paul’s Testimony and Charge to Timothy Reading: Paul’s personal testimony and instructions to Timothy Study Questions: 1. Observation: How does Paul describe his own transformation and calling? Paul recognises that it took the grace and mercy of God to rescue him from his sins. Indeed, he sees himself as […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 3 – 1:12–20 — Paul’s TestimonyDay 1: Book Overview — Setting the Foundation Focus: Introduction to 1 Timothy and its context Reading: Skim through the entire book (6 chapters) to get the big picture Study Questions: 1. Historical Context: What can you learn about Paul’s relationship with Timothy and the situation in Ephesus from scanning the letter? Paul has an […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 1 – Book OverviewAnd so it begins – Word In, Word Out, the Bible Study series here on the blog. The first book we’ll work through is 1 Timothy. The format is we have the four questions to consider with the day given to explore responses to the question, then the next day will see my responses to […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy OverviewThat word “finally” suggests that you’re on the last part of what you’re saying and it might be worth paying attention. Paul uses it at the start of Philippians 3 only to go on such an impassioned plea to his audience that he ends up saying finally again as he’s genuinely reaching the end of […]
Read More For Reading Out Loud – Philippians 3There’s a lot we can learn from Paul’s letter to Philemon. How to look to bring about reconciliation. How to appeal on behalf of someone. How to address people in a way that honours and respects them. We can talk about love and forgiveness, Paul puts it on the line for a runaway slave who […]
Read More For Reading Out Loud – PhilemonThe letter to the church in Rome by the Apostle Paul is rightly considered to be epic. This is the kind of letter that groups of believers should sit and listen to being read out in total. Listen to it being read in its entirety and then sit and consider together what they’ve just heard […]
Read More For Reading Out Loud – Romans 6Writing to someone you love is not a forgotten art. It still takes place today. What helps us to do it well today is considering how well others did it in yesteryear. There can be no doubt that Paul loved the saints in Ephesus a great deal. The time he spent there in developing the […]
Read More For Reading Out Loud – Ephesians 6
