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Welcome to Week 13 of Rooted.
Can you believe that we are on week 13 already? This week will bring us to the end of the first quarter. So far, we have read through Matthew, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. This week, we will read Philemon, Paul’s shortest letter, and start on the gospel of Luke.
Paul’s letter to Philemon is short. But if you understand the context, it is explosive. Watching the Bible Project video on Philemon will be very helpful in understanding the nature of this letter: Click here to watch the video
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the synoptic gospels because they are very similar, although telling the story of Jesus from different perspectives. As you read through Luke, you will find many of the same stories that you read in Matthew, although often with a different emphasis. You can get an overview of the material covered in the first two weeks of our reading of Luke in this Bible Project video: Click here to watch the video
As you read this week, here are some things that you can be thinking about:
• What made Paul’s letter to Philemon so radical?
• Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus to Zechariah (Lk:1:13) and Mary (Lk. 1:31-33). They both asked questions about it (Lk. 1:18, 1:34). But Gabriel’s response was quite different (Lk. 1:18-19, 1:35). Why?
• The birth narratives of Jesus in Matthew and Luke are very different. Why do you suppose that is?
• If you had been a part of the crowd listening to John the Baptist, how do you think you would have responded to being called a brood of vipers (Lk. 3:7-9)? How did the crowd respond (Lk. 3:10)? Why do you suppose they responded that way?
• What parallels can you find between Jesus’ time in the wilderness (Lk. 4:1-13) and Israel’s time in the wilderness as they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan?
And here are some potential answers to last week’s questions:
• What kinds of things should we be thinking about? (Phil. 4:8) – Things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. Let your mind be filled with thoughts that build up rather than tear down.
• What can you learn from Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers that you can adopt in your own prayer life (Col. 1:9-14): To be filled with the knowledge of God’s so I can live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.
• Who are the rulers and authorities that Jesus disarmed? And how did he do it (Col. 2:13-15)? - They are the evil spiritual powers also mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. Jesus defeated them by going to the cross and defeating death.
• What does it mean that your life is hidden with Christ, who is at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1-3)? - It is a place of security. Who can snatch me away when I am there (Rom. 8:38-39)?
• What is the significance of Paul’s mention of Mark (Col. 4:10)? – They had been reconciled from the dispute recorded in Acts 15:36-41.
As always, we would love to hear about your experience in reading through the New Testament. Please share your questions and insights with us at rooted@lifepointnaz.church
Can you believe that we are on week 13 already? This week will bring us to the end of the first quarter. So far, we have read through Matthew, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. This week, we will read Philemon, Paul’s shortest letter, and start on the gospel of Luke.
Paul’s letter to Philemon is short. But if you understand the context, it is explosive. Watching the Bible Project video on Philemon will be very helpful in understanding the nature of this letter: Click here to watch the video
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the synoptic gospels because they are very similar, although telling the story of Jesus from different perspectives. As you read through Luke, you will find many of the same stories that you read in Matthew, although often with a different emphasis. You can get an overview of the material covered in the first two weeks of our reading of Luke in this Bible Project video: Click here to watch the video
As you read this week, here are some things that you can be thinking about:
• What made Paul’s letter to Philemon so radical?
• Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus to Zechariah (Lk:1:13) and Mary (Lk. 1:31-33). They both asked questions about it (Lk. 1:18, 1:34). But Gabriel’s response was quite different (Lk. 1:18-19, 1:35). Why?
• The birth narratives of Jesus in Matthew and Luke are very different. Why do you suppose that is?
• If you had been a part of the crowd listening to John the Baptist, how do you think you would have responded to being called a brood of vipers (Lk. 3:7-9)? How did the crowd respond (Lk. 3:10)? Why do you suppose they responded that way?
• What parallels can you find between Jesus’ time in the wilderness (Lk. 4:1-13) and Israel’s time in the wilderness as they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan?
And here are some potential answers to last week’s questions:
• What kinds of things should we be thinking about? (Phil. 4:8) – Things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. Let your mind be filled with thoughts that build up rather than tear down.
• What can you learn from Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers that you can adopt in your own prayer life (Col. 1:9-14): To be filled with the knowledge of God’s so I can live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.
• Who are the rulers and authorities that Jesus disarmed? And how did he do it (Col. 2:13-15)? - They are the evil spiritual powers also mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. Jesus defeated them by going to the cross and defeating death.
• What does it mean that your life is hidden with Christ, who is at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1-3)? - It is a place of security. Who can snatch me away when I am there (Rom. 8:38-39)?
• What is the significance of Paul’s mention of Mark (Col. 4:10)? – They had been reconciled from the dispute recorded in Acts 15:36-41.
As always, we would love to hear about your experience in reading through the New Testament. Please share your questions and insights with us at rooted@lifepointnaz.church