1 / 19

The Purpose of Letters in the New Testament

The Purpose of Letters in the New Testament. Preaching in the First Century . Acts 1:6-8 (NIV) Just before Jesus’ ascension to heaven the apostles asked Him “’Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘___________________________________________

said
Download Presentation

The Purpose of Letters in the New Testament

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Purpose of Letters in the New Testament Lesson 12

  2. Preaching in the First Century • Acts 1:6-8 (NIV) • Just before Jesus’ ascension to heaven the apostles asked Him “’Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘___________________________________________ • _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” Lesson 12

  3. Preaching in the First Century JERUSALEM Acts 13:46-49 “Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you (the Jews) first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” Lesson 12

  4. Paul: the Apostle to the Gentiles • “And when James, Peter and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me (Paul), they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should _____________________ • _______________________and they ________________ • ________________________.” Look up the center margin reference for the word “gentile” in the verse above and summarize what is being said: Lesson 12

  5. Lesson 12

  6. Once early churches had been established it was necessary to communicate with them by letters Lesson 12

  7. Churches (and Individuals) That Received Letters • Rome • Corinth • Galatia (Region) • Ephesus • Philippi • Colossae • Thessalonica • Timothy • Titus • Philemon Lesson 12

  8. Locations of Churches that Received Letters Lesson 12

  9. Who Wrote the Letters? Apostle Paul Romans 1 and 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews (?) James (Jesus’ Brother) James Apostle John 1, 2, 3 John Apostle Peter 1 and 2 Peter Jude (Jesus’ Brother) Jude Lesson 12

  10. Major Challenges in the Churches Addressed in Letters • Judaizers • Paganism • False teachers • Sexual immorality • Slavery • Rich and poor members • Eating food offered to idols • Roles of men and women Lesson 12

  11. Other Issues Addressed in Letters • Conflicts in the Churches • The implications of brotherly love • Encouragement and comfort during times of hardship or persecution • Clarification of important Bible subjects Lesson 12

  12. Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus • Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV) • “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called one _____________, one _______________________, one ____________________________; one __________________of all who is over all and through all and in all.” Lesson 12

  13. Paul’s First Letter to the Church at Corinth • 1 Corinthians 5:1, 2 • “It is actually reported that there is _____________________________________ among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.” Lesson 12

  14. More from Paul’s 1st Letter to Corinth 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. “ Lesson 12

  15. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV) “______________________________; Be prepared in season and out of season; _____________, ______________, and ______________, with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their _______________________, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Lesson 12

  16. Peter’s Letter to Believers Scattered in Different Cities • 2 Peter 3:1-3 (NIV) • “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to ____________________________________________ __________________________________. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will com, scoffing and following their evil desires.” Lesson 12

  17. James’ Letter to Jewish Believers James 2:17-26 “___________________________________________________________________, is dead...Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only…For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Lesson 12

  18. John’s Letter to the Chosen Lady • 2 John 4-6 (NIV) • “It has given me great joy to find some of your children ________________________________, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in_____________________________________.” Lesson 12

  19. Value of Letters for Believers Today • The letters provide practical teachings for daily living • The letters help us to recognize the importance of and worth of individual church members and how we should interact • The letters provide clarifying information on important Bible subjects • The letters help us to live Godly and Christ-like lives • The principles and teachings contained in the letters are timeless Lesson 12

More Related