"A Thief in the Night" / 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Why is belief in the 2nd coming a core Christian teaching? How does Paul describe things prior to this event? As cross references see Matthew 24:3, 2 Peter 3:10. What do these verses add?

2. If the Lord’s coming is sudden, and no one knows when, how are we to prepare for it? Paul says in v4 that we shouldn’t be surprised by it. Why not? How?

3. What does Paul mean that we shouldn’t sleep but keep awake? See v6. What should we do besides keep awake?

4. What is Paul implying throughout the metaphor of putting on armor? See v8.

5. How can we encourage one another? In the context of this teaching what does that look like?

"Rapture" / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Why is it our inclination to grieve and be without hope at the death of a close friend or loved one? Why does Paul (and Jesus) refer to dead people as asleep? Where are these dead Christians now?

2. How is Jesus’ resurrection connected to the promise of ours? Why is this a foundational truth for Christianity?

3. How do you know it’s true that you will be resurrected?

4. What three things are used to announce Christ’s return? How are these very public, i.e. not secret?

5. When Christ returns, what happens to those still alive? What then happens to the whole church? The point of the rapture is to physically unite Christ and the Church. Then what happens? Why?

6. How is this information comforting to the church? To those who have lost a loved one? How does this differentiate the way we grieve from those without hope in Christ?

"Ethics" / 1 Thessalonians 3:6-4:12 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verses 3:6-10, why is Paul thankful to God? What does he specifically mention?

2. In verses 3:11-13, what does Paul pray? How is this a helpful model of prayer for us?

3. In verses 4:3-8, what is sanctification? When does it happen? Why does Paul tell them to abstain from sexual immorality? How are they to do that? How is this a product of sanctification?

4. In verses 4:9-13, how are we taught brotherly love? Where does it come from? How is brotherly love modeled in living a quiet life and minding our own business? How does this lifestyle and display of brotherly love witness Christ to the lost?

"Dealing with the Devil" / 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:5 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verses 2:17-18 why is it a problem not to take the devil seriously? How are we instructed to ‘deal with the devil?’ How can we help other Christians and the church in their struggles to ‘deal with the devil?’

2. In verses 3:1-4 what does Paul say to encourage us and to prepare for affliction? How might God use our affliction for our ultimate good and His glory? What is Paul concerned about in verse 5? Why?

3. Looking back to 2:17, why is it important to have church ‘face to face?’

"Faithful Messengers" / 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Refer to verses 1-3. Based on Paul’s responses, what accusations can be inferred against him?

2. In verse 4 what motivation does Paul have for preaching?

3. In verses 5-6 what three things common to false teachers and televangelists does Paul say he doesn’t do? Can you think of some current examples?

4. What metaphors does Paul use in verses 7-12 to describe his ministry style? What does he mean? What does it look like? How can we imitate him?

5. In verses 13-16 Paul says that the Christian church in Thessalonica is suffering at the hands of their countrymen like the Judean church suffers from theirs. How is it similar? What is the reason? Do we also suffer from our culture?

6. This passage was used prior to WWII as a justification to hate Jewish people. Why? How is it inappropriate to use the text this way?

"Thankful" / 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Paul’s introduction to 1 Thessalonians is about thankfulness. In verses 3-10 identify at least 12 things for which he is thankful to God. Which of these are reasons for us to be thankful also? What was the response to the message of Paul? What should ours be?

2. What is the doctrine of election? What examples are found in scripture? How does minimizing God’s part in salvation slight him?

3. How and why was the conversion of the Thessalonians famous? What did it look like for them to turn from their idols? What are the idols of 21st century America?

4. Paul gives thanks because these early Christians are actively looking for Jesus’ return. Are we? Paul says that Jesus, “delivers us from the wrath to come”. What aspect of God’s holiness is his wrath? How is it unlike ours? Why is it an essential quality of God? Of redemption?

“Jesus, High Priest” / Hebrews 5:1-10 / Hanson Rosenquist

1. What’s significant about the size of this section of Jesus’ high priesthood? Does it even matter? Why or why not?

2. Why does the author emphasize the qualifications for high priests in vv. 1-4?

3. Why do we need a high priest? What do they do that we can’t do for ourselves? How has God’s Word corrected your thinking about this?

4. How does Jesus of Nazareth qualify to be our high priest? What’s the passage tell you?

5. Verse 9 says that Jesus is, “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” What’s this mean?

6. How does the high priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ give you comfort, joy, and inspiration for worship?

"Neutralizing the Threat" / Esther 8:1-9:15 / Jim Rosenquist

1. The villain Haman is dead, executed in disgrace. What threats does Esther now face? How does she approach the problem? At what risk? How does the king handle the situation?

2. Mordecai issues a new decree in the king’s name. Why? How is it parallel to Haman’s decree? How is it different?

3. What is the consequence of the deadly decree on the 13th of Adar? How do the Jews show restraint? What do they NOT do that their enemies would have done?

4. Like the Jews under Haman’s edict we are under an irrevocable decree of death. What is it? Why? God has issued a counter edict of life. What is it? How