"Getting the Last Word" / Luke 19:36-39, John 19:17-30 /Jim Rosenquist

1. Why do we like to get the last word in an argument?

2. See Luke 19:36-39. Why are the people celebrating Jesus’ arrival? Why do the pharisees object? What did they demand of Jesus? How does Jesus reply? Why?

3. Refer to John 19:16-22. Why was Jesus executed? There were two trials, two charges and two verdicts; what were they? Why do the gospels tell us so little about crucifixion? How was Jesus’ crucifixion unique?

4. Refer to John 19: 28-30. At the conclusion of the crucifixion Jesus utters his last words; what were they? What does it mean? How are we tempted to add something to Jesus’ last words with our own? Why is it so hard to let God have the last word?

"The Time Machine" / 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 / Jim Rosenquist

1. See verse 13. Why does Paul give thanks to God? What does Paul mean that God “chose” them? For what reason were they chosen? What is sanctification? How does it happen?

2. In Verse 14, what does Paul mean that they are called to obtain glory?

3. What traditions is Paul thinking about that they need to “hold on” to? See verse 15. What traditions might we think of that Paul is not referring to?

4. In verse 16, what is God’s motivation to save us? Also, refer to John 3:16.

5. In what way does Paul look back in time? How far? In what what way does Paul look forward in time? How far? What is happening in the present time?

"First Things First" / 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 / Jim Rosenquist

1. What two evidences does Paul give why Christ’s second coming hasn’t happened yet? Why is this significant to us?

2. While not being the anti-Christ of the end time, many individuals have been precursors. Name some of them. What do these individuals add to our understanding of, ‘the man of lawlessness?’ What does our text say about his actions? What does it mean? What do the Thessalonians know that we don’t?

3. Paul says that something is now (and then) restraining him. What is being restrained? What happens when the restraint is removed? How will Jesus deal with the man of lawlessness? When? Will it be difficult?

4. How is the man of lawlessness a parody of Jesus? What do they have in common? With what differences?

5. How do we know who is ultimately in charge?

"Maybe Not What You're Expecting" / 2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 2:4 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verses 1-4, what similarities do you notice in Paul’s introduction and greeting in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians?

2. What additional information and description does Paul give us of Christ’s return?

3. What happens to people who reject Jesus Christ? How is this prospect terrifying? How is it just? How can a God of love do this? How does this bring or display glory to God?

4. In verses 11-12, how does God make us, “worthy of his calling”? Why? Compare verses 5 and 11.

5. What two things does Paul say precede Christ’s second coming? See verses 2:1-4. Why would it be difficult to discern this?

"When The Going Gets Tough" / 1 Thessalonians 5:16-27 / Jim Rosenquist

1. What three aspects of church life does Paul exhort in us? What does each one mean? Why does Paul say we should do these? Refer to verses 16-18.

2. See verses 19-22. How might we quench the Spirit? What place does prophecy have in the church today? Why might we be tempted to treat prophecy with contempt? How can we test prophecy or any other spiritual proclamation?

3. Is there a contemporary application to the preaching of the Word? True prophesy is both foretelling and forth telling - which is needed more?

4. What is sanctification? How does it happen? When does it happen? When is it complete? Refer to verses 23-24.

"Big Brother is Watching You" / 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Why are we resistant to being “watched over” in church? See verses 12-13.

2. The healthiest churches have good leadership. What should we look for? What should we avoid? What should we pray for?

3. Church leaders are called elders, overseers, and shepherds. What do each of these titles suggest? What does Paul say in 2 Timothy 2:4 about elder duties?

4. Where do church leaders derive their authority? See Acts 20:28.

5. See verses 14-15. Who is Paul speaking to in this sentence? Paul lists three kinds of people the church should engage: idle, fainthearted, weak. What are we to do in each case?

6. How is it extremely comforting to have a Big Brother watching over us? According to verse 13 what are we required to do for them?

"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?’