"Honor Those You Serve" / 1 Tim 6:1-2 / Jim Rosenquist

1. How was slavery in the Roman Empire different from 19th century America? How was it alike?

What was good about slavery in Roman times? Why might someone choose to be a slave?

What is essentially wrong with slavery?

2. In verse 1, writing to slaves of non-Christian masters, what attitude and behavior does scripture advocate? What are 2 reasons for this?

3. In verse 2, writing to slaves of Christian masters, what attitude and behavior is required? Why?

4. Why is slavery today so much worse than at any other time in history? What can we do about global slavery today?

5. Check Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25; 1 Cor 7:21-22 – What transferable principles about slaves can be applied to Christians in the workplace today?

"Practical Presbyterians" / 1 Timothy 5:17-25 / Jim Rosenquist

1. What does presbyterian mean? What’s the difference between a ruling and a teaching

elder?

2. The context is about showing honor to the unique members of the family in the church. How do we show honor to our elders, both teaching and ruling?

3. In verses 17-18 what is the reason we pay our church staff? What guidelines are given?

4. Why are elders given special protection regarding accusations? What is at stake? Why are they especially exposed? What principles should guide our actions?

5. What word of caution does Paul give us in choosing elders? Combined with 3:1-7 what should we be looking for in an elder?

6. What principles should govern a Christian’s use of alcohol?

7. What point is Paul trying to make when he says some sins are obvious while others take

time to appear?

“Parabole” / Hebrews 9:1-10 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews shows his readers that the old covenant regulations for worship were a symbol showing that there was no way into the most holy place while the old covenant was still in place. To approach God, something had to change. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. What is the overarching argument, or point, that the author of Hebrews is making in this passage?

2. Why does the author of Hebrews tell his readers about the old covenant regulations for worship? What does this tell us about God and how we relate to Him?

3. What steps did the high priest need to undertake before entering the Most Holy Place? What does this tell us about the separation between God and Man?

4. What does this passage teach us about the need for a better covenant?

5. What has God done to enact a better covenant?

6. What’s better about the new covenant?

7. What truths about the Lord God have you learned from this passage?

"Brothers and Sisters" / 1 Timothy 5:1-16 / Jim Rosenquist

1.What are some of the metaphors the Bible uses to describe the church? What metaphor is Paul using in this paragraph?

2. In verses 1-2, what reasons can you think of for Paul's directive in the way Timothy treats church members: older men, younger men, older women, younger women? How does this apply to our church culture?

3. According to verses 3-8, what is the church's responsibility toward widows, orphans, single moms, etc? What conditions apply? What is different in our time and culture?

4. In verses 9-15, Ephesus apparently had a list of sister widows who served the church in an official capacity. What were the prerequisites for serving in this position? Is there such a place in the church today? Why, or why not?

5. What contemporary application can be made to service in the church today by retirees? What should their service, role, or position be? Why isn't that happening now?

"Use it or Lose it" / 1 Timothy 4:11-16 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verse 11, Paul tells Timothy to, "command these things." What things? Why is he so
forceful?

2. In verse 12, why might the church in Ephesus look down on Timothy? What issues were
they dealing with that they might not respect Timothy or agree with him? How was Timothy
to earn their respect?

3. What does Paul say should be Timothy’s primary interest as a pastor? What are some of the spiritual gifts God gave the church? How might they be useful today?

4. How does one discern what gift he has? Does every Christian have a spiritual gift? Look up
the following verses: 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 4:12. What is the primary
purpose of a spiritual gift?

5. What are some ways to, "fan into flame," a dormant spiritual gift? What could happen if we
don’t?

"The Perfect Pastor" / 1 Timothy 4:6-10 / Jim Rosenquist

1. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus are known as the Pastoral Epistles because Paul is writing to advise, instruct and encourage two young pastors. Why is it profitable for us to study this? How can his advice be applied to our lives?

2. In verse 6 Paul refers to Timothy as a “good servant”, using the word deacon. Where else has he used this term? What makes a minister “good”? What makes a Christian “good”?

3. Paul advocates training in godliness, similar to physical training. How is it similar? What is it’s value? How is it unlike “let go and let God”? What is required of us? Why do we resist the idea?

4. Does Paul teach universal salvation? (that everybody is ultimately saved). If God wants everybody saved then why aren’t they? What is Paul’s point here?

“Kephalaion” / Hebrews 8:1-13 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews makes his point: We have such a high priest. He explains the heavenly, priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ and shows the fulfillment of the new covenant promise of Jer. 31:31-34. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. What is the overarching argument, or point, that the author of Hebrews is making in this passage?

2. Where does the text say the Lord Jesus ministers? Why is this significant?

3. In what ways does the writer of Hebrews show a change in the law with this text (cf. 7:12)?

4. The author uses the words “copy,” “shadow,” and “pattern” in this passage. How are they used? What does this mean?

5. Verse 6 says the Lord Jesus has a “much more excellent” ministry and mediates a “better covenant” with “better promises. Compared to what? How is Christ Jesus’ ministry and the new covenant “better”?

6. How does the author show us that the new covenant was expected and anticipated?

7. What does it mean for us that the old covenant is obsolete (v. 13) and the new covenant has been inaugurated (Luke 22:20)?

8. What truths about the Lord God have you learned from this passage?

“Fitting” / Hebrews 7:26-28 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews concludes his teaching portion on the Lord Jesus being our Melchizedekian high priest and shows how Christ Jesus is our fitting high priest.  Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. What is the overarching argument, or point, that the author of Hebrews is making in this passage?

2. Why do we need a high priest?

3. How were the Levitical priests ultimately unfitting?

4. What five characteristics of the Lord Jesus does the author of Hebrews give in v. 26 and what do they mean?

5. How is the Lord Jesus our fitting high priest?

6. Why are there no further sacrifices for sin to be made (see Heb. 9:12, 24-26)?

7. How does God’s oath to appoint the Lord Jesus a high priest forever show the impermanence of the old covenant and the permanence of the new covenant (see Heb. 7:20-22, 28)?

8. What truths about the Lord God have you learned from this passage?

“Priesthood” / Hebrews 7:11-25 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews continues his teaching on the Lord Jesus being our superior high priest over the Levitical priesthood and begins his teaching on the new covenant superseding the old. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. What is the overarching argument, or point, that the author of Hebrews is making in this passage?

2. In what ways does the author show that the old covenant was intended to be replaced? What were the shortcomings of the old covenant?

3. From this passage, what are some ways the new covenant is shown to be superior?

4. How does the author show that God has changed the law (v.12)?

5. Similar to last week, how does the author show the Lord Jesus to be a superior high priest?

6. Verse 25 says, “Consequently” (or therefore). Why is the Lord Jesus “consequently” able to save us to the uttermost? On what basis (from this passage) can He save us to the uttermost? (“Uttermost” is the Greek panteles, and means, “all-complete, entire, perfect,” etc.)

7. What does it mean that the Lord Jesus “always lives to make intercession” (v. 25)?

8. What truths about the Lord God have you learned from this passage?

“Melchizedek” / Hebrews 7:1-10 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews returns to the priesthood of Melchizedek mentioned in chapters 5 and 6 to demonstrate to his readers the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, and therefore Christ’s superiority over the Levitical priesthood. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. What significant actions took place in the meeting between Melchizedek and Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 14:17-20?

2. In our passage, what does the author of Hebrews say these actions mean? In other words, how does he interpret them for us?

3. How long did it take your group facilitator to pronounce, “Chedorlaomer?”

4. What similarities do you see between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus?

5. What is the significance of these similarities within the theological context of Christ Jesus’ superior priesthood?

6. Why does the author of Hebrews spend 10 verses emphasizing Melchizedek’s superiority to Abraham? What meaning would this have for the original Jewish-Christian readers?

7. What meaning does this have for us today? Why is Melchizedek’s superiority to Abraham important for us to know and remember?

8. What truths about the Lord God have you learned from this passage?