"Apostolic Succession" / 2Timothy 2:1-7 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – The context for this passage is 2 Timothy 1:8-14. What is it about?

2 – What has Timothy learned from Paul? What is he charged to do with what he has learned?

3 – Who are the recipients to whom Timothy is to pass on this information? What qualities should they have? What is their obligation?

4 – Timothy is given three examples to follow: soldier, athlete and farmer. What qualities do each demonstrate that helps Timothy with his task?

5 – Why does Paul tell Timothy to "think over" these things? What conclusion does he expect to reach? Why?

6 – How is our faith an unbroken chain, a succession to the Apostle's faith?

"Shame by Association" / 2 Timothy 1:8-18 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verse 8, why might we feel ashamed of our church, of other cultures, and of Christ?

2 – Why might early Christians felt shame by association with Paul? Why might Christians in China or Islamic countries not want to be identified with other Christians?

3 - In what way is shame a form of suffering?

4 – In verse 9, how did we come to salvation? When was our salvation secured? Explain sovereign grace, pre-existent grace, and visable grace.

5 – In verse 10, if Christ abolished death, then why do Christians still die? Explain physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death.

6 – In verse 12, What single reason explains why Paul is not ashamed to be a Christian?

7 – Timothy is charged to guard what was entrusted to him; Paul is confident that God will guard what Paul entrusted to God; we are charged to guard the good deposit entrusted to us. What is it, and how do we do that? Why is this challenging?

"Passing the Baton" / 2 Timothy 1:1-7 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – How are Paul's circumstances different as he writes 2 Timothy from when he wrote 1 Timothy? What has changed? How are Timothy's circumstances different? What is happening in the Roman Empire as Paul writes this letter? What new responsibilities does Paul give Timothy? How will Timothy be able to do these things?

2 – In verses 3-5, what does Paul say about Timothy's heritage? How is this helpful? What does Paul suggest that connects the gospel of Jesus Christ with the old testament? How far back does it go?

3 – In verses 5-7, what does Paul tell us about spiritual gifts? How are they useful? How does one obtain them? How do you know what gift(s) you have? What happens if they are not used?

4 – How are we tasked to prepare the next generation of Christian leaders? What is our church doing for this mission?

"Post Scriptum" / 1 Tim 6:17-20 / Jim Rosenquist

1 - In verse 17, Does scripture condemn riches? In verse 6:9, what is the product of desiring to be rich? What charge does Paul give to the rich? Why would wealth be an uncertainty? Why would wealthy people think themselves superior to the poor? In what way?

2 - In verse 18, what two things does Paul tell wealthy people to do? Why would wealthy Christians rather give money than service? If you give money away, won't you be less rich?

3 - In verse 19, what does Paul suggest is a good investment in the future? How is this accomplished?

4 - In verse 20, what is the deposit entrusted to Timothy? Is this also entrusted to us? How are we to guard it?

5 - In verse 21, How do well-meaning Christians drift off course, away from the faith? What happens to them?

"Man of God" / 1 Timothy 6:11-16 / Jim Rosenquist

1 - Why would Paul calling Timothy a "man of God" be encouraging to him? How does this title relate to Timothy's assignment? What qualifies one to be called a "man of God?"

2 - a - Paul tells Timothy flee, from what? Why? Where else are we told to flee from sin? As opposed to what? Consider the story of Joseph and Potifer's wife, (Gen 39) How is his fleeing an illustration for us?

b - What are we encouraged to follow (pursue?)

c – In verse 12, how is our testimony and struggle with sin a "fight?"

d – If we have already been promised eternal life through the finished of Jesus, why do we need to "fasten" (take hold) of it?

3 - In verses 13-14

a - What is the charge given to Timothy? Why is it our charge as well?

b - Paul invokes two witnesses to this charge. Who and Why? How is this awesome, both frightening and encouraging?

4 - In verses 15-16, Paul's benediction describes God as: blessed, sovereign, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, immortal, dwelling in light, and unseen. What does each of these mean? What do these tell us about God?

"Can't Get No Satisfaction" / 1 Tim 6:3-10 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verse 3, What is the essence of, "sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ?" What, "different doctrines," about Christ are being presented today? Why do people follow these?

2. In verses 4-5, what characterizes false teachers? How do some make Christianity profitable? Why does it work?

3. In verses 6-8, what, "great gain," does godliness bring?" What is godliness? Why doesn't prosperity produce contentment?

4. In verse 9, what kind of temptations and snares are the result of the desire to get rich? Why are poor people not immune from the perils of riches?

5. In verse 10, is money the root of all evil? What is it? Why would craving wealth lead people to wander from God?

6. Knowing this is true, how should this change the way we live? Why doesn't it?

"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?