Why is Luke writing? The parallel of Zechariah and Mary. The pattern of Salvation includes a forerunner and a Savior.

Assurance of Salvation.

Assurance of Salvation. Go through these chapters and highlight every verse that adds to your assurance. Here is the secret. Love for God should produce obedience, obedience produces joy, and joy produces assurance which grows our love for God.

Titus is a fellow evangelist with Paul. He was left behind to put some things in order in Crete. Paul's number one focus for Titus is to get the new believers living out their faith in good works! What a challenging book.

Paul is encouraging Timothy to avoid people who don't listen to sound teaching, and to be a preacher who always relies on the Word because it will make him useful. Paul knows that he will be killed soon and looks forward to heaven.

Paul and Timothy had a special relationship. Though he was his authority he refers to him as his child. He encourages him and warns him. He makes sure Timothy is staying on track with teaching the word.

As we end the letter we see the love of Paul for the good of this congregation. He wants them to live in harmony based on the example in Christ. He thanks so many gospel workers because he realizes he hasn't done anything without the grace of God and the help of others. His final warning is one against false doctrine.

Simple but difficult. That describes chapter 13 and 14. Love is the answer.

Pauls proves that God still has a special place in his heart and future for Israel. Chapter 12 takes all of the mercy of God given in 1-11 and uses it as fuel to live in a spiritual worshipful way to the glory of God.

This could either be your favorite chapter or least favorite chapter in the Bible, but I encourage you to wrestle with what the text actually teaches. Is God sovereign in salvation or is man? Does God's sovereignty give you comfort or concern?