Study session scripture: Romans 1:8-17

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Study session topics:

• Thanksgiving and theme

• Paul thanks God for all the members of the Roman church

• He again emphasizes unity between Jews and Gentiles

• Paul expresses his desire to visit the Roman church

• He wants both to encourage and strengthen the church and to gain encouragement and strength from them

• We know that Paul eventually succeeded in coming to Rome

• The Gospel and the righteousness of God

• Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel

• The Gospel reveals the righteousness of God

• The righteous shall live by faith

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Study session scripture: Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Study session topics:

• Paul is a servant to Christ Jesus

• Paul is an apostle

• Paul has been set apart for the Gospel, the good news of salvation from sins, and the fulfillment of God’s plan throughout history

• Paul (and the other apostles) received their office from Christ to bring all nations to the obedience to God that comes from saving faith for the sake of HIs name

• Those in the Roman church (Jews and gentiles) are loved by God and called to be saints

• Paul wishes the Roman church grace and peace from the Father and the Son

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Intro to Romans

Study session topics:

• The Gospel as the revelation of God’s righteousness

• God’s righteousness in His wrath against sinners

• The saving righteousness of God

• Hope as a result of righteousness by faith

• God’s righteousness to Israel and to the gentiles

• God’s righteousness in everyday life

• The extension of God’s righteousness through Paul’s mission

• Final summary

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 6:18-24

Study session topics:

• Slideshow of the site of Ephesus

• Prayer for fellow believers

• Prayer for Paul in his circumstances

• Prayer for Paul’s opportunities to speak

• Ministry of Tychicus on behalf of Paul

• Peace, love, and faith in believers

• Christian grace and uncorrupted love

• Discussion

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Study session topics:

• Strong in the Lord

• Prepared for the real struggle

• Spiritual forces of conflict

• The full amor of God

• Areas of protection

• The spirit’s active tool

• Old Testament background

• Discussion

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 5:18, 22, 6:9

Study session topics:

• Filled and fullness: support for trinitarian understanding

• Being subject to one another

• Wives subject husbands as to the Lord

• Husbands loving wives

• Marriage as picture of Christ and the church

• Summary of Christian marriage

• Children and parents in the Christian household

• The larger household of mindsets

• Discussion

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 5:6-22

Study session topics:

• The importance of knowing truth and avoiding deception

• Leaving the former darkness for the light

• The light of what happened in baptism

• Living in the opportune time

• Understanding the Lord’s will

• Formatting Bible passages

• The dynamics of being filled by the Holy Spirit

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 4:28-5:6

Study session topics:

• The character of a believer in actions and speech 4:28-29

• Grieving the Holy Spirit 4:30

• Attitudes and demeanor 4:31-32

• Imitating God, loving in a sphere of loving 5:1-2

• What destroys life and truth 5:3-5

• The dangers of deceptions 5:6

• Discussion: character and parenting

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Study session scripture: Ephesians 4:8-27

Study session topics:

• Christ as victor providing supply to the church

• church ministers equipping the church for ministry

• Call to no longer live as the past person

• Renewing the mind as a new person

• Speaking truth

• Living with anger and restraining it

Study session audio:

Study session scripture: Ephesians 4:1-8

Study session topics:

• Ephesians 3:8-10

  • The purpose of the church

  • Making God’s wisdom known to rulers in the heavens

• Ephesians 4:1-2

  • Living with integrity of the faith in daily life

• Ephesians 4:4-6

  • A unified confession of commitment to the Spirit

  • One hope in the calling to the Lord

  • One common faith for all

  • One common unifying identifying ritual: baptism to the God and Father all believers present to all believers

• Ephesians 4:7

  • Empowering grace to all believers

• Ephesians 4:8

  • Old Testament prophetic reference to victory over pagans: Psalm 68

  • Old Testament prophetic reference to Christ’s victory over enemies: Psalm 68:18

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