 | New Testament Bible Reading Challenge4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014
Week 38: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters
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Welcome to The Salvation Army's Challenge to read the New Testament from beginning to end within one year,
reading just 5 chapters per week.
We are now onto week 38 of our challenge to read through the New Testament together within one year…
...this week we enjoy a bit more eschatology!
Great Expectations: Expect
God to speak through the Scriptures, expect to learn new things about
Him, and about ourselves, and expect to read and absorb some familiar
stories and passages.
Top Tip!To get the most out of this challenge, start each daily reading with a short, simple, sincere prayer asking God to guide your thinking as you read. Then open the Bible and read slowly, with the aim of learning something new. After the reading, consider how it may affect your life and relationship with Jesus, and allow your increased knowledge of the Scriptures to shape your character and strengthen your trust in God.Take your time - enjoy this opportunity - and may God bless you as you embark upon this New Testament Bible Challenge.
Captain Phil Layton
Monday, November 18, 2013 --- 1 Thessalonians 4 --- Paul reminds the Thessalonians about the resurrection and rapture- v13, why do you think Paul refers to the dead as those who 'sleep'?
- v15, 'according to the Lord's own word' implies that Jesus had previously supplied this teaching. Have we any record of this? If not, is it legitimate to presume that Jesus may have provided teaching on the subject of our resurrection which is not necessarily recorded?
- v13-16, are we led to believe that the 'dead in Christ' have already been resurrected and are living in heaven? or is the resurrection a future event?
- v17, the Latin word here for being 'caught up' is 'raptus', which is where we get the word 'rapture' from when talking about our resurrection and being taken to heaven.
- v17, how do you interpret this passage?
- v13-18, what are the similarities between this passage and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52?
- v13-18, some people believe that this passage is teaching that there will be a future event when God will decide to resurrect those who have died trusting in Christ and take them to heaven, which will be accompanied by the rapture (catching up) of living believers into heaven too. Is there any other way of interpreting these verses?
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(please email me if you would like a detailed Bible Study on the subject of the Rapture)
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013 --- 1 Thessalonians 5 --- The timing of the Day of the Lord is unknown, we are to be ready- v2, what do you think the 'day of the Lord' refers to? Sunday? the rapture/resurrection? the 2nd coming of Christ? or the era of the last days prior to God's final judgment?
- v12, if Paul were writing this letter to you, to whom do you think he would be referring in this verse?
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 --- 2 Thessalonians 1 --- Paul gives thanks for the faith of his readers- v3, is your love for others actually 'increasing'?
Thursday, November 21, 2013 --- 2 Thessalonians 2 --- Paul talks about a future ‘lawless one’ who will oppose God- v1-12, does the 'man of lawlessness' (v3) and the 'lawless one' (v8) appear to be a literal person, or a more vague concept or symbol?
- v13, what is 'the truth' to which Paul is referring?
Friday, November 22, 2013 --- 2 Thessalonians 3 – Paul asks for prayer and warns against idleness- v6, this sounds like very strong teaching. Why do you think Paul wrote this?
- v13, 'never tire of doing what is good'!
- v15, what is Paul's advice with regard to those who do not follow his teaching, and why does he suggest it?
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