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CHAPTER 7
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
IN BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
•••

7.5  Context and Focus Selections


"Pray without ceasing." 

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 



Using these study arrangements, you can lead a Four Step Bible Study to study an entire book of the Bible, from beginning to end. It provides the Context Scripture and Focus Scripture for each meeting. It is designed to provide a large enough Context Scripture to enhance understanding of the Focus Scripture. The Focus Scripture will be short enough to be digested during one meeting.  So, context and focus passages for these books have already been arranged for you. 



For Study Arrangements Click a Book:


Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians 

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Romans


Hint: Understanding is enhanced every time you pray through a book. A book really becomes useful after having been prayerfully read or heard, from beginning to end,  thirty to forty times.


May God richly bless your time in these books as you prayerfully consider His words!



Emphasis on Post-Pentecost Books

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come with power to live within the disciples after his death and resurrection. This prophesy was fulfilled at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. 


The arrangements I provide now and in the future will come primarily from the post-Pentecost books, rather than the four Gospels or the Old Testament books. The Post-Pentecost books are Acts through Revelation. These books were written to those who were in the same age as you and I, the age when believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit... the age when believers are NOT UNDER LAW. We are essentially different creatures, a different species from the Old Testament saints. We serve under the new covenant, not the old covenant ( 2 Corinthians 3:4-8, Appendix A3b)


Genesis and probably Job were written to pre-law mankind. Most of Exodus and all other books of the Old Testament were written to those who were UNDER LAW.  Subchaper A3, in the appendix, explains this transition from Law to Spirit, in detail, from the transitional texts in Romans and 2 Corinthians. 


The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are transitional books, addressing those under law, under the old covenant... while pointing to the new covenant of the Spirit. In the gospels, Jesus speaks to those under law, to believers and unbelievers, often using parables. So sometimes it is difficult to tell how His words apply to you. 


On the other hand, the post-Pentecost books, Acts through Revelation, were written to believers who have been released from the law, believers in the current age, the age of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 


The post-Pentecost books are relatively short, containing only about 150 pages. In only 150 pages, the doctrines particularly appropriate for our age are presented. Messages that were omitted or obscure in the earlier books are completed and clarified in just 150 pages. 


For example, the post-Pentecost books Romans, 2 Corinthians and Galatians provide clear commentaries on the book of Deuteronomy. The word Deuteronomy means second law. It is a repetition of the of the law given to Israel at Sinai through Moses on the stone tablets. Without an understanding of Romans, 2 Corinthians and Galatians, one could mistakenly conclude that the law presented in Deuteronomy was intended to speak to you. But it does not speak to you. See below:


  • "whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law... you are not under law" (Romans 3:19, 6:14).

In Romans 7:6, Paul says that we have been "discharged from the law". Then in Romans 7:7 he uses the tenth commandment, do not covet, as an example of a law we have been discharged from. So, he makes it clear that he is not merely saying that we have been discharged from Old Testament ceremonial law. 


  • But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet"' (Romans 7:6-7).


Again, please see the appendix, A3 for a thorough explanation of this passage. 


In conclusion... the 150 post-Pentecost pages provide the lens, through which post-Pentecost believers should understand the previous 1000, God breathed, inerrant pages (Genesis - John). Once one thoroughly knows the post-Pentecost books, the other books can be better understood.  


Study arrangements will primarily come from Acts - Revelation.

Jesus said, 

"For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak... 

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak" 

John 12:49, 16:13

Have a question or want to share how this book has impacted your life?