This Sunday, we are having a “onesie” Bible study for adult Sunday School. Since we are having no Sunday School on Christmas day, and we are starting a new study on January 1st, a one-study lesson seemed the way to go. In this lesson, we look at a few Bible passages many of our Protestant friends (and sadly, even many “Lutherans”) ignore, never knew about, or try to explain away. Enjoy!
1 Corinthians 11:2: Paul writing to the church in Corinth, “I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15: Paul writing to the church in Thessalonica, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by our spoken word or by our letter.”
– What do these passages say about what we are to believe, teach, and confess?
– What does “sola Scriptura” force us to do?
1 Timothy 3:14-15: The Apostle Paul writing to Pastor Timothy, “I hope to come to you soon. But I’m writing this to you in case I am delayed, so you may know how one should conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
– How does this verse do with “personal interpretation” and today’s “me and Jesus” attitude?
– What does “sola Scriptura” force us to do here?
1 Peter 3:21: Peter writing to the churches in Asia minor, “Corresponding to that [Noah and his family being saved in the waters of the flood], baptism now saves you–not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is an appeal to God for a clean conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
– What does God do through baptism?
John 3:3: Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, “” I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 6:53: Jesus speaking to His disciples, “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves.”
– Discuss the implications of “unless” in these two verses.
– How necessary is being “born again” and “eat[ing] the flesh of the Son of Man and drink[ing] His blood”?
Colossians 1:24: Paul writing to the church in Colossae, “Now I am rejoicing while suffering for you as I complete in my flesh whatever remains of Christ’s sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church.”
Romans 8:16-17: Paul writing to the church of Rome, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ–if, indeed, we share in his sufferings, so we may also share in his glory.
– What purpose does suffering have in the Christian?
– What is the relationship between being an heir and suffering?
– What do these verses have to say with the emphasis today on “victorious living”?
Romans 12:4-5: Paul writing to the church of Rome, “Now we [those in the church] have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function. In the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members one of another.”
– What unifies us in Christ’s Church?
– What then is the role of doctrine?
– If we are one body in Christ, what tangibly unites when we gather to worship? How should this reality affect our practice?
