“Thorns” / Hebrews 6:1-8 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews gives a severe warning regarding those who have seen all of the evidences for God within Christian fellowship, yet who reject Him. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. Explain what context is and why it’s essential to faithful Bible study.

2. What Old Testament example does the author of Hebrews continually refer to in his letter? Why does he use this example?

3. Why was the rebellion of the Exodus-era Israelites so especially offensive to God? What was God’s response to their evil, unbelieving hearts?

4. The Bible frequently uses the imagery of bearing fruit. In what sense is this imagery used, and what importance does the Bible place on bearing fruit? (See Matt. 3:10; 12:33; Jn. 15:1-8)

5. Verse 8 speaks of those who have been “rained on” bearing thorns and thistles. What does this mean? What is their end?

6. What are practical signs in professing believers’ lives of either fruit or thorns?

"Truth Matters" / 1 Timothy 1:1-11 /Jim Rosenquist

1. How did Paul become an Apostle? What is it? See v1.

2. Who is Timothy? See v1.

3. In verses 3-7, what does Paul charge Timothy to do?

4. What hints do we see of the false teacher’s message? What is so dangerous about their teaching? How confident are they? Why might it be an attractive message?

5. What are some contemporary examples of these teachers or their message in our culture? Why is it so important to be on the look out for these guys?

6. How do we recognize error? See verse 11. Why is any church, including ours, only one generation away from apostasy? What can we do about it?

"Theology of Work" / 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Why would a genuine Christian need to be exhorted to practice a good work ethic?

2. Was work a consequence of the fall? Cross reference Genesis 2.

3. In verse 6, what authority or forcefulness does Paul use to reinforce a Christian work ethic?

4. See verses 7-10. What example did Paul display for Christians working?

5. In verses 11-12, why might those “not busy” become “busybodies?” What action does Paul direct Christians to have toward the idle Christian? With what force? To what effect? For what reason?

6. Refer to verse 13. What attitude does Paul direct hard working Christians to have? What’s at stake?

"Breakthrough" / 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 / Jim Rosenquist

1. Refer to verses 1-2. Paul has been praying for the Thessalonians, now he asks for prayer from them. Why? Where is he when he asks? What are the specific challenges? Cross reference Acts 18:4-11.

2. Paul often asks the church to pray for him. Why? See Romans 15:30-32, Ephesians 6:19-23, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Philippians 1:19 and 2 Corinthians 1:9-11.

3. According to this passage (and others) why is there no such thing as the Lone Ranger Christian? What do we need from other believers? How do we obtain it?

4. In verse 3, what are some things the Bible specifically says God is faithful in?

5. In verse 5, what does Paul mean, “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love?” What does that look like?

6. What happens when the enemy breaks through the defenses in your life? In the church? What can we do to avoid it? What can we do to break through his defenses?

“Taste” / Hebrews 5:11-14 / Hanson Rosenquist

With this passage the author of Hebrews makes a digression from teaching about the high priesthood of Christ Jesus to rebuke the readers for their spiritual laziness and immaturity. Keep this context in mind as you discuss the questions.

1. The author of Hebrews says, “About this we have much to say, and it’s hard to explain because you have become dull [or sluggish] of hearing.” What is the author wishing to explain further?

2. What descriptive words is the author using to describe his readers?

3. Is this a rebuke for new Christians? Why or why not? Who is the author rebuking?

4. How do modern professing believers show dullness of hearing and spiritual immaturity?

5. What’s the “solid food” of God’s Word?

6. How do modern professing believers pursue “constant practice?”

7. In what ways can you be “trained by constant practice?”

"Seeing Is Believing" / John 20:1-9 / Jim Rosenquist ##Notice - Sermon is cut short at 15:22

1. See verses 1-2. If Jesus could pass through walls (v5) and closed doors (v19), then why was the stone rolled away from the grave entrance?

2. Jesus told the disciples that he would rise from the dead on the third day (Matthew 17:22), yet no one expected Jesus to be resurrected. What did Mary Magdalene conclude? Why was everyone initially doubtful about the resurrection?

3. Refer to verses 3-8. What did John initially see in the tomb from the outside? Once inside what additional observations did he make? What else did he see? What convinced John, without seeing Jesus alive, that his resurrection had occurred?

4. Based on this evidence, why is the possibility of a body snatching eliminated? Of tomb robbers? Of a wrong tomb location? Of Jesus recovering from the crucifixion and walking out?

5. We can’t see the empty grave or the risen Christ. What evidences for the resurrection do we see?

"Getting the Last Word" / Luke 19:36-39, John 19:17-30 /Jim Rosenquist

1. Why do we like to get the last word in an argument?

2. See Luke 19:36-39. Why are the people celebrating Jesus’ arrival? Why do the pharisees object? What did they demand of Jesus? How does Jesus reply? Why?

3. Refer to John 19:16-22. Why was Jesus executed? There were two trials, two charges and two verdicts; what were they? Why do the gospels tell us so little about crucifixion? How was Jesus’ crucifixion unique?

4. Refer to John 19: 28-30. At the conclusion of the crucifixion Jesus utters his last words; what were they? What does it mean? How are we tempted to add something to Jesus’ last words with our own? Why is it so hard to let God have the last word?

"The Time Machine" / 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 / Jim Rosenquist

1. See verse 13. Why does Paul give thanks to God? What does Paul mean that God “chose” them? For what reason were they chosen? What is sanctification? How does it happen?

2. In Verse 14, what does Paul mean that they are called to obtain glory?

3. What traditions is Paul thinking about that they need to “hold on” to? See verse 15. What traditions might we think of that Paul is not referring to?

4. In verse 16, what is God’s motivation to save us? Also, refer to John 3:16.

5. In what way does Paul look back in time? How far? In what what way does Paul look forward in time? How far? What is happening in the present time?

"First Things First" / 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 / Jim Rosenquist

1. What two evidences does Paul give why Christ’s second coming hasn’t happened yet? Why is this significant to us?

2. While not being the anti-Christ of the end time, many individuals have been precursors. Name some of them. What do these individuals add to our understanding of, ‘the man of lawlessness?’ What does our text say about his actions? What does it mean? What do the Thessalonians know that we don’t?

3. Paul says that something is now (and then) restraining him. What is being restrained? What happens when the restraint is removed? How will Jesus deal with the man of lawlessness? When? Will it be difficult?

4. How is the man of lawlessness a parody of Jesus? What do they have in common? With what differences?

5. How do we know who is ultimately in charge?

"Maybe Not What You're Expecting" / 2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 2:4 / Jim Rosenquist

1. In verses 1-4, what similarities do you notice in Paul’s introduction and greeting in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians?

2. What additional information and description does Paul give us of Christ’s return?

3. What happens to people who reject Jesus Christ? How is this prospect terrifying? How is it just? How can a God of love do this? How does this bring or display glory to God?

4. In verses 11-12, how does God make us, “worthy of his calling”? Why? Compare verses 5 and 11.

5. What two things does Paul say precede Christ’s second coming? See verses 2:1-4. Why would it be difficult to discern this?