Matt Christiansen Bible Study

Study session scripture: Romans 4:13-25 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on fait...

Study session scripture: Romans 4:1-12 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And t...

Study session scripture: Romans 3:27-31 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumci...

    Study session scripture: Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redem...

Study session scripture: Romans 3:9-20 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use thei...

Study session scripture: Romans 3:1-8 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, a...

Study session scripture: Romans 2:12-29 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselv...

Study session scripture: Romans 2:1-11 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you...

Study session scripture: Romans 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of...

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 impar...

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,...

    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 Study sessi...

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 Study session audio: S3 E15: Ephesians 6:18-24

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 Study session audio: S3 E14: Ephesians 6:10-17

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 Study session...

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 Study session audio: S3 E12 Ephesians 5:6-22

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 Study session audio: S3 E11: Ephesians 4:28-5:6

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: S3 E10: Ephesians 4:8-27

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 t...

Study session scripture: Ephesians 3:1-4:6 Study session topics: Paul as messenger of gentile inclusion The message announcing unity to heavenly powers The message announcing access to God Paul’s imprisonment in God’s purpose Paul’s prayer for Christ to dwell Christ dwelling in believers Paul’s doxology Walking worthily A ‘creed’ reciting unity? Study session audio: S3 E8: Ephesians 3:1-4:6

Study session scripture: Ephesians 2:14-3:7 Study session topics: chart on the two ages Jesus’ reconceptualization: Christ is the ‘peace’ for divisions and enmity the Jewish particular ordinances the reconciliation of the Cross Proclamation (evangelization) of peace for divisions through Christ Use of Isaiah 57:17-21 From stranger/alien to part of the dwelling of God (holy temple) Paul as messenge...

Study session scripture: Ephesians 2:1-16 Study session topics: ‘Dead’ in our actions of wrongdoing But God in mercy and love Made us spiritually alive in Christ Raised us to spiritual life in Christ Seated us in power spiritually in Christ Saved by grace through faith Reconciliation of ethnic divisions and identities in Christ Study session audio: S3 E6: Ephesians 2:1-16

Study session scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 Study session topics: Praying for fellow believers Praying for wisdom and revelation to know Christ Praying to know hope Praying to know the wealth of relationship with God Praying to know the anointed king’s power over death and other spiritual powers Knowing that Christ has ultimate power This powerful one is the head of the assembly of disciples who ar...

Study session scripture: Ephesians 1:3 - 14 (focus on 1:11-14) Study session topics: Understanding God’s work according to the counsel of His will Purposed to be to the praise of God’s glory Sealed by the spirit Reflecting on and understanding hope Study session audio: S3 E4: Ephesians 1:3 - 14 (focus on 1:11-14)

    Study session scripture: Ephesians 1:3 - 14 Study session topics: One sentence, by grammatical structure An expanded hymn/doctrinal chant/creed? A resource for doctrine: the ‘Trinity’ Four sentences (punctuated in Novum Testamentum Graece Nestle-Aland 28th) Eph. 1:3-6 God the Father acts in blessing Eph. 1:7-10 Christ redeems and reveals S3 E3: Ephesians 1:3 - 14