Paul's letters

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A letter from Paul to the Christian church in Rome to introduce himself to the believers there and to present the good news of what Jesus Christ did so that people might have eternal life.

The power of the gospel

God’s anger at sin

God’s judgement of sin

All people are sinners

Jesus Christ took our punishment for us

Faith brings joy

Sin’s power is broken

The struggle within

God’s Holy Spirit frees us from sin and offers future glory

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

How to live the Christian life

Weak and strong believers

Live to please others; fellowship with other believers

Paul’s final instructions

Corinth was very much like any major city today; it received thousands of visitors from points all around the world. 

This is a letter from Paul to the church in Corinth that he got started; offering guidelines on how to live as a Christian in a pagan and corrupt society. 

Paul also helps the congregation deal with several church problems.

Paul appeals for unity in the church

Human wisdom vs. God’s wisdom

Paul condemns division in the church

Serving God effectively

Paul condemns immorality in the church

Paul’s warning against suing other believers

The importance of purity

Instructions on marriage for Christians

Don’t be a stumbling block to other believers 

Developing sensitivity towards others

Instructions about worship and the Lord’s Supper

Instructions about spiritual gifts

The characteristics of love

Making worship beneficial to the whole church

Jesus rose from the dead and so will all Christians

What our resurrected bodies will be like

A letter from Paul to the church in Corinth warning the people about false teaching that was affecting the believers’ faith and conduct. 

Paul also defends his own credentials as a minister in the face of attacks against him.

Paul’s reaction to adversity

Paul defends his ministry

Check your motives

Patience in enduring hardship; our relationship to unbelievers

The benefits of generous giving

Paul’s authority is discredited

Paul and the false teachers

Paul’s vision and his thorn in the flesh

Paul’s concern for the Corinthians 

Paul’s final advice

Paul’s letter to several churches in the province of Galatia, refuting the teaching that certain requirements must be met before a person can be saved. 

False teachers were called Judaizers – who taught that there had to be more to becoming  a Christian than simply believing in Jesus and accepting Him as your personal savior.

Paul summarizes the problem; people are moving away from the true gospel

Salvation is by faith alone

What the law can and cannot do for us

The freedom the gospel brings

What a changed life should look like

Ephesus was a center for pagan worship, where temples to a variety of gods stood as a testimony to rugged individualism. 

Ephesians is a letter from Paul to the believers in Ephesus explaining the purpose and nature of the church.

How wonderful our salvation really is

The unity and peace that come from being a Christian

We are one body in Christ

Living as a new person

Spiritual Warfare

Paul helped start the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey. (Acts 16:11-40)

Almost ten years later, when Paul was a prisoner in Rome for preaching the gospel, the church in Philippi remembered him and sent one of their members, Epaphroditus, to visit him and bring a gift (4:18). 

Paul wrote this letter to thank the believers for helping him in his time of need, and to tell them why he could be so full of joy despite his imprisonment and coming trial. 

Paul’s joyful attitude is even more remarkable when you consider that he was unjustly thrown into a prison in Philippi too. (Acts 16:22-24). 

Paul’s encouragement to the Philippian believers

Paul’s joy in the mist of suffering

Be humble like Christ

Modeling the Christian life

Everything pales compared to knowing Christ

Forgetting the past and pursuing the goal of knowing Christ

The key message of Colossians is that Christ and Christ alone is the head of the church.

He is first in everything (1:18). As Christians and members of the church, Christ is our head: our spiritual source of life; our guide, counselor, even our spiritual identity.

Christ is not a creed or doctrine but the actual Person of God, 

He was before all things. (1:18) creator of the universe (1:15-16), and over all principalities and powers.

The person and work of Christ

The new life Christ gives

Freedom from legalism

Principles of Christian living

Principles for relationships 

There was an appointed time for Jesus to come. He came at the right time and place. But Jesus did not make a grand entrance as one would think of the creator of the universe, the Messiah, the Lord of lords, King of kings…with everyone greeting Him with full honors…but He chose to come as a baby in a manger.

There is another appointed time… 

Messiah, Christ Jesus is coming back… this time, Jesus will not come quietly. He will come from heaven with a mighty shout, accompanied

by the voice of the archangel and trumpet of God (4:16) 

How the believers effectively modeled their faith

How the believers reacted to suffering

Living to please God

How Jesus will return and what will happen

Paul’s final instructions for practical living

A second letter to the church at Thessalonica to clear up some confusion about the second coming of Christ.

Paul’s previous letter to these believers had discussed Christ’s second coming. But some had misunderstood Paul thinking he was promising that Christ return would beany day… so they quit their jobs and withdrew from helping in the church…instead they sat around and waited for that glorious trumpet blasting signaling the return of Jesus.

Paul told them that was the wrong attitude. They should be doing all they could to spread the gospel, reach out to those in need, and build up the church. 

Encouragement for those who face suffering and persecution

What must happen before Christ returns

Standing firm against the attacks of evil

How to live while waiting for Christ’s return

The aging apostle Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy, instructing him on how to be an effective leader in the church. 

Paul was in prison at Rome, when he wrote this letter to Timothy to share his insights on Christian leadership.

Paul warns about false teachers

Cling tightly to your faith

Instructions about church worship

Standards for church leaders

Paul’s further warning about false teachers

Caring for different groups in the church

Avoid worthless arguments and longing to be rich

Encouragement to be faithful

A letter from Paul to Timothy who was a leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul knew that he was at the end of his life, so he wrote to encourage Timothy to continue to be a godly leader.

Paul also had some final instructions for Timothy on many practical

topics of church leadership and doctrine. 

Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful

How to handle suffering

Living out the Christian life

The last days will be very difficult for Christians

Paul’s charge to Timothy

Paul writes to Titus, his dear friend, to tell him the qualifications of a godly and effective church leader; because Titus a young pastor himself, is in the process of choosing leaders for the new churches on the island of Crete.

Paul makes it clear that leaders must be obedient to God’s Word, full of grace and good deeds, trustworthy, holy, discreet, loving, patient, disciplined, etc. 

Qualifications for church leaders

Warning against false teachers

Right living in the church

Right living in society

Philemon was a wealthy member of the church in Colosse, he had a slave named Onesimus who had foolishly stolen from him and ran away to Rome where he met Paul. 

Paul led him to Christ and sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter, asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to accept him as a Christian brother.

Paul asks Philemon to forgive his runaway slave.