AGENDA – GRACE MAY ABOUND

OPENING PRAYER - Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to read and study Your Word. Please guide our thoughts and open our hearts to understand the truths You want to reveal. In Jesus' name, Amen.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – Grace May Abound
POINT OF INTEREST - It is hard to overestimate the importance of Paul in the development of Christianity. Thirteen of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament bear his name, and over half of the book of Acts is devoted to his story. Paul's letters to various churches and stories about him comprise about a third of the New Testament.
TRAIL CROSSING - Many of the hardships Paul experiences because he is a follower of Jesus are described in Acts (see 16:22-40 and 27:9-44). Forty was the maximum number of lashes Jewish law allowed leaders to give as punishment (Deuteronomy 25:3). In strict observance of the law, they would stop at forty minus one, so as not to accidentally go over and violate God's command.
SCENIC VIEW - Paul's letters are the earliest surviving writings about Jesus. The earliest Gospel (Mark) was written around 70 CE Paul's letters were written as early as two decades earlier, in the early 50s through the early 60s CE.
POINT OF INTEREST - Paul and many of the first believers in Christ thought that Jesus would return in their lifetimes. Notice how Paul includes himself with those "who are still alive" when Christ returns.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – ON FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – ON SPIRITUAL GIFTS
YOU ARE HERE - Paul was deeply distressed that Christians were putting their allegiance to the person who baptized them above their allegiance to Christ. Divisions between followers of Jesus grieved Paul, just as they grieve the heart of God. What divisions do you see between believers today? What might Paul say about them?
POINT OF INTEREST - The earliest practice of the Lord's Supper (also called Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist) was in the context of an actual meal. The ritual act of sharing the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus was followed by a community meal, where food was shared among everyone. Paul seems concerned that poorer members were arriving late to the meal and finding the food already gone. He is instructing the community both to take care in how they observe the ritual act of consuming the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus, and how they treat one another in the sharing of a common meal. The act of communion and the act of common eating are linked.
YOU ARE HERE - Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female: These are the most basic and important aspects of social identity in Paul's time. By declaring that these fundamental divisions no longer exist, Paul is making a radical statement about the inclusive nature of following Jesus and the way that being baptized in Christ completely reshapes our identity. What aspects of social identity divide us today? How might we strive to eliminate those divisions?
SCENIC VIEW - Scholars widely agree that seven of the New Testament letters were, in fact, written by Paul himself: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Scholars disagree about the other letters attributed to Paul: Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus. Students or followers may have written those letters in Paul's name, in order to carry on his legacy after his death.
Scripture Citations 
ACTS 16:16-34 
2 CORINTHIANS 11:22-29 
PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-11 
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-5:10 
1 CORINTHIANS 8:1-13 | 13:1-13 | 1:10-17 | 11:17-34 
ROMANS 1:16-17 | 3:21-26 | 6:1-11 | 8:1-2, 31-39 
GALATIANS 3:23-29
QUESTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY 
1.	Paul and Silas find themselves in jail, and they use that experience as an opportunity to sing hymns of praise to God and to share the good news of Jesus with their jailer. Would you have done the same in their situation? Why or why not? 
2.	This is only a small sample of Paul's writing. What important teachings are missing? 
3.	Paul often speaks of his gospel (literally, "good news"). Which passage was especially good news to you? Why? Which text(s) do not represent good news to you? Why? 
4.	Paul has great confidence in his understanding of God's activity in his life and in the world around him. Is this inspiring or challenging for you? Why? 
5.	Paul's letters are very situational; they are written to specific people in specific communities to address specific concerns. Why might this be important for us to remember as we now read them as scripture? 
6.	Much has been made about the differences between the teaching of Jesus and of Paul. How are they similar? How are they different?
The story of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16) illustrates a shift from personal suffering to spiritual purpose, where their authentic worship and refusal to escape saved the jailer's life and led to his conversion.
1. Personal Reflection on the Prison Experience
Choosing to praise God in a dire situation is often seen as a discipline of "shackled proclamation". While the natural human instinct is to escape pain, Paul and Silas viewed their suffering as a witness, staying put even when an earthquake loosened their chains to prevent the jailer's certain execution under Roman law. Whether one would do the same often depends on if they value the spread of the gospel over their own immediate physical freedom.
2. Missing Teachings in Small Samples
A small sample of Paul's work often misses his deeper systematic theology found in the Epistles, such as:
•	Justification by Faith: The core idea that salvation is a gift from God, not earned through legalism or works.
•	The Nature of the Church: Descriptions of the church as the "Body of Christ" and instructions on its unity.
•	Pneumatology: Detailed teachings on the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
•	Eschatology: His specific views on the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead.
3. Paul’s "Gospel": Subjective Good News
•	Good News: Passages like 
Romans 8:38-39
 (nothing can separate us from God's love) or 
Galatians 3:28
 (equality in Christ) are often cited as especially liberating.
•	Challenging News: Some find his "not-necessarily-religious" norms—such as those regarding women's roles in church or the preference for celibacy—difficult to reconcile with modern values.
4. Paul’s Confidence: Inspiring vs. Challenging
Paul’s absolute certainty in God’s activity can be inspiring because it offers a model of unshakeable faith and joy amidst lashings and shipwrecks. However, it can be challenging for those who struggle with doubt or perceive his tone as sometimes lacking humility.
5. Importance of Situational Context
Remembering that Paul's letters were "occasional"—written to address specific crises like factionalism in Corinth or legalism in Galatia—is vital for modern readers. This context prevents misapplying local, temporary instructions as universal, timeless mandates.
6. Similarities and Differences: Jesus vs. Paul
Feature	Jesus	Paul	
Core Message	The coming of the Kingdom of God.	Justification through faith in Jesus' death and resurrection.	
Primary Audience	Mainly the Jewish people.	Primarily the Gentile (non-Jewish) world.	
Similarity	Both were rooted in Judaism and saw love as the fulfillment of the law.	Both expected a climactic, apocalyptic end to the current age.	
Difference	Taught through parables and direct commands to follow him.	Developed complex theology and instructions for church living.	
NEXT STEPS 
•	Some of the writings attributed to Paul, particularly those about marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33) and the role of women (1 Corinthians 14:33-35 and 1 Timothy 2:9-15) have caused conflict in the church. How do you wrestle with these texts? 
•	As Paul travels around, he tells and re-tells the story of his conversion, his encounter of Jesus. It is his personal story of meeting and coming to follow Jesus that is central to the spread of the early Church. Take some time to reflect this week on the story of how you met and came to follow Jesus. Consider writing out your story briefly. Pray about how you might share that story with others.
Wrestling with these texts requires looking at them through both a historical lens and a spiritual one. Many people find peace by looking at the cultural setting of the first century, while others look for the overarching principles of love and equality that Paul mentions elsewhere.
Wrestling with the Difficult Texts
•	Historical Context: In the ancient world, social order was strictly hierarchical. Some scholars suggest Paul was providing "household codes" that were actually more progressive than the Roman standards of the time, for example, by commanding husbands to love their wives as their own bodies, which was a radical shift from viewing wives as property.
•	Translation and Custom: In passages like 1 Corinthians 14, many look at the specific Greek words used. Some believe Paul was addressing a specific disruption in that specific church rather than banning women from speaking globally. Others point to Romans 16, where Paul praises women like Phoebe (a deacon) and Junia (an apostle), suggesting his actual practice was highly inclusive.
•	The "Greater Law": Many modern readers prioritize Paul’s statement in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This is often used as the "key" to unlock and interpret more restrictive verses.
Reflecting on Your Story (The "Personal Gospel")
Paul’s conversion wasn’t just a historical event; it was his testimony. He used his past as a Pharisee who persecuted the church to show that no one is beyond God’s reach.
When you reflect on your own journey, you might find it helpful to follow a simple three-part structure:
1.	The "Before": What was your life or mindset like before you felt a call toward faith?
2.	The "Encounter": Was there a specific moment, a conversation, or a slow realization that Jesus was real to you?
3.	The "After": How has your perspective on life, suffering, or other people changed since that turning point?
CLOSING PRAYER - Lord, thank you for this time of study and for Your Word. As we leave, please help us to carry the truths we've learned into our daily lives and to live out Your teachings. May we continue to grow in faith and reflect Your love to others. Amen.