These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Read: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”

1. How do people generally view authority?

2. What are common sources of authority in the modern world?

3. What is Paul’s source of authority (see Acts 9)?

4. Why does Paul remind the original audience of his authority at the beginning of his letter?

5. Why do we need to remember Paul’s authority as we study this letter?

Read: “according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus”

6. How do people generally view death?

7. What are common ways people look for life in the modern world?

8. Where does life come from according to Paul?

9. If salvation were based on works rather than grace (see 2 Timothy 1:9), how would Paul have worded this phrase?

10. How does Paul’s wording show that we’re saved by grace rather than our own works?

Read: “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

11. Are most people in our modern world encouraged or discouraged?

12. Where do people try to find encouragement? Does it work?

13. Timothy was a young pastor who needed encouragement (see Acts 16:1, Romans 12:19, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Philippians 4:1, 1 Timothy 1:2, 6:20, Philemon 1, Hebrews 13:23). Paul summarizes the encouragement of his letter with three key words/concepts:

i. What is grace and why do we need it?

ii. What is mercy and why do we need it?

iii. What is peace and why do we need it?

14. How might these words encourage you today?