0.4 Rooted Contents


Part One: The Gospel and Its Immediate Implications
  • The Gospel of John: Rooted in Jesus 
    • Structured around seven of Jesus’ miracles, John seeks to persuade the skeptical reader that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. The gospel climaxes in the confrontation between Jesus and Thomas, the doubter. Will you respond to Jesus in the same way?
    • Questions as you read: Who is Jesus? Why did He come? What did He accomplish? What response are we led to?
  • The Letter to the Romans: Rooted in the Gospel
    • The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to familiarize them with his gospel – the good news that all people could have peace with God through Jesus Christ. This letter describes the content of the Gospel in a way like no other book of the Bible. The final section of the book deals with how the Christian is to live in light of God’s mercy.
    • What is the gospel? What is mankind’s problem? How does Jesus justify us before God? Since we have peace with God, how are we to live? What does it mean to live by the Spirit? How can we be sure we can trust God’s promises – hasn’t he rejected Israel? How are we to live in view of God’s mercy? How do we deal with other Christians who have different convictions than we do?
  • The Letter to the Galatians: Rooted in Freedom
    • Soon after the non-Jewish Galatians came to faith they experienced pressure to conform to the religious and cultural practice of the Jews in order to become “good” Christians.  Paul wrote that this violates the gospel that Jesus alone saves all kinds of people.  Trying to earn salvation through outward works is called legalism and denies that Jesus saves.
    • Why is it important that we not impose human or cultural regulations on ourselves or other Christians? What does it mean to live free in Christ? How does love fulfill all of God’s law?
  • The First and Second Letter to the Thessalonians: Rooted in Discipleship
    • Paul had only spent a few months with the Thessalonians before he had to leave town, yet this letter shows that he had already taught them a lot about how to live and please God.  He wrote to encourage them to continue walking in the Lord.
    • Questions as you read: What sort of things did Paul teach new Christians about how to live and please God? 
  • The First Letter to the Corinthians: Rooted in Love, not Lust
    • The city of Corinth was driven by sexuality and materialism, much like modern-day North America.  Paul writes to teach them how to live by love in a lust-filled world.
    • What are some of the specific issues Paul address and how does he answer them?
  • Wisdom Literature (Job, Eccles., Proverbs and Song of Solomon): Rooted in Wisdom
    • The wisdom literature was written to teach young men wisdom regarding life, marriage and living in fear of the Lord.
    • What is the point of each book of wisdom literature?
  • The Letter of James: rooted in True Religion
    • James is written to teach the nature of true religion – a faith that practically serves others, not out of legalism, but out of love.
    • What is the relationship between faith and good works?
  • The First Letter of John: Rooted in Assurance
    • John writes this book so that those who believe in the name of the Son of God might know that they have eternal life – this is called assurance.
    • Is a believer to be sinless? What should a believer do when he or she sins? What are the tests that John offers for a believer to have assurance?

Part Two: Becoming Rooted in the Plan, the Mission and the Household of God
  • The Old Testament: Rooted in the Promise
    • This will be a longer study, so give yourself time. Use the book “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” (this material can be accessed online at http://www.goodseed.com/learning/bible-101).
  • The Gospel According to Luke: Rooted in the Mission of Jesus
    • Luke wrote his gospel that we could have certainty regarding the things that we have been taught.  It is part-one of his two-volume set, and focuses on Jesus fulfilling his mission as God’s mediator.
  • The Acts of the Apostles: Rooted in the Mission of the Church
    • Part two of Luke’s set focuses on Jesus’ ongoing mission through the church. In Acts we learn of God’s strategy to reach the world: evangelize strategic cities, establish believers in the faith and in local churches, and equip faithful leaders to oversee local mission, while sending out others to new locales. All this is done through the lead and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
  • Ephesians: Rooted in the Household of God
    • The revelation of the church as the centerpiece of God’s eternal plan of redemption to unite all things in Christ. All racial and ethnic boundaries are broken down as God is creating a new household, embodied in local churches. These local churches are patterned after and composed out Christ-centered families.
  • Colossians: Rooted in Devotion to Christ Alone
    • A sister letter to Ephesians, In Colossians we are encouraged to keep our focus on Christ as our basis for sanctification as he is our head. Instead of self-focused religion with its emphasis on cultivating or own righteousness through aestheticism, we are to develop godly habits while keeping our focus on Christ.
  • Philippians: Rooted in the Partnership
    • In this encouraging letter we are to find our joy in partnering with others in the mission of the church. Paul found great joy in his partnership with the Philippians and encouraged them to find the same joy in partnering with one another.
  • Philemon: Case Study of the Middle Letters
    • The short book of Philemon is a case study in applying the principles of the middle letters of Paul, in particular the themes of partnering in mission and the new relationships within the households of God.  Onesimus is the runaway slave of Philemon, a church leader and friend of Paul. It just so happens that Onesimus meets Paul and becomes a Christian and a great assistant to Paul in his ministry.  Paul is writing to Philemon to ask him to either receive Onesimus back as a brother or release him to Paul. What would you do?
  • Hebrews: Rooted in Perseverance
    • Hebrews declares the end of the Jewish legal system for those who believe in Christ, while exhorting believers to continue in their faith in Christ alone, who is greater than the shadow of their former religion.
  • Revelation: Rooted in the Future
    • A revelation of what was, what is, and what is to come in which the church through the ages is encouraged to endure tribulation until the return of Christ. Christ will return to defeat evil and set up his kingdom over which he will reign forever.


Part Three: Becoming Equipped to lead the Household

  • 2 Corinthians: Rooted in Ministry
    • Sadly, Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church had deteriorated to the point in which he needed to write this letter detailing the essence of Christian ministry and defending the validity of his own ministry.
  • 1 Timothy: Rooted in Leading the Household of God
    • Timothy was sent to Ephesus to train faithful men to lead the household of God. In this book we find qualifications for such leaders as well as guidance as to how to carry out the ministry.
  • Titus: Rooted in Seeking the Welfare of the City
    • Titus, while working to train leaders in Crete, is reminded to train the believers in good works so that the gospel might be held in greater esteem among the non-Christian populace.
  • 1 Peter: Rooted in Suffering
    • Peter writes to a persecuted group of believers encouraging them to suffer as Christians in such a way that would bring glory to Christ.
  • 2 Peter and Jude: Rooted in Holiness
    • In these related letters, Peter and Jude warn the church from being taken captive by false teachers that deny the holiness that we are called to in the Lord.
  • 2 & 3 John: Rooted in Security
    • In these letters, John all warns the church to look out for false teachers while supporting and assisting true teachers. 
  • 2 Timothy: Rooted in Lasting in Ministry 
    • In this encouraging book, a wise senior minister passes on his final words of wisdom to a younger minister of the gospel, that Timothy might continue to execute his charge faithfully all of his life.


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