In the WordSample

Week 41, Day 1 Read Romans 1-3 Pauline Epistles - Romans When you flip through your mail, what do you keep your eyes peeled for? Bills? Flyers? Circulars? Advertisements? No, you get those all the time. You’re looking for letters from loved ones—a rare jewel in your mailbox, especially in today’s age of texting, email, and Facebook. When you get a letter, it means someone actually took the time to sit down and compose a handwritten note.. just for you. And when you come across that colored envelope or handwritten address, you get excited. You pull that letter out and read it before you even finish sorting through the rest of your mail. Why? It’s personal...special...rare. Rather than using an electronic device for a quick connection, someone bought a stamp and invested time in you! Personal letters were probably very meaningful and special in Paul’s day, too. Imagine how the believers in Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and other cities felt when they received a letter from Paul. “He’s a busy man, traveling and sharing the Good News all over the world...and he sat down with a scribe to write to us?” Taking it one step further, God — King over the entire universe, Creator of Heaven and Earth—took the time to write these letters through Paul. And not just for the early Church. God sent you Paul’s letters through the Bible—the 13 Pauline Epistles. In these letters, God uses Paul to present doctrinal truths and practical applications for resolving specific issues and problems impacting these early believers... issues still relevant for believers today. How appropriate that God would use such an encouraging form of communication to inspire, teach, and guide you in your faith. Scripture Coverage: Romans–Philemon Scripture Reading: Romans–Philemon Book Genre: Epistles Main Theme: Paul’s letters to encourage and instruct in the Christian faith Main Events: See the general description of each book Main Characters: Paul, as the only author Note: Unlike previous weeks, the remaining weeks will focus on reading the text rather than answering questions about the text. This is because the content is so rich and deep! Plus, as a believer under the New Covenant, reading the Epistles will be especially important for your spiritual development because they provide direct instruction for proper Christian living. Before you read each Epistle, ask God to speak to you through His Word. As you read, consider how each book lines up with the summary provided. Romans The book of Romans provides a complete explanation of the Gospel and corrects the attitudes between Jews and Gentiles.