Reading Epistles as Occasional Theology - Teacher (Standard) (print)

Teens (ages 13-17) · 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Philemon 1-25 · Standard ·35 minutes

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Objective: Analyse 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Philemon 1-25 and explain the case that epistles address real situations and require reconstruction of context before generalisation.

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Philemon 1-25

Opening: Ask: What do you notice first in this passage before we explain what it means?

Say:

1 Corinthians addresses a particular church and names concrete divisions among its members.
Philemon addresses named people concerning Onesimus and a specific relational situation.
Epistles communicate authoritative apostolic teaching through communication to real historical recipients.
Epistles address real situations and require reconstruction of context before generalisation.

Ask:

What happens or is said in the passage?
What does this show about Jesus, God, people, or the biblical story?
Which statement is directly in the text?
What is one careful response for us?

Do: Complete the Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet activity.

Close: Pray using one truth from the passage and one faithful response.

Materials: Bible; Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet

Standard outline · 35 minutes

4 minConnect. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
4 minContext. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
9 minRead and observe. Read and observe the principal passage. Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?
7 minDiscuss. Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation. Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? What should we avoid claiming from this passage?
7 minActivity. Complete Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet. Activity: Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet. Printable: T1-L22-P01-epistle-context-reconstruction.
4 minRespond. Name one faithful response and pray. Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Activity details

Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet · 8 min

Materials: Epistle Context Reconstruction Worksheet; Pens or pencils

Work through the resource using the passage.
Mark observations separately from conclusions.
Discuss one careful application.

Low-resource option: Use blank paper and create the same categories by hand.

Closing

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Prayer: Thank God for the truth in this passage and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: Epistles address real situations and require reconstruction of context before generalisation.