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Section Six: On Tour

The Epistles (Acts to Revelation)

My Story

Faith always seems so easy in the shelter of Sunday, but when I take it on the road with me; I seem to make so many mistakes...

When the Christian faith went on tour in the first century, it encountered virtually every problem people today face.

When I am encountering problems applying my faith, the epistles give me confidence that God has not given up on me, and advice on how to address the issue.

Access Tips

To understand the setting of an epistle, learn how to read between the lines. The epistles were letters between the apostles and churches or individuals. We have access to the answer portion of the correspondence.

Look for the issue being addressed. If it got ink, it was a problem or a source of encouragement.

Watch for descriptive language and the intensity of the argument. If it gets heated, either the point being made or the problem being addressed was a major issue.

Watch for connector words that link what you are reading with the thought that came earlier or will follow.

To help you see the author’s argument, look for repetition, contrast and comparison as a key to understanding the subject.

Once you understand the main historical issue and the flow of the writer’s thought pattern, combine both to summarize the issue and the advice.

Look for parallels in your life.
How are you like the first century Christians?
How are you different?

If the writer were writing to you, which parts of the passage would he emphasize?

What problems am I encountering now in applying my faith?
Through the epistles, how can I gain confidence that God has not given up on me?