The New Testament contains 13 of Paul’s letters. Eight of those letters Paul wrote to churches that he had started or had strongly influenced. He wrote five letters specifically to individuals—pastors and church leaders. Through the Grace Overflowing lessons, you will become familiar with the people receiving each letter, the challenges they were facing (similar to our own), and the “grace-overflowing” solutions God gave to them (and to us) through Paul.

God’s grace is His undeserved favor abundantly poured out on those who desperately need Him. It is God giving favor to someone, not because they are good enough to deserve it but because His love chooses to do so. God chooses to have His grace overflowing to every believer from the moment of salvation. You received this grace overflowing to your life the moment you trusted in Jesus Christ. And, God’s grace is overflowing to your life every day because you are in Christ.

The Apostle Paul called himself an example of God’s overflowing grace. He was a very well-educated and devout Jew and the author of more of the New Testament than anyone else. Jesus chose him to be an apostle to non-Jews everywhere in order to teach the message of God’s grace to them. And, Paul understood God’s grace overflowing to his life so well because he desperately needed it. In 1 Timothy 1: 12-17, Paul looked at his own history, which was filled with horrid behavior, filled with what many would consider unforgivable deeds. Yet, God’s chose to extend His grace to Paul and show him mercy—not just a little bit of grace but abundant grace, overflowing grace. Paul didn’t deserve anything but punishment and shame. God’s grace overcame that. He does the same for you.

In his letters, Paul presents Christ as everything we need for life. Our God wants us to learn to live dependently on His Son as we live out our daily lives. Paul teaches us how to do this through his letters. Each of Paul’s letters presents Christ as the answer to specific needs we have and how He meets those needs in our lives as we trust in Him to do it. For example, in Romans, Christ is our righteousness. In Galatians, Christ is our freedom from the law. In Colossians, Christ is Lord over everything. You will discover all of this in the Grace Overflowing Bible Study. You can experience God’s grace overflowing through Christ to your life every day.

Grace Overflowing Bible Study is a brief study of Paul’s 13 New Testament letters where you will learn what it means to live as a Christian, experiencing God’s grace overflowing to your life. These lessons do not cover each letter in detail, but you will learn a simple phrase describing how each letter presents Christ as the answer to specific needs we have and how He meets those needs in our lives as we trust in Him to do it. Hope, freedom, joy, and comfort in Christ are yours through living in His grace.

In his letters, Paul presents Christ as everything we need for life. Our God wants us to learn to live dependently on His Son as we live out our daily lives. Paul teaches us how to do this through his letters. Each of Paul’s letters presents Christ as the answer to specific needs we have and how He meets those needs in our lives as we trust in Him to do it. For example, in Romans, Christ is our righteousness. In Galatians, Christ is our freedom from the law. In Colossians, Christ is Lord over everything. You will discover all of this in the Grace Overflowing Bible Study. You can experience God’s grace overflowing through Christ to your life every day.

If you are new to reading the Bible, start with the life of Jesus from the book of Mark in the New Testament. Start at the beginning of Mark and read as much as you want to read each day. If you are a new Christian, we recommend that you start with the book, “A Fresh Start,” the ideal place for new-to-the-Bible Christians to begin learning about the spiritual riches and abundant life that God has prepared for us

If you are new to Bible Study, start with something designed especially for anyone who is new to the Bible. Look for basic lessons with simple questions with easy-to-understand terms and applications. My “Graceful Beginning Series” of Bible study books are designed especially for anyone who is new to the Bible.