Lesson 9: His Temptations
Click/tap to download the handout With this lesson we consider the forty-day period immediately following the baptism of Jesus in which he experienced intense temptation. The event is recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. THE DETAILS The Setting Following his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1). This is probably the Judean wilderness not far from the Jordan River where he had been baptized. Mark 1:12 says the Spirit “drove” him there.…
Lesson 8: His Baptism
Click/tap to download the handout With this lesson we consider the momentous event that launched the three-year public ministry of Jesus – his baptism. Some events of Jesus’ life are recorded by only one gospel writer. But this one (and a few others) is recorded by all four – adding, no doubt, to its significance. From this event arise several significant questions. Let’s consider some of them. THE DETAILS The details of Jesus’ baptism are recorded in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark…
Lesson 7: His Forerunner
Click/tap to download the handout Paul wrote that Jesus appeared on the scene of history “in the fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4), that is, when the time was right. The life and work of Jesus happened on God’s perfect schedule (Acts 2:23). It was customary in those days for the arrival of kings and dignitaries to be announced by a herald, or crier. John the Baptist would be that voice for the arrival of Jesus as he officially began his…
Lesson 6: His Childhood
Click/tap to download the handout Between the birth narratives and the beginning of his public ministry at age 30 (Luke 3:23), only one event in the life of Jesus is recorded (Luke 2:41-52). But from that event come some important lessons. The application points come from a sermon I heard many years ago by Dan Winkler. THE STORY Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover celebration (Luke 2:41; Deut. 16:1-6). Luke records one such trip, when…
Lesson 5: His Birth
Click/tap to download the handout The one part of the life of Jesus that most people have some familiarity with is his birth (though some things traditionally believed are not found in scripture). What sometimes is lost in the remembrance of the facts are the lessons we can learn from the facts. The birth narratives in Matthew and Luke contain more than information. They brim with application. THE STORY The announcement to Mary (Luke 1:26-56). Gabriel visits Mary, a virgin…
Lesson 4: Lesson 4: In the Beginning…
Click/tap to download the handout The proper place to begin a study of the life of Jesus is BEFORE his birth. Without a proper understanding of the deity of Christ, we will not fully understand his humanity. One of the most powerful and thorough pieces of literature on the deity of our Lord is the prologue of John’s gospel account (1:1-18). The main points of the following outline are from Merrill Tenney, John: The Gospel of Belief, pp. 63-74. THE…
Lesson 3: Introducing the Gospels of Luke and John
Click/tap to download the handout The word “gospel” means “good news.” When we use that word to refer to the good news of salvation delivered by Jesus and his apostles, it is singular. There is one gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Phil. 1:27). But “gospel” may also refer to a literary genre: a selective record of historical events in the life of Jesus designed to create and build faith (cf. John 20:30-31; Luke 1:3-4). In this sense, there are…
Lesson 2: Introducing the Gospels of Matthew and Mark
Click/tap to download the handout The word “gospel” means “good news.” When we use that word to refer to the good news of salvation delivered by Jesus and his apostles, it is singular. There is one gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Phil. 1:27). But “gospel” may also refer to a literary genre: a selective record of historical events in the life of Jesus designed to create and build faith (cf. John 20:30-31; Luke 1:3-4). In this sense, there are…
Lesson 1: The Historical Setting of the New Testament
Click/tap to download the handout Jesus did not spend 33 years living in a vacuum. He lived in the real world of the first century Roman Empire. He entered a world of politics, economics, and religion. Without an understanding of that historical context, our study of the Bible will always leave us scratching our heads. THE SECULAR SETTING Between the time of the Babylonian conquest to the birth of Jesus, the Jewish people had been under the rule of others…
Christmas Q & A
The Christmas season is upon us once again. Houses glow with decorative lights. Gifts are being bought, wrapped, and placed under twinkling trees. Stockings hang expectantly from fireplace mantles. Cards are arriving in mailboxes. Cookies and other treats are being baked and consumed. Families finalize plans to get together. This isn’t called “the most wonderful time of the year” for nothing. But the month of December also brings with it an inner conflict for many. In over thirty years of…
The Mechanics of Daily Bible Reading
We have been devoting time recently to the subject of daily Bible reading. We have considered both the benefits and the goals of spending time each day in the word of God. With this final treatise, let us consider the mechanics of daily Bible reading. What are some practical tips that can help us to read God’s word each day. Select a good location. We often pride ourselves on being able to multi-task. But when it comes to ingesting the…
Goals of Daily Bible Reading (3)
In the last two editions of the bulletin, we highlighted several benefits of reading the Bible each day. Let us build on those thoughts by considering some objectives of daily Bible reading. What are some motivations that we ought to avoid? What are some motivations we ought to cultivate? Inferior Goals The goal of daily Bible reading should be more than merely checking something off a to-do list. In the interest of full disclosure, I am pro-list. I like to…