The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ

THE LIFE AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST

By Steve Caulley

Published by Steve Caulley at Smashword © 2013 Steven Vail Caulley

All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents

Using The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ in a Course of Study over the Life of Christ

VOLUME 1: THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Lesson 1

1. A Gospel Introduced (Luke 1:1-4)

2. The Coming of the Son of God (John 1:1-18)

I. THE CHILDHOOD YEARS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS

Lesson 2

1. The Announcement of John's Birth (Luke 1:5-25)

2. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-56)

3. John's Birth (Luke 1:57-80)

Lesson 3

4. The Announcement to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)

5. The Events Surrounding Jesus' Birth (Luke 2:1-38)

Lesson 4

6. The Visit of the Magi and the Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:1-23)

7. Jesus' Childhood (Luke 2:39-52)

II. THE OPENING EVENTS OF JESUS' MINISTRY

Lesson 5

1. John's Ministry (Matthew 3:1-2, 4-10; Mark 1:4-6; Luke 3:1-3, 7-14)

2. John's Testimony Concerning the Christ (Matthew 3:3, 11-12; Mark 1:2-3, 7-8; Luke 3:4-6, 15-18; John 1:19-28)

Lesson 6

3. Jesus' Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)

4. Jesus' Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

Lesson 7

5. The First Disciples (John 1:35-51)

6. Jesus Changed Water into Wine (John 2:1-12)

III. JESUS' EARLY JUDEAN MINISTRY

Lesson 8

1. The First Cleansing of the Temple (John 2:13-25)

2. Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)

3. Jesus' Ministry Like John the Baptist's (John 3:22-36)

Lesson 9

4. Jesus and the Samaritan Women (John 4:1-42)

IV. JESUS' EARLY GALILEAN MINISTRY

Lesson 10

1. John the Baptist Imprisoned (Luke 3:19-20)

2. The Beginning of Jesus' Preaching (Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15; John 4:43-45)

3. Jesus Heals the Official's Son (John 4:46-54)

4. Jesus Calls the Four Fishermen (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)

Lesson 11

5. The Day of Miracles at Capernaum (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:21-34; Luke 4:31-41)

6. Jesus' First Preaching Tour in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-25; 8:1-4; Mark 1:35-45; Luke 4:42-44; 5:12-16)

7. Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)

Lesson 12

8. The Calling of Matthew Levi (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)

9. The Healing of the Lame Man at Bethesda (John 5)

V. JESUS' MIDDLE GALILEAN MINISTRY

Lesson 13

1. The Widespread Fame of Jesus (Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:17-19)

2. Jesus Chooses the Twelve (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19)

3. The Centurion's Servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)

4. The Raising of the Widow's Son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17)

Lesson 14

5. Jesus' Testimony About John (Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35)

6. Jesus Condemns His Generation (Matthew 11:20-30; Luke 10:13-15; 21-22)

Lesson 15

7. Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36-50)

8. Jesus' Supporters Named (Luke 8:1-3)

9. Jesus and Beelzebub (Matthew 12:22-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14-32)

Lesson 16

10. Jesus' Mother and Brothers (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:20-21, 31-35; Luke 8:19-21)

11. Jesus Calms a Storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)

12. The Gadarene Demoniac (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

13. The Raising of Jairus' Daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56)

Lesson 17

14. Jesus Heals Two Blind Men and a Demoniac (Matthew 9:27-34)

15. Jesus Rejected at Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30)

16. The Workers Are Few (Matthew 9:35-37)

Lesson 18

17. The Death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29)

18. The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-23; Mark 6:30-46; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15)

19. Jesus Walking on the Water (Matthew 14:24-36; Mark 6:47-56; John 6:16-21)

VI. JESUS' LATER GALILEAN MINISTRY

Lesson 19

1. Healing the Daughter of the Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)

2. A Deaf Man Healed (Matthew 15:29-31; Mark 7:31-37)

3. The Feeding of the Four Thousand (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9)

4. The Jewish Leaders Demand a Sign (Matthew 16:1-12; Mark 8:11-21)

Lesson 20

5. A Blind Man Healed Near Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)

6. Peter's Confession of Christ (Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21)

7. Jesus Predicted His Death and Resurrection (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22)

Lesson 21

8. The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)

9. Healing the Demon-Possessed Boy (Matthew 17:14-20; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42)

10. Jesus Again Foretells His Death (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45)

11. The Shekel in the Fish's Mouth (Matthew 17:24-27)

Lesson 22

12. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:1-52)

Lesson 23

13. The Woman Taken in Adultery (John 7:53-8:11)

VII. JESUS' TRANS-JORDANIAN MINISTRY

1. The Move to the Trans-Jordan (Matthew 19:1-2; Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51-56)

2. In the Home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-41)

Lesson 24

3. Healing the Man Born Blind (John 9)

Lesson 25

4. Jesus to Die in Jerusalem (Luke 13:31-35)

5. The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45)

Lesson 26

5. The Raising of Lazarus, continued (John 11:1-45)

Lesson27

6. The Plot to Kill Jesus (John 11:46-54)

7. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11 19)

8. Blessing the Little Children (Matthew 19:13 15; Mark 10:13 16; Luke 18:15 17)

9. Jesus Foretells His Crucifixion (Matthew 20:17 19; Mark 10:32 34; Luke 18:31 34)

Lesson 28

10. James and John's Request (Matthew 20:20 28; Mark 10:35 45)

11. The Blind Men Near Jericho (Matthew 20:29 34; Mark 10:46 52; Luke 18:35 43)

12. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

VIII. JESUS' LAST WEEK

Lesson 29

1. The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19)

2. The Fig Tree Cursed (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14)

3. The Second Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48)

Lesson 30

4. The Fig Tree Withered Away (Matthew 21:22-23; Mark 11:20-25)

5. The Jewish Leaders Question Jesus' Authority (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8)

6. Three Questions by the Jewish Leaders (Matthew 22:15-40; Mark 12:13-34; Luke 20:20-40)

Lesson 31

7. The Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)

8. Gentiles Seek Jesus (John 12:20-36)

9. John's Conclusion to the First Portion of His Gospel (John 12:37-50)

10. Jesus Anointed by Mary (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 11:55-12:11)

Lesson 32

11. Conspiracy Between the Jewish Leaders and Judas (Matthew 26:1-5, 14-15; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; Luke 22:1-6)

12. Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13:1-38)

IX. THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST

Lesson 33

1. Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)

2. Jesus' Arrest (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-11)

3. Jesus Taken Before Annas (John 18:12-23)

4. The Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-27:1; Mark 14:53-15:1; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:24-27)

Lesson 34

5. Jesus' First Appearance Before Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-6; John 18:28-38)

6. Jesus Before Herod (Luke 23:6-12)

7. Jesus' Second Appearance Before Pilate (Matthew 27:15-30; Mark 15:6-19; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:15)

Lesson 35

8. On the Way of Sorrow (Matthew 27:31-32; Mark 15:20-21; Luke 23:26-32)

9. Jesus Hung on the Cross (Matthew 27:33-44; Mark 15:22-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:16-27)

10. The Seven Sayings From the Cross

11. The Death of Jesus (Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-37)

Lesson 36

12. The Burial (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

X. FROM THE RESURRECTION TO THE ASCENSION

1. The Watch at the Tomb (Matthew 27:62-66; 28:2-4, 11-15)

2. The First Easter Morning (Matthew 28:1, 5-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18)

Lesson 37

3. On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

4. Jesus' Easter Sunday Evening Appearance (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23)

5. Jesus' Appearance to Thomas (John 20:24-29)

Lesson 38

6. Jesus' Appearance at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-24)

7. On the Mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20)

8. The Conclusion of John's Gospel (John 20:30-31; 21:24-25)

9. The Ascension (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-11)

VOLUME 2: THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION TO THE TEACHING OF JESUS

LESSON 1

1. The Teaching Methods of Jesus

2. The Centrality of the Kingdom

I. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT THE KINGDOM'S MESSIAH

LESSON 2

1. The False Ideas About the Messiah

2. The Messiah's Relationship to the Father

a) The Relationship of the Father and the Son (John 5:17-47)

LESSON 3

2. The Messiah's Relationship to the Father

b) The Validity of Jesus' Teaching (John 8:12-30)

c) Jesus, the Son of God (John 10:22-42)

d) Christ, Whose Son Is He? (Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44)

LESSON 4

3. The Messiah's Relationship to His People

a) The Bread of Life (John 6:22-71)

b) The Good Shepherd (John 10:1-21)

LESSON 5

c) Jesus is the Way to the Father (John 14:5-14)

d) The Vine (John 15:1-17)

e) After the Resurrection, the Disciples Would Know Jesus (John 16:17-33)

II. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT MEMBERSHIP IN THE KINGDOM

LESSON 6

1. False Ideas About Membership in the Kingdom

a) Jesus and the True Children of Abraham (John 8:31-59)

b) The Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)

LESSON 7

2. Jesus Teaches About Salvation

a) The New Birth (John 3:3-21)

LESSON 8

b) God Seeks the Lost (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:1-32)

c) People are Pushing Into the Kingdom (Luke 16:16)

LESSON 9

d) The Invitation to the Banquet (Matthew 22:1-11; Luke 14:16-24)

e) The Father's Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

f) Workers in the Field (Matthew 20:1-16)

III. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF A KINGDOM CITIZEN

LESSON 10

Introduction: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29; Luke 6:17-49; 11:9-13; 12:22-31)

1. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-26)

2. Love

a) Love Your Enemy (Matthew 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36)

LESSON 11

b) The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

3. Humility

a) Rejoice in Being Saved (Luke 10:17-20)

b) Worthless Servants (Luke 17:7-10)

c) Do Not Seek the Best Seats (Luke 14:7-11)

d) Greatness in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:1-9; Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50; 17:1-4)

LESSON 12

4. Mercy

a) A Brother Who Sins Against You (Matthew 18:15-20)

b) The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

c) Don't Judge (Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 6:37-38)

d) Invite the Needy (Luke 14:12-14)

5. Beware of the Love of Money

a) Blessings and Woes (Luke 6:20-26)

b) Treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24; Luke 12:34-36)

LESSON 13

c) Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-13)

d) The Seed Among Thorns (Matthew 13:7, 22; Mark 4:7, 18; Luke 8:7, 14)

e) The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)

f) Don't Worry About Possessions (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31)

LESSON 14

g) Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

h) The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

IV. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT KINGDOM RIGHTEOUSNESS

LESSON 15

1. Godliness or Legal Correctness

a) Righteousness That Exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees' (Matthew 5:17-48)

b) Jesus Questioned About Divorce (Matthew 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18)

LESSON 16

2. God's Will or Human Tradition (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-13)

a) A Question About Fasting (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39)

b) The Wine and Wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22; Luke 5:36-38)

3. Conflicts Concerning the Sabbath

a) The Disciples' Plucking Grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5)

b) Sabbath Healings (Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 5:16-18)

LESSON 17

4. The Ceremonially Clean and Unclean (Matthew 15:1-2, 10-20; Mark 7:1-5, 14-23)

5. Sincerity or Hypocrisy

a) The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14)

b) Don't Be a Hypocrite (Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18)

c) The Speck and the Beam (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:39-42)

LESSON 18

The Pharisees Condemned (Matthew 23:1-39; Luke 11:37-53; 20:45-47)

V. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF A KINGDOM CITIZEN

LESSON 19

1. Obedience and Service

a) The Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13:44-46)

b) Love the Lord First (Matthew 10:34-39; 16:24-28; Mark 8:34-9:1; Luke 9:23-27; 12:49-53; 14:26-35)

c) The Cost of Following Jesus (Matthew 8:19-22; Luke 9:57-62)

LESSON 20

d) Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

e) The Disciples Sent Out (Matthew 9:36-10:8, 40-42; Luke 10:1-2)

f) The Laborer is Worthy of his Wages (Matthew 10:8-15; Mark 6:8-11; Luke 9:2-5; 10:4-16)

g) House on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49)

2. The Holy Spirit

a) The Counselor to be Sent (John 14:15-31)

LESSON 21

b) The Spirit Testifies of Jesus (John 16:5-16)

3. Prayer

a) Persistence in Prayer (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-8)

b) Increase our faith (Luke 17:5-6)

LESSON 22

c) The Model Prayer (Matthew 6:9-14; Luke 11:1-4)

d) The High Priestly Prayer (John 17:1-26)

VI. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT KINGDOM GROWTH AND OPPOSITION

LESSON 23

1. The Growth of the Kingdom

a) The Four Soils (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 14-20; Luke 8:5-15)

b) The Seed Growing Slowly; the Mustard Seed; and the Leaven (Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:26-32; Luke 13:18-21)

c) The Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

LESSON 24

2. Opposition to the Kingdom

a) Pearls Before Swine (Matthew 7:6)

b) Beware of Men's Attacks (Matthew 10:16-33; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 10:3-4; 12:2-9; 21:12-19)

c) The World Hates Jesus and His Followers (John 15:18-16:4)

d) The Opposition of False Teachers (Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45)

VII. JESUS TEACHES ABOUT THE CONSUMMATION OF THE KINGDOM IN HIS SECOND COMING AND JUDGMENT

LESSON 25

1. The End Will Come

a) The Drag Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

b) Repent or Perish (Luke 12:54-13:5)

c) Jesus Will Prepare a Place (John 14:1-4)

2. The Events of the End

a) The Signs of Jesus' Return (Matthew 24:1-14; Mark 13:1-13; Luke 21:5-19)

LESSON 26

b) The Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28; Mark 13:14-23; Luke 17:20-25; 21:20-24)

c) Jesus' Return on the Clouds (Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-27)

3. The Unexpectedness of the End

a) Watch and be Ready (Matthew 24:32-51; Mark 13:28-37; Luke 12:35-48; 17:26-37; 21:34-36)

b) The Judgment Will Surprise (Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23)

LESSON 27

c) The Unexpected Judgment (Luke 13:22-30)

d) The Ten Maidens (Matthew 25:1-13)

e) The Ten Minas (Luke 19:12-27)

f) The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

g) The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

Map of Palestine Showing Places Important in the Gospels

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Using The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ in a Course of Study over the Life of Christ

Jesus Christ is the absolute centre of the Christian life. He is the Lord of our lives—from him we have our example of how we should live and our mission in life. He is our Saviour and our way to eternal life. He is the Head of the church, and the church exists only to do his will. No more important study exists for Christians than to know Jesus.

I. Description of the Course

The Life and Teaching of Jesus was written as a textbook and study guide for three terms of study over the Life of Christ at South African Bible Institute in Kimberley. It has been published as an electronic book in hopes that more and more Christians who wish to know Jesus better will systematically study his life. If you are located in South Africa you can choose to contact Steve Caulley at South African Bible Institute, PO Box 2925, Kimberley 8300, or at steve.caulley@gmail.com for details on how to take the course for credit via distance learning. Each term you will first study events in Jesus' life arranged chronologically, as drawn from all four Gospels. The second part of each term focuses on the teachings of Jesus organized by topics.

Term 1: The Life of Jesus Christ--Lessons 1-12; The Teaching of Jesus Christ-- Lessons 1-9

Term 2: The Life of Jesus Christ--Lessons 13-24; The Teaching of Jesus Christ-- Lessons 10-18

Term 3: The Life of Jesus Christ--Lessons 25-38; The Teaching of Jesus Christ-- Lessons 19-27

II. Course Objectives

By the end of your study the students should:

1. Have read all four Gospels.

2. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key events in Jesus' life and their significance for us as his disciples.

3. Be able to apply teaching from Jesus' life to our individual lives as we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

4. Have written lessons on events in Jesus' life which will be useful for other Christians.

III. Course Requirements

1. Lesson Questions: At the end of each lesson there are a number questions on the lesson's content (Do You Understand?) and applying the lesson to our lives (Can you apply these truths in your life?). In preparation for each lesson the student should read the portions of the gospels to be covered in the lesson (from the translation of your choice), as well as the teaching in the study guide/text book, The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ, (which is based on the NIV), and then write an answer to each question in your own words as fully as seems valuable to you..

2. Sermon/Lesson Plans: Each student will write two sermons or lessons each term, dealing with and important truth he is studying in the life and teaching of Jesus. These lessons will include knowing and doing objectives—both The student will understand… and The students will be able to… because of this lesson. Each sermon or lesson will also include the four parts of a lesson: attention (HOOK); Bible study (BOOK); life application (LOOK); and decision (TOOK). The student will describe the content of each part of the lesson, and the method(s) and material(s) you will use to teach that content (See SIMPLE GUIDE TO PREPARING A SERMON OR LESSON PLAN). These lessons will be graded on the appropriateness of the objectives, the effectiveness of the HOOK, the correctness of the Bible study, the suitableness of the life application and decision. A lack of originality will be penalized. Each lesson should be at least 600 words in length, and detailed enough that you could hand it to someone else and they could teach it. The student should teach or preached the lesson or sermon before they are handed in to the instructor (if at all possible).

3. Exams: There will be a mid-term exam covering the first half of each term and a final exam covering all the material studied during the term. When you have finished the lesson for the first half term (for example in term one it will be Lessons 1-12 from Volume 1: The Life of Jesus Christ), then you are responsible to contact Steve Caulley to arrange a time to meet for the correction of the Lesson questions you have answered, revision over the material you have studied and then taking the exam. All exams will be without notes

IV. Grading

Lesson Questions: 35% of final grade

Sermon/Lesson Plans: 20% of final grade

Mid-term Exam: 20% of final grade

Final Exam: 25% of final grade

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SIMPLE GUIDE TO PREPARING A SERMON OR LESSON PLAN

I. Objectives: The first step in preparing a lesson or sermon is to decide what your goal is in teaching this lesson, or preaching this sermon. Objectives are simply the goals of your teaching and preaching.

1. The old saying, If you aim at nothing, you will certainly hit your target, is true. You may not meet all your goals, but you will certainly achieve more than if you set no goals at all.

2. Objectives give your teaching a direction toward which to strive. They help you sort out what are the important learnings in a subject, and what to omit. They help you get first things first, and then help you to focus on each new learning in a step-by-step process. Objectives help the teacher choose which teaching methods and materials to use to communicate new content.

3. Objectives for teaching and preaching are derived from God's will as revealed in the Bible, and from the student's needs, in that order.

4. Objectives can be divided into knowing objectives and doing objectives.

 Knowing objectives are stated in terms of what you (as the teacher) aim for the student to come to know, they are usually the first set of objectives the teacher writes for a sermon or lesson.

 Doing objectives are stated in terms of an outward response from the student—what he will do, that the teacher can see that will show that he understands what you are trying to teach him. Stating objectives in doing terms allows the teacher to test whether or not the students are learning what he is trying to teach them.

 Once a teacher/preacher has written a satisfactory set of knowing objectives for a sermon or lesson, he should then convert them into doing objectives.

Sample Objectives for This Lesson:

(Knowing Objective) By the end of this lesson the student will understand:

(Doing Objective) By the end of this lesson the student will be able to:

1. What a knowing objective is.

1. Formulate knowing objectives for a lesson or a sermon.

2. Understand what a doing objective is.

2. Convert knowing objectives into doing objectives.

II. Before Writing a Sermon or Lesson Plan

1. The first step in writing a lesson or sermon over a portion of Scripture is Bible study.

 The teacher needs to read, meditate, and pray over the passage of Scripture which is the subject of the lesson or sermon—this means that lesson preparation needs to begin well in advance of when you need to teach the material. What did the writer want his original readers to understand or do? What are some possible application to modern life? What are some ways to outline this passage, and to group ideas in the verses together?

 Now the teacher is ready to look at any reference helps you might have. Examine any parallel verses. Discard any ideas you might have had (no matter how attractive) that further study rules out as a misinterpretation. If you can't find the answer to a particular question, be willing to admit you don't know—don't invent some plausible answer.

2. In preparation for writing your lesson or sermon objectives ask yourself:

 What is the point of this Biblical material? What do my students already understand about this subject?—Make the most of what they already know as the starting point(s) for your teaching. What will I need to explain? Are there particular items that are likely to confuse them? How should I approach these? What applications should I make to my students' daily lives? What decisions should we make based on what God's Word is teaching us in this lesson or sermon? Do some of these verses suggest certain methods I could use in my teaching?

 Now write your lesson or sermon objectives in response to these questions and the overall question, What do I want my students to learn in this lesson? Write your objectives first as knowing objectives, and then convert them into doing objectives.

III. The HOOK-BOOK-LOOK-TOOK Method for Writing Sermons or Lessons

1. Begin with a statement, activity, visual, etc. that will get the students' attention focused on the subject of the lesson or sermon (HOOK).

2. Outline in detail the Bible study (BOOK)

 When and how the Bible passage will be read

 Background to the passage

 Explanation of words, concepts, etc.

 Explain in detail the method(s) you will use to familiarize your students with the new material (visuals, illustrative stories, etc). How will you know your students understand the Bible study portion of the lesson or sermon?

3. Outline the application of the Bible study to the student's daily life (LOOK).

 What is God saying to us today through his Word?

 How can I most effectively get that across (method) to my students?

 How will I know my students understand how to apply God's Word to their lives?

4. Describe the decisions about their behaviours and attitudes which you want your students to make because of what God has been saying to them in this lesson or sermon (TOOK). How will you know that they have made such decisions?

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VOLUME 1: THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Lesson 1

1. A Gospel Introduced (Luke 1:1-4)

Luke stated that the purpose for writing his gospel was to make an orderly account of Jesus' ministry available to Theophilus.

Theophilus (lover of God) was likely Luke's patron, covering the cost of publishing Luke/Acts. He probably was an influential man—most excellent was a proper title like your excellency, though it may have only been used by Luke in an honorary sense. He may have been a Christian whom Luke wished to ground in the faith, or he may have been an interested pagan that Luke wished to inform about the truth (as opposed to all the false rumors that circulated against the Church). Because Luke/Acts ended just before Paul's trial in Rome, some have guessed that he was connected with that trial, and Luke wanted his gospel to give the man a proper background on Paul's preaching of Christ. While Theophilus was a common name both among Jews and Gentiles, it could have been a nickname Luke used to save his patron the problems of being associated with the Christians.

The trueness of the Gospel generally, and Luke's version particularly, was central to Luke's introduction. It was based on older accounts (both written and oral), which at least included Mark. These accounts and Luke's other sources came (directly and indirectly) from eye-witnesses. The eyewitnesses not only saw the events, but were changed by the events, becoming ministers of the Word (both Jesus and his Gospel). Now Luke had researched the matter closely and was ready to give an orderly telling of the Gospel story.

2. The Coming of the Son of God (John 1:1-18)

The central focus of John's whole gospel was to show that Jesus Christ is God Incarnate (Jn 20:30-31). This was also the focus of this prologue. In addition, the prologue introduced several themes that play a part in the Gospel (life, light and darkness, faith, the world, new birth, grace and truth, and God the Son). It also connected the ministry of John the Baptist to Jesus.

vss 1-2: John first spoke, not of Jesus, but of the Word—God's revelation of himself; his activity in creation. The Word is the origin (beginning) of creation (both the First Cause, and the Root—John was fond of words with double meanings [see grasp in verse 5], and we can usually assume that John had both meanings in mind when he chose such words); the Word is in relationship with God and is fully Divine (the Father and the Word are one but not identical). Only after John won agreement for his statements concerning the divinity of the Word did he reveal that the Word became the man Jesus (vs 14).

vss 3-5: John now listed the work of the Word.

1) He is active in creation with the Father. Everything is created by the Father through the Son. A proper understanding of creation was important for the New Testament writers—it is God's first revelation of Himself. Creation is not evil, but is the product of a good and wise God, nor is God part of creation or creation another form of God—the two are separate.

2) He is the source of eternal, spiritual life, as well as physical life of the creation. John was very big on life, using it 36 times in the gospel, 17 times in Revelation, and 13 times in his first letter.

3) He is Light for those in spiritual darkness. Darkness was one of John's ways of describing opposition to the Gospel. This darkness cannot grasp the light (either understand it or capture it).

vss 6-8: John, writing his gospel nearly forty years after Mark wrote his, was painfully aware that John the Baptist still had many followers (Ac 18:25; 19:3). So while he honored John as a prophet sent from God, he said little about his ministry except that he was a witness of Jesus (none of his preaching was mentioned, nothing about his baptism—not even Jesus' baptism was mentioned in John's gospel). John was called a witness—this gospel spoke of many who bear witness to Jesus Christ: the Father (5:31-37; 8:18); the Spirit (15:26; 16:14); Jesus himself (3:11, 32; 8:14-18, 28); his works (5:36; 10:25; 14:11; 15:24); the Scriptures (5:39, 45ff); the Samaritan woman (4:39); the multitude (12:17); and his disciples (15:27; 19:35; 21:24). The idea was to establish that the record about Jesus, while incredible, was amply proved by the many witnesses.

vss 9-11: Next John came to the incarnation, the in-flesh-ment of the Light, the Word, as a man. It is incredible that God would humble himself and become a man. It is even more incredible (and sad) that when he did, the Creator was rejected by his creation. They did not know him, they refused him as a friend. Even sadder, these were his own chosen people. He came home, and his own rejected him.

vss 12-13: BUT some received him (believed in his name, trusted him—a person's name in Scripture is usually a Hebraic way of saying the person himself). To these he gave (this is grace) the right (not divine power) to be children of God (part of the family—sons points more to the right of the heir). This new birth is completely supernatural, it has nothing to do with the normal processes of birth.

vs 14 was John's most concise reference to the Incarnation. The Word (completely God) became flesh (not that Jesus looked like a man—he was a man in every way) and dwelled among us (pitched his tent, tabernacled—recalled God's dwelling with Israel on the way to the promised land). We have seen his glory (the awesome beauty of God; for Jesus, his glorification came at the cross), the glory of the unique Son of God (literally, only begotten, which means unique—Isaac was called Abraham's only begotten son [Heb 11:17], even though Abraham had several other sons), full of grace (that which gives joy, even if the receiver doesn't merit it) and truth (a favorite word of John's, used 25 times in the gospel—the complete reality and reliability of God).

vss 15-18: John's prologue concluded by repeating the theme of the unique and unsurpassable person of Jesus: greater than the Baptist; the only source of God's grace and blessing; greater than Moses and the Law; the source of grace and truth; the perfect revealer of God the Father; God the Son.

3. The Genealogies of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38)

Genealogies were very important to the Jews. Jesus' genealogy showed that indeed he was of the line of David, as the Messiah was promised to be.

The family trees listed by Matthew and Luke differ from each other. Some have supposed that one is the ancestors of Mary and the other the ancestors of Joseph. But the Bible calls both the lineage of Joseph (and a woman's lineage was rarely recorded).

Matthew was most interested in stressing Jesus as the Son of David—the Messiah, so he followed a stylized throne succession—showing Jesus as the Davidic king, if the David kingship were still in place. Luke probably gave us the actual lineage of Joseph.

Matthew monkeyed with the generations, skipping four of Judah's kings in the process—Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, and Jehoahaz. Many think he wanted to stress 14 because the numerical value of David's name (d-4, w-6, d-4) added up to 14. He wanted to show that Jesus had been born in the fullness of time—in the 14th generation. Matthew also included the name of four women: Tamar who seduced her own father-in-law (Ge 38); Rahab the prostitute of Jericho (Jos 2); Ruth the Moabitess (no MoabiteS or their descendents shall enter the Assembly—Dt 23:3); and Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite with whom David committed adultery and for whom he later murdered Uriah (2Sa 11). The inclusion of any women in a genealogy was strange, but these four are an extraordinary group. They demonstrated that God loves all people, he can use even notorious sinners, and he had preserved the line of the Messiah through every difficulty.

Luke took Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, the son of God, to show his ultimate kinship with all people and the renewal of God's creation plan for mankind.

Do you understand?

1. What does Luke say was his reason for writing his gospel?

2. Why does John call Jesus the Word?

3. What key ideas does John introduce in his prologue?

4. How are Luke's and Matthew's genealogies similar, how are they different? How could these differences be explained?

5. Should we consider Matthew's genealogy of Christ to be a teaching tool and not literal history?

6. What is the significance of the four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogies?

Can you apply these truths in your life?

1. How do you know that the four gospels are true? How can you increase you appreciation for the accuracy of the gospels?

2. What does it mean to you, that you are a child of God and an heir of all of God's promises?

3. Have you ever been tempted to reject as useless a person (like Rahab, the prostitute)? What should are attitude be toward people who once were notoriously wicked, but have now turned to God?

Back to Table of Contents

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I. THE CHILDHOOD YEARS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS

Lesson 2

1. The Announcement of John's Birth (Luke 1:5-25)

vss 5-10: Like the Messiah, for whom he was to prepare the way, John the Baptist's birth was miraculous. Seemingly, John was six months older than Jesus, with the announcement of his birth preceding the announcement of Jesus' birth by six months (vs 26). In both cases, the announcement of the births was brought by Gabriel (vss 19 and 26). We are told that the birth announcement of John the Baptist and Jesus came during the reign of Herod the Great, who ruled most of what is now Israel and Syria, as well as parts of present-day Jordan, from 37-4 BC (that's right—John and Jesus were born before 4 BC). In John's case, the announcement came to his father, Zechariah.

Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah—the priesthood had been divided into twenty-four divisions by King David. Abijah was the eighth division. Each division served in the temple for one week twice each year (1Ch 24:1-19). His wife, Elizabeth, was also of the priestly clan, an added blessing for a priest. They were both faithful to the Lord. But they had one great disappointment—they were childless, and were both old enough to assume that they never would have a family.

Because there were many priests, and not so many priestly duties, they cast lots (chose by chance—like throwing dice) to see who would do which jobs. It was a great privilege to be chosen to offer incense in the Temple (a priest could be chosen to do this only once in his life—Mishnah: Tamid: 5:2), so this would have been one of the most memorable days in Zechariah's life. Incense was kept burning on the altar of incense in the temple. Twice a day, before morning and evening prayers, a priest was chosen to go in and replenish the supply, while the worshippers and the rest of the priests prayed outside (Ex 30:6-8). The priest offering the incense was also involved with praying for the redemption of his people (and perhaps Zechariah prayed about his own childlessness—vs 13). When he finished, he came out and joined the other priests in pronouncing a blessing on the congregation.

vss 11-17: While Zechariah was busy with this task, an angel appeared beside him. He was terrified (Jdg 6:22-23; 13:22; Lk 2:9), and was told not to be afraid. In fact, God had answered his prayer for his people's redemption, and for his own childlessness. He and his wife would have a son and name him John—the Lord is gracious. Zechariah was told three things about this son who would soon be born. (1) He would be a great man of God, so that he would be a delight to his parents and to many others. (2) He would be especially dedicated to God all his life, having been filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, and was never to drink wine, beer, or spirits (like a Nazirite [Nu 6:1-8], although he was never called a Nazirite, nor was anything said about cutting hair). He would not be either a priest (like his father) or a Nazirite, but like both of them he was a special servant of God. (3) He was the forerunner of the Messiah—Elijah, turning the fathers back to the children (Mal 4:5-6). He would go before the Lord, preparing God's people for his coming (Isa 40:3-5). He was commissioned as God's prophet of repentance, turning the disobedient back to the wisdom of obeying the Lord. While he would be great (Mt 11:11), John the Baptist would still only be the herald of the Christ.

vss 18-25: Zechariah, like Abraham (Ge 15:8), Gideon (Jdg 6:17), and Hezekiah (2Ki 20:8), asked for a sign to prove that the messenger from God was telling the truth. Seemingly there was something in Zechariah's attitude that went beyond a need for reassurance to outright unbelief (vs 20). Gabriel first countered the doubt expressed about his accuracy as a messenger by explaining that he stood in God's presence, and that God had sent him with good news for Zechariah. Gabriel was one of only two angels mentioned by name in Scripture (Da 8:16; 9:21), along with Michael (Da 10:13, 21; Jude 9; Rev 12:7). The Lord would give him a sign all right, but it would also be discipline for his unbelief (and ungratefulness). He would be unable to speak until everything Gabriel had told him (including naming the baby John) had been fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Zechariah had been too long in the Sanctuary. This was dangerous for a priest because he could be accused of mischief if he delayed too long, alone, in the Holy Place. The priest who offered the incense was to come out of the sanctuary and join the other priests in pronouncing the benediction. When Zechariah came out, he was unable to speak and was trying to communicate through signs. The congregation concluded that he had received a message from God, a vision (like Isaiah—Isa 6:1ff).

After his week of service was over, Zechariah returned home and soon his wife was pregnant. It is not clear why Elizabeth went into seclusion for five months. It may be that she didn't want people guessing about her condition, but wanted to wait until it was obvious that she would soon have a child. Childlessness was popularly interpreted as a punishment from the Lord. Elizabeth probably had endured many insults from those who overlooked her uprightness (vs 6) and assumed the worst about her. So her pregnancy took away her disgrace (Ge 30:23).

2. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-56)

vss 26-28: In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist, the Lord sent Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to speak to Mary; he also announced John's birth (vs 19). Mary was engaged to Joseph—Jewish engagements were as binding as marriage, and could only be broken by a divorce. Greetings (Latin, ave) is mistranslated hail—it is simply hello. Highly favored is misinterpreted full of grace by the Catholics who believe that Mary has a super-abundance of divine grace she can give to people who pray to her—all it means is that God was pleased with Mary, and thought she could handle the very important job of being the mother of the Messiah.

vss 29-33: Mary was upset, not at seeing the angel, but by this honorific greeting. After all, she was only a peasant girl. The angel told her that God was pleased with her, and so had decided to entrust her with the tremendous responsibility of mothering His son. He was to be named Jesus—Joshua: Jehovah saves; he would be the son of God; and he would be the Davidic Messiah, and the eternal ruler of God's people. Since Joseph was not actually Jesus' father, many believe that Mary was also a descendant of David, and through her, Jesus could be called the Son of David.

vss 34-38: Mary raised only one objection to her taking on this responsibility, and this was purely a practical question: How can I be a mother when I am a virgin? Gabriel replied that she would conceive miraculously through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many have supposed that the Virgin Birth was because sex is sinful or because sinfulness is inherited (the Bible does not teach either idea). What vs 35 makes clear is that the Virgin Birth was to prove that Jesus was biologically as well as spiritually the Son of God. That God was moving in miraculous ways at this time was evidenced by Elizabeth's pregnancy in her old age. Having had her one question answered, Mary submitted to God's will very humbly, I am the Lord's servant. How many of us make excuses as to why we can't do what the Lord asks us to do?

vss 39-45: Mary immediately left Nazareth and went to Judea to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, John, still three months from being due, moved in his mother's womb, and Elizabeth began to praise God through the power of the Holy Spirit. She said that both Mary and Jesus were blessed (not with an easy, happy life, but with the opportunity to serve the Lord). Elizabeth called the unborn Jesus My Lord—God. Blessed or happy are those who believe that God will accomplish what he promises (as Mary and Elizabeth did, but as Zechariah had trouble doing).

vss 46-56: Mary responded with a prophetic song of praise, usually called the Magnificat (from the Latin for glorifies). In many ways this song was similar to Hannah's song in I Samuel 2. The subject of both songs was how God lifts up the poor and the lowly, while he humbles the rich and proud. This exalting of the lowly started with Mary, who became famous with God and his people. This turning upside down of the worldly order was one of the hallmarks of Jesus' ministry. Mary stayed with Elizabeth until just before the birth of John.

3. John's Birth (Luke 1:57-80)

vss 57-66: As Gabriel had foretold, Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Because of Zechariah and Elizabeth's age, their previous childlessness, and Zechariah's strange affliction, many were interested in this birth. They understood the birth as a merciful gift from God, and shared the parents' joy. On the baby's eighth day they circumcised him (Ge 17:12; Lev 12:3), and named him, as was the recent custom (2:21)—in the Old Testament, babies seem to have been named at birth, but by the Middle Ages (8th Century AD) it was common to wait until the eighth day. It was also common practice in some families to name a son after his father (Genesis Rabbah 37:7). The friends and relatives that gathered seem to have assumed that the boy would be called Zechariah (although the relatives had no right to name a baby—it was the parents' choice). Elizabeth was quite emphatic John is his name! The relatives objected that no one in the family carried that name, and they asked for Zechariah's opinion. They made signs to him, indicating that he may have been struck deaf as well as dumb (the term used to describe his condition in vs 22 [kophos] sometimes indicated both conditions). It may have been that since most dumb people are also deaf, people were in the habit of using gestures with someone who used sign language with them. Zechariah called for a writing tablet (a tray of wax in which notes could be scratched and then later erased by warming the tray). Zechariah wrote, His name is John—not we will name him John. John had been his name from conception. Immediately Zechariah regained his voice, and after nine months of silence caused by his unbelief and ungratefulness, he began to praise God. Everyone in the area heard of this amazing conclusion to this marvelous birth event. They recognized the hand of God in the happenings and were filled with awe and reverence. They wondered what great things the Lord had in store for this special child.