Introduction to the Bible – Week 4

Questions?

The New Testament

27 books:

· history (the Gospels and Acts)

· epistles (letters) (Romans – Jude)

· prophecy (Revelation)

The Gospels

Bible books:

Timeline:

Seeing and savoring Jesus Christ is the most important seeing and savoring you will ever do. Jesus spoke of two kinds of seeing. He said of the uncomprehending crowds, “Seeing they do not see” (Matthew 13:13). One kind is seeing with physical eyes, and the other is with spiritual eyes. When we see with our spiritual eyes, we see the truth and beauty and value of Jesus Christ for what they really are. When you see something as true and beautiful and valuable, you savor it. That is, you treasure it. You cherish and admire and prize it. Spiritual seeing and spiritual savoring are so closely connected that it would be fair to say: If you don’t savor Christ, you haven’t seen Christ for who he is. If you don’t prize him above all things, you haven’t apprehended his true worth. (John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ)

What is a gospel?

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God… 

 “Gospel” means __________________. 

Why are the Gospels important?

· Jesus is the ____________________ of the Bible (John 5:39; Luke 24:44) and the fulfillment of God’s promises to _____________and _________ (Matt. 1:1).

· In Jesus,   ____________.

John 1:14, 17

Phil. 2:6-8

When you read the gospels, ask: what does this passage tell you about the character/love of God?

Example: John 11:33

Examples: John 13:1-5

Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God.

The Jews’ view of the kingdom of God:

(Daniel 2:44)

Jesus and the “Kingdom at hand”:

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…"    23Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:17; 23)

The Kingdom Parables

What are parables?

Parables usually make a single point and are designed to illicit a response.

The kingdom parables: contrasting “the kingdom at hand” with “the kingdom in its fullness”

Matthew 13:44-46

The Kingdom at hand

The Kingdom in its fullness

The fundamental application of the kingdom of God:

Matt 4:17

Matt. 5:3

Matt. 5:20

Matt. 6:10, 33

The Road to the Cross

Mark 8:31-34; 9:31; 10:32-34; 45

Mark 14:24

Mark 14:32-36

John 12:31,32

Statements from the Cross

 “Father forgive them” (Luke 23:34)

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34)

“It is Finished” (John 19:30)

Temple Veil Torn (Luke 23:45)

Burial, Sorrow & Doubt of the Disciples

Why didn’t the disciples “get it?”

“He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.’ But they didn’t understand what he was saying, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.” – Mark 9:31,32

Resurrection (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20,21)

Great Songs about the Cross

In Evil long I took Delight, by John Newton

How Deep The Father's Love For Us, by Stuart Townend

In evil long I took delight, Unawed by shame or fear, Till a new object struck my sight, And stopped my wild career. I saw One hanging on a tree, In agony and blood, Who fixed His languid eyes on me, As near His cross I stood. Sure, never to my latest breath, Can I forget that look; It seemed to charge me with His death, Though not a word He spoke. My conscience felt and owned the guilt, And plunged me in despair, I saw my sins His blood had spilt, And helped to nail Him there. A second look He gave, which said, “I freely all forgive; This blood is for thy ransom paid; I die that thou mayst live.” Thus, while His death my sin displays In all its blackest hue, Such is the mystery of grace, It seals my pardon too.

How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom

A Prayer Meditation on the Cross

Christ was in anguish that I might be all joy,
 cast off that I might be brought in,

trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,

stripped that I might be clothed,

wounded that I might be healed,

tormented that I might be comforted,

made a shame that I might inherit glory.

My Savior bowed his head that I might uplift mine,

experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,

expired that I might ever live.

(from a book called The Valley of Vision, edited by Bennett)

Understanding the Gospels

· Learn about the diversity of the gospels. They each have a different  ___________, different ___________, and  a different___________.

Why are there four gospels?

Overview of the Four Gospels

writer	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
readers	Predominantly Jewish	Probably persecuted Christians in Rome .	“Most excellent Theophilus” (1:3) – a Gentile. First of two volumes (Luke - Acts)	Gentiles Non-Christians
purpose	To prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King.	To portray Jesus as a servant and redeemer. “’For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.	So that Theophilus might know the truth about Jesus and the early church (1:1-4)	That readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing they may have life in His name. (20:31)
themes	Jesus is the fulfillment of the  law and the prophets. Jesus has authority. KING	Miracles demonstrate the  power and compassion of Jesus. Glory comes only through suffering and service. SERVANT	Jesus came to seek and to save  the lost (19:10) God’s special concern for outcasts: gentiles, Samaritans, tax collectors and sinners, women SAVIOR	Jesus is a source of life Importance of belief LIFE GIVER
structure	Narrative mixed with 5 main sections of teaching (ch. 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 23-25) that close with variations on: “when Jesus had finished these words.”	Ch 1-8: Works of power Ch 9-16: Rejection & suffering	Loosely organized around geography: Ch 1-2: Infancy Ch 3-9:50: In Galilee Ch 9:51-18:34: Journey to Jerusalem Ch 18:35-24: Death and resurrection	Ch 1: Jesus is God among us Ch 2 – 12:50: Jesus reveals himself in signs and teachings Ch 13-20:31 The final Passover – Jesus dies for the sins of the world Ch 21: Epilogue

The theme of Luke’s Gospel: ________________

See Luke 19:10

See Luke 5:29, 30

·  Learn about Jesus’ ______________.

See the handout titled: The Gospels: Jesus’ Supporting Cast.

See Craig L. Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1997) pp. 5-71.

Parables of Salvation

Jesus’ parables are __________________.

His parables expose misconceptions, pride and dishonesty.

They reverse expectations about wealthy, powerful, & religious people.

Jesus’ parables undermine, challenge, threaten, weaken, & destabilize our personal agenda.

An example of a revolutionary parable: Luke 18:9-14

What point is Jesus making in this parable?

Another revolutionary parable: Luke 15

15:1, 2

Who is the parable addressed to?

What attitude is Jesus speaking to?

15:3-10

What is the emphasis of this section?

15:11-32

Learn what you can about the historical and cultural setting of your passage.

Don’t assume your associations are the same as the original listeners!

Don’t lose the main point by trying to attach significance to every detail.

What part of the parable would have shocked this audience?

The point of the parable (s)?

Applying the main point

The brothers’ hearts, and the two ways of life they represent, are much more alike than they first appear. What did the younger son want most in life? He wanted to make his own decisions and have unfettered control of his portion of the wealth. How did he get that? By flagrant defiance, a declaration of complete independence.

What did the older son want? He wanted the same thing as his brother. He was just as resentful of the father as was the younger son. He, too, wanted the father’s goods rather than the father himself. However, while the younger brother went far away, the elder brothers stayed close and “never disobeyed.” That was his way to get control. His unspoken demand is, “I have never disobeyed you! Now you have to do things in my life the way I want them to be done.”

The hearts of the two brothers were the same. Both sons resented their father’s authority and sought ways to get out from under it. They each wanted to get into a position where they could tell the father what to do. Each one, in other words, rebelled—but one did so by being very bad and the other by being extremely good. Both were alienated from the father’s heart; both were lost sons… Neither son loved the father for himself. They both used him for their own self-centered ends rather than loving, enjoying, and serving him for his own sake. This means you can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or by keeping them diligently.

It’s a shocking message: Careful obedience to God’s law may serve as a strategy for rebelling against God. ( Tim Keller, The Prodigal God, 35-37)

Acts

Timeline: 33 – 60 A.D.

Acts provides an account of how Jesus guided the growth of the early church through the Holy Spirit.

See 1:8

· Jesus ascends to heaven.

· Birth of the church at the day of Pentecost.

· Rapid growth of the early church as the Gospel spreads to the Samaritans and Gentiles.

· Paul’s conversion.

· Paul’s missionary journeys.

· Paul’s imprisonment and journey to Rome.

Assignment: Continue following the reading plan in the Bible Reading Assignment.