week of 3/26

Unit 19  Session 4

THE SAVIOR IS FAITHFUL

MATTHEW 4

In overcoming Satan's temptation, Jesus affirmed He is the greater Adam Who succeeded where the first Adam failed.

The wilderness provides the backdrop for a well-known interaction between Jesus and Satan. In essence, the wilderness is a backdrop to the story of the Old Testament. The Israelites spent decades wandering in the wilderness as a result of their sin. This was a place of judgment, a place of failure, a place of hopelessness and death. The wilderness was anchored in the Israelite mind as the foremost location where they experienced the implications of sin. The Messiah entered into His ministry through the wilderness, presenting Himself to the world as the One Who succeeded where Israel failed.

Points to consider:

✞   The Son of God trusts in the Father's provision.

     * What might we learn from the high point of 

        Jesus' baptism being followed by a difficult 

        time of challenge, such as facing Satan in the

        wilderness?

     * How should we react knowing Satan is real 

        and ready to tempt us at any time?

✞   The Son of God trusts in the Father's providence.

     * How does succumbing to temptation lead us 

        astray from God's mission for our lives?

     * Why did Jesus use Scripture to counter Satan's

        attacks?

✞   The Son of God trusts in the Father's plan.   

     * What are some occasions when we might be 

        tempted to use our power and position 

        pridefully? 

week of 3/19

 Unit 19  Session 3

THE SAVIOR IS BAPTIZED

MARK 1

John the Baptist was the herald who prepared the way for the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah.

In his Gospel, Mark first introduced Jesus to the world through the eyes of John the Baptist. The pacing of Mark's Gospel is fast - it's the shortest of all the Gospel accounts and the oft-used term "immediately" demonstrates that Mark was intent on progressing the stories quickly so that his readers could focus their attention on Jesus's work on the cross. Therefore, it is worth noting that Mark slowed down to consider how John paved the way for Jesus- both through his declaration of Jesus's identity and by baptizing Him in the Jordan River. 

Points to consider:

✞   The herald prepares for the Son.

     * How should the steady use of Old 

        Testament prophecy in the story 

        of Jesus's birth encourage us?

     * How would John's practice of 

        baptism help people understand 

        Jesus's message?

✞   The herald points to the Son.

     * What does baptism do?

✞   The herald baptizes the Son.   

     * Why did Jesus get baptized even 

        though He had nothing to repent 

        of or confess?

     * How can growing in our under-

        standing of the triune God help us 

        worship Him more? 

week of 3/12

Unit 19  Session 2

THE SAVIOR IS PRESENTED

LUKE 2

Even from childhood, Jesus fulfilled all of the law, showing that He is the Messiah, the righteous One who came to bring salvation to the world.

The Gospel writers spent almost no time covering the details of Jesus's life following His birth up until the time He began His public ministry around the age of 30. Their main focus was the three years of Jesus's ministry in and around Jerusalem proclaiming the kingdom of God and, uniquely, His death, burial, and resurrection. Mark started his gospel with Jesus's ministry and spent roughly half of the total time of his writing describing the final weeks of Jesus's life. In Luke's gospel, however, we are given one of the few glimpses into Jesus's early years to reveal His perfect character. 

Points to consider:

✞   The Messiah will fulfill the law entirely.

     * What benefits might we discover in 

        dwelling upon Jesus's humanity? 

✞   The Messiah will bring salvation globally.

     * What are some ways we should respond 

        to the good news of salvation?

     * What do we learn about God when we 

        see Him keep His promises?

✞   The Messiah will obey the Father completely.   

     * What character traits are demonstrated by 

        Jesus's listening to and asking questions in 

        the temple?

     * How should we reconcile our obedience to 

        God and our expected obedience to human

        authorities? 

week of 3/5

 Unit 19  Session 1

THE SAVIOR IS BORN

John 1

Jesus is the Word, the Son of God Who came into the world to bring salvation.

At the start of the New Testament, the situation was bleak for God's people. Even after God's people returned to their land, they were still under the power of the Medo-Persians - after them, the Greeks, and after them, the Romans. The prophets were silent. The kingdom was broken. The future was dark. Greek and Roman culture had enveloped the whole area, and the elitist Pharisees and Sadducees had come into power to try to lead the Jews, but their only real hope was the coming of the Messiah. But when would that be? Into this, Jesus was born. Everything changed when Jesus showed up.  

Points to consider:

✞   The Word of God in Creation

     * What makes it hard for you to 

        think about the Son of God 

        existing as God when God 

        created the world? 

✞   The Word of God in Redemption

     * Why might it be difficult to share 

        the truth of Jesus Christ?

     * How does this passage say people 

        are saved from sin and darkness?

✞   The Word of God in Glory    

     * What attributes of God are revealed 

        through Jesus' incarnation for our 

        salvation, for which we should praise 

        and imitate Him?

     * Why might we find it difficult to speak 

        and act in grace and truth?