week of 4/26

Unit 20  Session 4

JESUS CALLED FOLLOWERS

john 1:35-37, 40-51

 

Key Concept:

Following Jesus means acknowledging Him as Savior, God, and King.

John's Gospel begins with a description of Jesus as the Logos, the eternal "Word" of God, a signifier of Jesus' divinity and a bold statement concerning the Son's co-existence with the Father prior to creation (vv. 1-5). John also summarized John the Baptist's ministry, who pointed to Jesus' messianic identity and mission. Jesus is the Word Who became flesh (v. 14) and "the Lamb of God" who died to take away the sins of the world (vv. 29-34). Some of John's disciples took his words to heart and followed Jesus (vv. 35-51).

As you examine John 1:35-37, 40-51:

 

✞   Recognize that John acknowledged Jesus as the Lamb of God,

    and thus, his disciples followed Jesus.

✞   Contemplate the words of Nathaniel's response when he

    witnessed Jesus' omniscience.

week of 4/19

Unit 20  Session 3

JESUS WAS TEMPTED

LUKE 4:1-13

 

Key Concept:

Like Jesus, we can turn to Scripture to help us handle temptation.

Following the glorious affirmation of the Father for the Son at Jesus' baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert, where He fasted for forty days and was eventually tempted by Satan. Jesus' responses to three specific temptations demonstrated both His commitment to God's will and His readiness for the ministry task before Him.

As you examine Luke 4:1-13:

 

✞   Reflect on the truth that Jesus, being human, 

    experienced temptation just as we do.

✞   Identify the means Jesus used to resist

    temptation and obey the Father.

week of 4/12

Unit 20  Session 2

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

matthew 3:13-17

 

Key Concept:

Jesus, the Second Person of the divine Trinity, set an example for us in humility.

Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River followed on the heels of John the Baptist's announcement concerning the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. John's ministry was the fulfillment of various Old Testament prophecies concerning a "forerunner", one who was to come before the Messiah announcing His arrival and calling God's people to repent from their sins.

As you examine Matthew 3:13-17:

 

✞   Understand that though He is sinless, Jesus knew His

    baptism would validate both His and John's ministry.

✞   Recognize that a voice - the Father - called Jesus His

    beloved Son and gave evidence of His authority.

week of 4/5

Unit 20  Session 1

JOHN PREPARED THE WAY

MATTEW 3:1-12

 

Key Concept:

Following Jesus requires confession, repentance, and yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Following the close of the Old Testament's inspiration and revelation, God was silent for over four hundred years. Then the angel Gabriel appeared to an old priest in Jerusalem and a young girl in Nazareth, informing them that God had not forgotten His promises. Decades later, John the Baptist, the surprise son of the priest, went into the wilderness to call people to repentance to prepare the way for the Messiah, the miraculous Son of the young girl.

As you examine Matthew 3:1-12:

 

✞   Notice that John the Baptist prepared the way for the

    Messiah by calling people to repentance.

✞   Reflect on John's humility in pointing toward Jesus, 

    Who was more powerful and more worthy.