Essentials is a class focused on what we believe, how we worship and how we live. Our goal is to equip and enable disciples to obey Jesus, become more like him and know him more closely.

This week in Essentials, we introduced the ideas we will be studying for the next few months.

Find more info by signing up for our Substack or following us on Instagram @buried_and_born

Find more info by signing up for our Substack or following us on Instagram @buried_and_born

Story Series is a walkthrough of a book of the Bible one chapter at a time to learn the greater story that's being told by the author. Understanding the larger arcs, we can better engage our daily reading, deepen our study and enrich our weekly worship.

Matthew 1-4: The Introduction

Mt. 2 – Jesus Retells Israel’s Story

1-12: Matthew outlines the setting of the battle of two Kings/two Kingdoms. (v1)

· Small Bethlehem, baby Jesus

· Large Israel, Herod the Great

The context here is Jesus stepping into Herod’s world, but in this timeline Israel has become more like Rome, more like Egypt, having been both subjugated but also complicit in conforming their kingdom after the pattern of this world. Out of Bethlehem would come a gentle King who would “shepherd my people Israel.” (v6)

The confirmation of his Kingship. Even the Magi (gentile people) study the Old Testament which points them to Jesus – King of the Jews (v2). All creation, the cosmos (star) and the wise men (nations of the world) are already being to bend toward the weight of the coming of Christ.

13-23: Jesus begins rewriting the human story through a retelling of the Jewish story. Herod isn’t really the main protagonist. Pharaoh is. Jesus will convert the kingdom to His own by delivering His people from bondage.

· Out of Egypt have I called my son (v15)

· Jerusalem is exiled as in Babylon (v17-18)

· Nazorean prophecy – there will come a branch out of the root of Jesse (David’s father – Isaiah 11) (v23)

Find more info by signing up for our Substack or following us on Instagram @buried_and_born

Matthew 1-4: The Introduction

Mt. 1 – God With Us

1-17: The lineage of the family of King David to Jesus who is to be the King of Israel

Note on v17: 4 Divisions of Israel’s History

1. Abraham – The promise of a great people, a great land and a worldwide  blessing

2. David – The promise of a great King, a great nation and a permanent Kingdom of justice

3. Babylon – In exile, the promise of a reunified nation, a rebuilt temple, destruction of enemies and a chief place among the nations; one where all nations will bow in tribute

4. Christ – Matthew’s final landmark. The One in whom all the previous promises are fulfilled. His story onward will tell how the Christ would bring to pass all the above

18-24: When He arrives – God is with us. Jesus, the Christ, is God becoming man in order to bring to pass God’s rescue of man. “For he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew will move in Chapter 2 this concept into Jesus’ first task, saving his people, Israel, from the grip of sin.