Lesson four, continued:

More on teaching methods, continued:

Taught by authority: Matthew 9:1-9; Matthew 21:23-27

Used stories with familiar themes – Matthew 13:1-9

Used attention-getting hyperbole – Matthew 5:29-30; 7:3-5

Used sound bites – Luke 6:37-39

Asked questions, sometimes rhetorical – Matthew 16:26; 22:17-22

Visually illustrated, demonstrated, exemplified

John 13:3-17

Matthew 18:1-4

Mark 12:41-44 – Jesus using the widow as an example had much more impact than simply lecturing about giving would have.

Used repetition – Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34

Was the example – Luke 5:16; Matthew 9:10-12

Duties of the apostles

To be witnesses of Jesus to world – Acts 1:6-8

To form the foundation of the church – Ephesians 2:19-22

To teach His gospel to the world – Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 6:1-2

To do the works of the Father – John 9:1-5

To be obedient to God – Acts 5:29

To be shepherds of the flock – John 21:15-17

Teach disciples the truth as revealed by Spirit – John 16:13

To judge – Matthew 19:28

What is our goal in life?

If we don’t have the right goal in life, we will drift and accomplish little.

Galatians 1:14; I Timothy 1:15 – Paul started out with the wrong goal.

Matthew 15:8-9 – The Pharisees had the wrong goal.

We must lean our ladder on the right wall.

Luke 12:15

Some would say their purpose is to escape hell.

Some would say their purpose is to go to heaven.

We must have a greater purpose than that!

Philippians 3:8-14 – Paul had a greater purpose: to attain to righteousness.

Many who have this as their purpose will miss it.

Our purpose should be to be children of our heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:43-45

We cannot be satisfied in our drive to be like God.

We don’t just go to heaven. We grow to heaven.

I John 2:29; 3:3, 10

Ephesians 4:11-16 – God called us for the purpose of making us like Christ.

Romans 8:28-31

II Corinthians 3:18

Ecclesiastes 12:13 – This sums up the whole of man’s existence.

Conclusion

Hebrews 4:9, 11

We can only be satisfied once we make it to heaven.

Luke 24:45-47

Matthew 12:41

“I’ve got cobwebs in the corner.”

Acts 8:13

Romans 6:3; 2:1-6

II Corinthians 7:8

Repentance is for people as long as they live!

Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19

I’m not going to leave any corner of my life untouched by God!

“I can do better.”

I Corinthians 6:9-11

Ephesians 4:1

“I am resolved.”

Luke 19:8-10 – Zaccheus resolved to make things right. He had a specific plan.

Luke 3:8-14

What should our specific plan be?

What do I need to change?

Attitude check: II Timothy 2:23-26

As long as we unite on Jesus, isn’t that all that matters? (continued)

Ephesians 4:4 – There is one church/body.

There are no divisions in Christ’s church.

Take baptism as an example.

Ephesians 4:5

Mark 16:15-16 – Can one church start teaching that you don’t have to believe and be baptized to be saved – you can just believe?

Galatians 3:27 – Can one church start teaching that you’re not baptized into Christ – you are in Christ, then you are baptized as an outward sign?

How can we claim to be united in Christ when we change His doctrine? II Corinthians 13:5; John 14:6

Practical applications

Be a member of Christ’s one church

Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28

Jesus bought it and built it with His own blood. I should:

Submit to His Headship

Make Him my Savior

Be baptized into His death and into His body (Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 12:13)

I John 1:6-7; 2:3-6

Study and learn Christ’s one truth

Ephesians 4:5 – We ought to study, learn, and practice this one faith!

We are fallible and will not be in perfect agreement, but we should be studying to unify on the truth in the Bible.

Shouldn’t we support Israel today to prepare for Christ’s kingdom?

Many people still believe that Israel is still the nation through which God will bless the rest of the world. This is part of a larger doctrine (with many variations) called Premillenialism.

Some believe that since Christ was rejected by most Jews when He came to earth, He set up the church instead of the kingdom.

Mark 9:1 – The kingdom of heaven was at hand.

Acts 2:30-33

Colossians 1:13 – The kingdom was already in existence!

Revelation 1:9

I Corinthians 15:20-28 – Jesus will hand over the kingdom – not start the kingdom.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Those who are alive at Christ’s coming will meet Him in the air!

The kingdom of Christ is not a physical one based in Jerusalem, but a spiritual one (John 6:14-15; 18:36; Luke 17:20-21; Mark 12:34). Jesus reigns over us spiritually today!

Lesson three, continued:

Teaching method

Get their attention and interest

Wonders and miracles – Luke 5:12-15

Relate to “real” world situations

Parables

Figures (shepherds, servants, kings, etc.)

Lecture and demonstration

Jesus taught crowds of people – Matthew 4:23-5:1

In doing this, He demonstrated the skill to His disciples

Practice – Luke 9:1-6; 10:1

Review – Luke 9:10; 10:17

Repeat

For what purpose?

Original promise of following Jesus

Becoming fishers of men

Bear witness to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – Luke 24:25-49; John 15:26-27

What not just a matter of the Holy Spirit giving them the words

Being a witness added to the authoritative stature of the apostle – Acts 1:21-23

Baptism of Jesus attested to His righteousness – Matthew 3:13-15; John 15:10

Resurrection is a centerpiece of the gospel – I Corinthians 15:12-19

True resurrection to life – no more subject to death and decay – Romans 6:9

Lesson four:

Teaching the apostles

Some of the major themes

Humility – Luke 22:24-26

Kingdom not forwarded by violence – Luke 9:55

Words matter – choose wisely – Matthew 12:36

Choose who to serve – Matthew 6:24

The heart is the beginning of devotion to God – Matthew 15:8

Humility of anonymity brings the best rewards – Matthew 6:1-8

More on teaching methods

Taught by authority – Mark 1:21-22

Used stories with familiar themes – Matthew 13:1-9

Used attention-getting hyperbole – Matthew 5:29-30; 7:3-5

Used sound bites – Luke 6:37-39

Asked questions, sometimes rhetorical – Matthew 16:26; 22:17-22

I Samuel 13:11-14

What does it mean to seek God’s heart? (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)

God’s heart is His will.

Matthew 6:21 – The heart is one’s will and desire.

Jeremiah 31:20 – So it is with God when Scripture speaks of His heart.

Matthew 23:27 – He desired their faithfulness for their good, not His.

A place where sin cannot molest.

A blessing found in Christ is the protection against sin and destructive consequences.

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin beings the penalty of eternal destruction (II Thessalonians 1:9).

The temporal effects of sin are devastating (Psalms 32:3-4).

Psalms 119:10-11,80,161-165 – Near to the heart of God, we can be free from sin. The way sin molests is through its consequences.

A place where all is joy and peace.

John 13:17 – There is comfort and peace in the doing of God’s will – doing what is in His heart.

The joy and peace of God cannot be had apart from trusting obedience (Romans 15:13; Proverbs 3:5-6).

John 15:10-11 – Jesus knew joy, and He also knew that joy could be had by His people.

A place where all is joy and peace

Faith must precede hope, joy, comfort, and peace.

II Peter 1:2

Hebrews 6:10

A place where we our Savior meet.

The greatest story ever told!

Matthew 1:1, 18-25 – The birth of Jesus.

Matthew 4:23 – Jesus begins teaching.

Matthew 10:1-4 – Jesus selects apostles.

Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 23:1-3, 13

Matthew 27:21-26, 33-35, 50-54 – Jesus’ crucifixion.

Hebrews 9:22 – Jesus was our sacrifice!

Matthew 27:62-66 – Jesus’ grace is secured.

Matthew 28:5-7 – Jesus is risen from the dead!

Matthew 28:18-20

Acts 1:8-9

Acts 2:4, 36-39 – The gospel is preached at Pentecost.

But many were confused and offended.

Matthew 11:1-6

John 6:15 – Jesus was already a king!

John 6:35, 51, 59-65

The people needed to listen to what Jesus was teaching, even if it contradicted their preconceived ideas about the Messiah. We must do the same!

What should we do today?

We should hear and obey the word of God!

Luke 8:19-21

I Corinthians 11:23-26

Attitude check

Continuation from last class: Review of discussion about celebrating Christmas and Easter.

As long as we unite on Jesus, isn’t that all that matters? (Aren’t we just on different roads to Heaven?)

The Bible teaches about one church/body.

Ephesians 4:1-6 – “Body” is a common figure for the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Thus, there is one church.

Ephesians 5:25-27

There is only one Savior, and only one group of saved people worldwide.

I Corinthians 1:10-13 – They were told to have no divisions.

I Corinthians 12:12-14, 20, 27-29 – The word “members” is talking about individual Christians, not denominations.

Romans 12:5

“But differing church doctrines are Scriptural because Christ is the head of each division of His church.”

In the Bible, there are no divisions of Christ’s church.

What is it that connects one to Christ? What puts one into fellowship with Christ or puts one “in” Christ?

What does the Bible say?

Matthew 7:21-23 – Not everyone who says Jesus is Lord are actually in fellowship with Him.

John 17:17-23 – Jesus prayed for unity.

Ephesians 4:11-15 – We are to pursue unity of faith.