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.

From the call to the choice

More happened before Jesus chose His apostles

Jesus heals the lame man at Bethesda on the Sabbath – John 5:1-47

Disciples criticized for plucking grain on the Sabbath – Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus heals man with withered hand on the Sabbath – Luke 6:6-11

Jesus heals multitudes by the Sea of Galilee –Matthew 12:13-21

Prayer

Choosing the twelve

Spent all night in prayer prior to appointing – Luke 6:12

Appointed while on the mountain

Called His select disciples on the mountain with Him

Appear as a list in:

Matthew 10:2-4

Mark 3:16-19

Luke 6:14-16

Acts 1:13

The apostles

Simon (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) Peter (Acts)

Andrew

James

John

Phillip

Bartholomew

Thomas

Matthew

James, son of Alphaeus

Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddeus (Matthew)

Thaddeus (Mark)

Judas [the brother] of James (Luke and Acts)

Simon the Canaanite (Matthew and Luke) called Zelotes (Luke and Acts)

Judas Iscariot

Why so long?

Before becoming Jesus’ official messengers, ambassadors:

Had to see many wonders

Had to hear many lessons

Had to be oriented in the right direction

Had to hear certain declarations from Jesus

One thing to have inspiration of God’s Word, something else to be reminded of it by God’s Holy Spirit

Up to this point

Following Him

Called to follow Him

Called to be His apostles

Things they had seen and heard

John calling Him the Lamb of God

Jesus turning water into wine

Jesus cleansing the temple

Jesus prophesying to and teaching the Samaritans

Jesus teaching, healing, casting out demons throughout Galilee

Jesus declares that He is seeking sinners, not the righteous

Jesus forgives sin

Jesus heals on the Sabbath

Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus prays all night before a major life event

Apostles appointed and they all know each other well now

The next great lesson

Actually, a series of lessons

Sermon on the Mount, a treatise on:

The progression of faith for one following Jesus

The kind of influence a Christian has on the world

The more perfect interpretation of the Law

The truth about prayer and giving alms

The true security of heaven versus fleeting treasures of earth

Righteous judgment and helping brethren spiritually

How God is good to those who honestly pray

How brethren treat each other

Security of having Jesus’ teaching as your foundation

The follow of life without Him

Schooling the apostles

Beginning of the learning

When first encountering Jesus – Matthew 5:3-6

Began for some from hearing John

Continued from listening to Jesus

What did they see?

Who He approached

Sought those who knew they needed help – Matthew 5:4

Taught those who wanted to hear – Matthew 5:6

How he treated them

No coercion, condemnation – Matthew 5:5

Had compassion, love for them – Luke 9:51-56

II Timothy 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:11

Romans 15:4

The flood

Genesis 6:5-7

Genesis 7:15-24

Genesis 9:7-17

Joseph - Acts 7:9

Samson – Judges 16:28-30

Eternal plan – Acts 2:21-24; I Peter 1:19-21

The word became flesh – John 1:1-14

The parable of the good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-28

The great commandment – Matthew 22:34-40

The day of the Lord will come – II Peter 3:1-18; Hebrews 12:1-2

The precious Christ (I Peter 2:1-4, 7)

The precious blood (I Peter 1:18-19)

Jesus’ blood is precious – without it, our sins could not be forgiven.

Hebrews 9:22; 10:4, 10

Ephesians 1:7

The precious faith (II Peter 2:1)

I Peter 2:4

Galatians 5:6

I John 5:4

The precious promises (I Peter 2:4)

Hebrews 2:14

Galatians 3:16

Matthew 15:18-19

Galatians 3:29

I John 1:7

Ephesians 1:3

Hebrews 6:17

The precious trial of faith (I Peter 1:7)

Hebrews 12:11

Luke 6:48

Matthew 7:21

While not pleasant, these trials strengthen our faith. That is a precious thing!

II Peter 1:5

Resurrection in the Old Testament

Psalms 74:15

Psalms 49:15

II Samuel 12:23

Hosea 13:14

Resurrection in the New Testament

Luke 24:5-6 – Angels testified of Jesus’ resurrection.

John 20:25-28 – Jesus shows His wounds to Thomas.

Romans 1:4

Romans 6:9

I Corinthians 15:5-8, 20

The resurrection as the basis of the apostles’ teaching

Acts 2:23-24, 31

Acts 3:15, 26

Acts 4:1

Acts 17:3, 18, 31-32

Acts 24:14-15

Acts 26:22-23

I Corinthians 15:1-4

We will be resurrected!

John 5:28-29

John 6:40, 54

I Corinthians 6:14

I Corinthians 15:12-20

Following Jesus

First of the apostles to follow Jesus (recorded)

John 1:35-51

Andrew

Peter

Phillip

Nathanael

Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

Peter (Simon, called Peter)

Andrew

James

John

Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew

Who Jesus is seeking?

The four gospel accounts appear differently

Not everything is in the same order.

Not everything is included in all four accounts.

It appears there are differences in sequences of some events.

How to reconcile

Gospel accounts are not historical accounts per se.

There are other Biblical accounts not in chronological order.

Some not consecutive.

Some recount things in different levels of detail

They were not meant to be all inclusive. John 21:25

Only one account is stated to be recorded in order. Luke 1:3

Timeline to the call

Many things have happened up to this point

Jesus baptized in the Jordan – Matthew 3:13-17

The temptation – Matthew 4:1-11

John’s testimony that Jesus is the Lamb of God – John 1:19-34

Jesus followed by Andrew, Peter, Phillip, Nathanael – John 1:35-51

Jesus turns water into wine at Cana – John 2:1-11

Jesus cleanses the temple – John 2:13-25

Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night – John 3:1-21

John testifies again concerning Jesus – John 3:23-36

John imprisoned, Jesus leaves for Galilee – Matthew 4:12

Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well – John 4:5-42

Jesus arrives in Galilee and teaches there – Luke 4:14-15

Jesus, at Cana, heals the nobleman’s son – John 4:46-54

Jesus makes his home in Capernaum – Matthew 4:13

Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, John to follow Him – Luke 5:1-11

In the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus casts out a demon – Mark 1:21-28

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law – Mark 1:29-34

Jesus preaches throughout Galilee – Mark 1:35-39

Jesus heals a leper, tells him to keep quiet – Mark 1:40-45

Paralytic lowered through roof of house for Jesus to heal – Mark 2:1-12

Jesus calls Matthew – Mark 2:13-14