1/24 Senior High & Junior High BFC "The Gospels"

The Gospels: Jared Graves

Introduction

Get in groups of people who have shared in the same experience as you (a movie, a mission trip, church trip, field trip, class, etc). And write an outline for those events as if you were going to give a detailed report of them. Once done, they are to read their outlines. Point out the similarities and the differences in what was written.

Some of you shared the same experiences, yet your recollections of the events differ in ways. However I’m not going to stand up and look at you and say that you are fabricating a story because the two stories are not exact. Such is the Gospels. At ground level there are some differences in the stories. There are stories in one book that are in a different order than the other. There are some stories in one Gospel that do not appear in any of the others. How do we make this make sense? That’s what we are going to work towards today.

Lesson

First, let me mention that I am using two books for this lesson. The Bible, and the New Testament Introduction by one of my professors David Fiensy.

Let’s talk about order. Why are the Gospels in the order that they are in? Well the first three are together because they are called the Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic meaning “being seen together.” Let’s look at them first.

Non Interdependence.

·      Theory 1: One Gospel copied and translated by the three.

·      Theory 2: Gospels were compiled from notes and memoranda made by those who had been with Jesus.

·      Theory 3: Oral Gospel then put into words by the three.

Literary Interdependence

·      Matthew first, then the other two used the Gospels written before them.

·      Two Source- Mark first. Matthew and Luke used Mark, plus a second source using Jesus’ sayings (Q)

o   Page 126 P1

·      My Thoughts:

o   Matthew. Written first according to the ancient Christian authors. Wrote in Aramaic and Greek.

o   Mark. Written from the first hand accounts of Peter.

o   Luke. Read Luke 1:1-4. What do we learn: there were already several accounts of Jesus by the time Luke wrote it. Luke got his materials from “eyewitnesses” and “ministers of the word”. His purpose is to show Theophilus the actions, words, and deeds of Jesus are accurate.

Blow your mind?  Any thoughts?

Now let’s take a overview look of all the Gospels.

·      Matthew

o   Author: Matthew, the apostle of Jesus

o   Date: Between 80-100

o   Occasion: To get Jews the true story of Jesus and to preserve the words and deeds of Jesus

·      Mark

o   Author: Mark in the company of Peter (Read page 143 P3)

o   Date: Probably around 45

o   Occasion: Mark writes more about action, not discourse. Mark has no Jewish coloring (in fact has to explain some Jewish customs), Mark points out the weakness of the disciples of Jesus.

·      Luke

o   Author: Luke

o   Date: Between 58-60

o   Occasion: Highlights Jesus’ words to the poor. Refers to the women disciples of Jesus more than others. Jesus prayers are noted more. The Holy Spirit is an active part of the story

·      John

o   Author: John the Elder

o   Date: 90

o   Occasion: A defense of faith. Goes against the Docetic idea that Christ did not live in the flesh (see 1 John & 2 John). The message is that Jesus is the new temple, the new feasts, the new Passover Lamb, and the new Law. He has superseded Judaism and its institutions.

Life Applications

How would you talk about the importance and the validity of the Gospels?

The important thing about the Gospels, is to see how it is written. Talking to a religious person? Try Matthew. Talking to a non-religious person? Use Luke, Mark, or John. Need assurance of your faith? Use all of them. They are so very important to our faith. Are they the only accounts out there? Probably not, but they are the ones that we can know for certain are legit. Don’t let theories and questions of authorship deter you from knowing the most important thing: Jesus is Lord, He loves all people, and He wants a relationship with them.

1/3 Senior & Junior High BFC "Bible 101: Overview"

Introduction

• At the beginning of every year we are going to go through a study on the Bible. It is a six year rotation, so everyone will be able to go through this study as they move on through the youth program here at BGCC.
• This year is the first year that we are doing this, so we are getting to the basics of the Bible. For some of you, this is going to be old news, but for others, this may be the first in depth Bible overview that you have gone through. Today we are going to give an overview of the Bible

Lesson

• What is the big deal about the Bible? Tell me why it is important. If it is that important, why do we spend so little time getting acquainted with it?

Vital statistics

• Written over 4,000 years
• Old Testament: Pentateuch: Genesis-Deuteronomy, The ‘Torah’. Written by Moses/ Historical: Joshua-Esther/Wisdom & Poetical: Job-Song of Solomon/Prophetical- Major Prophets (Isaiah-Daniel) & Minor Prophets (Hosea-Malachi)
• New Testament: Gospels (Matthew-John)/ Historical-Acts/ Letters- Pauline: Romans-Philemon, General: Hebrews-Jude/ Prophecy: Revelation

Application

• Bible drills

12/27 Senior & Junior High BFC "A Voice in the Desert"

Lesson

• Review
• Read Matthew 3:1-3. Remember our first lesson? Things have come full circle.
• Read Matthew 3:4-10. So John wasn’t politically correct. What is his beef with the Pharisees and Sadducees?
• Read Matthew 3:11-12. I’m good, but someone will be greater.
• Read Matthew 3:13-17. Why did Jesus get baptized?
• Remember, John the Baptist, considered by Jesus the greatest among men, in his darkest hour wanted to know if what he was doing what the right thing to do. Do you ever get to that point?
• Read Matthew 14:1-2. So we see what happened to John. They think that Jesus was John reincarnate. Wouldn’t it be great if people looked at us and said it is like Jesus was back from the dead?
• Read Matthew 14:3-5. Once again, not being politically correct. Remember, John wasn’t making political stands, he was making moral ones.
• Read Matthew 14:6-12. What a way to go out. What does this tell you about the people who live in opposition to what we are preaching and teaching?

Application

• What aspects John’s life should we mimic?
• What have you learned from this study?
• The central message of Christmas is that Jesus has come to earth. Is this still not the message? Though it is not in a manger, Jesus is here living in us, and will be here one day as the victor and ruler of the world

12/20 Senior & Junior High BFC "A Voice In the Desert"

Lesson

• Review. Where are we? What has just happened
• Read Luke 1:57-61. Sometimes doing God’s will defies logic. People kept their names within the family. They didn’t make up names, they kept it all in the family. It didn’t make sense for them to name him this, especially since John was not a Hebrew name.
• Read Luke 1:62-66. Let’s say expectations are a little high. People have seen that God is definitely in this situation. Question: Is your family pointing towards God? Do people realize that God is working in your family?
• Read Luke 1:67-79. When my first child is born, this is the prayer that I am going to pray over them. No, they aren’t going to be as good as John the Baptist but their job in life, our job in life, is the same thing. Find one thing that was mutually exclusive to John?
• Read Luke 1:80. Why did he go to the desert? Some believe that he belonged to a group called the Essens, look it up and research them. But the big deal is this, he’s learning, he’s preparing.

Application

• In this Christmas season, are we filled with such joy? Look at the utter joy of the family, and the community for the birth of John. They all know that this kid is special, and Zechariah makes it obvious that this guy is going to show people the Messiah.
• Are we that excited about Jesus? Are we excited about the opportunity to be the person God uses to bring His good news to the world?

12/14 Senior & Junior High BFC "A Voice in the Desert: Actions Speak"

Introduction

• Did you ever find out a Christmas present before you got it?

Lesson

• Review last week
• Read Luke 1:1-4. Don’t you wish that we had all these accounts? Why is this important?
•  Read Luke 1:5-17. Don’t you wish that you had assurance when your future child comes that he is going to be great? Why is it important that he never has a drink?
• Read Luke 1:18-20. Zechariah doubts. Gabriel answers.
•  Read Luke 1:21-22. Zechariah plays charades
• Read Luke 1:23-25
• Read Luke 1:39-45. Before he is even born, John is pointing towards Jesus. He’s a quick learner.

Application

• John gets an early start on pointing towards Jesus. As you gear up for Christmas (which should be an all year celebration that Jesus came down to us) are your actions reflecting Christ?

12/6 Senior High & Junior High BFC "A Voice in the Desert"

Introduction

• What are some of the things your family does to get ready for Christmas?
• Jesus wasn’t the only one foretold about in the Old Testament.  This Christmas season, we are going to talk about one of the main characters in the story of Jesus, John the Baptist and how he prepared hearts and lives for the coming of the Messiah.

Lesson

• Read Isaiah 40:3-5. We will find that John the Baptist used these words when speaking about Jesus. He knew the importance of getting rid of everything in the way of the Messiah coming.
• Read Malachi 4:5-6. What did Elijah do?
• 1 Kings 18. How are Elijah and John the Baptist similar? In the midst of unbelief and fake gods, Elijah stood for God and what he believed in. John the Baptist stood in the midst of all the false messianic movements. He lived in a world full of Gentile influence.
• 1 Kings 19:9b-18. In their darkest, times, both of them needed reassurance that they were doing the right thing, and pointing the right way.
• 2 Kings 2:11. Okay, so this is maybe where the similarities end.
• Why is this significant that this verse is the last verse in the Old Testament? Yes a bunch of men decided where these books were going, but I trust that God was working through men to leave a cliff hanger here. There were 400 years between this period and the first capital letter of the Gospels.  The deal is this, Elijah, John the Baptist, they are coming to present this fact: come to God, or things are going to get bad.

11/29 Junior High BFC "Anonymous"

Introduction

• Has there been a point in your life that you have sat and wondered if there is a God? Or is there a point that made you question God’s sovereignty or power?
• Is there a point in your life where you sat and realized that there was no way something would happen if it weren’t for God?

Lesson

• Review Esther to this point. Esther becomes queen after winning what was essentially a beauty pageant. Haman gets power, and is against the Jews. Mordecai, cousin of and the person who raised Esther, refuses to bow to him and sends him over the top. Haman gets permission to wipe out the Jews. Esther now in the position to save the lives of the Jews.
• Read Esther 7:1-7. Big, bad, overconfident Haman now is scared for his life. He goes to beg and plead with Esther to spare his life.
• Read Esther 7:8-10. Haman basically dug his own grave.  The fact is when people go against God or persecute His people, and then they are truly digging their own graves.
• Read Esther 8:1-17. A beautiful story of victory and deliverance.
• Read Esther 9:1-10:3. Remember a couple weeks ago we asked you to remember the fact that they, “cast the pur (lot)” to see when the annihilation of the Jews would occur? That’s because the Jews now celebrate, on February 28^th, Purim. The day they should have been wiped out, but instead they stood victorious and delivered.

Application

• Though God was never mentioned in this book, how was it evident that He was at work?
• What did He give to Esther to make her successful and a tool for the deliverance of His people?
• What lessons have you learned from the study of Esther?