Church Planting Management Operations Handbook

Church Planting

Management

Operations Handbook

I.  The goal of the right attitude.

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27 AV)

  A.  To build the strongest church possible in Malaysia.

  B.  To establish as many churches as possible in a worldwide effort.

II.  The goal of the right foundation.

  A.  The Commission is sure.  Matthew 28:18-20

  B.  The foundation is sure.  1 Corinthians 15

III.  The goal of the right results.  1 Thessalonians  (Paul’s letter shows forth the right results)

  A.  Salvation.

  B.  Baptism.

  C.  Teach “All things whatsoever I have commanded you…”

    1.  Should have new coverts or follow-up class.

    2.  Should follow with discipleship class.

IV.  The goal of right stewardship.  1 Corinthians 4:2

The need is to set goals in each area and carefully build toward the overall goal.  The purpose will be to build a solid structure upon the foundation of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ.  This church will endure and consider further growth through the blessing of the Lord.  It is better to build well at first instead of having to tear down and build again.

Remember the importance of understanding priorities in setting and working toward goals.

Cause – Evangelism, soul-winning, visitation.

Effect – Follow-up and new converts Bible classes; worship service, mission (by local cause);              music ministry; church registration; finances; building, etc.

A weak structure will be erected if the cause and the effect are out of sequence!  Take the time necessary to build a solid structure on the Solid Foundation.

V.  The goal of right methods. 

  A.  Follow the governmental rules for the organization of a church.

  B.  Find the right venue for the meetings of the church.

VI.  Ministry Divisions

Evangelism

FunctionDescriptionPersonnel
PreachingServices, Bible Studies, Evangelistic Meetings.Pastor, Special Speakers
MissionsMissionary awareness, Correspondence, Finances 
OrdinancesLord’s Supper, BaptismPastor, others as directed by the church
MusicSong Leader, Songs for services, Special music, MusiciansSong leader: Backup Song leader:  Musicians:  Choir leader:
VisitationDirector of Visitation and tracting, records, follow-up, purchasing/printing tractsPastor
Bus ministryMinistry director, Visiting and follow-up, Promotions, Music 
FellowshipCoordinator of special events 
Ushers/Church DecorumDirector of ushers and preparation for worship 

Education

FunctionDescriptionPersonnel
Sunday School AdministratorSupervision of teachers, Scheduling, Purchasing, Filing of material, Distribution/CollectionPastor
Sunday School ClassesPrimary Youth Adults – English Adults – Mandarin       
Sunday School MusicCoordinated by each class 
Children’s ChurchPreaching, Teaching, Music Preprimary Primary    Teachers:  Helpers:
Special Children’s ProgramsChildren’s presentations, V.B.S. 
Correspondence Bible Course, Bible Study, Bible CollegeCoordinator, printing, distribution, collecting and grading.Pastor
Church Retreat, Camps, Seminars  

Administration

FunctionDescriptionPersonnel
FinancesTreasurer Collection and recording of all offerings, disbursement of funds 
Weekly LiteratureBulletins, Prayer lists 
CorrespondenceGeneral Correspondence, Missions Letters, Reports, CardsPastor    
Record KeepingAttendance, Birthdays, AnniversariesPastor
Cleaning and MaintenanceRegular cleaning of premises. Preventive and corrective repair of Church propertyVolunteers sign up
FlowersChurch auditorium, special occasions 
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Bible Baptist Institute Methods of Bible Study, Manners and Customs – Shepherds

Methods of Bible Study

Manners and Customs of Bible Lands

VII.  Occupations.

 A.  The Shepherd and sheep.

    1.  A large number of sheep in this region.  Job 42:12; 1 Kings 8:63

         The most popular kind of sheep is the ‘fat tail’.

    2.  The task of tending the sheep usually fell to the youngest boy or the girls.

        1 Samuel 16:11  

    3.  Equipment used.

      A.  Tunic and camel hair coat.

      B.  Scrip.  A leather pouch.  1 Samuel 17:40; Matthew 10

      C.  Rod.  1 Samuel 17:34-36; Psalm 23:4; Ezekiel 20:37; Leviticus 27:32

           (The sceptre of kings is based on the shepherd’s rod)

      D.  Staff.  Approximately 2 meters long.  Psalm 23:4

      E.  Sling.  Used to control sheep at a distance.  1 Samuel 17:40-49; 25:29

      F.  Flute

    4.  Care for the sheep.

      A.  Pasture must be found.  1 Chronicles 4:39

      B.  Food provided when grass finished.  Isaiah 40:11

      C.  Water.  Psalm 23:2  streams, pools, wells.  Genesis 29:8-10

      D.  Pens

        1).  Temporary

          A).  Made of bushes and thorns.

          C).  Caves

        2).  Permanent places.  John 10:1-3

      E.  Named the sheep.  John 10:3

      F.  They are not driven, but they are led.  John 10:4; Psalm 23:3

           Isaian 40:11; 43:2

      G.  Protection.  1 Samuel 17:34-37

    5.  Gathering sheep.

      A.  Allowed to mix together.  Genesis 29:1-3

      B.  Sheep will follow their shepherd’s voice.  John 10:4,5

      C.  Some used trained dogs.  Job 30”1

      D.  Sheep have a tendency to wander away.  Palm 119:176; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:6

    6.  Products of the sheep.

      A.  Wool 

      B.  Skin.  Hebrews 11:37

      C.  Meat

      D.  Milk

      E.  Ram’s horn

      F.  Sacrifice.

  B.  Shepherd and goats.

    1.  Goats are more difficult to hadle than sheep.

      A.  They like rocky slopes of mountains.

      B.  They eat the young leaves of trees.

      C.  Heat does not affect them as it does the sheep.

      D.  Mor vigorous, headstrong, and playful than sheep.

    2.  Goats can mix with herd of sheep, but it is better to separate them at feeding. 

         Matthew 25:32,33

    3.  Goat’s milk is very rich and popular.  Proverbs 27:27

    4.  Only the meat of the young goat is good for eating.  Judges 6:19; Luke 15:29

    5.  The hair is expecially good for making tents.  Exodus 26:7; 35:23

    6.  Sacrifices.  Leviticus 1:10; 16:22

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Delivering the Gift

December, 2023

Delivering the gift

What are we willing to do in order to deliver the special gift we have for others?

I.  The Wise Men at the birth of the Saviour – Honour

The difficult journey of about four months was based on the Prophecies of the Word of God, and using their own knowledge of astronomy, noting a star in the heavens that they had no knowledge of prior to this.  This unusual phenomenon may have led the to research the Scriptures, reading particularly the prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.

Matthew 2:1-2  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

What we want to say about them here is simply that these men began their journey by faith based on the knowledge that they had of God’s Word and of His creation.

Let’s learn of the gift presented by –

II.  Mary at the supper for Jesus and the disciples –  Love and Worship

The declaration of Mary’s dedication to the Lord is seen as she presented her most precious gift to Him while she had the opportunity.

John 12:1-7  Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Judas betrayed Jesus for 75 pence.  The gift of worship is of much greater value than the willful greed of and evil and proud heart.

Mary put on boldness and humility to give the gift of love and worship.

III.  Paul – the Gospel to the Gentile world

The determination to take the gift of the Gospel to the world –

2 Corinthians 4:1-18  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;……….. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake………. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Paul appropriated the strength of the Lord in order to preach the gospel –

2 Corinthians 10:16 “To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you…

According to his testimony –

1 Corinthians 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

We learn much from these people, and we also are instructed by the fellowship of –

IV.  The Gentiles churches – relief to the saints in Judaea.

Their decision to send help to the brethren in need revealed their trust in the Lord, which is recorded in –

2 Corinthians 8:1-5  Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

They had truly given themselves unto the Lord and fulfilled His Word in their lives –

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Loving the brethren as Jesus loved them, even though they had not seen them.

In conclusion, we learn of the most important gift of all, given by –

V.  Jesus at the cross –  Salvation

  A.  The Purpose of this gift –

    1.  The purpose of this gift is to glorify –

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

    2.  To provide and offer salvation to all mankind –

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

  B.  The Promise given.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  C . The Plan revealed.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Matthew 20:18-19  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

  D.  The Perseverance needed.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

In conclusion –

What am I willing to do, to declare the wonderful Gift of God to the world?

I must know Him as my Saviour, Then –

Like the Wise Men, bring Him honour by studying His Word and stepping out by faith

Like Mary, giving my best unto Him, in humility and by boldness,  reveal my love and worship

Like Paul, counting myself crucified with Him, putting away those things that are past and putting before me a world in need of hearing the gospel.

Like the churches, encouraging one another and working in fellowship one with another to accomplish the Lord’s command “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…”

What will you decide to do today?  Where do you fit in the examples given?

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Preaching Outline on the First Letter of John, Message Two Definition of Joy

The Letter of First John       Message Two

1 John 1:4   And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Before we continue with the letter, we should define “…your joy…”.  The Lord led John to write this letter that it will provide us as believers with all we need, as noted by the Apostle Paul, in –

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

– and being provided, or furnished by the Word of God, our joy may be full!  The question before us then is “What is joy”?  To help us we will look at three things, beginning with –

I.  The Recognition of Joy.

    We need to know that –

  A.  Joy is not the same as –

    1.  Happiness or feeling blessed

John 13:16-17  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

    2.  Pleasure     The word means ‘thinks well of/ approves/willing

Luke 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Have you been served at Chick-Fil-A?  The response to “Thank you” is always “Its my pleasure”.  They think well of your business, being happy that you are at their establishment, and they are willing to serve.  This is a pleasant response, but it is not ‘Joy’. 

    3.  Emotion

Webster defines emotion as “Literally, a moving of the mind or soul; hence, any agitation of mind or excitement of sensibility.”

Joy then, which would include happiness, blessedness, and pleasure, is the emotional state of the believer’s heart and mind willingly being moved toward singlemindedness with God.

Therefore – 

  B.  Joy is the knowledge of fulfilling the will of God.

       In Him, it is an attribute, infinite and unchanging.  He is –

II.  The Resource of Joy.      John 15:11 “…my joy might in you…” 

  A.  The source of the believer’s joy. The Lord Jesus Christ

John 15:10-11  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

When we get saved, we are made alive in Him.  We are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit – new creatures in Christ Jesus.  We are bought with a price and are not our own.  That which we have is –

His love by which He sought us,

His salvation by which He saved us,

His love, by which we love Him and others,

His message that we declare to the world, and

His joy that we might have to its fulness when “we love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:”  

We rejoice in –

  B.  The state of being in –

    1.  The Present

The joy of the Lord wells up in us like the living water the Lord spoke of while speaking with the woman in Samaria –

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

When we are right with Him, joy wells up in us.  The pump handle of righteousness empties us of self and draws up the joy of the Lord from the well inside us, having already sprung up into everlasting life, and now filling us, no – overfilling us with joy, His joy!

And we look to –

    2.  The Future – a prepared place

Matthew 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Where?  He has told us where –

John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Can we imagine if there were a sign at the entrance to the Father’s House that it might welcome us with these words “enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Our joy because it is His joy –

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

It is all about Him and we learn from His example through –

  C.  The Steadfastness of His joy

Our joy is through drawn from His Joy, and His joy is steadfast, not affected by the things trials and tribulations that we endure.

Hebrews 12:1-4  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Paul the Apostle, through the commitment of his life, the confidence of his calling,  the crucifixion of his flesh, and the care for the salvation of men, was able to say through the grace of God –

Acts 20:22-24  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

He had learned joy – “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”  We can have this same joy, and having spoken of the Recognition and the Resource of joy, now we look at –

III.  The Reception      “…your joy might be full.”    How does it influence the believer’s life?

Joy is a result of and an indicator of our walk with the Lord.  As He is the Vine and we are the branches drawing all that we are from Him, the results are seen as fruit to be a blessing to all!

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Our joy can withstand the cold winter blasts and killing frosts because the Vine is alive – rooted in eternity past and throughout eternity future!

John 16:22-24   And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Not in our circumstances.  We learn this from the Lord’s words as recorded in –

Luke 10:17  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 

What is going to happen when the devils are not subject to them?

Mark 9:28-29  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Where is their joy now?

It is not just the response to our circumstances, but is the response to the knowledge that we are faithful in our relationship with God.

In Conclusion, I want to read this definition –

Our son, James Burke, shared this definition and I believe it is a great help to understanding what we are speaking on now –

Joy In the New Testament, we never find joy or happiness defined, but we find them described. The word Μακάριοι is in many translations represented as “blessed”, but is often, and better, translated as “happy”. Read Matthew 5, in which chapter the conditions of happiness are described 9 times. Throughout the New Testament we see “happy” followed by a “because”. Happiness is a response to circumstances. On the other hand, χαρᾶς is translated as “joy”. This word is very closely related to the word χάρις, which means both grace and gift. There are never conditions described for joy in the New Testament, simply commands to rejoice! Read Matthew 28:9, Romans 12:15, Philippians 3:1. God does not command us to a reaction but to an attitude. An attitude that understands life as a gift, and settles in to trust the Giver regardless of circumstances. Joy is produced by love because love turns our thoughts away from ourselves and focuses on others. O. Henry wrote a wonderful story, titled “The Gift of the Magi”, in which a man and wife are very poor, but each possess a cherished item they value above any comfort selling would provide. Yet each secretly sells their treasure in order to buy a Christmas gift for the other. The heartache of the sacrifice was nothing to the joy of the giving. Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…”. We see even for Jesus, the parent of joy was sacrificial love. In order to experience the joy of redeeming us, He endured the suffering of the cross. If He had not loved us enough to die for our sins while we still rebelled against Him, he could not have experienced the joy that was set before Him. Have you ever picked an apple off a tree and bitten into it, to discover a worm living inside? How did the worm get there? Most of the time, a worm in the fruit starts out as an egg on the blossom. When the apple tree flowers, insects come and lay their eggs in the blooms, and the fruit forms around them. Once the fruit is large enough and ripe enough, the eggs hatch and the worms eat their way out. Apple orchards must spray the budding trees to protect the ripened fruit. We have already seen how joy is the product of sacrificial love. But sometimes our love gets contaminated with hopes of recognition, or desires for recompense, or feelings of pride or self righteousness. Then the joy that follows is also contaminated with discontent, or disappointment or hurt feelings. To have pure fruit, we must guard against the eggs of corruption.

Do you have the fulness of joy today?

What is the source?  Or would you say

Who is the Source?

Are you right with Him today?

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Preaching Outline on the First Letter of John, Message One 1 John 1:1-4

Preaching outline for the First Epistle of John.

  1.  The believer and life eternal.  1 John 1:1-4

As we begin looking at these verses, we must understand the context of time, that this letter was written to believers approximately 60 years after the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It will be safe to say that the readers of this letter had never seen the Lord.  Keep this in mind as we read this introduction to the letter.  We are introduced to the –

  1.  Person of the Lord Jesus 1:1,2.  

1 John 1:1-2  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

He wrote both of His –

  1.  Spirit – He is God

“…from the beginning…”

“…the Word of life…”

“…that eternal life…”

And of His –

  • Body – He is man, flesh and blood

He ‘manifested’ Himself to mankind

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:6-8  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It is imperative that we know, that we understand, that –

B. Proof is not through seeing only. 1:1-2a

How many had seen, yet had not believed.  Seeing, they still were not satisfied.

1 Corinthians 1:20-24 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Notice –

John 12:21,37  The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus………But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

We will help ourselves in the future if we will make a note of this portion of Scripture in our Bibles that we can show those who tell us that they would believe if they could see.  This is not true!

C. Power is in hearing.  1 John 1:2b,3

“…shew (declare, report, announce…”  1:2a

“…declare we unto you…” 1:3

Remember how the Holy Spirit led Paul to pen down this truth –

Romans 10:8-14 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Which leads us the next verse where John sets forth the –

D. Purpose – is salvation  1 John 1:3

1 John 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Notice the excitement of John and the disciples, declaring what they knew!

“…we have found the Messias….Andrew first findeth Simon his brother…

Philip findeth Nathanael…

We are privileged to learn of their experience – seeing, speaking to Jesus, and hearing from Jesus – of coming to faith in Him.

Their whole experience will someday be ours – we, seeing Him, our faith through hearing, becoming sight!

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

But know –

The fellowship which they had, salvation in the Lord, we have now – the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit, convicting and convincing of Truth.

                  “…truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son

                   Jesus Christ.”

And in this fellowship, this salvation, we have the –

E. Peace is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:4

“…these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full. “

Colossians 2:9-10  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

1 Peter 1:8-9  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Perfect peace for those who have the fullness of joy.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee…..

“…Declare we unto you…”

“…Write we unto you…”

Do you want to know the Person of Jesus Christ?

Do you want to know the Proof of Him?

Do you want to know how His power is applied in your life?

Do you want to know His purpose in your life, to be your Saviour?

Do you want to have peace and joy in your life?  Not just temporary, for an hour or a day, but permanent and complete – such that you would cry out “Lord, I am overflowing with you”.  “He annointeth my head with oil, my cup runneth over”!

Do you want it?  Read it, listen to God and obey Him!

Nineteen times in this letter John states –

“shew unto you, write unto you, written unto you, this is the message”  Do you understand his message?  He is saying

“LISTEN TO ME, FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, LISTEN TO ME!

The remainder of the letter speaks to the believer’s growth in the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word.

It is milk.  1 Corinthians 3:1,2

It is meat.  1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14

It is instruction.  2 Timothy 3:16

It is conviction.  Hebrews 3:12

As you read this letter, you will see this truth repeated time after time.  Your faith will grow.  Your joy will be full.  Your love will be from the Lord to the world.  Your prayers will be constantly lifted up to the Lord.  You will share this message with others so that they might hear, and their fellowship will be with us!

Who will say – “Lord, I will hear and I will tell”.

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Bible Baptist Institute, Methods of Bible Study, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, Lesson Three

Methods of Bible Study

Manners and Customs of Bible Lands

Lesson Three

VI.  Daily Life.

  A.  Hospitality.

    1.  Guest treated as if sent by God.  Genesis 18:2-7

    2.  Guest.

      a.  Friends.

Rice Orientlalisms of Bible Lands

Friends as guests. In the East a friend is always welcome to receive hospitality. The Romans of New Testament times had a token of hospitality between two friends, which consisted of a tile of wood or stone, which was divided in half. Each person wrote his name on one of the two pieces, and then exchanged that piece with the other person. These were often kept and handed down from father to son. To produce the counterpart of one of these pieces would guarantee the hospitality of a real friend.

The Book of Revelation no doubt refers to this custom in one of the promises to overcomers:  “And will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written” (Revelation 2:17).

      b.  Strangers.

Romans 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

      c.  Enemies.  (Safe haven provided in tent)

Mr. MacGregor, “Rob Roy,” tells how he adroitly outwitted a Sheikh, who had made him prisoner, by using strategem in getting the Arab to eat salt in his presence. Partaking of salt together, even by accident, is regarded among Arabs as a pledge of friendship. Thus, MacGregor had become the Arab’s guest, “We had now eaten salt together, and in his own tent, and so the Sheikh was bound by the strongest tie, and he knew It.”  Rice Orientalisms of Bible Lands

    3.  Provisions.

      a.  Tent dwellers.

        1).  Entrance of tent used for entertaining guest.

        2).  Women stayed in their own apartment.  (Sarah was able to listen to conversation)

      b.  Villages/Towns/Cities

        1).  One room house would be as tent.

        2).  Public guest houses were provided in some areas (Women were not allowed to stay)

              Sometimes the guest area would be outside under the shade of trees.

        3).  Families would wait in the town square to be invited to a home. Judges 19:15-21

    4.  Customs.

      a.  Bowing.

        1).  Respect  Matthew 18:26

        2).  Custom

        3).  Worship.  Exodus 20; Acts 10:25

      b.  Greetings.

        1).  “Peace be upon you” and the reply – “And on you peace” is the modern custom.

        2).  The same practice in ancient times.

Luke 10:5-6  And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

W. M. Thomson asserts that there is such an amount of insincerity, flattery and falsehood in the terms of salutation prescribed by etiquette that our Lord wished his disciples “to dispense with them as far as possible.” But the hindrance to their work was also a strong reason for the command. So, too, he forbade them to go from house to house. For when a stranger arrives in an Oriental village, strict etiquette requires all the families, one after another, to invite him to a meal. This would take much time, for formal salutations must be made to every person and upon every occasion. Any business calling for despatch could not be done were one to stop for salutations. Hence, the Scripture charge “not to salute” any by the way. Luke 10:4

      c.  Kissing.

Luke 7:45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

      d.  Removing shoes.  Exodus 3:5

      e.  Washing of the feet.  John 13:4,5; 1 Timothy 5:10

      f.  Annointing head.  Psalm 23:5

Luke 7:46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

    5.  Caring for the guest. 

      a.  Water.   Pledge of friendship

Genesis 24:17-18  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

Mark 9:41  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

When Palmer asked for a drink of water, it could not be found in the Arab encampment in the desert, but milk was brought to him instead of water. Thus Sisera asked Jael for a drink of water, “And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink.”  Rice Orientlalisms of Bible Lands

      b.  Meal. 

Joshua 9:14  And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

      c.  Guest was made the lord of the home.

Genesis 19:2  And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

      d.  No privacy expected or provided.

    6.  Protection.  Pledge to care for safety.

Psalms 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

    7.  Abuse of hospitality  Obadiah 7

Psalms 41:9  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

    8.  Restoring fellowship. 

Genesis 31:53-54  The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

    9.  Departure.  Genesis 18:16; Judges 19:5-10; Acts 20:38

“On leaving the encampment, the guest is expected to make a present to the Sheikh of a good round sum of money. The Sheikh, however, protests violently, declaring that he cannot think of receiving money from a guest, and insists on restoring it. On one or two occasions, we took our entertainers at their word, and received back the money; but the good man always rode after us before we had got far, and expressed his willingness not only to accept the gift, but his decided disapprobation of the smallness of it.” ^This throws light on the act of Gehazi and the readiness of Naaman to hand him the present, previously refused by the prophet.  Rice Orientlalisms of Bible Lands

  B.  Daily life.

    1.  Began early morning.  Genesis 22:3; Exodus 34:4

Mark 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

    2.  Grinding.

      a.  Sometimes takes half the day

      b.  It is a sign of peaceful times. 

Jeremiah 25:10  Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

      c.  Often two women grind together (ease the work and provides fellowship)

    3.  Meals.

      a.  Breakfast  Taken later than modern customs “brunch”

      b.  Dinner.  The main meal

When first baked the loaf, or cake, pus’s up, and becomes a flattened spheroid filled with air. The top and bottom crusts are crisp and quite thin. The loaves collapse when cold. This flat, thin loaf, rough of surface, would resemble a flat stone. Hence the allusions of our Lord, to giving a stone for bread. “If his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone?  ‘Rice’

In Palestine also the squash, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, beet, parsnip, bean, pea, onion, garlick, leek, radish, mallow, and egg-plant are common articles of diet. … Fruits were also freely used, and are abundant in variety and quantity in Oriental lands. Grapes, figs, apricots, and pomegranates are common fruits. These fruits are dried and used freely during the winter season. Grapes are mashed and pressed. From them is made dibs, a thick pasty substance or sometimes thin like our thick molasses. Honey is also prepared and kept in similar form.

    4.  Weaving/making cloth.

Proverbs 31:19  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

    5.  Washing clothes. 

Jeremiah 2:22  For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

Malachi 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

    6.  Girls given the task of tending the goats.  Exodus 2:15-26

    7.  Sleep/rest during the heat of the day.

    8.  Bringing water.

      a.  Early morning or evening.

Genesis 24:11  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

      b.  Women usually carried the water.

        1).  Used earthenware pitcher.

Lamentations 4:2  The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!

        2).  Carried upon the shoulder.

        3).  Refer to Mark 14:13  It would be easy to find a man carrying water.

      c.  The wells were usually quite deep.  Large holes with stairs cut in the side to the water

           level.

    9.  Conversation.  The people are very emotional and use colourful language.

Matthew 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

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A response to the question asked of me “When did the church begin according to the Scriptures”?

A response to the question posed to me – “When did the church begin according to the Scriptures”?

To know when the church began, we must know what the church is so we can identify it in the Scriptures.

1.  We know that that the church is an assembly meeting together for a specific purpose.  This is the definition of “church” which is translated from the original ‘ekklesia’.  Therefore it is not just a group of people gathered in one place, it has organization separating from general meetings of people.

2.  We know that the church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and that He is the builder of it.

Matthew 16:16-18.  The church is founded upon Him according to His reply to Peter –

Peter:  “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God”

Jesus: “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the testimony of Peter), I will build my church…”

Conclusion:  The Lord’s church will be built up of believers.  Membership must be saved.

3.  We know that a group of believers were meeting together in one place on the first day of the week (Sunday). 

The first Sunday.    Luke 24:1, 9, 14-45 and John 20:18-23.

Met with the Lord, were taught by Him and given by Him the Holy Spirit in order to understand His Words.

The second Sunday.  John 20:26-29

The remaining ministry among them prior to His ascension thirty two days later.  John 20:29 – 21:25

Acts 1:1-11

This assembly had been meeting together on a regular basis under the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ, being given the Holy Spirit in order to understand His instruction.  They had everything they needed to carry out His command to them except for the power needed which could only be supplied by the Holy Spirit.  They were instructed to wait for this power.

4.  We know from these Scriptural facts that the church was in existence at this time, following the instructions given by the Lord, wait for the empowerment of the Holy Ghost before acting upon the commandment to begin witnessing in Jerusalem and unto all the earth.  Acts 1:8

5.  We know that this assembly carried out these instructions, carrying out the business at hand under the leadership of Peter (John 21:15-17).  Acts 1:12-26

6.  We know that the promise of the Lord was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost as they had been meeting together in accordance with His command.  Acts 2:1

7.  We know that the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord was in exact accordance with His command.  Acts 1:5   For John (the baptizer) baptized with water (the element, being immersed in water), but ye shall be baptized (The Father and the Son being the baptizers, John 14:26) with the Holy Ghost (the element in which they were immersed) not many days hence.

Acts 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven (The Lord) as of a rushing mighty wind (The Holy Ghost), and it filled the house where they were sitting (immersed).

8.  We know that they received the power promised by the Lord to begin witnessing of Him beginning at Jerusalem and unto all the world (Acts 2:4-10) with that power, began to preach the gospel (Acts 2:14, 21-36).

9.  We know that through the preaching of the Word, the promise of the Holy Spirit’s working is seen,

John 16:7-13, resulting in the salvation of many, Acts 2:37-40.

10.  We know that on that day, three thousand people were saved and then baptized, adding them to the existing church which up to that time had a membership of about one hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15). 

11.  We know that the church in Jerusalem was the first church, that it had a membership of about one hundred and twenty to which three thousand were added by baptism.  This church continued to meet regularly, carrying out the instruction of the Lord.  Acts 2:42.

12.  We know the growth of this church and the planting of other churches was carried out in accordance with the commission to the church as is detailed in the Book of Acts, for example Acts 11:19-26.

The Word of God sets forth the account of the beginning and the establishment of other churches.

Saved into the family of God and baptized into the assembly (church) under the authority of God.

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Bible Baptist Institute, Methods of Bible Study Lessons Six, Section two Manners and Customs of Bible Lands

Baptist Bible Institute

Lesson Six, Section Two

Manners and customs of Bible lands

This study will introduce, or reinforce, the importance of understanding the Land, Cities, Towns, and Villages in the culture of the Bible times.  Please use the Scripture references as beginning points for the study of each heading.

II.  Cities, towns, and villages.

Note on the land.

    1.  Bias for the land.  The general outlook of the Jews.

      a.  They view their land as holy, although it is only called this once.  Zechariah 2:12

      b.  They view all other land as heathen, even the dust being unclean.  Matthew 15:21-26

      c.  When Jews acted like the heathen, the dust of their homes or villages was considered

           as a heathen land and was unclean.  Matthew 10:14

    2.  Bias in the land.

      a.  Jerusalem – the House of God, the centre of learning.

      b.  Surrounding areas – country people: unlearned, lower class. 

           Matthew 21:23; Luke 18:11; Acts 4:13

  A.  Walls

Leviticus 25:29-31  And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it. And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile. But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee.

2 Chronicles 8:5  Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

  B.  Gates.

    1.  Security

Nehemiah 13:19  And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

    2.  Judgment

Deuteronomy 16:18  Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

Ruth 4:1  Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

2 Samuel 18:24  And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

In 1834 I resided for several months in this city, and, to pass away the time, frequently came out, in the afternoon, ” to the gate through the city, and prepared my seat in the street.” There the governor, the kady, and the elders of the people assembled daily, ” in a void place,” and held an extemporaneous divan, at which affairs of every kind were discussed and settled with the least possible ceremony. But recently from America, I was greatly amused with this novel open-air court, conducted amidst the din, confusion, and uproar of a thronged gate-way— men, women, and children jostling each other ; horses prancing, camels growling, donkeys braying, as they passed in and out of the gate ; but nothing could interrupt the proceedings, or disturb the judicial gravity of the Court.  H. Thompson The Land and the Book

  C.  Towers

    1.  Place of identification

Genesis 11:4  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

    2.  Place of security.

Judges 9:51  But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

2 Chronicles 26:15  And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

  D.  Streets and Markets

    1.  Place of selling, buying, and social interaction.

Matthew 11:16-17  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Acts 17:17  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

    2.  Meeting place

      a.  Travellers     Judges 19:15-21 

Matthew 10:11-14  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

      b.  Workers

Matthew 20:3  And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

III.  Property.

  A.  Measurements, lots, and landmarks. 

Deuteronomy 19:14  Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

  B.  Purchasing   Genesis 23:3-20

Jeremiah 32:9-12  And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

  C.  Inheritance.

1 Kings 21:1-3  And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.

Leviticus 25:23  The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

IV.  Water supply.

Importance – life itself.  Genesis 21:25,30; 26:19-25;  Exodus 17:6-8

  A.  Wells and cisterns.  2 Samuel 17:18,19; 2 Kings 18:31; Jeremiah 2:13; John 4

…method is common in this land of Philistia, which I have also seen on the plains of Central Syria. A large buffalo-skin is so attached to cords that, when let down into the well, it opens and is instantly filled, and, being drawn up, it closes so as to retain the water. The rope by which it is hoisted to the top works over a wheel, and is drawn by oxen, mules, or camels, that walk directly from the well to the length of the rope, and then return, only to repeat the operation until a sufficient quantity of water is raised. This, also, is a very successful mode of drawing water.  The Land and the Book

  B.  Springs 2 Kings 2:21

  C.  Reservoirs

2 Kings 20:20  And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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Baptist Bible Institute Methods of Bible Study, Lesson Six. Manners and Customs of the Bible Lands

Methods of Bible Study  Lesson six

Manners and customs of Bible lands

I.  Dwellings.

  A.  Tents.  See Genesis 4:20

    1.  Material.  Tents were made of woven goat hair which was black in color.

         Song of Solomon 1:5

    2.  Layout.  Genesis 18:10-15; 24:67; 31:33

    3.  Arrangement and furnishings.

    4.  Encampments.

    5.  Maintenance and enlargement.  Isaiah 54:2

    6.  Character of life.  Hebrews 11:9-13

    7.  Search the book of Jeremiah and discover a statement of purpose in the use of tents.

  B.  One room houses.

    1.  Purpose of the house – bavith (shelter)

    2.  References to the general character of the house.

      a.  Grass on the housetops.

Psalms 129:6  Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

2 Kings 19:26  Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

Isaiah 37:27  Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

      b.  Weather leaking through the roof.

Proverbs 19:13  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 27:15  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

      c.  Thieves breaking through the walls. 

Matthew 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Matthew 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

      d.  Snakes in the walls.

Amos 5:19  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

      e.  Special uses of the roof.

        1).  Sleeping

        2).  Storage 

Joshua 2:6  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

        3).  Public announcements

        4).  Worship and prayer.

Acts 10:9  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

        5).  Emergency escape route.

Matthew 24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

      f.  Windows and doors  

       1).  Windows usually faced the street.  Placement was important to insure privacy and

             safety.  The windows had wood bars or wood shutters that could be closed and 

             secured.  Proverbs 7:6

Proverbs 7:6  For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

        2).  Doors.  Doors were made of wood and were hinged.  They were secured with

              various kinds of locks.  Exodus 12:22,23; Judges 3:25

Exodus 12:22-23  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Judges 3:25  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

      h.  Sleeping arrangements.

Luke 11:5-7  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

      i.  Cooking

  C.  Multi-room houses

    1.  Layout and purpose.

      a.  Upper rooms.  2 Kings 4; Acts 1:13

2 Kings 4:9-11  And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

Luke 22:11-12  And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Acts 1:13  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

      b.  Roofs  Luke 5:19; Duteronomy 22:8

Luke 5:19  And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

Deuteronomy 22:8  When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

Complete the study on the following subjects using the previous outline as a guide.  This is the first lesson of this important study.

    2.  Courtyards.

    3.  Entrances

  D.  Furnishings and implements

    1.  Tents

    2.  Houses

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Teaching Notes on the Life of Christ

The Life of Christ

Introductory material

I.  World powers and cultures

  A.  Nations affecting Israel during the inter-testamental period.

    1.  The Persian Empire  539 – 333 BC

Persian Ruler              Date                Event                                       Scripture

Cyrus the Great              539 – 530  Conquers Babylon        Daniel 5      Ezra 1 – 3

                                                Issued decree to return           

Cambyses                    530 – 522         Not mentioned in Old  Testament      

Smerdis                       522 – 520         Stopped the work on the Temple     Ezra 4:1-23                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Darius the Great            520 – 486  Orders work on the       Ezra 4:24; 6:1-22

                                                          Temple to resume                                                                                                       490                  Sends army of 100,000                                                                                                                       against the Greeks and is                                                                                                                    defeated.        

Xerxes (Ahasuerus)    486 – 465         Made Esther queen                 Esther                                                             480                  Sent army of 2,500,000                                                                                      against the Greeks and was defeated.

Artaxerxes I                465 – 424         *Gave permission                               Nehemiah 1 – 13         Longimanus                            for Nehemiah to return    

The decree is dated on the month Nisan, 445 BC

Note: Malachi, preaching the final message of the Old Testament, prophesied during the reign of the Persians, approximately 430 BC

  2.  The Greek Empire.  333 – 167 BC

The Greeks, or Helle’nes as they were known, were forced to join their city/states together for protection from the invading Persians.  They became strong with the Athenians and the Spartans leading the allies.  In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian war began which again divided the city states.

    a.  Philip of Macedon 

      i.  Began ruling in 359 BC

      ii.  Consolidated Greece under his leadership in 338 BC

      iii.  Assassinated in 336 BC at the age of 46.

    b.  Alexander – the Great.

      i.  Began ruling in 336 BC

      ii.  Expedition against Persia devised by Philip is launched by Alexander.

      iii.  Darius of Persia defeated at Issus in 333 BC

      iv.  Palestine and Egypt are conquered, the city of Alexandria founded.

      v.  Darius and a force of one million men completely defeated by army of  50,000.

      vi.  The Empire enlarged to incorporate all the land to the Sutlej River in India.

      vii.  Alexander died in 323 BC at the age of 33.

    c.  The empire divided between four generals.

      i.  Egypt                Ptolemy

      ii. Syria                 Seleucid

      iii. Macedonia          Lysimachus

      iv.  Asia Minor         Cassander

    d.  The important result of this campaign was the Hellenizing of the conquered lands.  The            Greek language became the tongue of the governments and the literature throughout this          empire.       

  3.  The Maccabaen Rule.  167 – 63 BC

   a.  Order by Antiochus IV Epiphanes forbidding the practice of Judaism and the desecration of the Temple.  167 BC

    b.  Mattathias and his five sons lead rebellion against Antiochus.

    c.  Judah, the third son of Mattathias continued the rebellion.

      i.  He led his followers in defeating larger Syrian armies 4 times in succession.

      ii.  He captured Jerusalem, purified the Temple and restored worship.

           December 165 BC.   (The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah remembers this purification            and restoration)

      iii.  His army repulsed a Syrian army numbering 100,000 soldiers leading to Syria                          recognizing the religious liberty of the Jews.

      iv.  Judas was killed in a battle with the Syrians in 161 BC.

    d.  Johnathan the brother of Judas and youngest son of Mattathias.

      i.  Organized the Jewish forces and united the entire Jewish populace.

      ii.  Became high priest in 152 BC

      iii.  Established friendly relations with Rome.

      iv.  Assassinated.

    e.  Simon.  Second son of Mattathias.

      i.  Negotiated a treaty with the Syrians which recognized Southern Palestine, known as                Judaea, as politically independent.

      ii.  Expelled all Syrians from Jerusalem.

      iii.  Elected high priest and governor by the people.

      iv.  Assassinated.

    f.  John Hyrcanus.  Son of Simon

      i.  Organized alliance with Rome.

      ii.  Freed Judaea from Syrian influence and extended borders.

      iii.  Converted from Pharisee to Sadducee.

    g.  Hyracanus II. 

      i.  Appointed high priest by his mother, Salome Alexandra, in 76 BC

      ii.  Became king in 67 BC upon his mother’s death.

      iii.  Civil war against his brother, Aristobulus II, who was supported by Pompey.

      iv.  Agreed to power sharing; Hyracanus as high priest and Aristobulus as king.     

      v.  Another strife ensued with Hyracanus supported by his prime      

           minister, Antipater the Idumaean, against Aristobulus supported by Pompey.

      vi.  Upon Pompey’s death in 48 BC, Hyracanus and Antipater supported Julius Caesar.

      viii.  Antipater was named procurator by the Roman government and Hyracanus was                        named Ethnarc – responsible to the Governor.   47 BC

      ix.  Herod, the son of Antipator, was named King of Judaea in 37 BC

  4.  The Roman Empire.  63 –

    a.  Greece was made a Roman province, named Achaia in 146 BC

    b.  Pompey called upon by Rome to put down violence in the Eastern provinces.  He                     subdued Phonecia, made Syria a Roman Province and captured Jerusalem.  63 BC                    Pompey died in 48 BC

    c.  Julius Caesar became absolute ruler 45 BC

    d.  Herod the Great , an Idumaean (Edomite) is made King of Judaea in 37 BC (appointed             by Marc Antony)

    e.  Octavius Caesar consolidated the empire in 30 BC

    f.  Octavius became known as Augustus Caesar.

      i.  He ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD

      ii.  Augustus was emperor when Jesus was born.

II.  Geography        The Land of Palestine.   

  A.  The size and location.

    1.  Palestine is 225 km from North to South and is 37 km wide in the North and 130 km                wide in the South.

    2.  The land has three main divisions.

      a.  Galilee in the North.

      b.  Samaria in the Center.

      c.  Judaea in the South.

  B.  Palestine was the “travel way” between Africa, the East and the  North.        

  C.  The land of “Milk and Honey”.

    1.  Abundant in fruit: apricots, figs, grapes, olives, oranges, and  pomegranates.

    2.  Abundant in trees: Carob, Cedar, Myrtle, Oak, Oleander, Palm, Sycamore, Walnut.   

    3.  .  A flourishing trade in fishing was evident on the Sea of Galilee. 

    4.  The land was suitable for both farming and herding, both of which are noted abundantly          in the Scriptures.  

III.  People involved in the life and ministry of Jesus.

  A.  Family members.

    1.  Elisabeth            Luke 1:5-7, 24-25, 39-45

    2.  James the Apostle          Luke 5

    3.  James the Lord’s brother   *Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 7:1-5

    4.  John the Apostle Luke 5:1-10; John 1:35-39

    5.  John the Baptist Luke 1:11-17, 80

    6.  Joseph of Nazareth        Matthew 1:18-25

    7.  Joses the Lord’s brother*

    8.  Jude the Lord’s brother *

    9.  Mary of Nazareth          Luke 1:26-56

    10.  Salome             Mark 15:40-41; John 19:25 (Mary’s sister)

    11.  Simon the Lord’s brother*

    12.  Zacharias                     Luke 1:5-25, 57-80

  B.  Disciples

    1.  Andrew              John 1:40-42

    2.  Cleopas              Luke 24:18

    3.  James the son of Alphaeus   Matthew 10:3

    4.  Joanna                            Luke 8:3; 24:10

    5.  Joseph of Arimathea Matthew 27:58-60; John 19:38-42

    6.  Judas Lebbaeus Thaddaeus  John 14:22

    7.  Lazarus              John 11

    8.  Martha               John 11

    9.  Mary                              John 11

    10.  Mary the wife of Cleopas, mother of James the Less and Joses.

                                                Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40

    11.  Mary Magdalene          John 20:1-18; Luke 8:2

    12.  Matthew Levi              Luke 5:27-32

    13.  Nathanael                     John 1:45-51

    14.  Nicodemus                   John 3

    15.  Philip                           John 1:43-45

    16.  Simon the Canaanite Zelotes   Luke 6:15

    17.  Simon the leper            Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8

    18.  Susanna                                    Luke 8:1-3

    19.  Thomas                        John 11:16

    20.  Zacchaeus                    Luke 19:1-10

  C.  Government officials.

    1.  Caesar Agustus              Luke 2:1

    2.  Caesar Tiberius

    3.  Cyrenius                         Luke 2:1-5

    4.  Herod Antipas    Matthew 14    Refer to appendix for Herod family

    5.  Herod Archelaus                        Matthew 2:22

    6.  Herod the Great             Matthew 2:1-19

    7.  Herod Philip                  Matthew 14:3,6

    8.  Pilate                                          Matthew 27

  D.  Religious leaders.  See Ezra 2:36; 61,62 for information on priests.

    1.  Annas                             John 18:12

    2.  Caiphas.                         Matthew 26:57

    3.  Jairus                                          Mark 5:22

    4.  Simon the Pharisee        Luke 7:36-50

  E.  Others.

    1.  Anna                               Luke 2:36-38

    2.  Barabbas            Mark 15:6-15

    3.  Bartimaeus         Mark 10:46-52

    4.  Herodias             Mark 6:14-28

    5.  Judas Iscariot     Luke 6:16; 22:47,48

    6.  Lazarus the beggar  Luke 16

    7.  Salome               Mark 6:24

    8.  Simeon.              Luke 2:25-33

    9.  Simon of Cyrene            Matthew 27:32 

IV.  Definitions

  A.  The Diaspora.  John 7:35; James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1

       Refers to those that were scattered abroad or dispersed. 

  B.  The Essenes.

An ascetic and monastic group associated with the Qumran Community.  They were located northwest of the Dead Sea. Historians indicate that they believed they were the true Israel and kept themselves pure from the corrupt practices that were practiced in Jerusalem.

  C.  The Galileans. 

A political party of zealots that rebelled against foreign domination. They were located in Northern Palestine, hence the name.

  D.  The Herodians.

    1.  A political party named after Herod.

    2.  The authority of this party was derived from the Roman government.

  E.  The Levites.

    1. The tribe of Levi was set apart by God to the ministry of the Tabernacle.                                   Numbers 1:49 – 53

    2.  The Levites were to have their needs supplied through the tithes and offerings of the                other tribes.  Numbers 3:48-51

  F.  The Pharisees.  Refer to appendix for research information.

    1.  The named means ‘separated’.

    2.  Accepted the Scriptures as accurate and authoritative.

  G.  The Priests

    1.  Aaron and his sons, of the tribe of Levi, were ordained by God as  priests.                                 Exodus 28:1-3; 29:4-9

    2.  The function of the office is noted in the Gospel of Luke 1:5-11; John 1:19

    3.  The lineage was examined carefully before allowed to minister.

          Ezra 2:36-39, 61-63; 3:1-3

  H.  The Proselytes.  One who converts to Judaism.

  I.  The Rulers.

    1.  The governor of a feast.  John 2:8,9

    2.  A Magistrate.  Luke 12:58

    3.  A Member of the Sanhedrin.  John 3:1

  J.  The Sadducees.  Refer to appendix for research information.

    1.  A Political party among the Jews.  Religious by birth

    2.  Modernist.

      a.  Denied the existence of spirits and miracles.

      b.  Denied the resurrection.

      c.  Denied the immortality of the soul.

   3.  The Sadducees were a rival party to the Pharisees.  The strength of this rivalry is seen in          Paul’s use of it when faced with danger.  Acts 23:1-10

  K.  The Samaritans.

    1.  A mixed race from the repopulating of Samaria by the Assyrians in 722 BC.                             II Kings 17:4-6; 24-41

    2.  The Samaritans antagonized the Jews as they returned to Jerusalem.    Ezra 4:1-5

    3.  A great enmity existed between the Samaritans and the Jews.

  L.  The Sanhedrin.

    1.  Based on Moses’ institution of 70 judges.

    2.  Called the Council, it was made up of three groups.

      a.  Chief Priests, who was president.

      b.  Scribes or lawyers.

      c.  Elders, who represented the laity.

  M.  The Scribes.  Students, interpreters, and teachers of the Scriptures.

  N.  The Septuagint.  Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

  O.  The Synagogue.

    1.  A place of assembly following the carrying away of Judaea to Babylon.

    2.  The religious life was promoted through the organization of  synagogues

V.  The record of the life of Christ – The Gospels.

  A.  The titles of the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

  B.  The purpose of the four gospels.

    1.  Matthew is Jewish in viewpoint and presents Jesus Christ as the King.

    2.  Mark is Roman in viewpoint and presents Jesus Christ at the Servant.

    3.  Luke is Greek in viewpoint and presents Jesus Christ as the Perfect Son of Man.

    4.  John is not written according to a specific cultural viewpoint and presents a universal               view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

  C.  The relationship of the four Gospels to the Old Testament.

    1.  The Gospels are a continuation of the Scriptures as given in the Old Testament.

    2.  The Gospels refer to the Old Testament Scriptures.

      a.  Matthew           128 times.

      b.  Mark                63 times.

      c.  Luke                 96 times.

      d.  John                  43 times.

The Life of Christ

His life and ministry

I.  Subjection                From birth to baptism.

  A.  Introductory material.

    1.  John the Apostle’s introduction of  The Lord Jesus  Christ.  John  1:1-18

    2.  The genealogies.

      a.  The genealogy of the King.  Matthew 1:1-17 

        i.  Presents the lineage through Joseph.

        ii.  Projects genealogical record to Abraham showing line of  promise.

          a).  The Abrahamic Covenant.  Genesis 12:1-3

            1).  “I will make of thee a great nation”.

            2).  “I will bless thee”.

            3).  “I will make thy name great”.

            4).  “Thou shalt be a blessing”.  Galations 3:13,14

            5).  The promise of blessing and cursing. Deuteronomy 30:7

                   Zechariah 14:1-3

            6).  “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed”.

            7).  “I will give unto thee the land”.  Genesis 15:18

          b).  The Davidic Covenant.  II Samuel 7:11-16

            1).  The promise of a seed.

            2).  The promise of a throne.

            3).  The promise of  a kingdom.

        iii.  Unique features of this genealogy.

          a).  The omission of forbears.

          b).  The inclusion of women.

          c).  The inclusion of gentiles.

          d).  The use of the feminine gender for “of whom” –  recognizing that Jesus was

                born of  Mary but not of Joseph.

          e).  The divisions of 14 denote the periods of Israel’s history.

            1).  Abraham to David.                       Developing a nation.

            2).  David to Babylonian captivity.     Decline of a nation.

            3).  Captivity to the Lord’s advent.     Destruction of a nation.

      b.  The genealogy of the Son of Man.  Luke 3:23-38

        i.  Presents the lineage through Mary.

          a).  Mary is the parent being focused on in chapters one and  two.

          b).  The words “as was supposed” reveal that common thinking of neighbors was that                    Joseph was the father, but  the emphasis is on Mary.

        ii.  Projects genealogical record to Adam showing Jesus as man.                                                     Refer to Romans 5:5-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:45

  B.  Annuciations.

    1.  To Zacharias  (God remembers)  Luke 1:5-25

      a.  Zacharias was serving in the Temple at the alter of incense.

        i.  A descendent of Aaron.

        ii.  A priest of Abia.  Refer to Ezra chapters 2 and 3.

      b.  The angel Gabriel appeared with a promise.  First contact in 400 years.

        i.  A son would be born to Zacharias and Elisabeth and they would call him John.

        ii.  John would be great in the sight of the Lord.

        iii.  John would be filled with the Holy Ghost from conception.

    2.  To Mary  Luke 1:26-38

      a.  The message delivered by Gabriel.

        i.  She was favoured and blessed among women.  Luke 1:28

        ii.  She would bear a son and name him Jesus.  Luke 1:31,  Isaiah 7:14; 9:6,7

      b.  The message questioned by Mary.

        i.  She was immediately troubled at the greeting of Gabriel. Luke 1:29

        ii.  She was confused as to how she would be able to serve  the Lord in this way.                            Luke 1:34

        iii.  She was ready to submit to the will of God.  Luke 1:35-38    

    3.  To Joseph  Matthew 1:18-25

      a.  The problem that Joseph faced.

        i.  He was legally engaged to Mary, who was found pregnant.

        ii.  He had not taken her as his wife and the child was not his.

      b.  The solution that Joseph could choose.

        i.  He could have Mary executed.  Deuteronomy 22:13-21

        ii.  He could send her away.

      c.  The Word of God that Joseph trusted in.

        i.  This child is the expected Messiah.

        ii.  Joseph obeyed God and protected Mary.

    4.  To Elisabeth

      a.  Zacharias related Gabriel’s message to Elisabeth.

           Luke 1:22-25

      b.  Elisabeth testified of the blessing of God to Mary.

            Luke 1:39-45

  C.  Advents.

    1.  The birth of John.  Luke 1:57-80

      a.  In the lineage of the priests.

      b.  In the ministry of a Nazarite.

    2.  The Birth of Jesus.

      a.  The journey to Bethlehem.  Luke 2:1-7 

       i.  Prophesied of by Micah.  5:2

        ii.  Prepared by the Lord.  (The census)  Luke 2:1-5

        iii.  Perceived by the Priests.  Matthew 2:4,5

      b.  The message of the angels to the shepherds.  Luke 2:8-20

        i.  The Saviour was born.  Note that Jesus is the Saviour, not that He became the Saviour             later in life.

        ii.  The place of His birth is stated – The City of David.

        iii.  The public praise of the angels.  8-14

        iv.  The proclamation of the shepherds and the wonder of the  people.  15-20

      c.  The date of His birth.

        i.  The Roman calendar year 753 corresponds to the  Gregorian calendar year 1 AD.

        ii.  The death of Herod the Great, which was shortly after the birth of the Lord Jesus,  is                 noted in the year 748 by the  Roman calendar .  According to this, the birth of the                     Lord was 5 BC.

  D.  Bethlehem to Bethabara.

    1.  The first 2 years.

      a.  The rites of the law.

         i.  Circumcision.  Luke 2:21

        ii.  Presentation at the Temple.  Luke 2:22-38

          a).  Simeon.  25-35

          b).  Anna.  36-38

      b.  The visit of the Wise Men from the East.  Matthew 2:1-12

        i.  Who they were.

        ii.  When they arrived.

        iii.  What they gave.

        iv.  How the people reacted.

    2.  The flight into Egypt  Matthew 2:13-18

      a.  Herod sent troops to slaughter the children at Bethlehem.

      b.  God warned Joseph to flee before the troops arrived.

      c.  Three references from the Old Testament.

        i.  Matthew 2:15              –  Hosea 11:1

        ii.  Matthew 2:17,18 –        Jeremiah 31:15

        iii.  Matthew 2:23 –           Isaiah 11:1

      d.  God’s provision for the stay in Egypt – the gifts of the Magi 

    3.  The family home in Nazareth.

      a.  Joseph brought the family from Egypt to Nazareth.   Matthew  2:19-23; Luke 2:39

      b.  The only recorded occurrences of the home life of Jesus.   Luke 2:40-52

        i.  The description of His growth.

        ii.  The visit to Jerusalem at twelve years of age.

          a).  Three feast had to be attended each year by men.   Exodus 23:14-17

            1).  Passover  Exodus 12:1-20, 43-50; Leviticus 23:4-14

            2).  Pentecost   Exodus 34:22,23; Leviticus 23:15-21

            3).  Tabernacles  Leviticus 23:34-36, 39-43

          b).  Jesus amazed the elders by His knowledge.

        iii.  The home life till the age of thirty.

          a).  He was a carpenter, the son of a carpenter.

                Matthew 13:55,56;  Mark 6:3

          b).  He had brothers and sisters. (same mother but different   father)

    4.  The final journey from home.

      a.  Baptism.  Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23

        i.  The ministry of John (authority)

        ii.  The message of John    Matthew 3:2, 7-12

        iii.  The baptism of Jesus.   Matthew 3:13-17

          a).  Fulfilled the plan of God.          All righteousness

          b).  Pleased God.

      b.  Temptation.  Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

        i.  The personalities involved.

          a).  The Holy Spirit    Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1

          b).  Jesus, the Saviour

          c).  Satan

       ii.  The pattern of the temptation.  Refer to Genesis 3 and   1 John 2:16

          a).  Appealed to the flesh.

          b).  Appealed to the pride of life.

          c).  Appealed to the eye.

      iii.  The power over the temptation.

          a).  The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

            1).  Immutable  unchanging  Hebrews 1:11,12; 13:8

            2).  Impeccable  not possible to sin  2 Corinthians 5:21;

                   Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5

          b).  The Word of God.

            1).  Misused by Satan to tempt.  Refer to Genesis 3:1

            2).  Used in context by Jesus to resist and confound Satan.

      c.  Testimony.  John 1:19-34

        i.  To the rulers.  19-28

        ii.  Of the Messiah  29-34

    5.  The first disciples.  John 1:35-51

      a.  Andrew and John.  John 1:37

      b.  Andrew found his brother and brought him to the Lord.

      c.  Philip.

      d.  Nathaniel

II.  Service                  From Cana to Calvary.

  A. The ministry began in Galilee.

    1.  The first miracle.  John 2:1-11

      a.  The beginning of a new ministry.  Vs. 1-5

        i.  A new relationship.

          a).  Jesus had been living in submission to the authority of

                His parents.

          b).  Mary now submitted to the will of her Son.  “whatsoever”

       ii.  A new ministry was embarked upon.  Jesus had done no   miracles to this time.

      b.  The miracle of creation.  Vs. 6-10

        i.  Wine is produced through a process.

        ii.  This wine was produced supernaturally.

          a).  No grapes.

          b).  No press.

          c).  No yeast.

          d).  No boiled down preserves.

          e).  No time.  This wine was produced instantly at the Word of  Jesus Christ!

          f).  The water would never have turned into wine.

NOTE:  What is often perceived as being the result of time and natural process is actually the immediate creation of God!

      c.  The miracle had a purpose.  Vs. 11

        i.  The creating power of God was demonstrated.  Man cannot  create, he can only                       manipulate.

        ii.  The glory of God was revealed through His power.

             Sometimes this miracle is relegated to a lower position and  thought of as a minor                    work of God, but there is nothing minor about creation!

    2.  The visit to Capernaum.  John 2:12  Refer to map

      a.  The home of Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

      b.  Jesus made the town His base of ministry.

  B.  The early Judaean ministry.

    1.  In Jerusalem

      a.  Jesus cleansed the Temple.  John 2:13-22

        i.  The time is the Passover.

        ii.  The reason was corrupt practices were carried on in the house of God.

        iii.  The purpose of His coming is made known.  3 days.  

      b.  Jesus met with Nicodemus.  John 2:23 – 3:21

        i.  The works of Jesus.

        ii.  The wonder of the rulers.

        iii.  The will of men – join with us.

        iv.  The way of salvation – ye must be born again.

      c.  Jesus’ ministry and John’s witness.  John 3:22-46 

        i.  Jesus ministered.

        ii.  Jealousy resulted.

        iii.  John’s witness.     

    2.  In Judaea.  Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 3:19-20;  John 4:1-4

      a.  News of the imprisonment of John the Baptist.

      b.  Northern journey to Galilee is begun.

    3.  In Samaria.  John 4:5-42

      a.  Course through Samaria.  1 – 3  Refer to map

      b.  Conversation at the well.  4 – 26

      c.  Conviction of the disciples.  27 – 38

      d.  Conversion of the people.  39 – 42

  C.  The Galilaean ministry.

    1.  Return from Jerusalem to the calling of the Apostles.

      a.  The teaching ministry.  Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15;

           Luke 4:14-15

      b.  The miracle of healing at Cana.  John 4:46-54

        i.  The  witness of the Lord.   47  “…when he heard…”

        ii.  The willingness to go.    47   “…he went unto Him…”

        iii.  The warning.    48

        iv.  The wisdom in obedience.  49

        v.  The wonder at His power.  Vs. 50 – 53

      c.  Jesus’ ministry was rejected in His home town of Nazareth.     Luke 4:16-31

        i.  Fellowship in the synagogue.  16

        ii.  Faithful in the Word.  17 – 20

        iii.  Firm in His exhortation.  21 – 27

        iv.  Fury of the people.  28 – 29

        v.  Freedom of the Lord.  30

      d.  Ministry based from new home in Capernaum. Matthew  4:13-16

        i.  The fishermen became fishers of men.  Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20;  Luke 5:1-11

            a).  Giving to the service of the Lord. 1-3

            b).  Giving their skill and experience to the Lord. 4-7

            c).  Giving themselves to the Lord.  8-11

        ii.  He taught and healed on the Sabbath.  Mark 1:21-28;

             Luke 4:31-37

          a).  Taught with power.  31,32

          b).  Taken by surprise.       32,33

          c).  Tantrum of the demon.  33,34

          d).  Testimony of the Lord – taught with power.  35 – 37

        iii.  Healing ministry in Peter’s home.  Matthew 8:14-17;

             Mark 1:29-34;  Luke 4:38-41   “…besought him…”  They were growing in faith.

          a).  Peter’s mother-in-law.

            1).  Her son-in-law’s home, a glimpse of personal life.

            2).  Her serious illness.

            3).  Her service.  Rose up to serve.

          b).  The multitudes.  All that came were healed.  The word was spreading

        iv.  Preaching tour of Galilee.  Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39;  Luke 4:42-44

          a).  Praying first.

          b).  Preaching.  Preaching, not healing was primary. Compare Lk 4:42 and Mk 1:37

         v.  Healing of the leper and great notoriety.  Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45;

              Luke 5:12-16

          a).  Leprosy.

               1).  A sickness.

    Rules set down by Rabbis in the Talmud –

7. “One unclean with leprosy stood beneath a tree, and one clean passed by?” “The latter becomes unclean.” “One clean stood beneath the tree, and one unclean passed by?” “The former remains clean.” “If he stood?” “The one clean becomes unclean.” “And if one passed by with a leprous stone?” “He remains clean,” “But if he stops?” “The one clean becomes unclean.”

               2).  A symbol.  It was a “type” of sin in the teaching of Scripture.

           b).  Love.  The Lord touched the leper.  Man would always become unclean upon                           contact with that which was unclean.  The leper became clean when touched by the                  Lord.

          c).  Law.  Obedience to the law in presenting self at Temple.

There are a few reasons for this instruction:

1.  If the healed man revealed how he was healed, this could raise questions from the priest           and cause a delay in the declaration of healing and restoration to his family and                         community.

2.  The news of the healing could encourage more crowds to approach Jesus before He had           prepared His disciples to minister to them.  Note Mark 2:13,14  Levi (Matthew)

3.  The religious leaders would be concerned at the compassion shown by Jesus, such                    compassion as they were not known for.  It could cause harm to their reputations.  Note           Jesus speaking to their manner towards those in need –

Luke 10:30-36  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

This reasoning is seen in the Scribes and Pharisees actions in the next few days of Jesus’ ministry –

        vi.  Teaching and healing at Peter’s house.  Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12;  Luke 5:17-26.

          a).  The faith of the men shown in coming to Jesus. 1-5

          b).  The focus of the Lord on the man’s true need, forgiveness of sin.  5

          c).  The fidelity to His Word.  (No difference in words and actions)  6-12

         vii.  The call of Matthew.  Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32

           a).  Occupation – tax collector.  13-14.  Note that Peter and the others may have had to                   pay their taxes through  Matthew.                         

          b).  Association.  Matthew’s friends were sinners.  15-16

          c).  Celebration.  Jesus brought the Gospel, the good news,  to the unworthy – to                             sinners.  17

        viii.  Jesus defended His ministry.

          a).  The disciples feasted instead of fasted. 

                Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39

          b).  Jesus healed the lame man in Jerusalem on the Sabbath  day.  John 5:1-47

          c).  The disciples plucked grain in the fields on the Sabbath. Matthew 12:1-8;

                Mark 2:23-28     Refer to Leviticus 23:22

          d).  Jesus healed the man with a withered hand.     

                 Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11

            1).  Legalism exposed. 

            2).  Liberty emancipates.

            3).  Love’s example.             

        ix.  Jesus taught and healed multitudes by the Sea of Galilee.  Matthew 12:15-21;

              Mark 3:7-12

        x.  Jesus selected His twelve apostles.  Mark 3:13-19;    Luke 6:12-16

          a).  Preparation – prayerful.

          b).  Selection  –  Sovereign.

          c).  Apostles.

            1).  The men.

                        Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Matthew, Bartholomew                                           (Nathaniel), Thomas, James Son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon,                                              Judas Iscariot

            2).  The definition of the word.   Apo (off, away) + stello  (to place in set order,                               to arrange, to dispatch) 

             (a).  To send forth a messenger, agent, message, or command.

                (1).  Sent forth

Matthew 2:16  Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Matthew 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

John 13:16  Verily <amen>, verily <amen>, I say <lego> unto you <humin>, The servant <doulos> is <esti> not <ou> greater than <meizon> his <autos> lord <kurios>; neither <oude> he that is sent <apostolos> greater than <meizon> he that sent <pempo> him <autos>.

                (2).  Sent ones.  As evangelists

Acts 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

              (b).  To put forth into action, liberate.  To dismiss and send away.

Mark 12:2-3  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

           3).  The definition of the office. 

              (a).  Called by Jesus. 

                (1).  Personally during earthly ministry

Mark 3:13-15  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Luke 6:13  And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

                (2).  Personally after earthly ministry. 

Galatians 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

1 Corinthians 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Galatians 2:7-8  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

              (b).  Created with a purpose.

                (1).  Preaching the Word.

                (2).  Power of God upon them in works.

Acts 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

              (c).  Ceased with the death of the last Apostle, John.

Refer to Acts 1:13-16 in calling Matthias to take the office of Judas Iscariot.  Note that no such election was held in the death of the Apostle James, to fill his position.

Acts 12:1-2  Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Revelation 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

There are denominations that insist on the doctrine of Apostilic succession.  Catholics, Anglicans, Methodist, Mormons.

Their belief is along the same lines as those Baptist that hold to church succession – Landmarkism.  Trail of Blood by Carroll.

The church is not founded on man or men.  It is founded on the Lord Jesus Christ and the testimony of His death, burial, and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 3:9-11  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:16-18; Matthew 28:18-20

“I believe in God the Father Almighty; Maker of Heaven and Earth; and in Jesus Christ His only (begotten) Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.”

    2.  The Sermon on the Mount to the confession of Peter 

      a.  The Sermon on the Mount.  Matthew chapter 5 – 7.

The Lord had been ministering to the multitudes and revealing His power in works.  At this point He began to instruct the multitudes as well as the religious leaders in the Truth of the Word as opposed to the traditional teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees.

        i.  Kingdom truths brought to the people. chapter 5.

          a).  The qualifications of blessings.  1-12 

                Identifying the qualities of the blessed. 

                If this is what they are, then this is what they will do –

          b).  The responsibility of the blessed. 13-16

          c).  The standards for the blessed. 17-48

            1).  Right purpose.  17-20

The Pharisees and Scribes had reduced the Law of God to a system of traditions which they interpreted and enforced.  Jesus instructed the people in the true motive of the Law.  The system prevailing at the time, the Law mixed with tradition, did not reflect God’s will for man.  Notice the Jesus purosefully explained His intention in the giving of the Law and His expectation of those living under it.  The rule of the Kingdom is set by God, not man!

It is said that Jesus raised the standard of the Law to include attitude and motive as well as action.   The condition of man’s heart was addressed in the Law as given to Moses.  Refer to the tenth commandment – Thou shalt not covet”.  Coveteousnes is associated with one’s thoughts and emotions and completes itself in the performance of the thoughts.  Coveteousness is both thought and action, and is complete and due to be judged by God whether acted upon or not.  This final commandment reveals God’s principal of judgment upon the Laws.

Note Matthew 5:19.  The question is often asked “Why does God allow evil”?  It is about choice.  Do you want God to stop you from choosing?  One may say “I don’t kill”!  God is no respecter of persons.  Refer to Romans 1:21-32

            2).  Right understanding. 5:21-47

            3).  Right standard.  5:48

                  Conform to the right standard.  Romans 12:1,2

          ii.  Relational truths brought to the people. chapter 6

They did not have that which Solomon had enjoined them to have – Refer to 1 Kings 8:56-61

Submitted to God and surrrendering their lives to Him.

            1.  They refused to submit to God’s will.  Matthew 3:7,8 compare with Luke 7:24-30

            2.  They relied on their own self righteousness.  Luke 18:9-14

            3.  They retreated when face with defeat (instead of repenting)

                 Matthew 21:23-27; 44,45

            4.  They reinforced themselves by seeking like minded partners.

                 John 3:1,2; Matthew 23:15

Paul exhorted the believers through his letter to the church at Philippi in this also –

Philippians 2:12-13  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The Scribes and the Pharisees demanded control over their own lives.  They used religion for their own benefit.  Jesus warned the people about their pride and their desire for power.

The Lord revealed the hypocrisy (an actor under an assumed character) of the Scribes and the Pharisees as He exhorted the believers to be people of integrity. 

(Return to the relational truths given to the people, chapter 6)

          a).  Give unto the Lord. 1-4

          b).  Pray unto the Lord. 5-15

          c).  Sacrifice unto the Lord.  16-18

          d).  Summary of the truths.  19-23  

          e).  Seek the Lord first in all that is done.  24-34   Work within His plan and provision.

          iii.  Living truths brought to the people.  chapter 7

          a).  Develop the right attitude.  1-5

                Judge ourselves before we judge others!

                Paul gave a good explanation as he wrote Titus in chapter 3:1-11

          b).  Exercise the right attitude. 6

          c).  Example of the right attitude. 7-14  Note 6:12.  Opposite of the Pharisees

          d).  Examine the attitude.  15-29

                Judge others in relation to ourselves.  We must judge whether we will believe them.

            (i).  Are they obedient to God?  15-20

            (ii).  Am I obedient to God?  21-29

      b.  Jesus and the Centurion’s servant.  Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

        i.  The testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

        ii.  The testimony of the Centurion.

          a).  He was an accepted man.  5a

          b).  He was a generous man.  5b

          c).  He was a kind man.    2

          d).  He was a humble man.  6

          e).  He was a man of faith.  7-9

        iii.  The testimony of the Jewish elders.  They interceded for the Centurion.

        iv.  The testimony of the servant.    He must have served his master well.  10

      c.  The widow’s son  raised.  Luke 7:11-17

        i.  The compassion of the Lord.  12-13

        ii.  The command of the Lord.  13-14

        iii.  The confession of the Lord.  15-17

          a).  Jesus again proved that He has power over life and death, that He is God.

          b).  The people missed the point of His power and words are noted such as rumour and                  prophet.

      d.  Jesus received the message from John the Baptist. Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35

        i.  John’s concern.   18-20

        ii.  Jesus credentials.  21-23

        iii.  Jesus’ challenge.  24-35 

      e.  Woes pronounced on the cities.  Matthew 11:20-30

        i.  The woes pronounced upon the cities.  20-27

        ii.  The way to rest is in the Lord.  28-30

      f.  Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee.  Luke 7:36-50

        i.  The Pharisee’s favour.  You can dine with me.  36

        ii.  The woman’s fervor.  She worshipped the Lord. 37-47

        iii.  The Lord’s forgiveness.  He forgave her of her sin. 48-50

      g.  The second tour of Galilee.  Luke 8:1-3

      h.  The Jewish leadership made blasphemous accusations. 

           Matthew 12:22-37;  Mark 3:19-30

        i.  The cure.  22 

        ii.  The charge.  23,24

        iii.  The condemnation.  25-37

      i.  The Scribes and Pharisees desired to see a sign. 

          Matthew 12:38-45

        i.  Jesus had just healed a man – an obvious work of God.

        ii.  Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah as He read in                            

             Luke 4:17-21 of Isaiah 61:1,2;   2 Corinthians 4:3,4

        iii.  The Scribes and Pharisees were blind to His person.

              Matthew 13:13-15/Isaiah 6:9,10

      j.  Jesus’ mother and brethren sought to speak with Him.  Matthew 12:46-50

      k.  The parables.  Matthew 13:1-53; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-13

        i.  To the multitudes by the sea.  Matthew 13:1-35

          a).  The sower, the seed, and the soil. 1-23

          b).  The wheat and the tares. 24-30

          c).  The mustard seed. 31,32

          d).  The leaven.  33-35

        ii.  To the disciples in the house.  Matthew 13:36-53

          a).  Explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares.       36-43

          b).  The hidden treasure.  44

          c).  The pearl.  45,46

          d).  The dragnet.  47-52

      l.  Jesus stilled the storm on the lake.  Matthew 8:18, 23-27;

          Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

       i.  The example of Jesus. 

          a).  Look at His person.

            1).  He was tired and weary from the work of the ministry.      Mark 4:1

            2).  He took the opportunity to rest.

          b).  Look at His peace. 

            1). He gave the direction for the travel. 35

            2).  He knew the danger which lay before them.

            3).  He had the peace to sleep in the face of danger because of the peace and

                  power of God.

          c).  Look at His path. 

            1).  He was on His way to the Cross.  He knew where He was going

                  and when He would arrive.

            2).  He knew that He would reach His goal.

        ii.  The encouragement of Jesus. 

          a).  These men were experienced, making their living on this very body of water.

            1).  They put their confidence in the fishermen instead of the Carpenter.

            2).  They became frustrated and angry because they were anxious of their lives

                  and He was asleep in peace.

                     …carest thou not that we perish…!

          b).  Jesus cared for them.

            1).  Why did they wait so long to come to Him?

            2).  When they did come, He acted.  It was very simple. 39

        iii.  The exhortation of Jesus.  40

          a).  He rebuked them for their fear

          b).  He questioned their lack of faith. 

      m.  Jesus’ ministry to the Gergasene demoniac. 

               Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39

        i.  The reaction of the demons.  26-33

        ii.  The reaction of the man.  27; 35,36; 38-39

        iii.  The reaction of the people.  34-37  

      n.  The miracles of healing and raising the dead. 

               Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

        i.  The woman’s condition.  25,26

          a).  What help did she have?

          b).  What hope did she have?

        ii.  The Lord’s care.  27-29

          a).  He had an open testimony.  27

          b).  He encouraged others in faith.  28

          c).  He blessed beyond measure.  29

        iii.  The Lord’s question.  30-34

          a).  Jesus knew the woman had come to Him in faith and she needed to

                make a public profession.

          b).  Jesus was one of the two that knew what touch He was speaking about.

          c).  Jesus meets the woman face to face. 32,33

          d).  Jesus blesses the woman for her public testimony. 34

      o.  Jesus healed the blind men and a dumb demoniac.   Matthew 9:27-34

        i.  Following the Lord.  27

        ii.  Faith to be healed.  27-29

        iii.  Failure to obey completely.  30-31

        iv.  Fearful accusation of the Pharisees. 32-34

      p.  The last visit home to Nazareth.  Matthew 13:54-58;

            Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-32

      q.  The tour of Galilee – the twelve being sent forth by two.                             

           Matthew 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:6-13; Luke 9:1-6

        i.  The men.

        ii.  The ministry.

          a).  Their power.

          b).  Their provision.

          c).  Their promise.

      r.  The fear of Herod Antipas and death of John the Baptist

          Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

      s.  Jesus directed the disciples to rest.  The feeding of the 5,000.                   

           Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:11-17;  John 6:1-13

        i.  The Teacher and the Multitudes.

          a).  Jesus was weary in the work.

          b).  Jesus was not weary of the work.  Mark 6:34

        ii.  The Master and the disciples.

          a).  Jesus gave Philip a problem to solve. John 6:5,6

          b).  Philip’s solution was based on sight and not faith.

        iii.  The miracle.  Principle: 2 Corinthians 8:12

        iv.  The lesson.  John 6:24-27.  Why are we following Him?

      t.  The multitudes misunderstanding of Jesus’ purpose.  Matthew 14:22-23

        i.  Kept from being caught up.  22

          a).  The people wanted to establish Jesus as their King.      John 6:14,15        

          b).  The disciples were residents of Galilee also, as well as being young

                in the faith of Jesus Christ.

          c).  Jesus relieved the situation by dividing the groups.

        ii.  Kept watch on His children.  23,24

          a).  He kept watch for them in prayer.

          b).  He kept watch for them in presence.  Mark 6:48

        iii.   Continued to teach that He is the Lord. 25-33.

      u.  The reception at Gennesaret.  Matthew 14:34-36;

           Mark 6:53-56   Refer to map

        i.  The changed man.

        ii.  A changed people.

      v.  The people turn away.  (The Bread of Life)  John 6:22-71

       i.  Profit.  22-27

        ii.  Power.  28,29

        iii.  Popularity.  30-33

        iv.  Pleasure.  34

        v.  Pardon.  67-71

      w.  Jesus defended the actions of His disciples. 

            Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23

      x.  The visit to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  The Phonecian woman’s daughter

            was healed.  Matthew 15:21-28:

            Mark 7:24-30    Refer to map

        i.  The request.  21,22

        ii.  The response.  23

        iii.  The reason.  24

        iv.  The reaction.  25-28

      y.  The journey around the area of  Herod Antipas and into the Decapolis. 

           Matthew 15:29-38; Mark 7:31-37; 8:1-9

        i.  Healing of all that are brought, including the deaf and dumb man.  7:31-37

          a).  The people came to Jesus.  31,32

          b).  The purpose of Jesus in this ministry. 33,34

          c).  The power of Jesus in healing completely. 35

        ii.  The feeding of the 4,000.  8:1-9

      z.  The tempting from the Pharisees.  Matthew 15:39-16:4; Mark 8:10-12

      aa.  Jesus asked the disciples who they believe that He is.                               

             Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21

        i.  The testimony unto the Lord.  13-17

          a).  World’s opinion.  13,14

          b).  Peter’s belief.  15,16

          c).  Lord’s blessing.  17

        ii.  The truth of the church.  18-20

          a).  The fact of it. 

          b).  The foundation of it.

          c).  The future of it.

    3.  Jesus foretold His death and resurrection to the departure from Galilee.

      a.  Jesus revealed clearly that He would be rejected, suffer, and die.  Matthew 16:21-26.

        i.  Jesus revealed His death and resurrection. 21

        ii.  Jesus rebuked Peter.  22,23

        iii.  Jesus reviewed true discipleship.  24

        iv.  Jesus rewards those that follow Him.  25-27

      b.  Jesus spoke of the coming of the Son of Man.            Matthew 16:27-28

      c.  The transfiguration and following events.  Matthew 17:1-23;                       

           Mark 9:2-32; Luke 9:28-45

        i.  The 3 apostles chosen by Jesus to accompany Him to the mount.

        ii.  The transfiguration.

        iii.  The confusion of the 3 apostles.

        iv.  The predicament of the 9 apostles while Jesus was away.

              Mark 9:14-29

          a).  The enemy is always close.  14-16

          b).  The  earnestness of the father is questioned. 17-24

          c).  The emblem of power.  25-27

          d).  The effect on the disciples.  28,29.  

        v.  Jesus again foretells of His death and resurrection.  Matthew 17:22-23

      d.  Jesus paid the Temple tax.  Matthew 17:24-27

        i.  The tax is due.  24

        ii.  The tax is not required of the Lord. 25,26

        iii.  The tax is paid.  27

      e.  Jesus instructed the disciples about servitude. 

           Matthew 18:1-14; Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50

        i.  The disciple’s question.    refer to Mark 9:33,34

        ii.  The child’s reception.  2-10

        iii.  The Lord’s illustration.  11-14

      f.  The teaching on forgiveness.  Matthew 18:15-35

        i.  The pattern of forgiveness.  15-20

        ii.  The patience of forgiveness.  21,22

        iii.  The parable of forgiveness.  23-35

      g.  The cost of discipleship.  Matthew 8:19-22;  Luke 9:57-62

      h.  The discourse with Jesus’ brothers.  John 7:2-9

  D.  The later Judaean ministry.

    1.  Journey to Jerusalem.

      a.    Jesus privately entered Jerusalem.  Luke 9:51-56;   John 7:10

        i.  Journey to Jerusalem.  51,52

        ii.  Jealousy of the village.  53

        iii.  Justice demanded.  54

        iv.  Judicious reply.  55,56

      B.  Jesus taught the price of discipleship. Matthew 8:19-22;

            Luke 9:57-62

        i.  The willing followers are given a warning. 57-58

        ii.  The unwilling “followers” are given a warning.  59-62

    2.  Ministry in Jerusalem.

      a.  Jesus’ presence stirred passions over identity of the Messiah.    John 7:11-53

        i.  The controversy  11-13

        ii.  The confession about the Sabbath work.  14-31

        iii.  The concern over His teaching.  32-39

        iv.  The confusion of the people.  40-53

          a).  The worshippers.

          b).  The officers.   

          c).  The Pharisees.

      b.  The woman taken in adultery brought to Jesus. 

           John 8:1 – 8:11

        i.  Caught in the act.  1-4

        ii.  Commandment’s requirement.  5,6

        iii.  Concurred with the law.  7

        iv.  Condemned by no man.  8-11.  See also 1 John 1:5-7

      c.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  John 8:12-20

            Refer to the testimony of John the Baptist in John 1:1-14

      d.  Jesus confronted the Pharisees with their unbelief.  John 8:21-59.

        i.  Unbelief results in death. 21-24

        ii.  Understanding leads to life.  25-32

        iii.  Untruthful claim of heritage.  33-45

        iv.  Unchanging Lord.  46-59  (The understood His claim. Vs. 59)

      e.  Jesus ministered to the blind man. John 9:1-41

        i.  The discussion about causes of disease or disability.  1-5

        ii.  The demonstration of power and obedience.  6-7

        iii.  The disputation over the miracle performed. 8-41

          a).  The reaction of his neighbors.  8-12

          b).  The reasoning of the Pharisees.  13-16

          c).  The reply of the family.  17-27

          d).  The rancour of the Pharisees.  28-34

          e).  The relief of the former blind man.  35-38

          f).  The rebuke by Jesus.  39-41

      f.  The parable of the Good Shepherd.  John 10:1-21

        i.  The true Shepherd.  1-10

        ii.  The good Shepherd.  11-16

        iii.  The beloved Shepherd.  17-21

    3.  Ministry in Judaea.

      a.  The seventy sent forth.   Luke 10:1-24

        i.  Introduction of the seventy.  1-16

        ii.  The involvement of the seventy.  17

        iii.  The instruction of the seventy.  18-24

      b.  The parable of the Good Samaritan.  Luke 10:25-37

        i.  The lawyer’s intention – to tempt the Lord.  25-28

        ii.  The lawyer’s question.  29

        iii.  The lawyer’s responsibility.  30-37

      c.  Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary.  Luke 10:38-42

            A time to serve and a time to sit!

      d.  The lessons on prayer.            Luke 11:1-13

        i.  The model prayer.  1-4

        ii.  The lesson of the importunate friend.  5-13

      e.  The blasphemy of the religious leaders.  Luke 11:14-36

      f.  Dining and controversy in the home of a Pharisee. 

          Luke 11:37-54

        i.  Cause of the controversy – eating with unwashed hands. 37,38

        ii.  Charges against the Pharisees and Lawyers.  39-52

        iii.  Counteraction of the Pharisess and Lawyers. 53,54

      g.  Parables of the rich fool, the waiting servants, and the wise steward. Luke 12

        i.  Intimacy of the relationship with God.  1-12

        ii.  Impietys reward.  13-21

        iii.  Inexhaustable supply.  22-30

        iv.  Illustration of the servants. 31-48

        v.  Impending trouble  49-53

        vi.  Illogical judgment.  54-57

        vii.  Imperitive action.  58,59

      h.  The message of repentance.  The parable of the fig tree. Luke  13:1-9

        i.  The teaching on repentence.  1-5

        ii.  The parable of the fig tree.  6-9

      i.  The woman healed on the Sabbath.  Luke 13:10 –17

        i.  The healing.  10-13

        ii.  The hypocrite.  14-16

        iii.  The hallelujah. 13,17

      j.  The parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven.  Luke 13:18-21

      k.  Jesus at the feast of the dedication.  The Jews determined  to kill him.   John 10:22-39

        i.  The declaration of His Being the Messiah, the Son of God. 30

        ii.  The understanding of His claim.  31-33

  E.  The Perean ministry.

    1.  Departure from Jerusalem.  John 10:40-42

    2.  Ministry in Perea.

      a.  Teaching in Perea, warned of the danger of Herod Antipas.   Luke 13:22-35

        i.  Lesson of the strait gate.  22-30

        ii.  Lamentation over Jerusalem  31-35

      b.  Dining with a Pharisee, healing on the Sabbath, and parables.  Luke 14:1-24

      c.  Multitudes follow Jesus.  He warned them of the cost of  discipleship.  Luke 14:25-35

        i.  Personal determination. 25-27

        ii.  Practical judgment.  28-33

        iii.  Parable of salt.  34,35

      d.  The Pharisees accused Jesus for receiving sinners.  The parables of the Lost Sheep,

           the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son.     Luke 15:1-32

        i.  Sinners came to Jesus.  1

        ii.  Scribes and Pharisees complained.  2

        iii.  Searching for the lost.  3-32

          a).  The sheep.  3-7

          b).  The silver.  8-10

          c).  The son.  11-32

      e.  The parables and illustrations from life.  Luke 16:1 – 17:10

        i.  The parable of the unjust steward.  1-12

        ii.  The Pharisees answered.  13-18

        iii.  The rich man and Lazurus.  19-31

        iv.  Lessons on offences, forgiveness, and faith.  17:1-10

      f.  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  John 11:1-54

        i.  The message was received. 1-3

        ii.  The meaning of His delay.  4-16

        iii.  The mourning family.  17-37

        iv.  The majesty revealed.  38-44

        v.  The men react.  45,46

       g.  Jesus began His final journey to Jerusalem.  Luke 17:11-37

          i.  The healing of the ten lepers.  11-19

            a).  The men’s disease healed.  11-14

            b).  The men’s reactions noted. 15-18

            c).  The men’s declarations differ.  19

        ii.  The discourse on the Second Coming.  20-37

      h.  The parables of the Importunate Widow and the Pharisee  and Publican.   

           Luke 18:1-14

        i.  Be strong in prayer.  1-8

        ii.  Be submissive in heart.  9-14

      i.  Teaching concerning divorce.  Matthew 19:1-12;    Mark 10:1-12

      j.  Jesus called the children.  Matthew 19:13-15; Mark10:13-16;   Luke 18:15-17

      k.  The discourse with the Rich Young Ruler. 

            Matthew 19:16-20:16; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30

        i.  The respectful question.  17

        ii.  The searching reply.  18-21

        iii.  The sad decision.  22

        iv.  The surprising statement.  23-27

        v.  The supply is abundant.  28-31

      l.  Jesus foretold the disciples of His death. 

          Matthew 20:17-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34

        i.  A startling realization.  32-34

        ii.  A surprising request.  35-41

        iii.  A servant’s responsibility.  42-45       

      m.  Jesus healed two blind men.  Matthew 20:29-34;

              Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43.

        i.  The words of the blind.  46,47

        ii.  The words of the crowd. 48,49

        iii.  The words of the Lord. 49-52

      n.  Accountability to the Lord.      Luke 19:1-28.

      i.  Salvation – the testimony of Zaccaeus. 1-10

      ii.  Service – the teaching of Jesus.  11-28

  F.  The Passion week.

    1.  The public ministry.

      a.  The first day of the week.  Matthew 21:1-17

        i.  The Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.  1-11

        ii.  The Lord’s challenge to the religious leaders. 12-17

      b.  The second day of the week.  The fig tree     Matthew 21:18-22

          i.  The tree.  A symbol of Israel.

          ii.  The curse.  The deception brought forth judgment.

          iii.  The power.  The people had no faith.

      c.  The third day of the week.  Matthew 21:20 – 26:5

        i.  The morning confrontation.  21:23 – 22:46

          a).  The Pharisees asked a question.  23

          b).  The Lord gave a quiz.  24-46

            1).  The baptism of John.  24-27

            2).  The two sons.  28-32

            3).  The wicked tenents.  33-46

          c).  The parable of the marriage feast.  22:1-15

          d).  The money for tribute.  22:15-22

          e).  The misrepresentation by the Sadducees. 22:23-33

         f).  The practical question of the law.  22:34-40

          g).  The Pharisees challenged.  22:41-46

        ii.  The masters in Israel censured.  Ch 23

        iii.  The mount of Olives.  Ch 24-25

        iv.  The message of the crucifixion.  26:1-5

    2.  The Passover meal.  The fourth day of the week.  Matthew 26:6-30

      a.  Preparation for burial – the annointing by Mary. 6-13

      b.  The preparation to take the Passover meal.  17-20

       c.  The plan and partaking of the meal.  The fifth day of the week.

        i.  The simple question.  20

         ii.  The supernatural instruction.  21

        iii.  The sincere faith.  22

      d.  The Passover meal.  21-25

        i.  The meaning of the meal.  21  as they did eat

          a).  The Passover lamb.   Sacrifice.

          b).  The unleavened bread.   Sanctification

          c).  Bitter herbs.    Servitude. The Egyptians had made their lives bitter.

            1).  Lettuce, endive, coriander, beets.

            2).  Taken and first dipped in salt water.

            3). Taken a second time and dipped into a mixture made from dates and raisins.

        ii.  The plan of the meal.

          a).  Pour the first cup of wine.

          b).  Pray – giving thanks.

          c).  Drink the first cup.

          d).  Wash hands – dipped in water.

          e).  Pray.

          f).  Dip herbs in salt water – eat – pass to others.

          g).  Clear the table.

          h).  The second cup is filled.

          i).  The son to ask questions about the meaning of this supper.

          j).  Head of the house would then relate Israel’s history from Tereh to the Law. 

          k).  The dishes are returned to the table.

          l).  The head of the house explains the meaning of the food.

          m).  Psalms 123 and 124 are sung.

          n).  Prayer is said. Blessed art Thou, Jehovah our God, King of the                                                  universe, Who has redeemed our fathers from Egypt.

          o).  The second cup was drunk.

          p).  Hands were washed.

          q).  Unleavened cakes were broken.  The bread of the poor.

          r).  Thanks given for the bread.

          s).  The cakes were placed with bitter herbs, dipped in the charoseth.

          t).  The meal was eaten – cakes, herbs, meat.

          u).  Hands are washed. 

               Jesus taught the disciples about ministering.  John 13:1-12

          v).  The third cup is poured.  Luke 22:17

          w).  Prayer is offered.

             Note that the Lord again broke bread here, departing from tradition.       

             Luke 22:19  Judas departed.  John 13:21-31

          x).  The third cup is drunk.  Luke 22:20

          y).  The fourth cup is poured.

          z).  The fourth cup is drunk.

          aa).  Psalms 115, 116, 117, and 118 are sung.

          bb).  Prayer is said.

        iii.  The Lord’s Supper.  Matthew 26:26-30

          1).  The Body.  Broken.

          2).  The Blood.  Shed

          3).  The Promise.  The fourth cup – I will drink it new with you.

      e.  The portion of the servants.  Luke 22:24-30

      f.  The promises following the supper.  John 14

        i.  The promise to return.  1-6

        ii.  The promise of position.  7-15

        iii.  The promise of the Paraclete. 16-26

        iv.  The promise of peace.  27-31

      g.  The procession to the garden.  John 15, 16

        i.  Abiding in Christ.  15

        ii.  Able in Christ.  16

          a).  To serve.  1-15

          b).  To stand.  16-33

      h.  The prayer of intercession.  John 17

    3.  The Prayer.  Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42;

            Luke 23:39-46; John 18:1

      a.  The dispute with Peter.  30-35

      b.  The desire for prayer.  36-39

      c.  The disappointment in the disciples.  41-42

      d.  The determination to go on.  42-46

III.  Sacrifice               To the Cross.

  A.  The arrest.  Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52;  Luke 22:47-53

    1. The confrontation.  47

    2.  The capture.  Notice that Jesus did not resist the arrest.  48-50

    3.  The confusion.  51-56

      a.  The disciples fear.

      b.  The disciples fled.

  B.  The trial

    1.  The events of the trial before the Chief Priest.  Matthew 26:57-75

      a.  Caiphas.  57-68

      b.  Peter’s denial.   69-75

      c.  Annas.  John 18:12-14; 19-23

      d.  Sanhedrin.  Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71

      e.  Judas.  Matthew 27:3-10

    2.  The events of the trial before the governor, Pilate. 

         Matthew 27:1-26

      a.  Jesus before Pilate.  Matthew 27:2, 11-14

      b.  Jesus before Herod.  Luke 26:6-12

      c.  Jesus before Pilate.  Matthew 27:15-26

  C.  The crucifixion  Matthew 27:27-56

    1.  The wickedness of the soldiers.  27-30

    2.  The way to the cross.  31-34

    3.  The Worthy Lamb offered.  35-56

      a.  The words of Jesus.  35-55

        i.  Luke 23:34

        ii.  Luke 23:42,43

        iii.  John 19:25,26

        iv.  Matthew 27:46

        v.  John 19:28

        vi.  John 19:30

        vii.  Luke 23:46

      b.  The world quaked.  51-56   

  D.  The burial.  Matthew 27:57-66

    1.  The body of the Lord prepared.  57-59

    2.  The body of the Lord entombed.  60

    3.  The body of the Lord watched.  61-66

      A.  By the women.  61

      B.  By the soldiers.  62-66

  E.  The sixth and seventh days of the week.

    1.  Friday was a the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, a day of convocation

         and rest.

    2.  Saturday was the weekly Sabbath.

IV.  Salvation  The first day of the week Resurrection, ministry, ascension.

  A.  The resurrection.  Matthew 28:1-15

    1.  The testimony to the women.  1-6

      a.  The approach of the women.  1

      b.  The assignment of the angel.  2-5

      c.  The authentication of His promise.  6

    2.  The testimony of the women.  7-10

    3.  The testimony of the guards.  11-15

  B.  The ministry.

    1.  To the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  Luke 24:13-32

    2.  To the disciples.  John 20:19-25

    3.  To the disciples eight days after.  John 20:26-29

    4.  To the disciples in Galilee.  John 21

    5.  To 500 in Galilee.  Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18;

         1 Corinthians 15:6

    6.  To James, His brother.  1 Corinthians 15:7

    7.  To the disciples on Olivet.  Luke 24:44-49

  C. The ascension.  Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:1-11

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