Paperback
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780687649587 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Abingdon Press |
| Publication date: | 08/01/2008 |
| Pages: | 104 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Following Jesus
Steps to a Passionate FaithBy Carolyn Slaughter
Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2008 The United Methodist Publishing HouseAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-687-64958-7
Chapter One
SESSION ONE Jesus the Messiah
Who is Jesus? A great teacher. A compelling moral leader. An example of faith. A good man. A visionary prophet. The Son of God. Jesus is known by many names.
People have many opinions about who Jesus is, but many of those opinions are not based on an authoritative source. Unfortunately, many ideas about who Jesus is are opinions without much basis; we often simply adopt the ideas of those around us without our own thorough investigation. To know who Jesus really is we will go to the most authoritative source we know, one that will give us the facts about Jesus. We will base our investigation in the Bible.
Origin of the Bible
The Bible is a Christian's fact base—the basis of faith and life practices. As we learn in 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is God-breathed, the very words of God whispered into the hearts and ears of its human writers. It is God's tool used to transform and equip us to do God's work.
The word bible comes from the Greek ta biblia, meaning "the scrolls" or "the books." Although today we think of the Bible as a single work, it is actually a group of books written by a variety of authors. They were first written on individual scrolls of paper; but around 450 B.C. the documents were edited and compiled into what we now call the Old Testament.
Following Jesus' death and resurrection, various witnesses (or disciples of eyewitnesses) recorded the life of Jesus and the early church. Included in these writings were also letters of instructions to new churches across the Middle East. Together, these writings are what we call the New Testament. The list of books to be included in the New Testament was finalized in A.D. 376 and is the New Testament we know today.
Prophesy of the Coming Messiah
The pursuit of who Jesus is actually takes a lifetime of discovery! In this session, we will focus on insights on Jesus from the Old Testament.
There are more than 300 references to the person called the Messiah in the Old Testament. Messiah was the Hebrew term for the person God would send to free God's people and bring them into personal relationship with God. The Greek term was Christ (meaning Savior). As we explore the Old Testament together, we will look at key prophecies that give specific insights about the coming Messiah—what this person would be like and what this person would do. Then we will look in the New Testament to see how those prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus.
In Isaiah 48:3-6, God told the world the purpose of the Old Testament prophecies:
I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, "My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them." You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? (NIV)
God knows how stubborn humans are and that how, left to our own devices, we will come up with our own reasons for whatever happens. But God wanted us to know who was in control of all that was being done. No credit was to go to false gods of wood and bronze, so we were given clues to God's work. God said to the world: this is how you identify my plan. When all of these signs and prophecies come together, that is my person—the Messiah (savior of the world).
The following verses are a representative sampling of prophecies. Each Old Testament prophecy is connected with its New Testament fulfillment. Examine each grouping for information about the Messiah and how this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus, and then write down your insights on the lines that follow:
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1-3 and 11:7-11 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Isaiah 35:3-6; Matthew 9:27-35 and 11:1-6 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:28-36 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Isaiah 53:4-6, 11-12; Luke 23:32-34; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
All of the prophecies came together in Jesus. As a result, persons all through the New Testament pointed to the fulfillment of prophecy to authenticate who Jesus is. Note here what people in the New Testament said about Jesus:
John 1:43-45 (Philip, one of Jesus' disciples) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Luke 24:44-48 (Jesus himself) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Acts 17:1-4 (the apostle Paul, who had previously persecuted followers of Christ) _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Who Do You Say That I Am?
The question Who is Jesus? is one that everyone must answer at some point in his or her life. Jesus even asked his own disciples that very question while he was still in human form on earth. Read Matthew 16:13-16 to see how his disciples responded to this very important question:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Reflection
Based on what you know so far about Jesus, who do you say Jesus is? Write your response here: _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Prayer
Lord, I praise you for sending Jesus, the Messiah, to reconnect us with God forever and to serve as the ultimate example for the way we should live our lives. Thank you, God, for giving us your love story for humanity in written form. Please open my heart to a deeper walk with Jesus and empower me to live more fully for Jesus this week.
Homework
Spend time acquainting yourself with the Bible. Browse through the first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the books that primarily tell the story of Jesus. Read and complete Session Two.
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work."
Quick Bible Facts
66 books, written over a 1,600-year period, about 50 different human authors
Old Testament
39 books, from Creation to 50 B.C.
New Testament
27 books, from Jesus' birth to A.D. 100
The Bible, with all its books and contributors, tells one story from Genesis to Revelation: the story of a loving God who created human beings to be in relationship with God.
Study Tip
Bible studies usually focus on portions of Scripture for explanations; however, you should always read the surrounding verses to help determine the meaning and ensure what the Bible really says.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Following Jesus by Carolyn Slaughter Copyright © 2008 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Introduction 5 Part 1 Rediscovering Jesus Session 1 Jesus the Messiah 9 Session 2 Unique Characteristics of Jesus 17 Session 3 Savior of the World 23 Session 4 Lord of All 31 Part 2 Growing in the Spirit Session 5 The Holy Spirit 41 Session 6 Understanding Spiritual Fruit 53 Session 7 Understanding Spiritual Gifts 63 Session 8 Sharing the Spirit 71 Part 3 Living in Faith and Service Session 9 Spiritual Disciplines: Keys to God's Heart 79 Session 10 The Church: Community of Christ 85 Session 11 Understanding God's Call 91 Session 12 God's Place for You 99