 A Year with Jesus Week 3: Word PDF file at bottom Scripture: John 1:1-18; 1 John 1:1-5; Revelation 19:11-16. WORD, THE — a theological phrase that expresses the absolute, eternal, and ultimate being of Jesus Christ (John 1:1–14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13). The Old Testament spoke of the word of God as the divine agent in the creation of the universe: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Ps. 33:6). In the New Testament, the Gospel of John declared, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Through the incarnation of Christ, God has come to dwell in our midst. Through the life and ministry of Jesus, a unique and final revelation of God has been given—one superior to the revelation given through the Law and the Prophets. In Christ, the Word of God, God’s plan and purpose for mankind is clearly revealed (2 Cor. 4:4; Heb. 1:1–3). [1] 1. Read John 1:1-18. Who is the Word? How is “the Word” described in these verses? 2. What do you learn about the Word in these verses that is good news for you? What emotions do you feel from reflecting on this good news? Why? 3. If you have a study Bible, look in your notes that relate to these verses. What are some ways “God’s Word” is described in the Old Testament? 4. Read 1 John 1:1-5. How do these verses describe “the Word?” What key ideas are emphasized in this text? 5. How have you “seen and heard” (experienced) the Word of life? 6. As you come to understand that Jesus is the “Word of life,” what do you think your response should be from reading 1 John 1:1-5? 7. Read Revelation 19:11-16. Write down all the ways Jesus is described in these verses. 8. What is the Rider’s name, according to Revelation 19:13? What do you think John (the author of Revelation) is teaching us by telling us his name? 9. Compare the references to “the Word” that we find in Revelation with what we read in John’s Gospel and first epistle. How are they similar? Different? What is being emphasized? What does John want us to know? 10. What thoughts and emotions do you experience as you reflect upon John’s description of the Word, in Revelation? 11. Write a prayer below to communicate what you have learned about Jesus from this lesson. Spend some time adoring and thanking God for taking on our flesh and dwelling among us. Perhaps areas in which you need to repent come to mind. Or maybe you have questions to ask God. Take time to write all these down. 12. What are some key ideas and/or questions you have that came from spending time with these Scriptures and questions? Share them with your group. [1] Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 
0 Comments
 A Year with Jesus Week 2: Lord PDF at bottom Read Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 6:46-49 “During Jesus’ lifetime, the title “Lord” (Greek: kyrios) was commonly used as a title of respect, such as the modern use of “sir.” After his resurrection, however, the title became a way to reference Christ’s divine status as Yahweh (see esp. Isa 45:21–24 and Phil 2:9–11), predicated on the Septuagint’s use of this Greek word to translate the Hebrew word Yahweh.”[1] kurios (κύριος, 2962), properly an adjective, signifying “having power” (kuros) or “authority,” is used as a noun, variously translated in the NT, “ ‘Lord,’ ‘master,’ ‘Master,’ ‘owner,’ ‘Sir,’ a title of wide significance, occurring in each book of the NT save Titus and the Epistles of John.[2] 1. What does Philippians 2:5-11 teach you about the Lordship of Jesus? 2. What does Romans 10:8-13 teach you about the Lordship of Jesus? 3. What does Luke 6:46-49 teach you about the Lordship of Jesus? Lord of All A Transforming Truth One of the most powerful biblical truths that has transformed both my life and ministry is the touchstone proposition that Jesus Christ is Lord over both the temporal and the eternal. To paraphrase Dutch theologian and statesman, Abraham Kuyper, there is not a square inch in all the universe that Jesus Christ does not claim as his own. That means Jesus Christ is Lord over our salvation, theological, philosophical and ethical views, our thoughts, words, behaviors, attitudes, values, family life, work, checking account, priorities, political views, what we watch on TV and the Internet, what we read, our friendships, our service and witness, and so on. He is Lord over it all. That means he has the right to exercise authority over all of it and may properly expect our obedience in every sphere of our lives. In fact, Jesus asks us what’s the use of calling him Lord if we’re not going to do what he commands (Luke 6:46). The Pathway to Freedom To be sure, he is a loving, gracious, good, patient, compassionate, and merciful Lord, but he is Lord nonetheless and we may not rebel against him with impunity. Amazingly, once we come to know him and relate to him as our Lord, he invites us to go deeper in our relationship and know him as brother and friend. The paradox is only as we submit to his Lordship in every sphere of our lives do we become free enough to pursue all he has created, redeemed and called us to be. A New Worldview This view of Christ’s Lordship ought to inform the way we see the world in which we live. Like a pair of eyeglasses with the proper prescription, we can only see things aright as we look at the world around us through the lens of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I love the way C.S. Lewis put it. He wrote, I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. Our fallen nature prevents us from seeing everything perfectly, but we should know because Jesus is Lord, we are able to see the world much closer to the way he desires us to see it. Whether We Recognize Him or Not The truth is, Jesus is Lord over heaven and earth whether we choose to recognize his Lordship or not. However, we are able to live far more faithfully when we are living in harmony with who he is. Things do not work well when we are trying to be our own Lord. Have you noticed? Is He Your Lord? Part of my own calling is to serve others by helping them come to a place where they too will bow before Christ, confess him as their Lord, and live in joyfully harmonious submission with that reality. I deeply desire to help folks understand what it means to submit to Christ’s Lordship in every sphere of their lives, beginning with their salvation. It is vital to realize the Christian faith is not a self-help program that will be of use to anyone (or even make sense) apart from a person dying to self and becoming a new creature in Christ. Only then can a person live the life God calls them to live. Only then is Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, living in and through them by his Spirit (Romans 14:9). Walking Points
[1] Calhoun, S. (2018). Jesus’ Titles. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. [2] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 379). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
 A Year with Jesus Week 1: Jesus (PDF at the bottom) Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-33 The name “Jesus” is the Greek form of “Joshua” and was a common Jewish name. It literally means, “the Lord is salvation,” or, “God saves.” 1. What do the verses above say about why God commanded Mary and Joseph to name their baby, “Jesus?” 2. In what ways did Jesus fulfill the meaning of his name? 3. What do the following verses say about “the name” of Jesus?
4. There is a hymn that declares, “Jesus, there’s just something about that name.” From reading the New Testament, we know the Apostles not only preached and taught in the name of Jesus, but also were able to cast out demons and heal people “in the name of Jesus.” What does the name, “Jesus” mean to you? Why? 5. Christian author, Josh MacDowell once suggested that people could go to a cocktail party and discuss great thinkers of the past and religious figures such as the Buddha or Confucius without an eyebrow being raised, but as soon as the name of Jesus was mentioned, the party would come to a screeching halt. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? (If so, why do you think that would happen?) 6. We know it is not merely the name of Jesus, but the person connected with it who has the power to forgive sin, heal the sick, and drive out demons. What does the Bible say about how a person can know Jesus and gain access to the power associated through his name? 7. Does it encourage you to know that God did not remain aloof from his creation, but entered our world – into our very lives – through the person of his Son, Jesus? Why or why not? Describe the difference it has made in your life to be able to call upon the name of Jesus. 8. Take some time throughout this week to reflect upon “the name of Jesus” and give thanks to him for how he has worked (and continues to work) in your life. *** Is your Jesus your temporal and eternal hope? ***
I mentioned at the end of the sermon I preached in December, that in 2021 I would provide a weekly resource focused on a title or description of the person and work of Jesus. My hope is that this "year with Jesus" will encourage you to reflect on our glorious Lord Jesus, and thereby, help you desire to know him better, love him more, become more like him, and grow in your worship of him and service to him.
Blessings, Dale |
Categories
All
Archives |
||||||
RSS Feed
