Introduction to the Bible

Week 4

HUMAN H

ISTORY

Story Arc

Climax

DenouementExposition

Falling ActionRising A

ctio

n

CREATION

†REDEM

PTION

RESTORATION

FALLCHRIST’S RETURN

Types

The Gospels

Bible books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, JohnTimeline: Jesus’ Birth through his Ascension (c. 4

BC-33 AD)

What is a gospel? Message of Good News

Mark 1:1,2 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you,  who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness,  'make ready the way of the lord,  make his paths straight.'" 

Why the Gospels matter?

As Mark indicates, these are the good news of Jesus Christ. But, who cares?

1. Jesus is the central figure of the Bible (John 5:39; Luke 24:44) and the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1).

2. In Jesus, God became a man. (John 1:1, 1:14; Phil 2:6-8)

Understanding the Gospels

1. Learn about the diversity of the gospels. They each have a different structure, different theme, and a different purpose.

Why are there four gospels? Different Audiences

2. Learn about Jesus’ world.Look at Overview of the Gospels worksheet

3. The Gospels include narrative lessons and the direct teachings of Jesus Christ

Narrative: the Cross

The cross is central to the gospels:1. Jesus’ Last Week dominates the

gospels, culminating in the crucifixion

2. Jesus says it’s why he came (Mark 10:45)

3. The only ritual instituted by Jesus is about his death. (Luke 22:17-20)

Statement Significance

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?

Self Identification with Psalm 22

“Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Total sinner receives forgiveness, dies shortly after

“It is Finished” Legal term used to indicate that the criminal sentence had been satisfied

Narrative: The Outcome

Temple Veil Torn (Luke 23:45) Resurrection- What’s the big deal?1 Corinthians 15:3,4- For what I received I

passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

The Jews’ view of the kingdom of God:

See Daniel 2:44

Teaching: Kingdom of God

God’s Kingdom

Messiah’s Coming

This Present Evil Age

The Jews’ view of the kingdom of God:

Kingdom of God

Kingdom in its

fullness

Messiah’s 2nd Coming

This Present Evil Age

Messiah’s 1st Coming

Kingdom at hand

Jesus and the “Kingdom at hand”:

Kingdom Parables

What are parables?Parables almost always make a single

point and are designed to elicit a response.

The kingdom parables:Matthew 13:24-30; 31-32; 44

Matt 13 Kingdom at Hand Kingdom in its fullness

vs. 24-30 The Righteous and Unrighteous will live together

God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous

vs. 31-32 The kingdom starts small and gradually grows large

God’s kingdom will come suddenly and dominate the whole world

vs. 44 God’s Kingdom is inconspicuous yet worthy of all we possess

The value of God’s kingdom will be obvious to everyone

Kingdom of God

Some crucial lessons from Kingdom:• You are not righteous to be a part

of the kingdom! (Matt. 5:20)• The time to repent is now. (Matt

4:17)• God is committed to our well-being;

pursue the kingdom first! (Matt. 6:33) 

Parables of Salvation

Jesus’ parables are revolutionary.• His parables expose misconceptions,

pride and dishonesty.  • They reverse expectations about

wealthy, powerful, & religious people. • Jesus’ parables undermine, challenge,

threaten, weaken, & destabilize our personal agenda.

Parables of Salvation

Luke 15:11-32• Who is the parable addressed to? • What attitude is Jesus speaking to?• What is the emphasis of this section?• Learn what you can about the

historical and cultural setting of your passage.

• Don’t assume your associations are the same as the original listeners!

Understanding Parables

• Don’t lose the main point by trying to attach significance to every detail.

• What part of the parable would have shocked this audience?

• The point of the parable(s)? • What can you take away from this

passage? (Cf. The Prodigal God)

History: Acts

Timeline: 33 – c. 60 A.D. Key events:Acts provides an account of how Jesus

guided the growth of the early church through the Holy Spirit. (See 1:8)

A. Jerusalem (Ch. 1-7)B. Judea and Samaria (Ch. 8)C. Ends of the Earth (Ch. 9,10 ff)