october adult class "i have come "

“I Have Come”

• Amate Art of Mexico by Felix Jimenez Chino

Exploration of God’s initiative in Jesus and

Jesus’ response to God.

Matthew:

5:17-20;

9:9-13;

10:34-39;

20:20-28

1from Warren Carter's 1998 article "Jesus' 'I Have Come' Statements from Matthew's

Gospel. Catholic Biblical Quarterly

Birth Narrative in the Gospel of Matthew 1:8-25

• The birth narrative makes it clear to the ancient and contemporary audience that Jesus birth is at the initiative of God.

• The narrative communicates that God has expectations and goals for Jesus’ life and ministry. i.e. saving people from sin and manifesting God’s presence.

• However, there is a question, how will Jesus respond to being set in motion by God? The “I have come” statements are Jesus’ response to God’s initiative.



Response #1 - Matthew 5:17-20 –return to the word prophet

Remembering 1:22-23

• Now the word prophet does not just mean the prophets of the Hebrew scriptures, Jesus as teacher and action-taker is a prophet himself.

The law and the Prophets

• The Law = the 1st five books of the bible otherwise known as the Pentateuch

• The prophets are those within the books ranging from Joshua to Kings.



The importance of Words

• Scripture has “thematic indicators” or words that are repeated in order to reveal a larger pattern.

• In our own lives, values can be communicated through the words that we repeat to our friends and families and even to ourselves.

• What are some words or phrases that you draw upon often?



Brainstorm in the space below what it means when Jesus says: I desire

mercy, not sacrifice?

• Are there examples of sacrifice in the three selections on page 5?

• Think of when people do wrong to you or short change you.

• Is it important to you that they “make it right”?

• How do you know when they have done that?

• Does it include them sacrificing time, honor or resources?



Matt. 9:1-9 is on repeat!

• How many times do you count the word sin? What verses?

• How many times do you count the word Jesus? In what verses?

• How many times do you count the word forgive? In what verses?

• How many times do you count the word call? In what verses?



Rational for Why People Suffer

• Deuteronomy 28:15-68

• Exodus 20:5

• Do we have rationale that we would have to overcoming in order to take part in the divine task of healing and forgiving? What are some of the rationales about why people suffer?



Have we come for healing and forgiveness?

• Why do you believe you have come into the world?

• As a person striving in the direction of Jesus or the Christian faith, how much of your attention is to the healing and forgiveness that the world needs? Can you think of some examples that you would share in class? – As you think of personal examples, you might consider that

forgiveness has at least four steps: • The recognition that forgiveness is needed

• Taking some action to offer what you think my result in healing or forgiveness

• How individuals receive your efforts.



Response #3: Matthew 10:34-35

• This is part of a larger portion of scripture: 10:5-11:1 in which Jesus is explaining the tasks, burdens and experiences of discipleship.



Hostility will be a response to Jesus’ purposes

• The theme of Micah 7:6 is alluded to in Matthew 10:34

• When do Christians receive hostile treatment?

• Has the emphasis on evangelism eclipsed the emphasis on healing and forgiving?

• Are we to make choices against our relationships if they are not Christian or is the choice a choice that drives our behavior regardless of the family culture from which we come?



october adult class "i have come "

Spiritual