Someone Special Someone Special ArrivesArrives

Jesus’ birthJesus’ birth

Temptation againTemptation again

Gathering a new Gathering a new peoplepeople

Creation Disaster! Restoration Someone A New Restoration Begun Special Community

Completed

GenGenesesiiss

HistoricaHistorical l books, books, Psalms, Psalms, etc.etc.

MattheMatthew Mark w Mark Luke Luke JohnJohn

MattheMatthew Mark w Mark Luke Luke JohnJohn

Acts, Acts, Paul’s Paul’s letters, letters, etc.etc.

RevelatiRevelationon

OldOld TestamentTestament

New New TestamentTestament

God take things into his God take things into his own hands:own hands:

GodGodGod loved God loved the world the world so much so much that he that he gave his gave his one and one and only Son. only Son.

JesuJesuss

Anyone Anyone who who

believes believes in him in him will not will not really really

die, but die, but will have will have eternal eternal life. life.

John 3:16John 3:16

Forgiveness, Forgiveness, reconciliation, reconciliation, justice, justice, peace,peace, lifelife

What did Jesus What did Jesus saysay first?first?

““The time has come,”The time has come,” Jesus said. Jesus said. “The “The kingdom of kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”the good news!” The kingdom of God The kingdom of God == God is taking charge! God is taking charge!

Everything will be as God wants Everything will be as God wants it to be.it to be.RepentRepent= turn back to God and live! Stop = turn back to God and live! Stop ignoring ignoring God, stop doing what God, stop doing whatdispleases God, displeases God, Believe the good newsBelieve the good news = allow God to take = allow God to take charge charge of your life. of your life.

What did Jesus What did Jesus dodo first? first?

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into net into the lake, for they were fishermen. the lake, for they were fishermen. ““Come, follow Come, follow meme,” Jesus said. ,” Jesus said.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw When he had gone a little farther, he saw James… James… and his brother John in a boat, and his brother John in a boat, preparing their preparing their nets. Without delay he called nets. Without delay he called them, and they… them, and they… followed him.followed him.

Mark 1:16-20 Mark 1:16-20What is Jesus doing here?What is Jesus doing here?

Jesus began to gather Jesus began to gather people around him.people around him.

Let me guide you; learn from me Let me guide you; learn from me for I am gentle and humble and for I am gentle and humble and you will find rest for your souls.you will find rest for your souls.

You, You, follow follow me!me!

Come to me, all of you Come to me, all of you who are tired and who are tired and carrying heavy loads. I carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.will give you rest.

You, become one of my

You, become one of my

disciples!

disciples! Align your life to

Align your life to

mine!mine!

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who are spiritually needy.Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are those who are sad.Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comfortedThey will be comforted

Blessed are those who are free of pride.Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth.They will be given the earth.

Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what for what is right.is right. They will be filled. They will be filled.

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who show mercy.Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy.They will be shown mercy.

Blessed are those whose hearts are pure.Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God.They will see God.

Blessed are those who make peace.Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called children of God.They will be called children of God.

What types of people is What types of people is Jesus looking for?Jesus looking for?

Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right.right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.them.Blessed are you when people make fun of you Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me.and hurt you because of me. Be joyful and be glad. Your reward in Be joyful and be glad. Your reward in heaven in heaven in great.great.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

You have been told: You have been told: Do not kill.Do not kill.

I tell you:I tell you: Do not be angry with your Do not be angry with your brother or sister. Do not call them “idiot” brother or sister. Do not call them “idiot” or “stupid!”or “stupid!”

You have been told: You have been told: Be faithful in marriage.Be faithful in marriage.

I tell you:I tell you: “If you look at another woman and “If you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts. If your right eye causes you to sin, thoughts. If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away!poke it out and throw it away!

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

You have been told:You have been told: Eye for eye, and tooth for Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.tooth.

I tell you: I tell you: Do not fight against an evil person. Do not fight against an evil person. When people ask you for something, give it to When people ask you for something, give it to them.them.

You have been told: You have been told: Love your neighbor; hate Love your neighbor; hate your enemyyour enemy

I tell you: I tell you: Love your enemies. Pray for those Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.who hurt you.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

Do not invest in the riches of earth—they lose Do not invest in the riches of earth—they lose their their value so quickly. Instead, invest in value so quickly. Instead, invest in the riches of the riches of heaven—they’ll always be heaven—they’ll always be there.there.You cannot serve God and Money at the same You cannot serve God and Money at the same time.time. Don’t worry about food or clothing. If you’re Don’t worry about food or clothing. If you’re going to going to worry about anything, worry about worry about anything, worry about serving God and serving God and his kingdom.his kingdom.

If you don’t want to be judged, don’t you judge If you don’t want to be judged, don’t you judge others.others.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

1. When you give to needy people… What 1. When you give to needy people… What relationship relationship is Jesus talking about here?is Jesus talking about here?

Jesus talks about three of our Jesus talks about three of our relationships: relationships:

““Don’t announce to everyone what you do Don’t announce to everyone what you do for needy people.” for needy people.” Why wouldn’t Jesus Why wouldn’t Jesus want us to do that? want us to do that? Does Jesus expect his disciples to help Does Jesus expect his disciples to help people people who are in need?who are in need?

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

2. When you pray…. What relationship does 2. When you pray…. What relationship does Jesus Jesus have in mind here?have in mind here?

““Don’t pray in front of people so that they Don’t pray in front of people so that they can see can see how religious you are.” Why how religious you are.” Why not?not?Does Jesus expect his disciples to pray?Does Jesus expect his disciples to pray?

What What isis prayer? prayer?

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

What should we pray for?What should we pray for?

Our Father in heaven, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. hallowed be your name. Your Your kingdom come. kingdom come. Your will Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give Give us today our daily bread, us today our daily bread, and and forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our forgive us our debts (sins) as we forgive our

debtors (those who sin against us). debtors (those who sin against us). Lead us not into Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. evil one. (For yours is (For yours is the kingdom and the glory and the the kingdom and the glory and the power forever. Amen.)power forever. Amen.)

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

3. When you fast…. What relationship is 3. When you fast…. What relationship is Jesus Jesus thinking about here?thinking about here?

What is fasting?What is fasting?

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

Everyone who hears my words and puts them Everyone who hears my words and puts them into into practice is like a wise man. He builds his practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the house on the rock. The rain comes down. The rock. The rain comes down. The water rises. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against winds blow and beat against that house, but it does that house, but it does not fall. It is built on the not fall. It is built on the rock.rock.

He began to teach He began to teach them:them:

But everyone who hears my words and does But everyone who hears my words and does not put not put them into practice is like a foolish them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds man. He builds his house on sand. The rain his house on sand. The rain comes down. The comes down. The water rises. The winds blow water rises. The winds blow and beat against that and beat against that house. And it falls house. And it falls with a loud crash!with a loud crash!The choice is ours.The choice is ours.

God in Jesus was reconciling God in Jesus was reconciling the world to himselfthe world to himself

GodGodThrough Through you all you all the the nations nations will be will be blessed.blessed.

You are You are the salt of the salt of the earth. the earth. You are You are the light the light of the of the world. Let world. Let your light your light shine in shine in front of front of others.others.

Jesus and Jesus and his his followersfollowers

ForgivenForgivenessess

reconciliatireconciliationon

lifelife

peacepeace

How can we be the How can we be the followers Jesus wants us followers Jesus wants us

to be?to be?

The The HolyHoly SpiritSpirit, whom the Father will send in , whom the Father will send in my name my name will will teachteach you all things and will you all things and will remindremind you of you of everything I have said to you. -everything I have said to you. -John 14:26John 14:26You will receive You will receive powerpower when the when the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit comes on comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses you. Then you will be my witnesses from one end of from one end of the earth to the other. -Acts the earth to the other. -Acts 1:81:8Live by the Holy Spirit’s power. The fruit that Live by the Holy Spirit’s power. The fruit that the the Holy Spirit produces is Holy Spirit produces is lovelove, , joyjoy, , peacepeace, , patiencepatience kindnesskindness, , goodnessgoodness, , faithfulnessfaithfulness, , gentlenessgentleness and and self-controlself-control. -Galatians . -Galatians 5:16, 22-235:16, 22-23

Being a follower of Being a follower of JesusJesus

What does Jesus want us to What does Jesus want us to bebe??

Like him! What might that mean?Like him! What might that mean?

Where and how can we learn to be like Where and how can we learn to be like Jesus?Jesus?With other people, With other people,

worshipingworshiping him, him, listeninglistening to what he said, to what he said, studyingstudying what he did what he did talkingtalking to him in prayer to him in prayer

Being a follower of Being a follower of JesusJesus

What does Jesus want us to What does Jesus want us to dodo??

That depends: That depends: What are we good at doing? What are we good at doing?

What do we like to do?What do we like to do?

What Jesus is most interested in is how What Jesus is most interested in is how we we can bring his blessings of can bring his blessings of forgiveness, hope, forgiveness, hope, and reconciliation and reconciliation to people through what to people through what we do.we do.