Life of Jesus in Chronological Order
Introduction to the Life of Jesus
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is on introducing the study and establishing a foundation for the rest of the course. Of special note in this lesson are the 7 major divisions in the life of Jesus. Teachers should use this to reinforce that the life of Jesus was a single narrative rather than a random collection of historical events. This shows method and intent. It is also important to distinguish between the reality of the biblical record and popular stories and myths.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Understand how the Gospel of Luke relates to the other gospels of the New Testament.
- Feel: Value the insights into the life and teachings of Jesus as provided by the Gospel of Luke.
- Do: Apply the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke to help the student grow spiritually.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
There will be a variety of responses but look for the following. By studying the life of Jesus we gain insights into the culture, history and worldview of those hearing His message and carrying that message to the world. It further validates prophetic teachings and statements of His claim to be the Messiah. It demonstrates the humanity of Jesus as He experienced life as we live it underscoring His position as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).
If we believe the popular erroneous stories and myths associated with the life of Jesus, especially His birth and early years, it takes away the reality of His true personhood. It further undermines the ability of some to develop or sustain their faith. If Satan can cast doubt on the truthfulness of Jesus then he prevents our faith or weakens it. This is one of the tactics he used successfully against Adam and Eve. Truth trumps fiction, especially in the person of Jesus and His role as our savior.
There would be a lot of questions since many have claimed to be the Messiah. Here are some questions that would have to be answered. Where was He born? Who were His people? Did the events of His birth agree with the prophecies you've learned?
Today, as we learn about Jesus, we should have the same questions. Beyond the obvious questions about the truthfulness of His claims and life, we would also want to examine His claims concerning what He could do to meet my spiritual needs.
Jesus showed by His life and teachings that He was the Messiah (Luke 4:21). He also meets our spiritual needs today as we grow more in the knowledge and application of His teachings in our lives.
This allows us to check on the authenticity of these events proving that Jesus was a true historical figure and not simply a myth or story.
There are many reasons but perhaps the main one being that God wants us to focus on His life and teachings during His ministry as He taught us how to live as citizens of God's Kingdom. The real value of the life of Jesus is found in His teachings and our response to these.
The intent of this question is to implant in our minds the overall structure of the life of Jesus. It would be a good idea to repeat this question in each study to further reinforce it in the student's mind. This overall structure helps show the life of Jesus working as a narrative rather than a collection of random events.
In our efforts to teach the gospel we must be careful not to convert someone to the Church of Christ but rather to teach them to become disciples of Jesus. Our role is to teach. The Holy Spirit will add them to the church. This doesn't lessen the importance of the church but puts the focus of our teaching on Jesus our Savior. When we do this, we grow spiritually. Spiritual maturity is seen in how we are more and more like Jesus.