Studies in the Life of Jesus City Presbyterian Church
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© 2012. A Product of the ministry of City Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City by Doug Serven and Bobby Griffith.
Not much of this material is original or unique since we are striving to present historic Christianity to the 21st Century world. Therefore, we are building on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Please feel free to use this material in discussions with others and even in other Bible studies. Feel free to adapt and modify for your own purposes.
All Scriptures come from the English Standard Version, Crossway. Used by permission.
City Presbyterian Church is a missional community that seeks to worship Christ and serve Oklahoma City. Our goal is to Love God, Love People and Love the City. You can learn more about us at citypresokc.com.
Sources for this study include: sermons by Rev. Tim Keller and Rev. Fred Harrell, among many others The Gospel
At City Pres, the gospel is our greatest treasure – it truly is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, and that continues all throughout our Christian lives. However, in our day and culture, there is confusion as to just what the gospel is. The following article, adapted from an article written by Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, clearly defines the gospel.
The Third Way of the Gospel The Gospel means “good news.” It is the basic message that: “God made (Christ), who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The gospel says that we are so sinful, lost and helpless that only the life and death of the Son of God can save us. But it also says that those who trust in Christ’s work instead of their own efforts are now “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22-23). The gospel tells us that our root sin is not just failing in our obedience to God but relying on our obedience to save us. Therefore, the gospel is a “third way,” neither religion nor irreligion. The religious person may say, “I am doing the right things that God commands”1 and the irreligious person may say, “I decide what is right and wrong for myself.” But both ways reject Jesus as Savior (though they may revere him as Example or Helper). Both ways are strategies of self-salvation – both actually keep control of their own lives. So the gospel keeps us from legalism and moralism on the one hand and from hedonism and relativism on the other.
The Gospel’s Power for Change The gospel is not just the ABC but the A-Z of the Christian life. The gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom but is the way to address every problem and is the way to grow at every step. If we believe we can find our own worth and meaning through performance, then we will become either proud or disdainful of others (if we reach our goals), or else discouraged and self-loathing (if we fail our goals). But the gospel creates an entirely new self-image. The Gospel tells us that we are more wicked and sinful than we ever dared believe but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared to hope – at the same time. In fact, if the gospel is true, the more you see you sin, the more certain you are that you were saved by sheer grace and the more precious and electrifying that grace is to you. So the gospel gives us enormous power to admit our flaws. Then secondly, the knowledge of our acceptance in Christ makes (for the first time) the law of God a beauty instead of a burden. We come to use it to delight the One who has enriched us so mightily, instead of using it to get his attention or win his favor. The first way makes the moral and sacrificial life a joy; the second way makes it a burden.
Therefore the gospel changes everything. It brings down racial barriers by melting away facial pride or inferiority. It brings down psychological problems by melting away self-inflation or self-hatred. It brings down personal facades, for we are free to admit who we are. It effects the way we do everything… how we motivate people, how we help them work through counseling problems, how we worship, how we take criticism.
1 “Our core problem, say St. Augustine, is that the human heart, ignoring God, turns in on itself, tries to lift itself, wants to please itself, and ends up debasing itself. The person who reaches toward God and wants to please God gets, so to speak, stretched by this move, and ennobled by the transcendence of its object. But the person who curves in on himself, who wants God’s gifts without God, who wants to satisfy the desires of a divided heart, ends up sagging and contracting like a little wad. He desires are provincial. ‘There is something in humility which, strangely enough, exalts the heart, and something in pride, which debases it.’” - Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, p. 62, (at the end quoting Augustine, The City of God) How to Do This Bible Study
With those important preliminaries aside, we’re excited that you have decided to join us in exploring some of the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Whether you are investigating Christianity or have been a believer for as long as you can remember, we hope that this study will be fruitful for you. You may come with lots of questions or even with some apprehensiveness. Whatever the case, we earnestly desire this to be a time where you can honestly ask questions and explore the foundations of Christianity.
You may have been in a Bible study before, or you may be joining us for the first time. I want to make a note on our method of study. In each of the texts before us, we will use the simple O-I-A method of study: Observation – Interpretation – Application.
Observation We simply want to know what the text actually says. The answers are sometimes so obvious that you may feel like it’s a trick question, but its not. In observing the text, we want to ask, “What does the text say?”
Interpretation This admittedly is the toughest part of studying the Scriptures. Usually, we’ll be comparing Scripture with Scripture. We are interested in how the Scripture speaks to us, not in what we may want it to mean. Here, we are asking, “What does the text mean?”
Application This is where the rubber meets the road. Sometimes in observing the text and understanding its meaning, the application flows naturally. Sometimes, we will need to do some discussing to work it into our lives. Having understood and accurately interpreted the text, we now ask, “So what?” How does this affect my beliefs, my words, my actions, my community?
Attendance If you are working through this study in a group, please commit to coming each week. Not only will you benefit by this commitment, but the other people in your group will by your presence. It can be really discouraging for each week’s study to be only optionally attended. While coming each week is by no means a badge of righteousness for you, it will mean something if you put this as a priority in your week’s schedule and make every effort to be there.
John 2 Crazy Jesus
Read John 2 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions When you think of stereotypes of Jesus, what comes to mind? Any funny ones? Any sad ones? Have you had stereotypes of misconceptions of Jesus? Have you had the experience where you thought you knew someone but you really didn’t after all?
John 2
What literal pictures of Jesus are lodged in your mind? Where did those come from? What attributes of Jesus do those hold?
People think of Jesus as a teacher, or a guru, or a friend. Do you have a “Jesus” that is most familiar or comforting to you?
Are there things about Jesus that you don’t like? What are some of those?
How does Jesus “throw you off”? If he doesn’t, why doesn’t he?
In the first episode of John 2, what observations can you make from this story? List 5 observations.
What do you think about this story? Is there anything odd about it?
Considering this is Jesus’ first recorded miracle in John’s gospel, what significance do you think it might have?
How does Jesus save this party? What do you think about that?
In the second episode of John 2, what observations can you make? List 5 of them.
Use a study bible to look up what the Passover means and what the scene at the temple might be. Make some notes below.
What do you notice about Jesus’ emotions?
How does Jesus ruin this party? What do you think about that? “Jesus is Lord of the Wine.” What does that sentence mean?
If Jesus is thinking about his own wedding, what does that mean for him? Who is his bride? What will it take for him to get to his wedding day? (Consider Revelation 19:6-10)
“Jesus is Lord of the Temple.” What does that sentence mean? (Consider John 1:29-34)
Why might this matter to us?
Jesus cares about the little things in your life (like empty wine jars at a party). What little things might you bring to him today?
How might Jesus be your blessing, be your joy, be your party? Is he the Lord of the Wine for you?
Is Jesus overturning any of the tables in your life? Is he Lord of the Whips? Where might he be angry in your life?
How might this understanding of a more fully personal Jesus change your thoughts about him?
Does it change how following him might look for you?
What have you learned about yourself from John 2?
What have you learned about Jesus from John 2? Luke 16:19-31 Hell
Read Luke 16:19-31 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions Do you have a friend who has the same conversation over and over? What does he or she always talk about? Can you remember an inappropriate conversation that you’ve had recently?
Luke 16:19-31
Do you like Jesus as the representative of love? Where does he talk about love?
What about Jesus talking about hell? How does that make you feel?
List 10 observations you can make about this story:
What differences do you notice about the rich man and Lazarus?
Can you think of any similarities?
What is the correlation between riches and poverty in this world and the next?
There are basically three views on the afterlife: 1. There is an afterlife and it is divided between a good and bad place. 2. There is an afterlife and everyone goes to the same place (usually the good one). 3. There is no afterlife. Which view do you hold and what are its implications?
Which view do you think the Bible holds? Which view does Jesus hold?
When you think of hell, what do you think of?
“Hell is the disintegration of substance, not the elimination of substance.” What do you think that sentence means?
What is a good definition of “sin”?
How does sin breakdown people?
How is hell continuation of sin?
Look again at the rich man. Do you think he’s changed at all after going to hell? How does he display very similar characteristics as to when he was alive?
People want to live a life apart from God. Is that still true in hell?
It is rather remarkable in this story that one of the characters has a name: Lazarus. What does that name mean?
What is the importance of this name for Lazarus? How is that spiritually significant?
So if the bottom line, most ultimate important thing for Lazarus was “God’s help” what held that same place for the rich man?
What holds that place for you? In what do you find your help?
What does Abraham say to the rich man when he requests someone to dramatically tell his brothers about God?
What do you think that means?
Consider this verse: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Psalm 95:7-8 Do you hear his voice today? How do you or how do you not?
In the Apostle’s Creed, we recite this line: “He descended into hell.”
Why is that important?
How did Jesus’ “hell” matter to us?
How does our “hell” matter to him?
What have you learned more about Jesus from studying this passage?
What have you learned more about yourself from studying this passage?
John 8 Your Father Is The Devil!
Read John 8:12-59 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions When have you been around someone who said or did something that just baffled you? Do you have an awkward friend? Why is this person difficult to be around?
What is the difference between knowing about something or someone and actually truly knowing that thing or person.
John 8
It’s important to know who the Pharisees are for understanding this story. Consult a study bible and make some notes below.
You Are. Read 8:31-47.
What observations can you make about this interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees? What is their tone towards Jesus?
Jesus says something pretty inflammatory here. Why do you think he does that? What is their reaction?
What do you think Jesus’ disciples must be thinking when Jesus talks this way?
What do you think is the importance of realizing that your father is the devil? Why does this matter?
I Am (#1). Read John 8:12-30.
This conversation is happening in the context of something called the Feast of Tabernacles. Look in a study bible to see what that feast was all about. Record a few notes below.
When you think about light, what attributes does light have? What does light give us or do for us?
What happens when we have too much light? Can you think of an example of too much light?
So what do you think it means when Jesus says, “I am the light of the world?”
I Am (#2) Read John 8:48-59
What are some strange things that Jesus says in the passage?
Look at 8:58. What is the Pharisees’ reaction to that statement?
Why do you think they are so incensed?
Something must be going on here. Go back and read Exodus 3, especially 3:14. What do you notice in this passage?
So what is Jesus saying in 8:58?
What do you think about that? Why is that a provocative claim?
If this claim is true, what are things about Jesus that are also true?
Why does this matter to you?
What have you learned about yourself in this passage?
What have you learned about Jesus in this passage?
Luke 24 Cunning, Sly Jesus
Read Luke 24 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions Have you had a time when you’ve mistaken someone or not known who he or she was?
Luke 24
What are the facts in this story you can observe? List ten observations.
Their Sad Walk Why were these travelers walking to Emmaus in the first place? What is the situation?
How do you think these travelers are feeling?
Can you relate? What are some areas in your life that are sad right now?
What about spiritually? Can you relate to what these walkers might be feeling spiritually?
Have you ever entered into a group or church that you felt had it all together? Did you feel like you belonged or not? Why or why not?
Did they actually really have it all together? Does anyone?
Jesus shows up here, in this situation. Is that comforting to you? What freedom might it give to know Jesus enters walks like this?
Jesus’ Sly Conversation Think about what Jesus talks about in this chapter. What doesn’t Jesus talk about? Why is this perhaps surprising?
When you think about Jesus, do you think of him as sly and cunning? Why or why not?
What few things are rather funny about this story with Jesus?
What does Jesus talk about? Luke 24:27: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
What are the implications of this for the way you read the Bible? Or the way the Bible gets preached in churches?
Why do you think these travelers didn’t ever realize it was Jesus during their walk?
When did they realize it was Jesus? What might be some implications or connections with that?
Their Opened Eyes When they realized it was Jesus, what did they say about their time with him on the road when he taught them?
Have you ever felt that way? Take a minute to describe the last time that happened to you:
Luke writes that their eyes were opened and they saw Jesus for who he was. Has that happened to you? Explain.
When is the last time you saw something new or different about Jesus?
As you look back, have there been times he has been walking with you but you didn’t know it? Describe one or two.
What is something you have learned about Jesus from studying this passage?
What is something you have learned about yourself from this passage? Matthew 16:21-29 Jesus Wants Me to Die?
Read Matthew 16:21-29 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions What is something that has happened recently where your expectations were not met? What is something you think God should do for you? What do you think and feel about it? Does it bother you?
Matthew 16:21-29
Have you ever misunderstood Jesus? How and why?
We are confident in our view about Jesus.. We are selfish in our expectations of him. And we want Jesus to fit into our Kingdoms, for our purposes. Jesus wants us to die to these things.
We are confident in our view about Jesus.
Have you ever “figured” out Jesus? What did Peter think of Jesus?
Think of someone you’ve met whose confidence drove you crazy. Have you ever acted that way? How?
What are ways Christians place too much confidence in themselves concerning the ways of God? Can you think of examples you have seen?
Why does Peter not want Jesus to suffer and die?
Do you sympathize with Peter? How?
What are ways that you treat Jesus like Peter did?
We are selfish in our expectations about Jesus.
Why is Peter upset that Jesus says he will die? What does he expect Jesus to do?
What are ways we mold Jesus into our image?
Why is it dangerous to mold Jesus into our image?
If Jesus calls us to a correct understanding of who he is, what does that mean in light of suffering, death and sacrifice?
What are ways Jesus suffered?
What did Jesus die to in order to bring redemption?
What are ways you might have to “die to” something in your life?
Jesus wants us to die to our own Kingdoms.
Does it bother you that Jesus called Peter “Satan”?
Why did Jesus call him that?
What does it mean for Peter to share Satan’s view?
If what Peter wanted would only cost some troops and a revolution, what did it cost God to bring in his Kingdom?
For Jesus to bring in his Kingdom, it required sacrifice. What does that mean?
What do you make of Jesus calling Peter Satan but never disowning him?
Do you find comfort in God’s grace?
What did you learn about Jesus in this passage?
What did you learn about yourself?
Matthew 21:1-17 Not the King We Expect
Read Matthew 21:1-17 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions When was a time when you had tried your hardest to win something but you ended up losing?
Matthew 21:1-17
Misunderstanding the Mission
What happens in this first story in 21:1-11? What are the people doing? Why are they doing this?
Some of these folks are “nobodies” who want to be “somebodies.” What are ways you can relate to that?
What did these people think about Jesus mission? What did they think it was?
Was Jesus mission to overthrow Rome? Was it something bigger? If so, what?
The crowds wanted redemption from problems. What are ways you have sought redemption from problems in your life?
Did it work?
Does Jesus bring the redemption they want?
What redemption does he bring?
Fulfilling our Longings
What do you think about the second story in 21:12-17?
Why did Jesus make such a scene in the temple?
How did the orderly system of money changing cause chaos? Think: who gets left out or abused?
We seek to order our lives to bring peace. What are ways you do this?
What stories of chaos have you seen in the news recently?
After Jesus cleanses the temple, who does he interact with?
Does it surprise you that Jesus healed and welcomed outcasts and children?
Can you think of other god stories outside the Bible where a deity acts this way?
Jesus enters the chaos of the temple and brings peace and order. What does that tell us about his mission?
How is he doing this in your life?
What have you learned about yourself from this story?
What have you learned about Jesus?
1 Corinthians 15 A Resurrected Jesus
Read 1 Corinthians 15 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about.
Opening Questions What do you think of when you hear the words “raised from the dead”? [Zombies? Your favorite sports team coming back from a huge deficit in a no-win situation?]
1 Corinthians 15
There is so much to cover in this chapter, and we cannot do it all. Please consult a study Bible for parts that you’re interested in that we do not get to. This is a chapter of the Bible worthy of hours and hours of study.
The Historicity of the Resurrection
Who wrote this chapter of the Bible? What do you know about him?
Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, which was a very messed up one. Here he says something: “Think.” Why does he want them to think? What does he want them to think about?
Do you think Christians are normally considered to be “thinkers”? Why or why not?
You should go to one of the gospels and read the resurrection accounts to familiarize yourself with them again.
What evidence does Paul give to the validity of the resurrection?
Have you heard of others theories that explain Jesus’ death in a more natural way? What are those?
How persuasive do you find those theories?
What does Paul say about them? What evidence does he give?
Sometimes we believe that “people back then” would more likely believe in a resurrection. Is that actually true?
Why does Paul say that the resurrection matters so much? How does Paul express that in this chapter?
What do you think? Does the resurrection matter? Why or why not?
The “Redemptivity” of the Resurrection
The resurrection has had a profound effect on people.
How did the resurrection change Peter (Cephas)?
How did the resurrection change James? (who was James?)
How did the resurrection change Paul?
How did grace change Paul? What is grace?
In 15:1, Paul mentions the gospel which he preached. What is “the gospel”? Write out a definition.
Do you know of anyone in your life that the gospel/grace/resurrection has changed?
What about you? Has the gospel/grace/resurrection changed you? If so, how? If not, why not?
The Applicability of the Resurrection
If Jesus really did raise from the dead, what are the possible implications of that for your life?
How is it different to follow a resurrected Jesus rather than a non-resurrected Jesus?
What are the ramifications of resurrection for our world and our bodies? Paul seems to talk about this in 1 Corinthians 15.
How would that resurrection matter to you today? What about in the future?
What does Paul seem to think that means for us as we look at and think about death?
How do we have victory?
Why does this matter?
“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching, but whether or not he rose from the dead.’ That is how first hearers felt who heard reports of the resurrection. They knew that if it were true it meant we can’t live our lives any way we want. It also meant we don’t have to be afraid of anything, not Roman swords, not cancer, nothing. If Jesus rose from the dead, it changes everything.” Tim Keller, Reason for God, 202
What have you learned about Jesus from this passage?
What have you learned about yourself?