6 Lessons for Large Groups, Small Groups, or Individual Discipleship ANCHRISTOLOGY ADVENT STUDY 6 LESSONS FOR LARGE GROUPS, SMALL GROUPS, OR INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLESHIP Christology: An Advent Study 6 Lessons for Large Groups, Small Groups, or Individual Discipleship Bennett W. Rogers © Reformed Youth Ministries 2020 RYM 1445 Rio Road East Suite 201D Charlottesville, VA 22911 www.rym.org Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced for profit in any form or by any means without prior permission from the publisher. Download, duplication, and distribution of up to one hundred (100) copies of this material is permitted free of charge for individuals, Bible study groups, and churches. Contact Reformed Youth Ministries to receive licenses for greater numbers. CONTENTS Introduction 5 1. The gENealogy of Christ 7 2. The birth of the forerunner 13 3. the virgin birth 19 4. the BIrth 25 5. the adoration of the magi 33 6. the incarnation 40 INTRODUCTION And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 There is something undeniably joyful about the Christmas season. The lights and sights, the parties and presents, the time with family and friends all combine to make this “the most wonderful time of the year.” But none of this compares to the “good news of great joy” that the angel brought to the shepherds in Bethlehem. The angel came with news of a special birth. The Old Testament is punctuated by a series of special, even miraculous, births that opened a new chapter in redemptive history. And it looked forward to an utterly unique birth – a virgin birth – which signaled the coming of God’s divine king and the dawning of the Messianic age. That age begins with this birth. This special birth took place in a special place. Ever since the dark days of the Judges, the hope of God’s people has been fixed to an eternal king, who comes from a special place. This king will be a second David – a better David – a righteous and deathless David – and he will hail from David’s own hometown of Bethlehem, the very place the angel directs the shepherds. The angel proclaimed the birth of the promised Savior. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The death-defeating, sin-destroying, cursing-reversing Savior of has arrived! The long-awaited Christ – the Messiah – the Anointed One – the Spirit-endowed, Spirit-empowered, prophet, priest, and king– has come to rescue God’s people and judge his enemies. And the angel tells the shepherds that they can find him in the most unlikely place – in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. This is good news of great joy. This 6-week Advent study is meant to be an exposition and exploration of this “good news of great joy.” It is an introductory study, hence the title “Advent 101.” It is aimed at middle school and high school students, though I’ve personally taught it to adults as well. You know your church and your students best, so feel free to tailor this material to find the best fit. Each of the six lessons is designed to fill a 30-45 minute time slot. Over the course of this study we will work through the nativity narratives in the Gospels in the following order: 5 • Lesson 1: The Genealogy of Christ (Matt. 1:1-17) • Lesson 2: The Birth of the Forerunner (Luke 1:5-25) • Lesson 3: The Virgin Birth (Luke 1:26-56) • Lesson 4: The Nativity of our Lord (Luke 2:1-21) • Lesson 5: The Adoration of the Magi (Matt. 2:1-23) • Lesson 6: The Theological Significant of the Incarnation (John 1:1-18) Some lessons include optional readings and questions, which may allow you to go further or dig deeper into a particular topic if time permits. I’ve also included some quotes from the likes of J. I. Packer, J. C. Ryle, and C. S. Lewis to illustrate or apply certain truths. The major leg-work has been done for you; now you can you can make it your own. Add your own quotes. Find your own illustrations. Come up with your own application question. The great Roman orator, Cicero, argued that every oration must be tailored to suit the audience, speaker, and occasion. The same is true of a study of the Advent. The word Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus, means “coming,” and the Advent season is a wonderful time to look back to the coming of Christ in humility in Bethlehem and forward to the coming of Christ in power and glory at the end of the age. The Collect (prayer) for the first Sunday in Advent from The Book of Common Prayer (1662) provides a wonderful summary of the spiritual significance of this season: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty; to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost now and ever. Amen. We pray that this study will help you and your students marvel at the “great humility” of our Lord’s first Advent and prepare your hearts for his Second in “glorious Majesty.” Lastly, Advent 101 is completely free. When we say “completely free,” that means not only monetarily free, but with no strings attached. That means you don’t have to sign up for our newsletter, you don’t have to share this on a social media platform, etc. Reformed Youth Ministries seeks to spread the good news of the gospel by reaching students for Christ and equipping them to serve. Part of that goal is fulfilled through the production of resources. 6 THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST LESSON 1 Matthew 1:1-17 [Opening prayer] Introduction: How many of you know what a genealogy is? [Allow answers] The English word “genealogy” comes from the Greek word genealogia, which means “a catalogue of ancestors” or “a history of descent.” But genealogies contain more than just a list of ancestors, they tell a story – a family history. Turn with me to the very first chapter of the New Testament. What do we find here? [Allow answers]. We find a genealogy – the genealogy of Christ! Do you think that is significant? Why do you think the New Testament opens with a genealogy of Christ? [Allow answers]. Like all genealogies, this genealogy tells a story, but Christ’s genealogy tells the story of the entire Old Testament. And like all genealogies, this genealogy contains a family history, but Christ’s genealogy contains a history of God’s covenant promises, which find their ultimate fulfillment in this special son. In short, this genealogy lets us know who Jesus is and what he came to do. Let’s read Matthew 1:1-17 together. What are some things you notice about Christ’s genealogy? [Allow answers] This evening, I want us to focus on three things: 1) the title; 2) the descendants; and 3) the structure. 1) First, let’s look at the TITLE. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” This is the first verse/sentence of the New Testament and the genealogy of Christ. What do you think is significant about it? Why is it important that you know these things about Jesus? [Allow answers] Let’s take a look at each phrase. a. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.” i. What do you think is significant about this? [Allow answers]. ii.The Greek word for genealogy is ‘Genesis’ which, of course, is the first book of theBible.. Furthermore, the book of Genesis is punctuated by 10 genealogies that are introduced with a similar Hebrew phrase: “these are the generations of…” These genealogies are placed at critical moments in the text (2:4, 5:1, 6:9, 10:1, 11:10, 11:27, 25:12, 25:19, 36:1, 37:2), focus on critical figures (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and signal the beginning of a new chapter in redemptive history. 7 CHRISTOLOGY Lesson 1 b. The name “Jesus Christ” is deeply significant as well. i. Do any of you know what this name means? [Allow Answers]. ii. The name “Jesus” in Hebrew means “Yahweh saves.” The name “Christ” was the Greek rendering of Hebrew mashiakh, which means “Messiah” or “Anointed One.” There were three offices in the Old Testament that required anointing: prophet, priest, and king. The Old Testament looked forward to the coming of the Messiah (Christ), who would be the fulfillment and definitive embodiment of these offices. iii. So would anyone like to try to summarize the meaning and message of the title of Christ’s genealogy? [Allow answers] iv. The birth of Jesus represents a new beginning – a new genesis – for God’s people.