Jesus Christ: Focal Point of Our Christian Faith

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Jesus Christ: Focal Point of Our Christian Faith. Explain the future and present reality of the kingdom of God using the Mk. 1: 14 and Mt. 13:31-32. What is the significance of the Isaiah 11: 2 passage in Jesus being recognized as the Christ i.e. the anointed one? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Jesus Christ: Focal Point of Our Christian Faith

The Way--Jesus Speaks: The Kingdom is Coming and Jesus as Teacher

Jesus Christ: Focal Point of Our Christian FaithExplain the future and present reality of the kingdom of God using the Mk. 1: 14 and Mt. 13:31-32.What is the significance of the Isaiah 11: 2 passage in Jesus being recognized as the Christ i.e. the anointed one?Explain the Jewish understanding that God alone is King of Israel and that Israel was anticipating a new King. Did the Jewish experience of kingship prepare them for Jesus kingdom proclamation? Why?What is unique about Jesus understanding about discipleship?

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

Mar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

What is the kingdom of God? How was it understood?Old Testament theme (Jesus did not invent this)God alone was King of IsraelIsrael was waiting for a King

God alone was King of IsraelPsa 47:6-9

Psa 47:6-9(6) Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!(7) For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!(8) God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.(9) The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Israel was waiting for a KingIsa 11:1-5

Isa 11:1-5(1) There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.(2) And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.(3) And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;(4) but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.(5) Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

Isa 11:1-5(1) There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.(2) And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.(3) And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;(4) but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.(5) Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

Understanding the meaning of ChristAnd the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him=Kings in biblical times were anointed because they were expected to have the spirit of God or to act like God.They were expecting the Anointed one or the Messiah.Explain the future and present reality of the kingdom of God using the Mk. 1: 14 and Mt. 13:31-32.What is the significance of the Isaiah 11: 2 passage in Jesus being recognized as the Christ i.e. the anointed one?Explain the Jewish understanding that God alone is King of Israel and that Israel was anticipating a new King. Did the Jewish experience of kingship prepare them for Jesus kingdom proclamation? Why?What is unique about Jesus understanding about discipleship?

Isa 11:1-5(1) There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.(2) And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.(3) And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;(4) but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.(5) Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

Mar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

Mar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

is at hand....approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.

Mar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

repent, and believe..Repent= to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.Believe= to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust

Mar 1:14-15(14) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,(15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."

the gospel."Urgent(much awaited)FamiliarGood News (people wanted to hear it)

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodThe Present and Future Reality of the KingdomMk. 1:14-PresentMt. 13:31-32--FutureThe Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMar 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMat 13:31-32 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. (32) It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMat 13:31-32 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. (32) It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMat 13:31-32 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. (32) It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodMat 13:31-32 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. (32) It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

How does God work in our lives?Insignificant Beginnings!

Significant Endings!Explain the future and present reality of the kingdom of God using the Mk. 1: 14 and Mt. 13:31-32.What is the significance of the Isaiah 11: 2 passage in Jesus being recognized as the Christ i.e. the anointed one?Explain the Jewish understanding that God alone is King of Israel and that Israel was anticipating a new King. Did the Jewish experience of kingship prepare them for Jesus kingdom proclamation? Why?What is unique about Jesus understanding about discipleship?

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodVideoInsignificant beginnings

What did you learn about God and human life in the parable and in the video?The Proclamation of the Kingdom of GodFor Jesus the kingdom was the work of God His acts of healing and compassion, his words and wisdom, were all directed toward creating the kind of life that would characterize the kingdom over which God alone would be master. (Donald Senior) The EndDiscipleshipDigression: Three Stages of Gospel DevelopmentMk. 8: 34-38Discipleship for JesusA CallUnchanging RelationshipA sharing in his life and missionA letter of a communistWhat is happiness?Discussion

To Faith

Three Stages of the Gospel DevelopmentStage 1Stage 2

Stage 3Our ContextMar 8:34-38(34) And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(35) For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.(36) For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?(37) For what can a man give in return for his life?(38) For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

The Throne Diagram

Me

(2 Cor. 5:15) Now we live for Him,and no longer for ourselves(Gal. 2: 20) ...it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...+(Phi 3:8)

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ

(John 3:30)

He must increase, but I must decrease."

DiscipleshipMk. 8: 34-38Discipleship for JesusA CallUnchanging RelationshipA sharing in his life and missionA letter of a communistWhat is happiness?Discussion

Discipleship for Jesus

Discipleship: CostlyMar 8:34-38(34) And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(35) For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.(36) For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?(37) For what can a man give in return for his life?(38) For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

A CallMar 1:16-22(16) And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.(17) And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."(18) And immediately they left their nets and followed him.(19) And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.(20) And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.(21) And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.(22) And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

A Call

Unique??Jesus took initiative!Unchanging RelationshipMat 23:8-12(8) But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.(9) And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.(10) Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.(11) He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;(12) whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Unchanging Relationship

No Graduation!!A sharing in his life and missionMar 16:15-19(15) And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.(16) He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;(18) they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."(19) So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

A sharing in his life and missionMat 28:17-20(17) And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.(18) And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

A letter of a communist We Communists have a philosophy of life which no amount of money could buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definitive purpose in life. We subordinate our petty, personal selves into a great movement of humanity, and if our personal lives seem hard, or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the party then we are adequately compensated by the thought that each of us in his small way is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind. There is one thing in which I am in dead earnest and that is the Communist cause. It is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife and mistress, my bread and meat. I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night. Its hold on me grows, not lessens as time goes on. Therefore I cannot carry on a friend-ship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which both drives and guides my life. I evaluate people, books, ideas and actions according to how they affect the Communist cause and by their attitude toward it. I've already been in jail because of my ideas and if necessary, I'm ready to go before a firing squad.

The Greatest DeceptionThe greatest deception, and the deepest Source of unhappiness, is the illusion of finding life by excluding God, of finding freedom by excluding moral truths and personal responsibility. John Paul II, WYD 2003

What is happiness?

Life that includes God!Freedom: includes moral truths and personal responsibilityDiscussionDo you know of people as dedicated as this communist? What are/were they living for?What are you living for personally? Do you agree with John Pauls definition of happiness?