The
Greatest Life Ever Lived
Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection
Anchor command. “Let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Anchor story. Jesus’ trial, death and
resurrection, Mark chapters 15 and 16
Anchor verse. “If we have been united
with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a
resurrection like his.” Romans 6:4-5
Learning goal. Know and appreciate the
final key events in Jesus’ earthly life.
Growth goal. Grasp the eternal
importance of believing these pivotal events.
Skill goal. Recount Jesus’ saving work
in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Outcome goal. Believers testify to others about the saving death and
resurrection of Jesus.
Basic Study
Heavenly Father, Let your flock and
me learn about the wonderful life that Jesus lived on earth, so that we can
thank you together for all that He did for us.
1.
Learn from the
account of Jesus’ trial, death and resurrection
from Mark chapters 15 and 16.
·
What people delivered
Jesus over to the Roman governor to be crucified? Mark 15:1
·
Why he was Governor
Pilate amazed at Jesus’ response? 15:2-5
·
Who was the first man to
realize that Jesus would die in his place? 15 6-15
·
What did the soldiers do to
make fun of Christ? 15:17-19
·
Who were crucified along
with Jesus? 15:27
·
What came over the whole
land for several hours? 15:33
·
What did the Centurion cry
out when Jesus died? 15:37-39
·
Jesus was buried and lay
in the repose of death throughout the Sabbath day of rest; then women came to
the tomb to anoint his body. What did they see that startled them? 16:1-8
·
To whom did the risen
Christ appear first? 16: 9-11
2. Teach your flock the Good News about Jesus, in a way that they can pass on the message to others, in turn.
3.
During the week you and your coworkers visit folk who do not yet know Christ, recounting
to them Jesus’ trial, death and resurrection.
4.
During worship…
·
Relate the account of
Jesus’ trial, death and burial. Ask some of the questions, above, and let the
people discuss the answers.
·
Ask the children to
present what they have prepared.
·
Memorize together Hebrews
1:1-2.
Advanced Study
1.
Before Jesus came
into the world, the Old Testament prophets made more than 300 predictions about the one whom the Jews called the
Messiah or Christ.
2.
Find what each of
these seven prophets said about the promised
Messiah (Christ) who was to come into the world:
a) Abraham
(Genesis 22:18)
b) Moses
(Deuteronomy 18:18–19)
c) Isaiah
(Isaiah 53:7–8)
d) David
(Psalm 2:7)
e) David
(Psalm 16:8–11)
f) Nathan
(2 Samuel 7:16)
g)
John the baptizer (Luke 3:15–17)
3.
When the Messiah came
into the world, many eye witnesses saw and heard all that he did, and some of
them wrote those things in the books called the New Testament. The apostles
of Jesus told seven things about Him that they considered to be most
important:
a)
When
Jesus was on earth, he showed who he was by what he did for people.
Find what Jesus did in these Bible texts:
For blind folks (Matthew 9:27–31)
For a man with a demon
(Matthew 9:32–33)
A child who died (Luke 8:49–55)
b)
Jesus
taught people about the holiness of God, how to have faith, and how to lead a
holy and joyful life. He taught by using stories about simple things, like a
man sowing seeds. Find in these texts:
The kinds of people whom
God will bless (Matthew 5:1–16).
How Jesus’ followers are
to lead their lives (John 14:1–17).
What the future of the
world will be (Matthew 21–31).
c)
Jesus
died when his enemies had him nailed to a wooden cross. Find in these texts:
Who wanted to kill Jesus
(Luke 23:12–21)
How Jesus was executed
(Luke 23:32–34)
How Jesus died (Luke 23:44–53)
d)
Three
days later, God raised Jesus back to life.
As Jesus said before he
died (Mark 9:31–32)
As reported by angels
from heaven (Matthew 28:1–10)
As Jesus explained after
rising from death (Revelation 1:17–18)
e)
Jesus
appeared to many people who knew him and became his witnesses. Find:
How Jesus proved that he
was alive (Luke 24:36–43)
What Jesus talked about
(Acts 1:1–3) [“Talked about”??? unclear]
To whom he appeared (1 Corinthians
15:3–8
f)
Jesus
promised to forgive everyone who turns to him. Find in these texts what the
risen Christ said:
About forgiveness (Luke
24:44–48)
About God’s Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:4–8)
About how to become Jesus’
followers (Matthew 28:16–20)
g)
God
took Jesus up into heaven till he comes back. Find in these texts:
What angels said to Jesus’
followers (Acts 1:9–11)
What Jesus said to his
enemies (Mark 14:60–62)
What Jesus will say to
those who serve others (Matthew 25:31–34)
4.
Plan with your
co-workers additional activities for the coming
week.
·
Practice
telling from memory the main things about Jesus. Then go tell them to people
in their homes. Show the pictures as you tell the story.
·
Plan
to hold a training seminar at which you will instruct believers in how to
tell the story of Jesus using pictures, songs, poems, in ways that fit the
culture.
5.
Plan with your
co-workers additional, optional activities for the
upcoming worship.
·
Dramatize one or more of the events in Jesus’ life that you have
studied.
·
Ask
folks to tell what they know about…
What the prophets foretold
about Jesus.
What Jesus did for
people.
What Jesus taught about
how we should live, and the future of the world.
How Jesus died and rose
from the dead.
To whom Jesus appeared
after rising from the dead.
What the risen Christ
promised to do for believers who repent and follow Him.
How Jesus finally left
this earth.
·
Have
the children present the drama, poem and questions that they have
prepared.
·
To
present the Lord’s Table, read Hebrews 7:7–12. Explain that Jesus
entered into His Father’s presence, not with the blood of animals as the Old
Testament High Priest entered into the Most Holy Place, but with His own
blood.
·
Let
the folks gather in little groups to pray for each other and ask God
to take the story about Jesus to all their families and friends and to other
ethnic groups near and far.
·
Those who teach children should read study #38
for children.
Find or
create tools that help believers to recount the Gospel of Jesus to others.
Employ written or pictorial media, if
your community accepts these. Here are some examples.
Available
in 17 languages from www.gospelcomics.com
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