Where Have We Been, and Where Are We Going Next?

LifeWay Church Sunday Teaching: The Book of Jesus

In September 2020, LifeWay began a journey of study that we have called, “The Book of Jesus.” The intent of this journey is to highlight how God’s story—as written in all of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament—is completely centered around Jesus. I want to remind you today where we have been and where we are now, and share a little look ahead into where we are going—and how you can and should follow along.

The key verse of scripture for this entire year is:

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
(Colossians 1:15)

We are using key words to help guide our theological path through this study. I want you to know these truths because if you do, every part of the Bible will make sense to you. If you don’t, the Bible will just be a collection of old stories. Follow these words and phrases:

• HOLY, CREATOR GOD
  He began it all. He sustains it all. He is right and righteous. He always has been, and forever will be. Life cannot exist and will not exist without him. (Genesis 1:1)
  Sermon: September 27, 2020
• IMAGE BEARERS
  We, as human beings, are created to bear the image of the holy, perfect God. We are not God, but we were created to reflect his perfect and holy image, and to live in a perfect, harmonious relationship with the life-giving creator God. Humanity is the crowning moment of God’s creation. We were created to live forever and walk in harmony with him.  (Genesis 1:27)
  Sermon: October 4, 2020
•  SHATTERED
  Humanity, even though created to be reflectors of God’s perfect holiness, shattered the image-bearing part of our life through our rebellion, and took a lonely path on our own that leads to a dead end—and ultimately to eternal death. There is no way out on our own. (Genesis 3:10 & 3:23-24)
  Sermon: October 11, 2020
• PLANNED RESCUE: THE MESSIAH
  God’s second act (the first act being creation of all things) was to put in place a rescue plan: a person who would be able to break the enslaving chains of death and restore God’s broken relationship with humanity. The planned rescuer was the Messiah to come. (Genesis 3:15)
  Sermon: October 11, 2020
• COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
  God’s holy promise to us is of a restored relationship with him—the imperfect and unholy mankind walking again with the holy, perfect God. His promises are perfect and he never backs down on them. Our side is flawed, a truth reflected in our frequent disloyalty and reliance on other allegiances. Our side of the covenant relationship can only be followed by faith—daily, regularly—and by trusting him in all things.  (Genesis 12:1-3)
  Sermon: October 18, 2020
• SACRIFICE
  In order for US—unholy, rebellious, unworthy, and shattered—to be brought back to a trusted relationship with the HOLY God, a sacrifice must be made of the most precious and closest things that we hold onto in our lives. (Genesis 22:8). But God also says the only sacrifice that will provide the bridge back to a relationship with him is one that HE, the holy God, will provide for us. (Exodus 12:5, John 1:29, John 3:16)
  Sermon: October 25, 2020
• REMEMBER
  All of us—including you—live with a very short memory. We are forgetful people who live only for the moment. We will forget tomorrow what God has done and where he is ultimately going. It takes almost nothing for us to get distracted and begin trusting something other than the Covenant God.  Put in your life ways to remember daily not only what God has done, but what he will do. (Exodus 12:14)
  Sermons: November 1, 2020, November 8, 2020

• The MESSIAH will come…
  • …as an innocent child—but all the weight of human government will be on his shoulders, and the righteous and holy power of God will rest on him. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
    Sermon: November 29, 2020
• The MESSIAH will come…
  • …for all the nations. This Messiah is not an exclusive rescuer, sent for only a few. Anyone from any background, language, nation, and tribe is part of God’s rescue plan through the Messiah. (Isaiah 49:6 & Romans 10:13)
    Sermon: December 6, 2020
• The MESSIAH will be…
  • …the ultimate and final perfect and holy sacrifice for all mankind. This Messiah will be the physical and final holy sacrifice that God had planned. (Isaiah 53:5-6).
    Sermon: December 13, 2020
• The MESSIAH arrived…
  • …and he is King of all! He is the holy God in the flesh, for whom we can lay down our lives in worship. (Matthew 2:2)
    Sermon: December 20, 2020
  • …and he is Jesus! Born in a manger, born of the virgin Mary, born in the town of Bethlehem, and announced to the shepherds by the angels on high. This is the Christmas story of the birth of the Savior. (Luke 2:7).
    Sermon: Christmas Eve
  • …and is God in the flesh! Everything we have seen in the narrative since creation itself was completely realized when Jesus, the light of the world, arrived. (John 1:14)
    Sermon: Christmas Eve
  • …and is recognized as the fulfillment of God’s plan. Immediately, a few loyal people (Simeon and Anna) came to see this baby Jesus as God’s Savior in the flesh. (Luke 2:28-33)
    Sermon: December 27, 2020

• REPENTANCE
  When John the Baptizer was preaching and baptizing people, they were convicted by their sins and were ready to repent, turning their hearts to God in faith. All mankind needs to repent, as we have fallen into the same hole as the first Adam long ago. Jesus—the perfect God, now fully man—launches his time on earth by displaying a submissive life by faith in God. (Luke 3:22 & John 1:29)
  Sermon: January 3, 2021
• TEMPTATION
  Jesus, fully man, now faces every temptation that we face. The first man, Adam, failed against those temptations. Jesus, the God who is man, faced every temptation and did not fail.  (Matthew 4:10 & Hebrews 4:15)
  Sermon: January 10, 2021
• DISCIPLE
  The identity of Jesus leads us to a new identity as a disciple—one who is fully dedicated to being a FOLLOWER of this Jesus. Humanly speaking, we currently have a shattered and marred identity, but we are offered the opportunity to be a disciple of Jesus. The first Adam had followers and descendants who were destined for total destruction. But when we follow Jesus, the “last Adam” who is both fully God and fully man, we are destined for life forever, as God originally intended. We are called to join in partnership with him to proclaim this relationship to the rest of world! (Luke 5:11)
  Sermon: January 17, 2021

Beginning this coming Sunday, January 24, we will move into the next chapter in the series, which will be our focus from now until the start of the Easter season in late March. The new chapter concentrates on stories from the book of John. There are, of course, many stories we will not cover this winter, but the specific stories listed below will give us a fabulous picture of how Jesus—who was not recognized as anything special by looking at him physically—came to show us through his miracles, encounters with unique individuals, and mighty teachings, what the Messiah/Savior/Jesus was all about.

As we study for these coming weeks, read carefully through the book of John. Be prepared to come to our Sunday teaching times having read the story and meditated over it.

I strongly encourage you to be part of an online or in-person small group to talk through the stories after each service (to join a small group, please contact Alvin Lin).

Immerse yourself in the study of Jesus and his life on earth. The words and phrases highlighted above are critical to know and understand if the story line of Jesus is going to make any sense. Keep this list and use it to help you understand the life and ministry of Jesus.

Enjoy these winter weeks!

chapter 4 study plan

• January 24: John 2:1-11 — Jesus turns water to wine

• January 31: John 3:1-21 — Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisee Nicodemus

• February 7: John 4:1-26 — Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well

• February 14: John 5:1-30 — Jesus, the healer of the lame

• February 21: John 6:1-24 (also 25-40) — Jesus miraculously feeds 5000

• February 28: John 6:25-70 — The investment of everything to be a disciple of Jesus

• March 7: John 8:12 -11 — Jesus’ personal testimony

• March 14: John 9:1-12 (also 13-41) — Jesus heals the man born blind

• March 21: John 11:1-37 — Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

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The Bible is…the book of Jesus!  Let’s study and grow together. See you Sunday.

Contact Billy Arnold