Book3.1 Leader Guide-FINAL - JourneyOn...
Transcript of Book3.1 Leader Guide-FINAL - JourneyOn...
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jesusEverything About Me Must Be Fulfilled
To see that the Old Testament points to Jesus and is fulfilled in Christ.
From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is telling one big unfolding story,
with Jesus as the main character. We are called to see Jesus everywhere in the
Bible.
That students of the Bible would begin to see the entire Bible, including the
Old Testament, as a preparation for Jesus the Messiah, who would come and
fulfill the promises of Scripture.
Background
Passage:
L U K E 2 4
scripture
Passage:
L U K E 2 4 : 2 5 - 3 2 ,4 4 - 4 7
• Jesus claimed that the Old Testament
(“Moses and all the Prophets;” “the
Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the
Psalms”) pointed to Himself.
• Jesus claimed the Old Testament
spoke of the Messiah who would save
God’s people from their sins.
• Jesus claimed His death and resur-
rection were foretold and a necessary
part of God’s redemptive plan.
Memory
Verses:
L U K E 2 4 : 2 6 - 2 7
“Didn’t the Messiah have to suf-
fer these things and enter into
His glory?” Then beginning with
Moses and all the Prophets, He
interpreted for them the things
concerning Himself in all the
Scriptures.
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PREPARING TO TEACH
Everyone loves a good story. Stories help us understand and explain
who we are. Stories motivate us, remind us of what’s important, and
help us connect the past, present, and future. Followers of Jesus
answer life’s vital questions with the biblical story of God’s creation,
humanity’s rebellion, God’s promise of redemption, and His restora-
tion of creation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
The goal of “God’s Unfolding Story” is to advance the storyline
of the Bible so adults can connect the dots, not just so they can gain
more biblical knowledge, but so they understand where they fit into
God’s story and journey toward a more Christ-centered life. Purpose-
fully and prayerfully invest in personal study and lesson preparation
so you can present what may be familiar Bible stories in interesting
and fresh new ways and guide adults to apply scriptural truths to
their lives, becoming progressively transformed into the image of
Christ.
Read the Venture In Travelogue for Lesson 1 and complete the
activities. Study the highlighted Scriptures (Luke 24:25-32,44-47;
1 Pet. 1:10-12; John 5:37-40) by reading the passages in various trans-
lations at www.biblegateway.com, and by consulting the study notes
at www.mystudybible.com. (Enter the Scripture passage, then click
“Read” under Study Bible Notes Tool.) Record questions and insights
in the margin of your Travelogue (pp. 9-18). Pray God will use you
and this study to help participants hunger to know more about and
become part of His story.
Display beloved children’s books such as The Very Hungry Cater-
pillar, Goodnight Moon, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, Magic Tree House,
Boxcar Children, Green Eggs and Ham, and Tom Sawyer. If possible
include The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Place a stack of
3X5 cards near the display.
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IT’S A LOT MORE THAN A WONDERFUL LIFE
A MUCH BIGGER STORY
Greet adults as they arrive, and invite them to survey the book
display. Request they write on a 3X5 card some of their favorite
childhood stories and compare favorites with other participants.
After a few minutes, determine what seems to be the group’s favorite
stories. Ask when we outgrow our love of stories and why. Explore
why stories are so powerful and enduring. Pray for the Spirit’s guid-
ance as you begin your study of the greatest story ever told.
______________________________________________________________________________
Teaching Option
Show the clip of the movie scene referenced in the Travelogue (p. 9):
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfUV-F9jFro). Invite volun-
teers to summarize the bigger story behind that scene. Discuss the
Travelogue questions (p. 11): If you have seen “It’s a Wonderful Life,”
what do you like the most about the movie? Which characters do
you connect with and why? What aspects of the gospel does George
Bailey model? What does our love for stories of redemption say
about the longing in our heart for an ultimate story of redemption
and restoration?
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RANDOM BUFFET OR BANQUET OF GRACE?
Hold up your Bible and ask how it is similar to and different from a
collection of well-loved stories. Emphasize that not only is the Bible
true, as opposed to fiction and fantasy, it is also one big story rather
than a composite of disjointed stories. Consider why many people
regard the Bible as a collection of stories instead of one cohesive
story. Ask: What may happen when people approach the Bible
like a “random buffet” rather than a “well-planned banquet of
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grace”? Point out with the buffet approach people miss seeing how
the whole story fits together and how God has sovereignly worked
throughout history and individual lives to fulfill His plan. State this
series of the JourneyOn Foundations Curriculum will help adults
gain an accurate perspective of the Bible as a whole.
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Teaching Option
Ask who has watched an entire TV series on Netflix©. Explore
whether they gained greater understanding of the show’s characters
and unfolding story line by viewing the episodes sequentially from
the beginning.
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THREE IMPORTANT GOALS
Relay the first of the three goals of this series (Travelogue p. 12):
Demonstrate how the Bible is telling one big unfolding story.
Read this quote: “The Bible is not a mere jumble of history,
poetry, lessons in morality and theology, comforting prom-
ises, guiding principles and commands; instead it is funda-
mentally coherent. Every part of the Bible—each event, book,
character, command, prophecy, and poem—must be under-
stood in the context of the one story line.” 1 Encourage adults
to find the fourfold plot of that one story line. (Creation to fall to
redemption to restoration, Travelogue, p. 12.)
Point out the second goal: to recognize Jesus as the main charac-
ter and hero in the Bible’s one story line. Read this statement from
the Travelogue (p. 13): We must stop looking for a moral in every
Bible story, and start looking for Jesus in every story. Ask: Why
would that make a difference in how we read Scripture? How
could it make a difference in how we live? If you were able to
display The Jesus Storybook Bible point out its subtitle: “Every Story
Whispers His Name.” Explain adults will be listening for those whis-
pers and seek to see in fresh, new ways how His story fits together,
with Jesus in the beginning, middle, and end.
Emphasize the third goal by reading from the Travelogue (p.
13): We want this series to help us find our place in God’s big
story of redemption and restoration. Every one of us has an
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important part to play in God’s story, which offers much more
than a wonderful life. Only God’s story offers an abundant and
eternal life. Jesus is the point, but each of us matters.
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Teacher Tip
Stress stories are more meaningful when we involve ourselves in
them. Urge adults to get involved in this unfolding story by reading
and completing all activities in the Travelogue. Explain you might
not always call for responses to every activity, but adults are always
welcome to share activity responses or a comment they have high-
lighted.
__________________________________________________________________________
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS
Jesus, without apology or arrogance, declared all Scripture was about
Him. For context of this lesson’s focal passage, read Luke 24:13-15.
Discuss from the Travelogue (p. 14): What does this [v. 15] say to
you about the pursuing heart of Jesus, and about His desire
to reveal Himself to us? How has Jesus revealed His nearness
to you during seasons of suffering, testing, confusion, loneli-
ness, or change?
FROM SLOW TO BURNING HEARTS
Acknowledge we might not always immediately recognize Jesus’
presence; neither did those two disciples. Summarize Luke 24:15-24.
Invite a volunteer to read verses:25-27. Inquire: What tone of
voice do you think Jesus had when He asked these questions:
Perplexed? Irritated? Gently chiding? How do you think His
interpretation led them to think differently about the events
they had so sadly recounted in verses 19-24?
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Teacher Helps
A chart of Old Testament Messianic prophecies and their New
Testament fulfillments can be found in the Holman Illustrated Bible
Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2003) on pages
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1112-1114. Or go to www.mystudybible.com, click on LIBRARY, then
Dictionaries, then Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. When the
dictionary loads, type “Messiah” in the window. Once the article
loads, click the right arrow button above the article and the chart
will appear.
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Invite someone to read Luke 24:28-32. Consider reasons Jesus
may have given the impression that He was going farther.
Note Jesus doesn’t cram His story down anyone’s throat, but waits
for invitations from hungry hearts. Ask: How can we urge Jesus
to stay with us and continue teaching us? When has Scripture
set your heart on fire? Discuss the Travelogue question (p. 16):
How can you tell when your “slow heart” has become a “burn-
ing heart”—ablaze with an awareness of the glory and grace of
Jesus? That is, what’s the difference between merely having a
quiet time and experiencing intimacy with the Lord? Examine
whether having the heart set ablaze is a rare occasion for a believer
or if it can be the norm and if so, how.
Briefly summarize verses 33-43. Ask a volunteer to read verses
44-47. Explain the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the
Psalms are three major divisions of the Hebrew Bible. Ask: Can
we ever understand Scripture unless Jesus opens our minds?
Explain your reasoning. How can Jesus open our minds?
Ask adults if they recall being instructed in school to state the
main idea of a story. Ask how Jesus stated the main idea of God’s one
story. Determine what role each individual has in that story. (Repent
of sins, receive forgiveness, and proclaim the story of God’s salvation
to all nations.)
EXCITED PROPHETS AND THRILLED ANGELS
Ask a volunteer to read 1 Peter 1:10-12. Discuss: How do we have
an advantage over prophets and angels? What might they
think when they see how believers use the Bible? What can we
learn from the prophets and angels about what to do with the
Word of God? Point out this study can help adults carefully investi-
gate the Bible and listen for how all of it whispers Jesus’ name.
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND
RELATIONSHIP
Ask adults to listen for a warning about studying God’s Word, then
read John 5:37-40. Call for responses. Discuss the Travelogue ques-
tions (p. 18): How does this passage demonstrate that the only
way you can derive life from the Scriptures is to see Jesus in
the Scriptures? If you don’t see Jesus as the main character in
all the Scriptures, whom then will you choose as your spiritual
heroes? If you don’t see Jesus, how will this lead you away from
the gospel into some form of performance-based spirituality?
CONCLUSION
Request adults retrieve their 3X5 cards with their favorite child-
hood stories and write on the blank side their responses to these
questions: What do you want the story of your life to be? What
role do you want Jesus to play in that story? What one step will
you take to move Jesus toward being the central figure in your
life’s story? (Suggestions for the last question include: memorizing
Scripture [point out this week’s memory verses], reading the Bible
through looking for Jesus in the storyline, engaging in spiritual
disciplines [worship, sacrifice, meditation, fasting, etc.].)
Close in prayer, thanking God for the gift of His Word and
asking Him to open minds to understand and live His story.
FOLLOW THROUGH
• Email participants, thanking them for their commitment to
be involved in this exciting and vital study of God’s Word.
Remind them to memorize Luke 24:26-27.
• Contact adults who were absent, expressing your excitement
about this study and inviting them to join the class for the next
session. Offer to bring them a Travelogue so they can catch up
on the study before the next session.
1 Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our
Place in the Biblical Story, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014), 14.