Written by John (the Beloved Disciple) about 85 AD – 95 AD From Asia Minor to the Jewish and Gentile believers To spread the Gospel of the Death, Burial and Risen Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ To show Jesus as the Son of God, the Word made flesh, who provides eternal life for all who believe in Him Key Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 Introduction 2-12 Ministry of Christ 13-17 Private Ministry 18-21 Death, Burial and Resurrection
Written by Luke (the Physician) about 60 AD – 62 AD From Caesarea to the Jewish and Gentile believers To spread the Gospel of the Death, Burial and Risen Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ To show Jesus as the Saviour of the World who has compassion for all human beings Key Verse: Luke 9:23-24 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 1-4 Birth and Early Life of the Lord Jesus 5-19 Ministry of Christ 20-24 Death, Burial and Resurrection
Written by (John) Mark about 50 AD From Rome to the Jewish believers To spread the Gospel of the Risen Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ To show Jesus as the suffering Son of Man sent to serve, not be served. Key Verse: Mark 10:43-45But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 1 Introduction 2-10 Ministry of Christ 11-16 Death, Burial and Resurrection
Written by the Apostle Matthew (also called Levi) about 60 AD From Judea to the Jewish believers To spread the Gospel of the Risen Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ To show Jesus as the Son of DAVID, the Kingly Messiah who fulfills prophecy Key Verse: Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 1-4 Birth and early life of the Lord Jesus 5-20 Ministry of the Christ Jesus 21-28 Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Authored by Moses between 1446-1406 BC It’s about the sermons of Moses to remind the Jews what God expects from them. Plains of Moab — Promise Land ahead A Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 1-4 1st Sermon – Journy review 5-28 2nd Sermon – Laws to be followed 29-30 3rd Sermon – The Covenant 31-34 His Final Farewell
Authored by Moses between 1446-1406 BC It’s about what happens when people rebel against God They were on the Border of Canaan A Key Verse: NUMBERS 6:24-26The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 1-9 Census – Taking a count 10-12 Sinai to Canaan – On the Move 13-19 Spies and Rebellion 20-36 Land of Moab
The Bible is a Revelation from God, of the fall of man, the way of salvation and God’s plan and purpose for the ages. It speaks of: Four Persons: God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and Satan Three Places: Earth, Heaven, Hell Three classes of people: Jew, Gentile and Believers The Scriptures were given to man a little at a time, “at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets” Hebrews 1:1, “… holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 during a period of 1600 years, from 1492 BC to 100 AD. There are 66 books, 39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament. The books wee written by about 40 different authors. By Kings, David and Solomon, by statesmen, Daniel and Nehemiah, by priests, Ezra, by Moses, raised by Egyptians, by herdsmen, Amos, prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah, a tax collector, Matthew, fisherman, Peter, James and John who “were unlearned and ignorant“ Acts 4:13, a man well versed in Jewish Law, Saul (Paul). The Old and New Testaments were not separate and distinct books, but rather are two halves of a whole. The New in “enfolded” in the Old, and the Old is “unfolded” in the New. One cannot understand Leviticus without Hebrews, or Daniel without Revelation or Isaiah 53 without the Gospels. Hidden in the Old Revealed in the New. Three kinds of language in the Bible: Figurative, Symbolical and Literal. Such expressions as “Harden not your heart” are Figurative, there meaning is made clear by the context. Symbolic language like the description of Nebuchadnezzars’ “Colossus”, Daniel’s “four wild beasts” or Christ in the midst of the “seven candlesticks” are explained either in the same chapter or elsewhere in Scripture. Literal are true statements as “the true gospel is the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus”. Three things that must be avoided when handled in God’s word: Misinterpretation of Scripture Misapplication of Scripture Dislocation of Scripture We must not overlook the “Parable” form of imparting truth. In the Gospels it is used as a “Mystery Form” of imparting truth. Matthew 13:10-13And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: The Old Testament is preparation for Christ; The Gospels Manifest Him to the world; In Acts He is preached and His Gospel Propagated; in the epistles His gospel is explained; and in Revelation all the purposes of God through Christ are consummated.
Christmas Season is here. Tis the Season to be Jolly! Good Will, Peace on Earth to all men! For most of the people this peace, good will, time to be jolly comes STRAIGHT FROM THE BOTTLE.
During two to three weeks during this season, hundreds of people will die, simply due to Drinking. Thousands of others will be crippled, maimed, seriously injured. WHY? Because someone thought the way to be happy was to get soused … drunk … blasted!
As many will visit family and friends during the holidays, many (most) will be offered a drink (alcohol). Just to be sociable … many will accept it …. Just to be sociable … Well, what does one little drink hurt? Intoxicating drink is the devil’s best friend. If you are a Christian, that one little drink will at best ruin your testimony for the Lord and bring reproach on His name. At worst it can turn you into an alcoholic … “Oh pooh” says you. I DEFY YOU to show me an acholic who never drank and all of them will say “it was just one little drink”.
Now, let’s see what the Bible says about drinking: Wine, in the scripture was (if alcoholic) a natural fermentation …. Alcohol, hard booze, wasn’t invented until 1790 (after Bible Printed) The Bible records the sins of men, and drink is one of those sins: It never condones Sin.
Deuteronomy 21:20 Punishable by death (under the Law) Proverbs 20:21 Makes FOOLS of men Proverbs 23:20-21 Rewards for drinking … Poverty Proverbs 23:29-35 More results of drunkenness Proverbs 31:4-5 Not for kings (righteous) Proverbs 31:6-7 Only for those without hope
Honoring God for His Gift1 Corinthians 1:7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Making room for HimLuke 2:7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Singing His PraisesLuke 2:13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Inquiring of Him Matthew 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Accepting His GiftRomans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Cheerful giving2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Remembering the poorProverbs 28:27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Sacrifice for othersRomans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Thanks Giving 2 Corinthians 9:15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Have a very, merry Christmas. Put Christ in your holiday.
First observed in Rome, 354 A.D. First observed in Jerusalem 385 A.D. December 25th was chosen in Rome to coincide with the Pagan Holiday of Sun Worship so that Christians might perform their sacred rites undisturbed, while the Pagans celebrated their Holiday. In 1647, the Puritans, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Quakers so opposed Christmas that it was outlawed in North America.
CHRISTMAS … formed from the word’s Christ’s Mass. Occurred in English Language as early as 1038. ADVENT … the time of preparation, preceding the coming of the Lord. EPIPHANY … the Festival in the Christian Church honoring the visit of the Magi. Occurs on January 6th, the 12th day after Christmas. NOEL … French word – A word shouted or sung as an expression of Joy. Originally to honor the birth of Christ. YULE … of pagan Teutonic Origin … the idea of noise or clamor accompanying some feast. In old English it’s used to denote the time of December, January. CANDLEMAS … the feast celebrating the purification of the Virgin Mary. Or the presentation of Christ in the Temple. It occurs on February 2nd.
The real reason for Christmas … The birth of the Saviour of the World. The Old Testament is full of His coming. Consider: Born of a Woman Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Seed of Abraham Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? From the Tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Born of a Virgin Isaiah 7:14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Heir to David’s Throne Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Time of His birth (fulness of Time) Daniel 9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Place of His birth Micah 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
