This week we read the beginning of Jesus’ life and ministry.

On page 5 of your journal, the genealogies are explained.

• What are the differences in the one listed in Matthew and the one in Luke?
• Why do you think these differences are significant based on the focus of each author?

Day 1:

We see the angels come to Mary and Zechariah announcing the birth of a child and we also see both of them respond with a song of praise. If you have time re-read their songs together and discuss…Luke 1:46-55 & 67-79

• How were their reactions similar and how were they different?
• What did you takeaway from their encounters with the angels and the words in their songs?

In our John reading, he takes us back to Jesus’ presence at creation.

• Why do you think John found it important to emphasize that point?
• What else from John 1 stood out to you?

Day 2:

In our reading, we see the birth story of Jesus as well as the visit of the wise men & Jesus’ family fleeing to Egypt.

• Did you notice anything new about the birth story of Jesus?
• Did you encounter anything in your reading that changed your perspective?
• What did you learn about the wise men who came to visit Jesus?
• How do you see King Herod after today’s reading? What do we learn about him?
• Read Micah 5:2-5. It seems as if the wisemen knew this prophecy. Discuss what this prophecy means to you in light of reading the birth of Jesus.

In Luke 2, we read about Jesus coming to the temple as a child twice.

• Does reading this story through the lens of Jesus being a traditional Jewish boy change your perspective?
• What stood out to you as you read it this time?
• What did you take away from the encounters with Simeon and Anna in the temple?
• Read Luke 2:48-52. What do we learn about Jesus in these verses?

Day 3:

In our passages, we read about Jesus’ baptism and temptation.

• Discuss your answers to the questions on page 8 of your journal.
• What stood out to you in the baptism of Jesus?
• Why did the sinless man Jesus choose to be baptized?
• What stood out to you in the temptation of Jesus?
• Why is it important that our Savior was tempted by the Enemy?

Day 4:

Today we read about Jesus calling His first disciples and beginning His public ministry.

Put yourself into the shoes of these disciples.

• • What do you think they were feeling when Jesus came and asked them to follow Him?
  • Why do you think they were compelled to follow?
  • How do you think you would have responded?

• What stood out to you in His first public miracle of turning water into wine?
• What stood out to you in Jesus’ clearing out of the temple?

Day 5:

In these passages, we see Jesus give His first public sermon.

• Read Luke 4:16-21 and Isaiah 61:1-2. What do you find intriguing about Jesus’ words in the synagogue?
• How did the people react to His words? Why do you think they reacted that way?

We also read about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan women. It would have been so unusual for a man to have an encounter like this with a woman in that day.

• Why do you think Jesus chose to go through Samaria?
• How do you see Jesus’ gentle and humble spirit on display in His encounter with the women?
• What do we learn from Him in calling people out of sin? How does He do it?
• This women became a missionary for Jesus. How have your encounters with Jesus made you want to share Jesus with others?

• What are some of your favorite passages that we read this week?
• What is God revealing to you about the season you are in right now as you read the Gospels?
• What did you enjoy about Jesus in this week’s reading?

Extra Resources this week:

Podcast – The Life of Jesus – Part 1

Podcast – Tim Mackie on The Gospel Writers

Bible Project Videos

John – Chapters 1-12

Matthew – Chapters 1-13

Luke – Chapters 1-9

Jesus’ Baptism

On page 11 of your journal, explains the different methods Jesus uses to teach.

• Why is it important for us to understand the different methods in order to interpret Jesus’ teachings?
• Why do you think these He used these different methods?

Day 1:

We see the healing of the leper and the paralytic man in this reading.

• Why do you think Jesus told the leper to stay quiet about the healing?
• What stood out to you in the healing of the paralytic man?
• What caught the Pharisees attention about Jesus’ words and why?

In our reading, we see the calling of Matthew (Levi) the tax collector.

• Why do you think the religious leaders had a problem with Jesus eating with the sinners & tax collectors?
• What stood out to you about Jesus’ words to them?
• What strikes you about this idea of Jesus giving these people what they want and what they need? (physical healing & forgiveness of sin)

Day 2:

In our reading, we see Jesus addressing healing on the Sabbath as well as the calling of the disciples.

Read Matthew 12:3-8.

• What does Jesus imply is more important than the temple & sacrifices?
• According to Jesus, what is the purpose of the Sabbath?
• What stood out to you today about those who were insistent on keeping the Sabbath law?
• Do you ever miss out on a genuine encounter with Jesus by focusing on the rules of your faith?
• Do you ever find yourself so focused on one side of a circumstance that you miss God’s purpose in the circumstance altogether?

We also read about healing the man at the Pool of Bethesda.

• Read John 5:6. Why do you think Jesus asks this question?
• Where did the man go after he was healed? Why do you think he went there?
• Read John 5:39-40. What stood out to you as you read it this time?

Day 3:

In our passages, we read about Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount which includes The Beatitudes.

• How would you describe the word “blessed”? (look it up at www.blueletterbible.org if you need to)
• What do you think it means to be “poor in spirit”?
• Did you notice any themes or repeated thoughts?
• If you could narrow these teachings down to just a few sentences what would they be?
• Matthew 5:48 says “be perfect”, but the greek meaning of that word is “mature”, how does that change your thoughts of Jesus’ teachings in this passage?
• What section of this sermon meant the most to you as you read it this time?

Day 4:

Today we read about more healings and John the Baptist being in prison.

In Matthew 11:2, John the Baptist sends a question to Jesus from prison.

• Why do you think he asked this question? What emotions do you think he was feeling?
• Why do you think Jesus responded to his question in the way that he did
• Read Matthew 11:20. Why do you think Jesus was upset by these cities where he had performed miracles?
• Why do you think Jesus is resistant to perform miracles for those who “seek a sign”? What does this reveal about his motivation for performing miracles?
• What else stood out to you in these passages about Jesus’ heart and concern for the people?

Day 5:

In these passages, we see Jesus being accused of his power coming from Satan

• Read Luke 8:1-3. Who else travelled with Jesus besides His disciples? Why do you think Luke thought to include these names?
• What did you takeaway from Jesus’ exchange with those accusing him of calling out demons in the name of Satan?

• What are some of your favorite passages that we read this week?
• What is God revealing to you about the season you are in right now as you read the Gospels?
• What did you enjoy about Jesus in this week’s reading?

Extra Resources this week:

Podcast – Life of Jesus – Part 2

Bible Project Videos

John – Chapters 1-12

Matthew – Chapters 1-13

Luke – Chapters 1-9

Page 17 of your journal, explains the Parables of Jesus, the inclusion of women in the stories of Jesus and the Miracles of Jesus.

• As you read the parables this week, what stood out to you about the way Jesus used this method of teaching?
• Did you notice the times this week where Jesus shared a story from a male perspective and a female perspective? Is there one in particular that stood out to you?
• As you think about the miracles of Jesus, why do you think there are times He chose to heal or perform a miracle and other times that He didn’t?

Day 1:

Matthew 13 is full of parables…

Read Matthew 13:13. What do you think Jesus is trying to help them see about why He teaches using parables?

Note: The ESV Study Bible explains it this way, “Jesus teaches in parables both as judgment against those “outside” and as instruction for those “inside” this newly formed community of faith. They produce different results in different people.”

In Matthew 13 & Mark 4, we see one of more memorable parables, the Parable of the Sower.

The seed falls in 4 places. Talk through as a group what we think each represents and what happens to the seed.

• • Along the Path – devoured by birds
  • Rocky Ground – no depth
  • Among Thorns – thorns choked them out
  • Good Soil – produced harvest
• What point is Jesus trying to make with this parable?

In our reading of Matthew 13 & Mark 4  these parables have similar themes.

• Did anything stand out about the others parables we read on this day?
• Why do you think Jesus chose a “mustard seed” to represent the kingdom of God?

Note: The ESV Study Bible explains it this way, a mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet grows into a large tree. Jesus is making the point that the Kingdom is starting out in a small, unassuming, unexpected way.

Day 2:

In our reading, we see Jesus calming the storm.

Read Matthew 8:25-26.

• How do you think it felt to the disciples when Jesus asked, “Why are you afraid?” What point was Jesus trying to make by asking that question?
• In Mark’s version of this story, we get the detail that after Jesus calmed the storm, they were filled with great fear, why do you think the calming of the storm brought fear? Is the fear mentioned here, different than the fear they had before he calmed the storm?

We also see Jesus cast demons out into a herd of pigs.

• What do we observe about this man possessed by demons?
• It’s obvious from this encounter that the demons knew who Jesus was. What stood out to you about how the demons talked with Jesus?
• Why do you think Jesus didn’t allow the man to go with Him, but instead told him to go tell people that he was healed?

In Mark 5, we see as Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter, he is touched by a woman with a discharge of blood for 12 years.

• Why do you think Jesus knew she had touched Him?
• We are told that the women came “in fear and trembling”, the original greek for this word can mean afraid or in awe. Discuss this word fear and what that means to you.

Day 3:

In Matthew 9:35-38, we see Jesus say, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

• Discuss what this passage would have meant to those hearing it that day and what it means to us reading it now.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives his disciples many instructions. Discuss the ones below, how do you think these speak to us as His disciples today?

• vs 14 – “If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”
• vs 16 – “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
• vs 19-20 – “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
• vs 27 – What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Matthew 10:34-39 is a tough passage, what do you think Jesus means when he says, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”?

Note: The ESV Study Bible explains it this way, Sword is a metaphor for the inevitable separation between those who believe in Christ and those who do not, even within a family Jesus’ own family opposed him before they came to recognize his true identity  The central point of is that love of God and his kingdom must take precedence over every other human relationship.

Day 4:

Today we read about the death of John the Baptist & the Feeding of the 5000.

• What do you notice about Jesus’ response the the death of John the Baptist?
• Did anything new or different stand out in the Feeding of the 5000 story this time?
• The Feeding of the 5000 is one of the few things to appear in all 4 gospels, why do you think that is important?

We see some specific encounters between  Peter & Jesus one is the walking on water & another in Luke 9 where Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ.

• What point was Jesus trying to make as He walked to His disciples on the water?
• What do you see in Jesus’ words to His disciples here and their response to Him during the story of Jesus walking on the water?
• Do you see some of the disciples beginning to grasp more about who this Jesus is?
• In Luke 9, who are others saying that Jesus is? Why do you think they are comparing Him to those people?

John 6 is full of references to Jesus being the “Bread of Life”

Here are a few phrases that Jesus shares that section, discuss thoughts about these verses with your group:

• vs. 27 – “Do not work for the food that perishs, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”
• vs 32-33 – “It was not Moses who gave you the bread from Heaven, but my Father gives you true bread from Heaven…for the bread of God is he who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.”
• vs 35 – “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
• vs 51 – “And the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
• Many who heard this teaching from Jesus including the disciples struggled to understand, why do you think it was hard for them to grasp?

Day 5:

Throughout our reading so far, Jesus continually calls out the Pharisees for missing the heart of the law by focusing on the letter of the law.

• In Matthew 15:16, Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” What do you think this warning means for us today?
• In Matthew 16, why do you think Jesus told his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Note: ESV Study Bible says that leaven here is a negative metaphor to indicate how the smallest evil can corrupt, infiltrate and ruin something good.

Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection and tells the disciples some important things about being a part of His kingdom.

Discuss these statements from Jesus in Mark 8.

• “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
• “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
• “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

• What are some of your favorite passages that we read this week?
• What is God revealing to you about the season you are in right now as you read the Gospels?
• What did you enjoy about Jesus in this week’s reading?

Extra Resources this week:

Podcast – Life of Jesus – Part 3

Bible Project Videos

John – Chapters 1-12

Matthew – Chapters 1-13

Luke – Chapters 1-9

Day 1:

Matthew 17, Mark 9 & Luke 9 tell of Jesus Transfiguration. This is a word we don’t usually use, so what does transfiguration mean?

• The dictionary definition of “transfigure” is to transform into something more beautiful or elevated.

Note: The ESV Study Bible explains it this way,Jesus’ physical transformation was a reminder of the glory he had before he became man and a preview of his future exaltation. 

• Why do you think Moses and Elijah appear in this moment?

Note: ESV Study Bible says, “The appearance of Moses and Elijah represents the Law and the Prophets, which witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the one who fulfills the OT. Elijah was considered the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah.”

• How do you think it felt for those disciples when they heard a voice from a cloud say “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”?

In Mark 9, we see Jesus heal a demon possessed man. 

• This is where we get this famous exchange in vs 23-24 between Jesus and the Father. Discuss this Father’s statement and how we can relate to it. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

We also see Jesus predicting His death and the disciples do not understand, it says,

“They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.”

• Why do you think they were afraid to ask Him?

Day 2

The disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in God’s Kingdom?” His answer is those who enter like a child.

• What does He mean when He says those who enter like a child are the greatest?

ESV Study Bible says it this way, “The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help, direction, and resources of a parent.”

In Matthew 18:15-17, we see Jesus talk about confronting another believer.

First, go to them privately. If that doesn’t work, take one or two others with you. If they still won’t listen, take it to the church. If they still won’t listen, it says to treat them like a pagan or tax collector.

• What do you see about Jesus’ heart towards pagans and tax collectors in scripture?
• In seeing this instruction on confronting a believer, what do you think Jesus’ heart is behind the confrontation?

ESV Study Bible says, “If a matter can be settled without getting others involved, that will keep rumors and misunderstandings from multiplying and will keep the conflict from spreading. The ultimate objective is restoration of the offending brother or sister to the path of discipleship.

In Matthew 18, we also read the parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

• What do you think Jesus was trying to get across with this parable?

ESV Study Bible says, “this is a dramatic illustration of (1) the massive debt that people owe, because of their sins, to the holy, righteous God; (2) their complete inability ever to pay such a debt (3) God’s great mercy and patience  in withholding his immediate righteous judgment that all people deserve for their sins; and (4) God’s gracious provision of Christ’s death and resurrection to pay the debt for sins and to break the power of sin

Day 3

In John 7, we read about Jesus starting to more openly share His message and again the people are left confused. He was saying things like…

“You will seek me and you will not find me”

‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

• Why do you think these statements were hard for them to understand?

In John 8, we see the story of the woman caught in adultery.

• What stands out to you in this story about how Jesus deals with those on the margins vs how He deals with the religious leaders?

Day 1:

In Matthew 19 & Mark 10, we see the Pharisees asking Jesus about reasons to divorce. As with many other times in the gospels, they are trying to trap him into answering in the way they want.

• Why do you think Jesus answers the way He does? How does this apply to today?

Note from commentary:  This was a common debate among Jews in this time. Mosaic law permitted divorce. The key text was Deuteronomy 24:1-4. There Moses says: If a man marries a wife, and then she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her, he may give her a bill of divorce and send her out of his house.

But what does the word uncleanness refer to? That was the focus of the debate.There were two other schools of thought around divorce at the time.

The Jewish rabbi Shammai  said it meant adultery, so only adultery was a legitimate reason for divorce. The Jewish rabbi Hillel said that uncleanness could refer to any reason why a wife lost favor with her husband. So divorce was permitted for literally anything the husband didn’t like… so it could be something small and insignificant.

Jesus didn’t really agree fully with either view but presents a deeper heart issue of having a hard heart or a soft one. Jesus only permitted divorce for such offenses . . . He did not command it, as the hope is restoration and reconciliation if possible. Essentially it is know that because of hard heartedness, sometimes this isn’t possible. Jesus says that the law of Moses permits divorce because of your hardness of heart. According to Jesus, however, the Mosaic law was not to replace the Creator’s original intent for marriage (a lifelong, faithful union of a man and a woman), but merely in recognition of the reality of human hardness of heart. 

Hardness of heart is a Biblical phrase that refers to a stubbornness of our will, or a stone-like fixation on our own self-concern at the expense of God and the other person.

There is specific mention of abusive situations, but we can trust from other scriptures that Jesus is not condoning that behavior or commanding that a wife should stay in an abusive marriage.

In Luke 17:20-37, The Pharisees want to know when God’s kingdom will be established.

• In these verses, what do you think Jesus is trying to communicate to them about God’s Kingdom?

Note: Jesus is trying to explain the “already” and “not yet” of God’s Kingdom. He is already among them and there is still more to come. They want a supernatural spectacular sign and He is trying to show them that it won’t happen like they think. In between the “already” and “not yet”, the kingdom will come quietly, evident only in the change in people’s lives. The coming of the kingdom, inaugurated by Christ’s future return, will be as bright, unmistakable, and sudden, all will see it.

Luke 18 tells of the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

• What point do you think Jesus is making in this parable?

NOTE: This parable contrasts a Pharisee boasting in his self-righteousness and a tax collector confessing his sins and seeking God’s mercy.

• How would you describe the tone/posture of the Pharisee’s prayer in contrast with the tax collector?

Day 2:

In Matthew 19 & Mark 10, the Rich Man asks Jesus, “What must I do to have eternal life?”

• Why do you think Jesus answered with, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

NOTE: Wealth is both deceptive and intoxicating: it fools a person into thinking that he or she is self-sufficient apart from God; and the rich person wants desperately to hold on to that supposed self-sufficiency. The general attributes of the “rich” are the opposite of those of a “child”

In Matthew 20, we read the parable of the Vineyard Workers.

• Discuss the meaning of this parable.
• Multiple times in this day’s reading, we see Jesus say “the last will be first, and the first last.”. Discuss what you think Jesus means by this statement.

NOTE: Jesus is not denying degrees of reward in heaven but is affirming that God’s generosity is more abundant than anyone would expect: all the laborers except the very first got more than they deserved. It is probably correct also to see here a warning that Jesus’ early followers  should not despise those who would come later.

In Mark 10, we read of Jesus healing the blind man Bartimaeus. Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

• Why do you think Jesus asks this obvious question?

• In the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, what stands out to you?

NOTE: Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is an example of the kingdom of God bringing salvation to the outcasts. It also provides a lesson on the proper kingdom use of money and possessions.

Day 3:

In Matthew 21, Mark 11, & Luke 19, We see what is referred to as Jesus’ Triumphal Entry. 

• The crowds shouts “Hosanna”. Why do they use that word? What does Hosanna mean?

NOTE: Hosanna –  means “Save!” or “Please save! The crowds chanting “Hosanna” points to their acknowledgement & celebration of Jesus as the Messiah.

• The crowds shouts “Hosanna”. Why do they use that word? What does Hosanna mean?

• Do you think Jesus was the savior/leader that they expected?
• Why does Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

We read of Jesus cleansing the temple saying, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But ⁽you have made it a den of robbers.”

• Why do you think Jesus was upset with them selling animals for sacrifice here?

NOTE: Some commentaries state that they were set up in the court of the Gentiles and raising prices, in essence making it harder for the Gentiles than the Jews. Jesus is trying to address that He has come for all people and not to hinder all people from coming to him.

Day 4:

• In the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21, who do you think the two sons represent? What do you think Jesus’ message is?

NOTE: The parable of the two sons demonstrates the religious leaders’ failure to respond rightly to John the Baptist’s prophetic ministry. They hypocritically did not live up to their talk. The fruit of one’s life ultimately proves whether or not one is obedient to God’s message. A person’s actions ultimately prove whether or not he is obedient to God.

In Matthew 22, Jesus makes a point about paying taxes. 

• What point do you think He was making here?

NOTE: Taxes were a volatile issue in Israel. All of Rome’s subjects, including the people of Israel, labored under the empire’s heavy taxation. Some Jews believed that paying any tax to pagan rulers contradicted God’s lordship over his people. Jesus is not establishing a political kingdom in opposition to Caesar, so his followers should pay taxes and obey civil laws. There are matters that belong to the realm of civil government, and there are other matters that belong to God’s realm.

In Matthew 22 and Mark 12, Jesus offers up what is considered the greatest commandment. He basically summarized all the OT laws with two commands.

• What were the two commands and why do you think Jesus considers those to be the greatest commandments?

Day 5:

In multiple gospels we see the account of a woman anointing Jesus with precious oil.

• What do you think is the significance of this act? Why do you think Jesus rebuked the disciples for their comments towards this woman?

NOTE: Jesus calls this a beautiful thing. If the disciples’ real concern was for the poor, there would always be an opportunity to care for the poor because they will always have the poor with them. There would not be much opportunity, however, to demonstrate their love for Jesus. Given his impending death, the anointing of Jesus’ body becomes a dramatic foreshadowing of the events to come. In her act of devotion, Mary unknowingly prepares Jesus’ body for being laid to rest in the tomb.

We see the beginning of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

• What do you think compelled Judas to betray Jesus?

• Podcast – Life of Jesus – Part 4