The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

Meeks, Wayne. A., ed. The New Testament in its Social Environment . Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986. Lohse, Eduard. The New Testament Environment . trans. by John E. Steely. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971. Tenney, Merrill C. New Testament Times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1965. Take the time to carefully monitor and distinguish the various responses of the different groups to Jesus in his original Sitz im Leben (literally “situation-in-life”). This attention will pay off dramatically for a student of the Gospels, for if one understands the various responses of the key players in the Gospel drama they will be better able to discern larger issues and meanings which may go unnoticed without this particular knowledge. In the questions below you will find the focus is upon mastering the data and the facts associated with the claims made in the first video segment. Concentrate on ensuring that the students understand the answers in light of the lesson aims of the first segment. Make certain that you watch the clock here, covering the questions below and those posed by your students, being cautious of any tangents which may lead you from rehearsing the critical facts and main points. Here again it is critical to track carefully not merely the social conflict which Jesus encountered with his contemporaries in Israel, but perhaps most importantly to track his constant and ongoing battle with the spiritual forces which sought to undermine his ministry. Satan and his minions play a dramatic role in the Gospel drama, and no full understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus is possible that underestimates or overlooks these critical dimensions.

6 Page 60 Student Questions and Response

7 Page 61 Summary of Segment 2

The Nature of Demons in Scripture

In order to understand Jesus’ ongoing conflict with the powers of evil in this age, you should introduce to the students briefly and carefully the subject of demons. I