The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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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

The Messiah Announced

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Explain the critical perspectives and processes associated with a profitable study of the life of Christ. • Give an outline of the key stories associated with the Birth narratives, infancy, and childhood of Jesus. • Defend the idea that the New Testament reveals in the Gospel accounts of the Apostles the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Messiah who fulfills the promise of God for salvation, redemption, and revelation. • Provide a concise explanation of the ministry of John the Baptist as the one chosen by God to announce Messiah’s ministry to the nation of Israel. • Describe the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, as well as his calling of his disciples, and two important incidents concerning the announcement of the Messiah: his public announcement of his Messiahship at Nazareth, and his first public miracle attesting his Messiahship at the wedding at Cana. Read Isaiah 9.6-7 . Can we enjoy the Christmas spirit all through the year, every month and week, every single day of the year? It is not only possible, but, for the disciple of Jesus, it is important to cultivate this spirit every single day. The celebration of Christmas is associated with the First Advent (coming) of Messiah Jesus at his birth. On the Church calendar, it is celebrated formally as a part of the Christian liturgy, with formal celebration, special worship services, and the ancient and contemporary carols, hymns, and songs we are so familiar with. While this celebration is appropriate and important, the season itself often is bogged down with the trappings of commercialism and greed. Christmas itself easily becomes associated with the giving of gifts, classic films and office parties, and ornaments and the trappings of the holiday season. The Christ of Christmas becomes regulated to a nativity scene in the church foyers of the land. Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come

Lesson Objectives

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Devotion