Jesus Blueprint: Class Introduction

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This week we are pausing our Genesis study to present a new study called “Jesus Blueprint.” This class will help us understand some of the most important connections from the Old Testament to the New, and specifically the emphasis on Jesus. We will see that Jesus was there in the beginning, and can be found all throughout the Old Testament, fulfilling God’s Covenant Promise and showing us the reason for Gospel Message! This study will help us understand the history and importance of not only the faithfulness of God through His Covenant Promise, but the love He has for His people as seen in His sovereignty over all things! We can take comfort in the fact that God never makes a mistake, and all things work together for good, for those who trust in Him!

Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors. As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches.

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation overview and Bible study questions below with basic answers for your review and, or to use as a leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s presentation:

Presentation

Jesus Blueprint
Introduction

OPEN

Prayer Cards: Write your name on the card. Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have and exchange with your table group at the end of the evening.

  1. Introduce yourself and share what brought you to this class, and what background, if any, do you have in Bible study or classes?
  2. Answer this question: WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

How did Peter answer that question?

“18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.””  Luke 9:18-22 (ESV)

OLD TESTAMENT VS.NEW TESTAMENT

THE OLD IS THE NEW CONCEALED

AND THE NEW IS THE OLD REVEALED!

Focus verse: Genesis 3:15 – The first Gospel!
(begins the Scarlet Thread)

From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus!

The beginning of God’s Covenant Promise…

THE FIRST GOSPEL

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall [d]bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

The Bible’s Big Picture and Overarching Message

From Genesis through Revelation

GOD’S RESCUE PLAN OF SALVATION IS UNFOLDING

Look for the Scarlet Thread of Jesus

God’s Covenant Promise of Messiah throughout the Old Testament

and fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament

Following the Covenant Seed Promise of Messiah:

  1. Genesis 3:15 – The Adamic Covenant (The Seed Promise begins the scarlet thread)
  2. Genesis 6:18 – Noahic Covenant (the Seed Promise carried through the Great Flood, and also affirmed in the “Rainbow Promise” of Genesis 9:8-17)
  3. Genesis 12:1-3 – Abrahamic Covenant (Unfolds the Seed Promise with the blessing to come)
  4. Genesis 26:3-5 – Promise goes through Isaac (the Abrahamic Covenant passed on to this son of promise)
  5. Genesis 28:13-15 – Promise goes on through Jacob/Israel (Seed promise expanded to a Nation)
  6. Genesis 49:8-12 – Promise will come through the tribe of Judah (Seed will have the Scepter forever)
  7. 2 Samuel 7:12-16/1 Chronicles 17:11-14 – Davidic Covenant (The Seed Promise will be a King forever from the line of David)
  8. Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The Promise of a New Covenant to come (Seed Promise to be fulfilled)
  9. Luke 22:14-20 – Fulfillment of the New Covenant by Jesus (Seed Promise fulfilled in Jesus)
  10. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – The New Covenant confirmed by the Apostles and early believers
  11. Hebrews 9:15 – The reason Jesus is the fulfilment of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8-10 for a deeper study on Jesus’ fulfillment of all that was promised concerning Messiah/Seed Promise)
  12. Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

The Seed LineMajor Names

Adam – Seth … (8 generations between Seth and Noah)

Noah – Shem … (9 generations between Shem and Abraham)

Abraham – Isaac – Jacob (Israel) – Judah … (10 generations between Judah and David)

David – Solomon and all the Kings of Judah …(14 generations from David to Jesus)

JESUS!!!

(See genealogy in Luke chapter three)

Who is Jesus?

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”  Genesis 1:1-5 (ESV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5 (ESV)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”  Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)

Who did Jesus say He was?

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58 (NASB) 

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.””  John 14:6-7 (NIV)

“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”  John 14:9-11 (NIV)

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?

Paul writing to the Church at Corinth:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB)

How Do I Study the Bible?
To help with the Big Picture, get to know the structure of your Bible…

Study Bibles and how they work
Practice

Using the study Bibles that are at your table, take a look at the following features:

  1. What version(s) do you have at your Table? Discuss Bible versions. (NASB, ESV, KJV, NIV, NLT…)
  2. If there are study Bibles, what are the themes or types? Discuss study Bible types. (Life Application; Student Study; Archeology; Cultural Application…)
  3. Take a look at some special features of the different study Bibles at your table: (The introduction to each book; where the notes are versus the Biblical text with its chapters and verses; cross-references; and if there are maps, timelines, charts and/or side articles.)
  4. Look at the Bible’s Table of Contents – How is the Bible set up? (Use your booklet to see how the 66 books of the Bible are put into categories) 

Bible Version Types, Descriptions and Differences:

1.  Word for Word

Literal, formal, or complete equivalence. Generally harder to read as it works closely as possible to the original languages. Best type to use for study purposes.

New American Standard Version/Bible (NASB)

English Standard Version (ESV) King James Version (KJV)

New King James Version (NKJV)

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

2.  Thought for Thought

Dynamic equivalence. Much easier to read and understand. Focuses on the ideas or contemporary concepts while keeping the original meaning. Can be used for study purposes.

New International Version (NIV)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Christian Standard Bible (CSB), Today’s English Version (TEV)

New English Translation (NET)

3.  Paraphrases

Simplifies or expands the author’s word to make the Bible easier to understand. Often in story-like form. Not a translation in a literal sense.  Not recommended for study purposes.

The Message Bible

The Living Bible

Phillip’s Bible

Good News Bible

New Century Version

HOMEWORK

Decide on a Bible you’d like to use for reading and study.

Read the Gospel of Luke, Chapter One, and take some notes to answer these questions:

  1. Who wrote this book, to whom was it written, and when?
  2. Why was it written?
  3. What does chapter one say? Take a few notes to summarize, or copy the chapter sub-titles.
  4. What does it mean? Answer a few questions for better understanding:
    • Who are the people we learn about in this chapter, and why are they important?
    • What did we learn about the birth of John the Baptist, and the foretelling of Jesus’ birth?
    • What miraculous things happened in this narrative that support God’s sovereignty?
  5. How do I use what I have learned? (For example: Does this help me grow closer to Jesus; share my faith with others; encourage me or give me hope for the future; answer a question I have, etc.?)

Please continue to join us each week as we study about, and through, God’s Word!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15

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