Mountaintop Experience

Conrad Hilario

2 Peter 1:16-18

Jesus takes his three closest disciples---Peter, John and James---up to a mountain to pray. There, Jesus transforms into his glorified state. Moses and Elijah meet with Jesus. The disciples hear God's voice call Jesus ?His Chosen One,? referring to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This moment displays for the disciples and followers today that Jesus is God's son and the predicted Messiah; he supersedes Moses, the Prophets and the Law. Later in Peter's writings, he refers to this mountaintop experience and how God used it as an encouragement. Believers should enjoy and remember moments when they personally experience God, but we should not rely on the fleeting experiences for our faith alone.

The Cross

Jim Leffel

Colossians 2:13-15

Jesus went to the cross as a willing sacrifice for the sins of humanity. He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah. The certificate of debt nailed above his head to the cross did not record his sin, but ours. His sacrifice was the embodiment of God's judgment of sin and His love for humanity.

Things to Come

Jim Leffel

Luke 21:5-38

Jesus teaches the Olivet Discourse, a prophecy concerning the end times. Signs of these times include war, famine, natural disaster, relational discord, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the regathering of the Jewish people. We don't know when the end of the age will be, but some of these signs have been fulfilled in recent years and eventually, Christ will return.

Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Jim Leffel

Daniel 9

Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem contained two main ironies: 1) he came on a donkey; and 2) his victory speech was a lament. Leffel breaks down how his unconventional arrival fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, especially the Daniel 9 prophecy.

Breaking Their Rules

Scott Risley

Luke 5:21-6:11

Jesus clashes with followers of the Law concerning forgiveness, fasting, and the Sabbath Day. Jesus proclaims himself ?the Lord of the Sabbath,? which further angers the Pharisees.

A Typical Work Day for Jesus

Scott Risley

Luke 4:14-44

Jesus' authority and miraculous power draws growing attention during his early ministry. His identity as the Chosen Son of God is confirmed in three accounts: his claim to be the promised Messiah within the synagogue; as he frees a man of demonic possession; and finally, when he heals Simon Peter's sick mother-in-law.

Jesus' First Teachings

Dennis McCallum

Isaiah 61:1-2

Jesus' first declaration that He is the fulfillment of ancient messianic prophecies and His teaching is followed by miraculous acts of healing and exorcism, challenging the naturalist to consider the existence of the supernatural. Supernatural claims in the Bible are compared to those of other world religions, showing Biblical miracles to be astoundingly unique, indicating that Jesus' miracles are symbolic of his deity. Skeptics are invited to approach God with a desire to be convinced of the supernatural, and with an expectation that the same God who created the universe will answer by bringing the miraculous into their own lives.

Jesus is the Christ

Mike Sullivan

Isaiah 53:11

John makes the claim that Jesus is the Christ, which means that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament and that He is God, man, Lord, and Savior. This claim is supported by various lines of evidence including Christ's baptism, his death, and the Holy Spirit. Those who examine the evidence for Jesus must reach a conclusion for themselves about his claims, and those who accept that he is God have the privilege of serving him for the rest of their lives.

How We Know Jesus Is Real

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 1:1-13

An analysis of the genealogy of Jesus and a harmonization of the seeming difficulty of tracing his family line through the parallel genealogies in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. These separate genealogies are shown to be the separate family lines of Mary and Joseph, qualifying Jesus to be both of the family of priests and the family of kings. The historical and biblical comparison is shown to be not only astounding and accurate but indicative of Jesus' identity as the true Messiah.