Finding Jesus: God's Redemptive Story

This message, titled God’s Redemptive Story, lays the foundation for a 30 week series called “Finding Jesus”. It will take us through the entire story arc of Scripture and help us see that Jesus is the theme of every book of the Bible. 

Revelation (Read John 1:1-5,14)

1. What does it mean when John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”? How does this relate to the theme of the series?

2. What doctrinal truths are found in these six verses and what is revealed about them?

3. Read verse 14 and chew on the phrase “became flesh and dwelt among us”. In what ways did Jesus become flesh? What are some examples from Scripture of him dwelling among us (as opposed to keeping his distance)? Is it important to you that God wrote His redemptive story this way?

Inspiration (Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17)

1. Who has taught you what you believe today? What were the circumstances of that teaching? Did you receive this teaching with an open mind/heart or were you resistant? Did the teaching take hold quickly or over time?

2. Timothy had been steeped in the “sacred writings” since childhood. Why is it important to train up children in the truth of Scripture? What benefits come from training up children in truth? What should that training look like? What child (whether in age or maturity in the faith) has God put in your life to train and what is one step you could take this week in this area?

3. Why is it important that God breathed out Scripture and that it is not just the musings of 35 writers? What do you think was God’s reason for providing his Church a collection of writings?

4. What Scriptures have been most helpful in teaching you, reproofing you, correcting you, and training you up in righteousness?

5. When was a time that Scripture equipped you for a calling God had for your life?

Authentication (Read Luke 1:1-4)

1. Where do you see God at work today? Where is the redemptive story of Jesus taking root?

2. Where have you seen God work in your past? When have you been an eyewitness to what He has accomplished?

3. How has God worked in your own life? How has knowing Jesus changed your life?

Translation (Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

1. What translation of the Bible do you read most often? What type of translation is it (paraphrase, thought-for-thought, word-for-word)? What do you like about it? What do you not like about it? 

2. Why is it important to know a particular Bible translation’s approach to translating the original languages of Scripture? Have you researched your particular translation’s approach? (It can sometimes be found in the very front or very back of the Bible prior to the Scriptures. If not there, find the Bible publisher and check their website for an explanation.) Does knowing this information give you confidence in the translation you most often read?

Illumination (Read Psalm 19:7-11)

1. What caution in Scripture has kept you safe from harm? What insight about the human condition in Scripture has changed how you understand yourself and others? What words in Scripture have revived your soul in times of weakness or distress?

2. No “church” answers… What possession of yours has the most value to you? Why? What is your favorite dessert? Why? How can you grow your heart to the point where God’s Word is as valuable as your most valued possession and as desirable as your favorite dessert?