Syllabi
Yahoo Group Site
Course Description
The Life of Christ module focuses upon the biblical record of the life of the individual known as Jesus of Nazareth. The first four books of the New Testament, collectively known as the gospels since the story of Jesus is said to be ‘good news’ (gospel), focus on specific teachings and events in the life of Jesus who is presented as the Christ (Messiah).
The books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are not exhaustive biographies. The events are not so much presented in chronological fashion as they are shaped for the purpose of providing convincing arguments for Jesus as Messiah. They are meant for believers and those who are exploring faith. The books seek to explain the unique claims of Christianity: …it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:3-4).
The books are not meant simply as a record of events. The authors’ purposes include a desire to give birth to, or renew, the faith of the readers.
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31).
(click here to download syllabi in .pdf format)
Link to Yahoo Group Site for Life of Christ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ovu-ial/)
List of assignments for each class
Week One
1. Read John 1:1-34 (Jesus’ pre-existence and John the Baptist’s testimony)
2. Read and compare Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 (Jesus’ birth and early years)
3. Read Mark 1:1-20 (Jesus’ early ministry, temptation, calling of the first disciples)
4. Compare Mark 1:1-20 to Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11 and John 1:35-51
5. Familiarize yourself with a map of the lands in which Jesus lived and ministered
6. The question of authorship (Authorship of Matthew)
7. Complete worksheet in class
8. Question of the week
Week Two
1. Review Mark 1:12-13 and compare to Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13 (temptation)
2. Read Mark 1:21-6:6 (Jesus’ early ministry and rejection at Nazareth)
3. Compare Mark 6:1-6 to Matthew 13:54-58 and Luke 4:14-30
4. What is a parable? How are we to come to understand the Bible?
5. A quick look at the ‘Sects of the Jews’
6. Return and check worksheet for week 2
7. Question of the week
Week Three
1. Read Mark 6:7-8:26
2. Clean and Unclean (compare Mark 7:1-23 and Matthew 15:1-20)
3. Read and compare (Sermon on the Mount/Plain—on relating to God and others)
Matthew 5:1-7:29 and Luke 6:20-49
4. The twelve (compare Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:2-4, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13)
5. A quick look at 1st century rulers
6. What is a miracle? What is their purpose?
7. Return and check worksheet for week 3
8. Question of the week
Week Four
1. Read Mark 8:27-12:44
2. Compare Mark 8:27-33 to Matthew 16:13-16 and Luke 9:18-20
3. Learning about the ‘kingdom’ (read Matthew 13, Luke 8:19-21, and John 6:25-71)
4. The cost of discipleship (Matthew 16:21-28, 18:1-9 and Luke 9:18-50)
5. Jesus’ comments on the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 23, 25:31-46)
6. The two feedings in Mark
7. Return and check worksheet for week 4
8. Question of the week.
Week Five
1. Read Mark 11:1-16:8
2. Compare the ‘passion’ accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
3. Read John 14:1-17:26 and John 21
4. The Seven words of Jesus on the cross
5. Prayer in the book of Luke
6. Return and check worksheet for week 5
7. Question of the week
Week Six
1. Student’s In-class Presentations
2. Return and check worksheet for week 6
3. Question of the week
