BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 1 (5/6/14)

The Ministry of Jesus Study

Created by Evangelist Claudia Jordan

Date 4/6/14

Week Study # 1

 

Title:                           Beginning of Jesus' Ministry

Scripture:                   Philippians 3:14

Weekly Focus:           God's calling

Memory Verse:          (Matthew 28:18-20)

Bible Reading:           Matthew 10:1-5; Mark 1:17, 3:17; Luke 6:13-14; John 1:35-49; Acts 1:18

 

Getting Started

 

The Call:

Before we get started, let's look at the inauguration of Jesus' ministry.

 

God reveal Christ: ( Malachi 4:2; Isaiah 40:5)

John Declared Jesus Christ: (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:19-36)

Jesus Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22, Colossians 2:13)

The Temptation: (Matthew 4:1-11)

 

One of the key themes of Jesus' early public ministry is the calling of his disciples. On one level, of course, Jesus' calling of these men was unique because they went on to become the apostles--his official and inspired spokesmen. But on another level, his calling of these men is typical because he calls all people (including you and me!) to be his disciples. And the principles that guided Jesus' calling of the twelve also apply to his calling of us.   One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 

There were twelve in all.  The call of the first disciples of Jesus is a key episode in the life of Jesus in the four gospel (Matthew 4:118-22, Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 5:1-11). On the Sea of Galilee it appears in John 1:35-51. This reports the first encounter with two of the disciples a littler earlier in the presence of John the Baptist.  Particularly in the Gospel of Mark, the beginning of the ministry of Jesus and the call of the first disciples are inseparable.  In the Gospel of John the first disciples are also disciples of John the Baptist and one of them is identified as Andrew, the brother of Apostle Peter.

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.... Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah".

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist; Matthew 3:13-17……..

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" ¹⁵ But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
¹⁶ When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ¹⁷ And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
 
The Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark report the call of the first disciples by the Sea of Galilee:
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.  The Gospel of Luke reports the call by the Sea of Galilee too, but along with the first miraculous draught of fishes. In all Gospel accounts, this episode takes place after the Baptism of Jesus. The gathering of the disciples in John 1:35-49 follows the many patterns of discipleship that continue in the New Testament, in that those who have received someone else's witness become witnesses to Jesus themselves. Andrew follows Jesus because of the testimony of John the Baptist, Philip brings Nathanael and the pattern continues in John 4:4-26 where the Samaritan Woman at the Well testifies to the town people about Jesus.

Jesus' Call (Luke 5:1-11)

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen. Fishing was their job. You may enjoy an afternoon of fishing. These men were professional fishermen. Every day they let down their nets, caught the fish, cleaned the fish, and sold them. Day after day, they did these same things over and over again. Jesus walked right up to them, and offered to turn their routine into a great adventure. One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee. The people crowded around Him and listened to the word of God. Jesus saw two boats at the edge of the water. They had been left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into the boat that belonged to Simon (Peter). Jesus asked him to go out a little way from shore. Then He sat down in the boat and taught the people. When He finished speaking, He turned to Simon (Peter). He said, "Go out into deep water. Let the nets down so you can catch some fish." -  Luke 5:1-4

Jesus also called Philip, and the other disciples too. 

Following Jesus means knowing that He is God!

Jesus showed Peter and the others that He was unlike anyone else - He was God. Look back to the story: Jesus had the disciples catch so many fish that TWO boats began to sink. When Peter saw this miracle, he was certain Jesus was God (Matthew 16:16).

Following Jesus means that you have FAITH - you trust Him to provide everything you need.

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus." Everyone needs his or her physical needs taken care of; Jesus proved to Peter that He provides everything we need. Everyone needs forgiveness from sin. Jesus provided that. Jesus even provided the way of ETERNAL LIFE to those who put their faith and trust in Him. When we lack faith, it is often because we don't trust that God will provide exactly what we need! Jesus PROVES to us that He is our faithful Provider. Faith is based on knowledge and experience. We know that we can trust God because of what the Bible teaches and because of how we've seen Him work in our own lives.

Following Jesus means saying YES to Him and NO to other things.

When you say YES to something, you are essentially saying NO to something else. When your parents said YES to marrying each other, they said NO to everyone else. If you only have one dollar at the dollar store, and you say YES to buy something, you are saying NO to buying any other item. Jesus wanted Peter, James, and John to say YES in following Him and NO to life as usual. Their boats, nets, lines, and hooks were familiar to them and made them feel successful, safe, and secure. Jesus would show them that HE alone would be their All-Sufficient One. The Bible says that they left everything (even that fortune in fish) and followed Jesus.

Following Jesus means that we must LISTEN, OBEY, and do things HIS way!

Jesus came to invite lost people into God's kingdom. If we are going to follow Jesus, then we must listen, obey, and be careful to do things His way. Peter and his friends had to leave behind fishing as their career. Though they were good at fishing, Jesus had a much bigger and better plan for them. When you are a true disciple of Jesus, He may tell you to do things differently than you did before. LISTEN to what He's saying to you!

The Gospel is the ministry of Jesus, and the author wrote about Him, because they were with Him.  Each Gospel has its own story of the Ministry of Jesus. Let's take a look at them in each study, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.)

EXTRA:

 

The Places He went:

This was the beginning of His ministry in Jerusalem

Jordan River…………………………Jesus Baptized

Wilderness…………………………..Jesus Tempted

Beyond Jordan……………………..Call of His first Disciples

Cana in Galilee…………………….First Miracle

Capernaum………………………….Headquarters

Jerusalem…………………………….First Cleansing of the Temple

Judea………………………………….Warm Reception

Samaria, Galilee……………………..Stopped at Jacob's well

 

We will continue our Extras in next study.

 

Study Questions:

 

1.  How many disciples did Jesus call to follow Him?

2.  Name the disciples.

3.  Where were Jesus born?

4.  Which disciple betrayed Jesus?

4.  What was the name of the disciple who replaced the one who betrayed Jesus?

5.  What did Jesus preached?

6.  Have you been called to be a disciple?

 

Response Questions:

 

1.  Have you accepted your calling from Jesus?

2.  Are you a follower of Christ with a grateful heart?

3.  Are you obeying God by studying His Word?

 

Prayer:

Father God, we praise You for Your love and grace. Thank You for salvation. Thank You for Jesus dying on the cross for our sins (my sins). Your grace and mercy has called me to discipleship. I accept my calling and ask that You anoint me for Your work. Help me to continue to spread the Gospel of Jesus. Bless others to see the calling on my life, so they will answer their calling too.  Keep me close to the cross of Jesus Christ. Help me to follow You no matter where it led me. These blessings we thank You for, and ask You in Jesus' mighty name, amen.