[Note: In this lesson, David talks about Jesus in the past tense, referring to His human existence on earth. In the spiritual sense, Jesus still exists and has always existed. -MRW]

Introduction

• Matthew 16:13-14

He was a real person who lived 2,000 years ago.

• Luke 1:1-5; 2:7; 3:23
• Tacitus wrote about Christians in the first century.

He was the Son of God who lived in a human body.

• John 1:1-5
• Jesus was not simply a wise teacher. He is God’s son.

He introduced a new covenant into the world.

• God had a covenant with Israel, which had been in place for about 1500 years when Jesus arrived.
• John 1:17
• The Old Covenant was meant to be temporary. The New Covenant is better in every way and open to everyone.
• Hebrews 8:1-13

He came to be our Savior.

• I John 4:9-14

He performed miracles to prove His claims.

• Luke 5:18-26
• His followers were persecuted and killed.

He was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.

• Mark 15:24-39
• Ephesians 1:7

He rose from the dead.

• Mark 16:1-8
• I Corinthians 15:17

He ascended to heaven.

• Acts 1:1-11

His apostles spread their eyewitness testimony.

• Acts 1:8, 21
• I John 1:1-14

He will judge the world in the end.

• Matthew 25:31-46

Deuteronomy 6

• Deuteronomy 6:1-9 – Love God and teach your kids.
  • There is only one God! Love and worship Him only.
  • Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – This section is called the “shema” and is recited day and night by orthodox Jews still today.
  • Matthew 22:35-38
  • Some say that the Old Covenant was external and the New Covenant is internal, but God has always cared about the heart.
    • Genesis 6:5
  • Kids can smell hypocrisy from a mile away, so you must serve God yourself if you want to teach your kids to do so.
  • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – Spiritual discussions should happen all the time.
  • Deuteronomy 6:8-9 – Compare Proverbs 3:3. This was figurative language.
• Deuteronomy 6:10-12 – When you get blessed, don’t forget God.
• Deuteronomy 6:13-19 – Fear God and obey.
• Deuteronomy 6:20-25 – “When your son also asks you …”

Deuteronomy 7

• Deuteronomy 7:1-5 – Don’t merge with idolatrous nations.
  • God had likely sent prophet after prophet to these sinful nations.
• Deuteronomy 7:6-11 – God chose you and blessed you, so obey Him!
  • I Peter 2:9-12 – Christians are now God’s chosen people.
• Deuteronomy 7:12-26 – God will bless you, just don’t be ensnared by sin!

Deuteronomy 8

• Deuteronomy 8:1-5 – God tested Israel.
  • Deuteronomy 8:3 – Quoted in Matthew 4 when Jesus is tempted.
• Deuteronomy 8:6-20 – Don’t forget God.

Introduction

• II Kings 17:5
• Genesis 12:7 – Promises to Abraham
• II Kings 17 – God’s assessment of what went wrong with Israel.

Quit trying to be like the world.

• II Kings 17:7-13 – Israel started living like the people of the land who God had punished for living that way!
• II Kings 17:19 – Israel was then a bad influence on Judah.
• Acts 2:38-40 – “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
• Philippians 2:14-15
• Judges 2:12
• Israel started to blend in with the sinful world.
• Romans 12:2 – We must become what God wants us to be.
• James 4:4
• I John 2:15

Get back to God’s word.

• II Kings 17:12-13; Exodus 20:4 – God’s instructions on this were clear.
• Jeremiah 7:1-10
• We have a good amount of control over what influences us. It is our choice how much we read our Bible!
• Luke 8:19-21
• Proverbs 30:5
• Psalms 119:101-104

God will definitely punish.

• II Kings 17:18-23
• Deuteronomy 4:25-27
• Joshua 23:14-16 – God promised they would be punished.
• II Peter 3:7-9, 17-18 – God doesn’t want anyone to be punished but He is just.

What do we know about him?

• No biographical sketch in scripture.
• Mentioned 24 times in scripture in most translations
  • Acts – 6
  • Romans – 1
  • I Corinthians – 2
  • II Corinthians – 2
  • Philippians – 2
  • Colossians – 1
  • I Thessalonians – 3
  • II Thessalonians – 1
  • I Timothy – 3
  • II Timothy – 1
  • Philemon – 1
  • Hebrews – 1
• Sometimes referred to as Timotheus (Roman version of his name)
  • Translations often render this as simply Timothy.

Who was Timothy?

• Lystra – Acts 14
  • Paul there in about AD 48
    • Healed a lame man
    • Stoned and left for dead
  • Returned in about AD 50
    • Encountered Timothy
    • Acts 16:1-2

Timothy – well spoken of

• How did he get to be like that?
  • Had a faithful mother – II Timothy 1:5
  • The faithfulness of his grandmother and mother were instrumental in forming Timothy’s faith.
  • The foundation of his faith was the word of God. II Timothy 3:14-15
• Still young, probably young in the faith
• Had confessed Christ before many witnesses
  • I Timothy 6:12

Timothy’s enlistment

• Acts 16:3-5
• Paul adds Timothy to his team
  • First puts controversy behind them
  • Went about disseminating the Jerusalem decrees
  • Success!

Timothy grows

• Paul’s trust for Timothy increases
  • Sent with another (Acts 19:22) to Macedonia from Ephesus
  • Sent to troubled congregation (I Corinthians 4:17)
  • Left behind to teach at Ephesus
    • Paul greatly attached to Ephesus (Acts 20)
    • I Timothy 1:3-4
  • Paul warns Timothy to oppose the arguments of the Gnostics
    • I Timothy 6:20
    • Paul had predicted such in Acts 20:28-30
• Trusted emissary – I Thessalonians 3:2, 6
  • Paul sends Timothy to Thessalonica
    • Check on them
    • Strengthen and encourage them
  • He returns a good report
• Following sound doctrine – I Timothy 4:6
• Sincere faith – II Timothy 1:5
• Constant encouragement by Paul to continue progress
  • Letters of 1st and 2nd Timothy
  • Required complete involvement
  • I Timothy 4:15-16

Timothy’s journeys and sojourns

• Passed through “the cities” issuing the decree
• Phrygia and Galatia – forbidden to preach in Asia
• Down to Troas – Macedonian call
• Across to Philippi – conversion of Lydia, Paul, and Silas in prison
• On to Thessalonica and more trouble, then to Berea
• Trouble in Berea

Introduction

Learn how to think.

Learn how to work, even when it’s hard and unfair.

Learn how to manage your time.

Learn how to encourage the kids in younger grades.

Learn how to avoid pride.