Grasping for the Wind

Matthew 1:1-2:12

I taught my first Life Group today, these are the questions, based on the text of Matthew, that Val and I concocted and used to instruct.

We read the Scripture and then answered the questions. The questions and related text are actually side by side in a table format with space underneath the questions to write down thoughts or answers.

Matthew 1:1- 2:12 (ESV)

Background of Matthew

Author: Matthew, also called Levi, one of the 12 Apostles
Purpose: Jesus as King and His kingdom as the fulfillment of God’s plan of Redemption
Date: A.D. 60-70
Theme Verse: Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Genealogy of Jesus

1. Why would Matthew include a genealogy at the beginning of his book?

The Birth of Jesus

The Book of Matthew takes Joseph’s point of view in this regard, just as Luke takes Mary’s.

2. Jesus’s name was a common one, an Aramaic version of the very common Hebrew name Joshua. It is the name Emmanuel that is radical and uncommon. Verse 23 is a direct quote from Isaiah 7:14. Why would such a name be unusual?

3. Mary was later accused of lying about the virgin birth. What proof have we that she wasn’t?

The Visit of the Magi

4. Why would Jesus choose to have the Magi attend his birth?

5. The responses of the Magi and Herod represent the ways people respond to Jesus. What factors cause such responses?

6. What are some of the similarities between Jesus’s birth and death? Why do you think this is?
A. Matt. 27:19
B. Matt. 27:29
C. Matt. 27:45

All in all it seemed successful. We focused on the Kingship of Christ, and giving up control to this radical King in our own life. We also talked about how the Virgin Birth truly takes faith, and cannot be explained scientifically. We discussed how easily we dismiss dreams and visions as God's words, when Jesus' own life was saved through several of these. Finally, we looked at the relationship between Jesus' birth and death.

Posted by John on February 11, 2007 04:06 PM | Posted to Religion
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