NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: Matthew 1:1-17
Discussion Questions: What are some ways people in our society show they long to know who they are and where they come from? Why do questions about roots matter so much for human beings? What are some physical traits that are common in your family?
Food for Thought:
“Who am I?” is one of the basic questions of life that most people ask of themselves — sometimes repeatedly. This kind of question is what fuels interest in websites that help people discover their lineage and ancestry.
Matthew’s Gospel begins the transition in our Bibles from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Matthew launches into Jesus’ family history and provides us with a detailed summary of Jesus’ family tree. This Gospel was written to a community of Jews who believed in Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Savior for a world undergoing radical and sometimes violent change. Some of these Jews were wrestling with questions of identity and distinction.
These first-century Jews realized neither the temple nor the synagogue defined them any longer. They were also in the process of discovering that ritual observance of Old Testament commands was no longer needed. Their new identity was to be found solely in the person of Jesus. Matthew would help his readers by revealing to them who Jesus is.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students, and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information, free samples, and The Gospel Project blog can be found at gospelproject.com.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
