Week Twenty-Three (Sermon on Chapter 23 will be on 4/10):
Chapter 23: Jesus’ Ministry begins
Focus: Jesus’ Ministry
Related Bible Text: Matthew 3-4; 11; Mark 1-3; Luke 8; John 1-4

Discussion Sessions:
Wednesday: 10:10 AM
Thursday: 6:45 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM

Questions to think about as you read (page 483 at back of book)

1. What purposes did Jesus’ baptism and temptation serve?
2. How would you sum up the main message that Jesus had for the people?
3. Why did so many people have a deep hatred for Jesus?
4. Jesus said that we must be “born again” to enter the kingdom of God.  What does it mean to be “born again”?
5. What kind of people did Jesus typically reach out to?  What kind of people did he oppose?  Why?
6. Jesus stated that “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  What do you think this statement means?

Fun games to play (courtesy of D. Pleacher, First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins CO)