eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780310868323 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Zondervan |
| Publication date: | 12/15/2009 |
| Series: | Deeper Series |
| Sold by: | HarperCollins Publishing |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 112 |
| File size: | 6 MB |
| Age Range: | 13 - 16 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Trust Meet the World's One Savior and Lord
By Kevin Johnson Zondervan Copyright © 2007 Kevin Johnson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-310-27489-6
Chapter One WHO IS THIS GUY?
Jesus makes an entrance
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
-> START If you were a star about to stroll into the party of your life, you'd probably think hard about how to maximize your entrance. Maybe you'd go with a classic drumroll and trumpet blast. Or a hip, computer-synched light show topped with flaming pyrotechnics. Whatever your choice, you'd aim for an entrance that captures your style.
If you could craft a perfect entrance to showcase the true you, what would it look like?
-> READ John 1:29-34
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One."
-> THINK Look at that scene as though you were one of the people present that day. You know nothing at all about how Jesus showed up on earth-like the Christmas facts about his being born in Bethlehem and tucked good-night in an animal's food bin, destined to grow up to rule the world (Luke 2:1-20). So this is the first time you've ever heard about Jesus. How does John's introduction of Jesus match up with how you'd expect the massively powerful and all-important Son of God to flash his arrival? John the Baptizer says the whole reason he preaches is so people will recognize Jesus. What facts about Jesus do you learn from John? Shoot for at least three or four.
Trip your brain back to that scene: John is trying to make a splash for Jesus, and his carefully worded introduction all boils down to a couple of names-Jesus is the "Lamb of God" and the "Son of God." Why would those names amaze people and create enough interest that they'd pay attention to Jesus?
Calling Jesus the "Lamb of God" goes back to the Old Testament, where lambs and other animals were killed to pay the penalty for people's sins. "Son of God" means Jesus is infinitely more than a nice teacher. He's God himself come to earth as a human being. John is shouting that everyone should listen to Jesus because he's the one and only Savior and Lord of the world.
-> LIVE Those are some stupendous claims about Jesus. How convinced are you that Jesus is all that?
Even if Jesus is exactly who John said he is, what would it take for you to trust Jesus-to rely on him for everything you need and to live every bit of your life according to his plans?
-> WRAP The words of John the Baptizer contain a stunning announcement. They should also have you scratching your head and wanting more information. Trusting anyone requires knowing them well and understanding why they deserve your confidence. God designed the whole Bible-the New Testament especially-to help you figure out who Jesus is and why he's worthy of your total trust. And helping you grow in your trust in Jesus is the point of this book.
>> MORE THOUGHTS TO MULL
* What personal qualities make you feel as though you can count on someone?
* Why are some people interested in Jesus and some aren't? How into Jesus are you?
* Suppose Jesus had shown up in a spectacular media blitz with his name, face, and message splashed everywhere. For good or bad, how would that change your view of him?
>> MORE SCRIPTURES TO DIG
* In Exodus 12:1-13 you can catch the background for that distinctive name "Lamb of God." That passage tells how God's Old Testament people, the Israelites, splashed the blood of a lamb on the doorjambs of their homes to protect them from God's deadly wrath while they were still living as slaves in Egypt. Jews still remember that event through an annual feast called "Passover." Jesus gives the Passover meal another meaning: He will make the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross. This time it's the blood of Jesus that will spare people from experiencing God's anger over sin-and Jesus' blood will also be God's unbreakable promise of forgiveness. In Luke 22:19 Jesus instructs his followers to celebrate a meal to remember him, the event Christians call "Communion" or "the Lord's Supper."
* John the Baptizer was a wild preacher who survived in the desert by dining on honey and jumbo grasshoppers (see Matthew 3:4). Another unusual factoid: John and Jesus were cousins. You can read the whole family history in Luke 1. By the way, John the Baptizer isn't the same John who wrote the Bible passage you read at the beginning of this study. That's John the apostle-Jesus' closest friend.
* John spent his days telling people to turn away from evil or repent. He invited people to be dunked in water, or baptized, as a symbol of their coming clean from their sins. John commanded everyone from religious leaders to everyday people to get ready for the arrival of a Savior-chosen and sent by God. Even though Jesus had no wrongdoing to get rid of, he was also baptized by John. You can hear John's fiery and persuasive style in Matthew 3:1-12.
* After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven as a dove and landed on him. Read the detail in Matthew 3:16-17. You'll also hear God the Father speak from heaven. He says about Jesus, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." In that scene you spot God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit all at once. That's the complex three-persons, one-being entity that Christians worship as God.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Trust by Kevin Johnson Copyright © 2007 by Kevin Johnson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents 1. WHO IS THIS GUY? Jesus makes an entrance John 1:29-34....................92. CHECK OUT THE SAVIOR Jesus wants you to know him up close and personal John 1:43-51....................14
3. THE BIG GULP Jesus will quench your thirst John 7:37-39....................19
4. YOUR REALLY GOOD LIFE Jesus leads you to life at its best John 10:10-15....................24
5. GET IT TO GO Jesus is your one way to heaven John 14:1-6....................29
6. ENEMIES NO MORE How God makes you his friend Colossians 1:21-23....................34
7. FLUNG WIDE OPEN You can get close to God Hebrews 10:19-23....................39
8. HE GETS YOU Jesus understands your weakness Hebrews 4:14-16....................44
9. TALK IT UP You can rely on Jesus Matthew 6:5-13....................49
10. NEVER ALONE The Spirit won't leave you lonely John 14:15-18....................54
11. GROWING IN A NEW DIRECTION The fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:19-26....................59
12. ROCK ON Choosing to build your life on Jesus Matthew 7:24-27....................64
13. YOUR BIGGEST TO-DO'S God's Great Commandment Matthew 22:34-40....................69
14. INSIDE YOUR HEAD Your thoughts Philippians 4:6-8....................74
15. WILD WORDS Your mouth James 3:3-10....................79
16. YOUR PARENTAL UNITS Your relationships-parents Luke 2:46-52....................84
17. YOUR TRUE CROWD Your relationships-friends 1 Peter 2:9-12....................89
18. HOT STUFF Your relationships-guys/girls Hebrews 13:4....................94
19. MESS UP-GET UPGod forgives you when you sin 1 John 1:8-10....................99
20. DO YOU TRUST ME NOW? Counting on Jesus no matter what Matthew 8:23-27....................104