Matthew (2013)

Are we in the Kingdom today? Listen to this lesson to learn this prevalent belief is not biblical and puts a false emphasis on social justice. See how Matthew explains the reason for the postponement of the Kingdom until Jesus’ Second Coming. Find out why Jesus began to teach in parables and relive the vivid moments of Jesus’ arrest, six trials, and crucifixion culminating in His triumphant resurrection. Accept the challenge of the Gospel of Matthew for all Church Age believers to become students of the Word of God and to grow to spiritual maturity, resting in Jesus for all our needs.

If someone asks you about the Gospel of Matthew, how would you describe it? Listen to this lesson to gain an overview of the Book beginning with the author and three reasons why he wrote it. Learn that the key words are king and kingdom. Hear a six-point outline of the book and begin a study of the first parts of the outline. If you’ve followed throughout this in-depth study of Matthew, the takeaway should be a greater appreciation of Christ’s life and death and the necessity for not only being a believer but also a disciple of His.

Church. What should a church be doing for its members? Teaching topics that will help them lead successful lives in finance, parenting, and marriage? Providing fun and friendship with like-minded people? Entertaining them with music? Listen to this message to see that Jesus’ last words on earth to His disciples told them that their mission was to teach. See that they were to teach the Word of God and learn the methodologies that best accomplish this. Find out that verse-by-verse teaching of both the Old and New Testament is what helps Christians grow to spiritual maturity. Learn that Jesus promises that He would always be with them and that promise applies to all of us also.

What is distracting you from fulfilling the mission you have been given as a Christian? Listen to this lesson to hear Christ’s mandate before He ascended to Heaven and how that should set the priorities in your life. Learn the meaning of the word “disciple” and see that not all believers are disciples. Find out what Jesus meant concerning baptism and how it teaches an important spiritual truth for Church Age believers. Take time after hearing this message to determine if you are managing your time so you can concentrate on growing to spiritual maturity.

Does the New Testament teach that meeting in small groups is the best way to make disciples? Listen to this lesson to hear the meaning of discipleship and whether all believers are disciples. Find out the four key terms we need to understand that Jesus gave in His last instructions. Hear the fallacy of “lordship” salvation and understand that the apostles, Paul and Peter, taught the importance of teaching the Word of God to all believers as the means to spiritual growth.

What did Jesus mean when He said that all authority had been given to Him in heaven and on earth? Listen to this lesson to see that Jesus was not referring to His future kingdom authority but that He was now the head of the Church in this new Church Age. Hear several New Testament passages about Christ’s headship. Find out that when the Bible says some doubted Him, it was not doubts about His resurrection but they were confused about what their mission was to be now. Hear various views on millennialism, and see which is Biblical.

What character trait does the Apostle John stress is the most important in his books? Listen to this lesson to see that love is the one that is emphasized. See how the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for us by not only laying down His life but by supplying all our needs, both physical and spiritual. Hear how Jesus used four synonyms in asking Peter if he loved Him. Understand that it is only by learning God’s Word and obeying it that we can grow spiritually and love God.

What is the role of evidence and proof in our faith? Listen to this lesson to learn that we are not expected to take a “leap of faith” because God has provided abundant evidence of what He has revealed in His Word. Hear how Luke explains that he carefully researched and reported eye witness accounts of all he proclaims in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Find out that Paul says the risen Christ appeared to him the same way He appeared to the others. Hear that our feelings are to be subordinated to the evidence God gives us and that after salvation we need to daily continue to know God and to serve Him with our whole hearts.

As a believer are you looking forward to receiving your resurrection body at the Rapture? Listen to this message to learn that our new bodies will have special abilities as illustrated by Jesus’ resurrection body. Find out the evidences Jesus presented to His frightened disciples that He was now alive. Find out what apostolic succession means and five explanations for what it means when the disciples received the Holy Spirit at this time. Let this lesson remind you that Jesus paid the price on the Cross for our sins and all we have to do is simply believe in Him.

You’ve wronged someone and you confess and are forgiven. Does that mean there are no more consequences? Listen to this message to hear about the importance of forgiveness in all our lives and the results of being forgiven. Find out that Jesus appeared to Peter in private after His resurrection and forgave Peter for having denied Him three times. Hear details on how Cleopas and the other disciple that Jesus joined on the road to Emmaus recognized Him when He gave thanks for the bread and broke it. Learn what it means to “bless God”. The combined Scripture reading for this lesson is available in the Notes link below.

Have you ever wished you could overhear what people were saying about you? Listen to this message to learn about the time when two of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus discussing what had just happened at the crucifixion and Jesus joined them but was not recognized. See how Jesus began to question them and then taught them about the Old Testament prophecies concerning Himself. Learn how surprised they were that this “stranger” hadn’t heard about the astonishing events that had upset them. Hear ten vital facts that you can explain to unbelievers to give them a panoramic view of the fulfilled prophecies concerning Jesus Christ.

Have you ever had doubts about some things in the Bible? Listen to this lesson to learn that Jesus’ friends and disciples had a hard time at first in believing in His resurrection. Hear about the events that happened with these people as they found His tomb was empty. Find out about the angels that were at the tomb and what they said and learn that Jesus had told His disciples to meet Him in Galilee after His resurrection. Rejoice that objective evidence is there for Jesus’ resurrection and we can have great confidence and hope in the truth of the Scriptures. Also includes Mark 16:4-11 and John 20:11-17

On which day of the week was Jesus’ crucifixion? Listen to this lesson to hear the meaning of Jesus’ quote from the book of Jonah saying “three days and three nights”. Hear supporting examples from the Old and New Testaments to learn how the Jews counted days. Understand that when God enters human history there is an intersection between the physical and the spiritual realms which sometimes involves earthquakes and other phenomena. See examples of this at Sodom and Gomorrah, Mount Sinai, and Elijah’s experiences along with prophecies of future events in Zechariah and Revelation.

Can you name the most incredible event in human history? If you said the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are correct. Listen to this lesson to hear a lucid and compelling overview of the events that happened between the time of Christ’s death on the Cross and when His friends and followers realized that He was no longer dead, but was alive! Learn about a number of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled during this time. Understand that there were many witnesses to the resurrection, including Roman guards and over five hundred people. Since Christ is risen from the dead, we who believe are compelled by His love to live for Him and not for ourselves.

How many supernatural events can you name that occurred the day of Christ’s crucifixion? Listen to this message to learn about these events, including complete darkness in the area and dead people leaving tombs and walking in the streets. Learn the meaning of Christ’s propitiation on the Cross and how it satisfied God’s Righteousness and Justice. See how the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant spoke of this and of unlimited atonement for all mankind. Learn that the issue at salvation is now belief in Christ’s work alone. The combined reading for today's class is available on the Notes link below.

Think about opening an envelope and expecting a big bill you owe and instead you read, “Paid in Full”. How happy you would be! Listen to this lesson to learn about a much larger sin debt that Christ paid for you on the Cross. Find out that the sin debt has been cancelled and hear four categories of forgiveness including legal forgiveness for all mankind, application of that forgiveness at the moment you believe in Christ, and confession afterwards when you commit sins. Understand that sin is no longer the issue but that the focal point is believing that Christ paid for all your sins. Since He is capable of solving the sin problem, we can trust Him to solve all our problems in life. Also includes Colossians 1:14.

Why is Christ called our Redeemer? Listen to this lesson to learn that Christ redeemed us by paying our debt on the Cross. See that just as the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, every human born is a slave to their sin nature. Hear eight points how Christ paid the penalty for our sins. See that we can add nothing to gain our freedom because it was already paid in full so sin is no longer the issue. When we trust Christ as our Savior we are to live for Him in a way that brings glory to God.

Are you ready to explore the astonishing substitutionary atonement of Christ on the Cross? Listen to this lesson to learn that Christ’s death on the Cross was the payment for our sins and the concept was first introduced in the Bible when God clothed Adam and Eve in animal skins. See how we can do nothing to gain fellowship with God because we are unrighteous, but the Lord Jesus Christ cleansed us through His sacrifice. While Christ paid the price for the three problems facing the human race, it is only when we trust in Him as our Savior that these solutions are applied to us personally.

How did God prepare the human race to understand Jesus Christ paying the price for our sins? Listen to this lesson to hear four Old Testament pictures that portray Christ’s sacrificial death. See the emphasis of the furniture and articles in the tabernacle, especially the bronze altar and the laver. Find out the necessity for substitutionary blood sacrifices as depicted in the furniture in the Holy of Holies. As you understand the Old Testament types, realize that only Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross could solve the sin problem once and for all.

Why did Jesus go to the Cross and die? Listen to this message to hear about the significance of Jesus’ spiritual and physical deaths. Understand what it means when the Bible says we need to have faith in Christ’s death on the Cross. See that it’s not a special kind of faith but the simple act of believing and that it’s the object of our faith that is important. Hear about some Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled about Christ’s death. See how the illustration of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the bronze snake, and Christ saying He is the Bread of life all portray the simplicity of salvation and that it is for every member of the human race.