Personal Bible Study

Lesson 2

The Life and Work of Christ

Thanks again for your continued interest in the word of God. We hope these lessons are helpful to you as you learn what the Bible is all about. We recommend that you print this lesson on your printer and look up the Bible verses in your own Bible. If that is not possible, then click on the verses and you can jump to them as quoted from the New American Standard Bible (updated edition). The lines after the questions are for you to write your answers if you choose to print this lesson on your printer. You cannot type you answer on line.

Christ's Ministry and Work

When Jesus was about thirty years old (Luke 3:23) He began His public ministry. The beginning of His ministry was marked by His baptism by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus' public ministry lasted 2-3 years.



Basically, Christ's ministry had three prominent features. Read the following passages and identify the three aspects of His ministry.

1. Read Matthew 4:23; 5:2; 7:28-29.

2. Read Acts 2:22 and Matthew 11:1-6.

3. Read Matthew 16:21 and 20:17-19.

It is important to understand that these three aspects of Christ's ministry complemented each other. They were not three separate goals Christ had, but were all parts of the same purpose and work.





What Christ Did

Jesus accomplished many important things during His time on this earth. Read the following passages and identify the things He did.

4. Read John 1:18; 12:45; 14:9.

5. Read 1 Peter 2:21-23.

6. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3 and Romans 5:8.

7. Read Hebrews 9:15-17.

8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.

Christ's Example

As we just noted above, Christ left us an example, that we should follow in His steps (1 Pet 2:21). There are three aspects to the example Christ left for us to follow. Read the passages below and identify these three aspects.

9. Read John 13:34-35 and Ephesians 5:1-2.

10. Read Philippians 2:3-8 and Romans 15:1-3.

11. Read John 4:34 and 17:4, and Matthew 26:39.

The Center of Christ's Work

12. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

What three events form the "core" of the gospel message?

(1) ____________________________________________________

(2) ____________________________________________________

(3) ____________________________________________________

13. Read 1 Corinthians 1:18.

What did Paul say was the "power of God"? _________________

_______________________________________________________

14. Read Romans 1:16.

Is "the word of the cross" the same as the gospel? YES or NO

15. Read 1 Corinthians 15:14.

What are two consequences if Christ has not been raised from the dead?

(1) ____________________________________________________

(2) ____________________________________________________

Scriptures for Lesson 2

from the New American Standard Bible (updated edition)

Matthew 4:23 -- Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Matthew 5:2 -- He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Matthew 7:28-29 -- When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

return to question #1

Acts 2:22 -- "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know

Matthew 11:1-6 -- When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

return to question #2

Matthew 16:21 -- From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

Matthew 20:17-19 -- As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."

return to question #3

John 1:18 -- No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 12:45 -- "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.

John 14:9 -- Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

return to question #4

1 Peter 2:21-23 -- For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously

return to question #5

1 Corinthians 15:3 -- For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Romans 5:8 -- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

return to question #6

Hebrews 9:15-17 -- For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

return to question #7

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 -- But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

return to question #8

John 13:34-35 -- "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Ephesians 5:1-2 -- Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

return to question #9

Philippians 2:3-8 -- Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Romans 15:1-3 -- Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."

return to question #10

John 4:34 -- Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

John 17:4 -- "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

Matthew 26:39 -- And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

return to question #11

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 -- Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

return to question #12

1 Corinthians 1:18 -- For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

return to question #13

Romans 1:16 -- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

return to question #14

1 Corinthians 15:14 -- and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

return to question #15

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