Matthew 13-15
Jesus continues to do miraculous things in these chapters. He heals a Canaanite girl, feeds many totally a number of 9,000 people from the smallest of food items. Jesus astounds his followers when he and peter walk on the water. And even through all this, Jesus is still rejected and not accepted in his own country.
Imagination Question: Was Peter thrilled about his encounter of walking on the water with Jesus and prideful about it? Was he humble and in awe of this glorious moment?
Critical Question: What was the crowd so satisfied (Matt. 15:37)? Eating the food or Jesus’ miracle?
Matthew 16-18
The Pharisees challenge Jesus and ask for a sign from Heaven. Jesus told them about the skies and what they will poses and left. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus also predicts his death. In 18 Jesus teaches the people about giving and offering forgiveness. He really dives into his love for the youth and preaches anyone who misguides the little ones they should hold a milestone from their necks and be sent to drown.
Imagination Question: How would you feel if someone just predicted their death? Do you think Jesus was being looked at like, “What an odd fellow!”?
Critical Question: When Jesus says, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea, (Matt. 18:6) is that really an appropriate thing for Jesus to say?
Matthew 19-21
Jesus speaks on divorce in 19. It further goes into how the children are coming and praising Jesus. Jesus, in 20, predicts his death once more and heals two men who were blind. In 21, Jesus walks into the temple and sees how it has been turned into a market and men are selling things and people are buying. This infuriates Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus’ authority gets questioned by the chief priests.
Imagination Question: If Jesus never spoke on divorce, I wonder how much more divorces would be taking place compared to now.
Critical Question: Jesus gets questioned about his role numerous times, by asking him this do the Pharisees and chief priests think he is going to change his answer?
Matthew 22-24
Jesus tells us that in heaven we will be together as angels and marriage won’t be there. But be united as brothers and sisters. He also teachers us the greatest commandment and second greatest commandment. Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and his coming again and how we do not and will not know the time and hour when the coming of Jesus will occur and that he will come like a thief in the night.
Imagination Question: Do you ever think about, in heaven, that your parents are going to be equals to you and your brother/sister? Very interesting thought.
Critical Question: What would love be like if Jesus didn’t tell us the greatest commandment?
Matthew 25-28
This is where the big time negative starts to happen at the end of Jesus’ life. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and is left being denied from Peter and Judas hangs himself. When Pilate asks the people who they would rather see released, they all say Barabbas, and so he is released. Jesus has the last supper and tells his disciples about communion and how we should take it. Jesus is crucified and returns from the dead.
Imagination Question: What would have happened if Barabbas wasn’t released and Jesus was?
Critical Question: How would you feel if two people whom you loved so much (i.e. Jesus to Judas and Peter) betrayed and completely turned their back on you?
Mark 1-3
The Gospels all share a great similarity so this book opens with Jesus being baptized and being tempted by Satan when fasting for 40 days/nights. Jesus calls on his disciples and heals many and appoints 12. Jesus instructs his followers about the Devil and the wickedness that comes from him in things such as blasphemy. We also learn about Jesus’ brothers and his mother.
Imagination Question: In reality Jesus did not need to be baptized, but insisted on it. How would people have responded if he didn’t get baptized?
Critical Question: Why was it so important to teach about the devil and blasphemy?
Mark 4-6
This is when Jesus begins teaching on parables of sower, growing crops and mustard seed. Jesus calms the sea in his disciples doubts. Jesus continues his miraculous works casting demons from a man into pigs, raising Jairus’ daughter from death and healing a woman’s blood flow. Through all this Jesus is still not accepted and goes to rest after John the Baptist is beheaded. Jesus feeds the 500 and walks on the water.
Imagination Question: Why pigs?
Critical Question: Why was it so important to teach on parables?
Mark 7-9
The Pharisees being knit-picky commanded the expectations of men after seeing them eat with their hands and explained their need to be more proper. Jesus feeds the 4000, heals the Canaanite girl, walks on the water. Jesus predicts his death once and predicts it once more and what will happen when he rises from the dead.
Imagination Question: What if the Pharisees just didn’t exist?
Critical Question: How would you react if you saw a man walk on the water?
Mark 10-12
Jesus continues to heal and teach. He teaches on marriage and divorce, sacrificing, young rulers, more on parables and more. Jesus comes to Jerusalem and curses a fig tree, enters the chapel and see’s business men conducting business and selling merchandise. He goes into detail about marriage on earth and marriage in heaven. He teaches about the greatest commandements.
Imagination Question: What would Jesus have done had their not been any marketing in the church?
Critical Question: Why do you think it is so important teaches speaks so much on marriage?
Mark 13-16
We start off by reading about the destruction of the temples and the signs of the coming of the end. Jesus talks about his coming again and how the time and hour is unknown but we should all be prepared for the coming of Christ. Jesus gets anointed at Bethany. Jesus has the last supper with his disciples and also predicts Peters denial. Jesus gets arrested and set to trial and Peter disowns Jesus. Jesus is sent to be killed and the soldiers mock Jesus. Jesus gets crucified and rises from the dead for unsettled business.
Imagination Question: Do the soldiers realize how little they look mocking my daddy Jesus?
Critical Question: Would anything would have changed if Peter did not betray and disown Jesus?
Luke 1-3
Angel tells Elizabeth of John’s birth and also Jesus is born to the virgin Mary. Mary goes and visits Elizabeth, near this time she gives birth to John. Jesus is than born and gets dedicated at the temple and circumcised. They both grow up. John speaks to people about the way and they repent and he then starts baptizing.
Imagination Question: (Men) How would you have reacted if your [virgin girlfriend at the time] got pregnant and claimed to be impregnated from the Holy Spirit?
Critical Question: What if Joseph did leave Mary?
Luke 4-6
Jesus fasts in the desert for forty days/nights and gets tempted by Satan but Jesus disregards him. Jesus heals demon possessed man and heals others and continues to preach to his followers. Jesus calls Peter, John and James and then calls the rest of his disciples some time later.
Imagination Question: What if Satan hadn’t been in the desert?
Critical Question: Did Peter already have doubts when Jesus appointed him?
