Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “A Call to Maturity” by Robert Carver
• Article: “Five Bad Reasons to Go to Church” by Greg Morse
• Sermon: “The One Who Is to Come” by Matthew C. McCraw
• Sermon: “Are You Greater Than King David?” by Don Carson

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of The Gospel Project for Adults. Welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 24, Session 1: He Is the Messiah. With the core passage of: Matthew 11:2-10 and 16-19. And with the key concept of: Jesus’s actions and the fruit of his actions prove that He is the Messiah.

Matthew 11:2 starts with: “Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples.” To learn more about John the Baptist’s imprisonment, scan the QR code on page 110 of the Leader Guide. Now, John, sitting in prison heard, probably from his disciples, of what Jesus was doing. So through them, he sent a message to Jesus asking, in verse 3, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Instead of just saying yes, Jesus told these disciples, “Go and report to John what you hear and see.” In other words, go and tell him the evidence being shown. “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.” Evidence is shown here and we can believe in the evidence. Not only do these miraculous works demonstrate God’s power uniquely at work through Jesus, but Jesus was also fulfilling the specific messianic prophecies of Scripture. Isaiah 35:5-6 state, “5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 61:1-2 also state, “The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.” The evidence is clear that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.

“What evidence from your life proves that Jesus is who He says He is?” Let your group share personal answers here.

Now, it might seem odd for John the Baptist to even ask this question of Jesus in the first place. He knew he was the forerunner of Jesus. He baptized Jesus and witnessed the triune God. In the book of John, he even states, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” in John 1:29. But as any human would when facing trials and suffering, languishing in prison, John was starting to question, possibly because his understanding of the blessing that the Messiah would bring was not being experienced in His present moment. So Jesus reminded him in Matthew 11:6: “blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.” In other words, it might not feel like John was being blessed at this moment, but Jesus was reminding him that blessing is experienced in knowing Him, and future blessing will come as well. Press on and continue to trust that Jesus is the Christ.

John the Baptist’s disciples took Jesus’s message and were leaving when Jesus addressed the crowd to validate John and his ministry: Verse 7-10: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.” Jesus was making the point that John truly is the prophet mentioned in Malachi 3:1, the one that would prepare the way for the Messiah. He wasn’t wishy-washy, swaying here or there. He wasn’t motivated by money and luxuries. He was the prophet that they believed him to be. And he prepared the way for the Messiah, for Jesus.

Note that Jesus used Scripture, Old Testament prophecies to give evidence for both Himself and for John. Both were foreseen in the Old Testament and both fulfilled Scripture in that way.

Why are the Old Testament prophecies important for understanding the New Testament? Old Testament prophecies give validity and purpose to New Testament people and events. It also points to a God who keeps His promises in redeeming His people. The Old Testament helps us see the New Testament as a fulfillment of the promises God gave His people from the beginning. God is faithful and true and will do what He says He will.

After verse 10, Matthew continues in verses 11-15, validating John the Baptist’s ministry. Verse 16, however, pivots to a rebuke of the crowds: 16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: 17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn! 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Jesus here gives a mini parable about children playing with other children. Those who are selfish and only want their own way. They’re children who call out to other children, ‘Hey, I’m going to play the flute and you dance.” But the other kids didn’t want to dance so they were called out. Then they said, ‘Hey, I’m going to sing a lament, so you mourn;” but the other kids didn’t want to mourn. So they called them names for not going along with their plan. They complained about them not conforming to their wants and expectations. For in the same way, John lived a life of very little, a minimalist in the wilderness, and they called him a demon. But Jesus came eating with sinners, and they called him a glutton. They were never going to be satisfied with what’s presented before them and only wanted to see things through their own lens and perspective. But Jesus said in verse 19, “Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” In other words, the evidence seen in the ministries of John and Jesus reveals the wisdom and legitimacy of God’s work.

How might your complaints be keeping you from obeying Jesus? Maybe our complaints are about our neighbors so we don’t take time to care for or share the gospel with them. Maybe our complaints are about certain leaders in our church so we don’t serve. Maybe our complaints are about money so we are not generous givers. Complaints and wanting to see things only in our perspective can prevent us from hearing what God is commanding us to do.

How can we confront our own fickle, unbelieving generation with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ? We look at our own hearts first and confront our own self first to see if we are doing all we can to live out and share the truth of the gospel. Then we have compassion for this generation that we live in, as Jesus did and does, asking for guidance and opportunities to share with our words and actions to those God puts on our hearts. We love like Jesus as much as we’re able and act, motivated by love and compassion.

Because, like the Gospel Connection states: Though the evidence of Jesus and His works is historically accurate, many will reject Him as Lord and Savior (Matt. 7:13). And while the evidence for Jesus is compelling, faith ultimately comes through God’s gracious work in our hearts as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of Christ. So we have a mission to share the gospel with others to give people the opportunity to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

On to the Group Experience, ask the icebreaker question about needing proof as people arrive. Transition with the idea that John had questions about Jesus in prison and perhaps wanted proof. Many of us, sometimes need a reminder of why we believe what we believe, like John the Baptist did. Move to the Context and Recap on page 114 of the Leader Guide. Walk through the lesson, especially if some in the group didn’t prepare ahead of time and ask what stood out in this week’s passage. Highlight that Jesus not only provided evidence, but He pointed to fulfilled Scripture.

Moving to the Group Activity, recreate the chart: Are You the One? on a board. Have someone read Matthew 11:2-6. Pass out Pack Item 10: Jesus’s Miracles in Galilee, highlighting a few of the healings Jesus referenced, like the healing of the leper and the paralytic, which specifically highlight v. 5: “the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed.” Write down for Matthew 11:5-6: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.” Then form 3-4 groups, and have each group read Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1-2 and write down what Isaiah prophesied. Namely that: “the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” for 35:5-6. And for 61:1-2: that “The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.” Have each group write down what would they tell John the Baptist in prison if they were his disciples, returning to answer his question. Answers would include what they have heard and seen with their eyes, as surely they were around to witness some of Jesus’s miracles. Also, they could include the testimony of witnesses if they didn’t see it themselves. And they would also include all the prophecies that Jesus so far fulfilled. You can add the prophecies of the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14, being called out of Egypt in Hosea 11:1, born in Bethlehem in Micah 5:2, being preceded by a messenger who John acknowledges in himself seen in Malachi 3:1, among other prophecies. Have each group send one person to report their answers as if answering back to John. This isn’t in the resource, but ask the group if this would be enough evidence for them to believe? Why or why not?

Debrief with: Why do you think Jesus chose to let His works speak for Him instead of giving a direct yes? Because we all want evidence, what we can see with our eyes but also the facts that add up.  Even today when fake news abound, there is always a way to get to the truth. And as we look at Scripture, we can also see truth.

How does Jesus’s evidence comfort us when we face doubts about who Jesus is? His evidence reminds us that His existence and His works both prove who He says He is—our Messiah and Lord, the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Summarize and answer the Heart question if time is limited: “What struggles are you facing that call for you to turn to Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture?” Let your group reflect and answer in their Personal Study Guide first and then ask if anyone would like to share. Go over Next Steps as additional application points and go through prayer requests and praises.

End praying through Psalm 149:4-5: “4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. 5 Let the faithful celebrate in triumphal glory; let them shout for joy on their beds.”

Hey thanks again for joining me on another Leader Training podcast. Send comments and questions to [email protected] and hope you have a great group time!