Title: The Seed of True Hope Text:  Romans 5:12-21; Genesis 3:15 Theme: Our true and lasting hope is rooted in the promised Seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, the last Adam who restores all that the first Adam lose. Teaching Notes: The first covenant in the Bible is a solemn agreement between God and Adam – as the representative of the whole human race. Adam was not to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If he obeyed, he and his offspring would live; if he rebelled, he and his offspring would die. Of...

Title: What Kind of Church Is This? Text:  1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:42-47 Theme: Join and support a church that believes in Christ and follows his Word. Teaching Notes: When you move to a new area, what should you be looking for in a church? Given that a church is called and commissioned to help form you in the image of Christ, you must care about what a church believes and practices. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application

Title: That You Might Believe Text:  John 20:30-31; 21:24-25 Theme: You are saved by faith alone in the Person and work of Christ alone, but it’s not a blind leap of faith. Teaching Notes: John concludes his Gospel with an unabashed purpose statement: he wrote these eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life so that others would believe in him and receive his gift of eternal and abundant life. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application

Title: Failure and Restoration Text:  John 21:1-22 Theme: The Gospel is this: that Jesus redeems and enlists failures in his ongoing rescue operation. Teaching Notes: Peter had failed and everyone knew it. He had denied Jesus three times during his darkest hour. Even if he wanted to follow and serve Jesus, how could he? He was disqualified, right? Wrong! Jesus tracked him down, forgave him, and reminded him of his calling and commission. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application

Title: Seeing Is Believing Text:  John 20:19-29 Theme: The presence of the living God is the key to eternal and abundant life. Teaching Notes: The disciples knew the ethical teachings of Jesus, they’d seen his exemplary life, and they even knew (from Mary) that he’d been raised from the dead. But none of these things changed them . . . until Jesus came. His presence brought the peace, the pardon, the purpose, and the power they were missing. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application

Title: He Is Risen! Text:  John 20:1-18 Theme: The only reasonable response to the resurrection of Jesus is to go and tell others. Teaching Notes: It’s Sunday morning after Good Friday. None of the disciples are at the tomb, watching for Jesus to rise from the dead as he promised. But Mary goes to anoint his dead body with burial spices. The tomb is empty! Jesus is gone, but his graveclothes remain! What does Jesus do to prove to the original skeptics that he is indeed alive – and that everything has changed? Click on link below: Notes and Questions...

Title: The Last Passover Text:  John 19:31-42 Theme: Even the death and burial of Jesus authenticates his identity and mission. Teaching Notes: Even in the “passive” events of Jesus’ death and burial, God is working. His Old Testament promises and types are being fulfilled. A fountain of spiritual cleansing is being opened up. And Jesus is going into death and the grave ahead of us to fundamentally transform the nature of those things. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application

Title: It Is Finished Text:  John 19:16b-30 Theme: The Cross signals Christ’s paradoxical victory over sin and shame. Teaching Notes: After a long leadup, Jesus is finally crucified outside the city of Jerusalem. His only crime, as indicated on the inscription above his head, is that he is “the King of the Jews.” This death is not a haphazard sequence of tragic events; rather, it is the fulfillment of the Law and prophets, orchestrated by the Master Storyteller himself. And when Jesus cried, “It is finished!” he meant it: salvation’s plan was completed and there’s nothing left but to believe....

Title: Behold Your King Text:  John 18:38b-19:16a Theme: Jesus is loved and hated for the exact same reason. Teaching Notes: Pilate is caught on the horns of a dilemma. Though he’s pronounced Jesus innocent three times, the Jewish religious leaders relentlessly demand that he be crucified. Pilate can condemn an innocent man or lose his own job – and perhaps his life. In this intriguing story, the religious leaders are the real blasphemers, the governor is powerless, and the guilty is set free because the innocent chooses to die in his place. Click on link below: Notes and Questions for...

Title: What Is Truth? Text:  John 18:28-38a Theme: In the midst of political posturing and injustice, rest in the hope that Jesus is King. Teaching Notes: AThe religious leaders have brought Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate, demanding his swift execution by crucifixion. In the ensuing power struggle, both the political and religious authorities reveal their hypocrisy and their lust for power. In stark contrast, Jesus reveals his real power, paradoxically, in sacrificial love. Which kingdom’s agenda will you follow? Click on link below: Notes and Questions for Life Application