At the beginning of the New Testament, John the Baptist announces the kingdom is near and preaches a baptism of repentance. He announces that one is coming who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and proclaims Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
God kept his promises to send someone who would crush Satan and rescue people and all creation.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4: 4-5). This was the moment when the eternal Son of God was united with human flesh in the person of Jesus, by the conception of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary.
Jesus showed us what God is like by the way he lived and related. His parables and other sayings reveal God is at work pursuing people and establishing his kingdom purposes on earth as it is in heaven. Followers of Jesus, with the help of Holy Spirit, are called to obey all that Jesus commanded.
Jesus is the last Adam: the True Image Bearer. Jesus accomplished what humanity in general and Israel failed to be and do. He remains forever the True Image Bearer from whom all who follow him draw life and empowering grace by the Spirit.
Jesus, while remaining fully God, laid aside his privileges as God to become fully human. He lived his life in unbroken communion with God. Taught and filled by God’s Spirit, Jesus did God’s work, fulfilled God’s purposes and demonstrated God’s character in every context of his life.
Although tempted in every way, Jesus never sinned. He suffered, was crucified, died and was buried and on the third day, God raised Jesus bodily from the dead. Jesus continued to appear to his disciples for 40 days. He then ascended to the right hand of the Father making a place for humankind to join him, where he remains today. Jesus Christ is Lord!
Through the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus secured forgiveness for sins, broke the power of sin and death, defeated Satan, reclaimed the authority given to humankind and inaugurated God’s kingdom rule. One day Jesus will return, and together with those who belong to him, he will deliver the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule, authority and power. This is the Gospel! (Phil 2:5-11, 1 Cor 15)
Engaging your DTS in this part of the Story
We engage the DTS with the person and work of Jesus through instruction/teaching that explains God’s salvation plan that is a main theme of the Bible and explains the significance of the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of Jesus. We have times of worshipping God for what he has done and is doing for us in Jesus: paying attention to seasons like Advent, Lent or Easter.
We have Bible Studies that engage the DTS with understanding Jesus through the Old Testament and the Gospels; and application times for how to walk out their life in Christ, by Holy Spirit. Journaling, one on ones, small group interaction and informal conversations can be key ways to help students process.
We engage students in prayer and spiritual warfare through having them stand in their identity and authority in Christ.
We pray and intercede for nations because the Gospel and God’s kingdom are for every nation.
We involve the DTS in ministry and Outreach so we can share the reality of the person of Jesus and his story from the Gospels with others as well as give testimony to who he is in their life and what he is doing for them.
Key Concepts
Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God.
Out of his love for the world, God sent his only Son, Jesus.
Jesus, while remaining fully God, laid aside his privileges as God to become fully human, and lived his life in unbroken communion with God.
Jesus was instructed and filled by God’s Spirit to do God’s work, fulfill God’s purposes and to demonstrate God’s character in every situation.
Jesus, though tempted in every way, never sinned.
Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world.
Jesus bodily rose from the dead and continued to appear to his disciples for 40 days.
After 40 days, Jesus ascended to his rightful place in heaven, where he remains today.
Through his incarnation life, death, resurrection, and ascension Jesus broke the power of sin, rescued us from Satan’s power and initiated God’s kingdom rule on earth.
Before ascending, Jesus commissioned his followers to go into all the world to make disciples of all peoples, proclaim the Gospel, baptize and teach them to obey his commands, resulting in reconciled relationships with God in his kingdom.
Jesus will return and fully establish God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
The Story Line
- God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Creation: Image Bearers
- The Fall: Broken Image Bearers
- Children of Abraham: Covenant Image Bearers Failed
- Jesus Christ: The True Image Bearer
- Holy Spirit and the Church: Renewed Image Bearers
- Jesus’ Return, Kingdom Come, Renewal of Creation: Reign of Restored Image Bearers Bearers, with Jesus, in creation under God
Key Themes
The Person and Work of Jesus
Identity in Christ
Father Heart of God
Living and Relating like Jesus (Sermon on the Mount)
What is the Gospel?
Suggestions for Reflection:
In order to bring about salvation for people and all creation, the Son of God had to become one of us for eternity. Right now, the ascended God-Man, Jesus, has made a place for us at the right hand of the Father. We, the Church, are united to Jesus by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Spend time prayerfully meditating on Ephesians 2:1-10. Draw a picture that illustrates this, including yourself in the picture. Respond to this reality in prayer.Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. Spend some time meditating on Hebrews 2:10-18; 4:14-16. Cultivate a visual image of Jesus looking at you with compassion when you examine your heart and confess sin. Practice this each day for one week. Jesus lived a faithful human life, consistently bringing joy to the Father through the help of the Holy Spirit. Identify specific examples from the day to day human life of Jesus that concern the way he related to women. What about this truth inspires you to relate more like Jesus to the opposite sex? Spend time meditating on Matthew 5:13-16. Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Prayerfully consider your influence on those around you. Identify one situation/relationship in which you can have a more positive influence. Consider what you could do differently. Do it!
Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, healed the sick, lame, deaf, blind and so much more. Holy Spirit has been given to us to empower us to do the same. What has been your attitude and experience of the Holy Spirit working through you in this way?
