New Testament Synoptic Gospels and Acts

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide us with our best historical record of Jesus when he walked the earth. Each of these books has its own historical and theological objectives, so they differ in which aspects of Jesus' life and teaching they include. We can gain from studying each book as a separate literary work, and also by "harmonizing" the four accounts into one "Life of Christ" record.

Matthew 6.19-34 sermon [8 pages]
Choose to pursue first God and the ways of God, and thus free yourself of anxiety about providing for yourself.

Jesus the Messiah Matthew 1.18-21 [2 pages]
Matthew identifies Jesus as the Messiah. This was a short teaching to go with a children's Christmas program.

Jesus' ministry example sermon [6 pages]
What can we learn from the ministry example Jesus left us?

Acts 2.1-41 sermon [9 pages]
What is the significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2.42-47 sermon [8 pages]
Does the first church example provide lessons for the successful church of today?

Luke Analysis [29 pages]
Teaching notes summarizing the message of Luke

Mark 15.40-16.8 Sermon [5 pages]
Sermon notes for a short teaching on Mark 15.40-16.8

Animosity between Jesus and the Pharisees [7 pages]
What we can learn from intertestamental literature about the nature of the Pharisees and why conflict between them and Jesus was immediate and inevitable

Mentoring Methods of Jesus [7 pages]
A thematic study of how Jesus mentored and whether these methods are applicable today

Early Responses to Jesus [4 pages]
Teaching notes on how the recorded early responses of people to Jesus help authenticate his identity as the Messiah

Civil Trial of Jesus [6 pages]
Teaching notes on the civil trial of Jesus, using all the gospels

Core Themes in Jesus' Message [16 pages]
A thematic study of what we know Jesus taught

This is a model of Jerusalem about the time of Christ. The city of David is the small walled in area to the right, leading up to the Temple Mount. Note the steepness of the surrounding Kidron [right] and Hinnom [front] valleys. There is a shallow Central Valley between the City of David and the newer parts of the city.

Matthew 1.23 NET: "Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel," which means "God with us."

Languages in NT Palestine [1 page]
Brief consideration of whether Jesus and his disciples were tri-lingual

Hope in 2nd Temple Judaism [1 page]
Brief consideration of what the intertestamental literature tells us about sustained hope in Second Temple Judaism

Jewish Sects in NT [1 page]
Brief outline of the Jewish sects operating in Jesus' day

Intertestamental King and High Priest [2 pages]
Thoughts about the impact of combining the offices of King and High Priest in the Hasmonean period