This unit is designed to help students better understand the Gospels. The lessons are constructed on two main parts. The writer of each Gospel is introduced and the important characteristics of each Gospel are highlighted.
Lesson 1: Mark: The Action Gospel--Mark is the Gospel of action and simplicity, sometimes called The New Testament's Reader's Digest. It is only about the length of a magazine article, but it's our earliest record of the life and ministry of Jesus. Mark wrote his Gospel with realism. It is the nearest thing we have to a report of Jesus' life. (Selected passages in Mark and background passages in Acts)
Lesson 2: Matthew: The Royal Gospel--This lesson looks at Matthew, the person, and Matthew, the Gospel. One of the most notable features of this study is how God can turn the gifts of a sinner into gifts used for the furthering of His kingdom. God took Matthew, who knew ho to use a pen, and inspired him to write of the royalty and servanthood of Jesus of Nazareth. (Selected passages in Matthew)
Lesson 3: Luke: The Historian's Gospel--Luke is the most literary of the Gospels and focuses on the universal love of God for all people and of the role of the Holy Spirit in all of life. This Gospel is distinct in that it presents several special emphases of the Good News not found to the same degree in the other accounts. For example, Luke gives much space in his writing to the poor, the friendless, the role of women, the place of prayer and praise, and social justice. (Selected passages in Luke)
Lesson 4: John: The World's Gospel--John is a highly theological and philosophical book; yet, it is very simple in its message of the Good News. John writes of miracles and signs that point to the Lordship of Jesus. He writes from his personal experiences with the person that changed the world forever. (Selected passages from John)