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Winter 2024  A King Forever and Ever   Unit 1:  Jesus, The Heir of David

This quarter explores the broad sweep of Scripture’s teaching regarding God’s reign—teaching that culminates in the proclamation of Jesus as the earthly exhibition of that kingdom. Beginning with key moments in the history of Jesus’ ancestors, this quarter highlights Jesus’ birth as the Son of David. The quarter then moves to a four-week study of psalms that extol the reign of God. The conclusion of the quarter provides a look at Jesus’ teachings on life in God’s kingdom.  

Jesus, the Heir of David
The first unit of lessons prepares us for the Christmas season by introducing us to members of Jesus’ lineage. Each individual in that lineage is a testament to God’s faithfulness and his glorious plan for his kingdom. This royal lineage would culminate with the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.  The Scripture text of lesson 4 reveals the culmination of the long-awaited hope. Luke’s Gospel highlights how Jesus’ birth, as the heir of David, brings good news to the world—even to lowly shepherds (Luke 2:1-16). The first unit of lessons concludes with a glimpse of Jesus, the “Son of David” (18:38, lesson 5), who bestows mercy on those in need.  The historical settings in the lesson texts of this quarter are both continuous and discontinuous with that of the book of Ruth. Elements of continuity are the facts of sin, foreign oppression, and a persistent emphasis on King David.  Elements of discontinuity across our 13 lessons include a shift in perspective from the old covenant to the new covenant, a change from an expected Messiah to the advent of the Messiah, and the presence of clearly delineated power structures within Israel.

Lesson 1  Jesus’ Ancestry. Ruth 4:9-17; Luke 3:23, 31b-32
The events recounted in Ruth took place in the period of the judges in Israel (1389–1050 BC; Ruth 1:1). This time in Israel’s history was marked by the people’s recurring failure to keep their covenant with the Lord (Judges 2:10-13; 3:7, 12; 4:1; etc.). In contrast to the disheartening accounts in Judges, Ruth tells the story of a handful of people living in faithful obedience to God.

Lesson 2  God’s Promise. 2 Samuel 7:4-17
After the ark’s arrival in Jerusalem, David confronted what he considered to be a grave disparity.  Although he dwelled in a grand  palace (2 Samuel 5:11; 7:2), no permanent abode existed for the ark of the covenant (7:6-7, below). Disturbed by this state of affairs, David decided to build a house for God. David communicated his plan to the prophet Nathan, who initially offered encouragement and approval for the king to proceed (7:1-3, not in our lesson text). Apparently, neither man had asked God for his approval, and what follows in chapter 7 was God’s reaction to the plan (1 Chronicles 17:3-15 is a parallel account).

Lesson 3  A Father’s Prophecy. Luke 1:67-80
Luke’s Gospel begins by introducing a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. The couple was considered “righteous in the  sight of God” and blameless regarding obedience to God’s commandments (Luke 1:6). At the time of the introduction in the Gospel, the couple was without children due to their age and Elizabeth’s barrenness (1:7).  During the time of Zechariah’s service, an angel of the Lord named Gabriel visited him and informed him that he would have a son (Luke 1:8-19). Zechariah responded with doubt, questioning the validity of the angel’s prophecy (1:18). The angel proclaimed that because of Zechariah’s doubt, he would be unable to speak until the prophecies regarding the birth of the son were fulfilled (1:19-20).

Lesson 4  Savior’s Birth. Luke 2:1-16
Today’s lesson text is part of a much larger story in Luke 1–2 that details Jesus’ conception and birth. Luke weaves this story with his account of John the Baptist’s conception and birth (see lesson 3). Both births were announced by an angel, accomplished by God’s miraculous power, and accompanied by wonders that God performed.  Luke juxtaposed the birth accounts for two reasons.  First, John the Baptist was a prominent figure in first-century Judea. His disciples traveled as far as Ephesus in Asia Minor (Acts 19:1-3). Second, Luke’s Gospel demonstrates the link between the ministries of John and Jesus. John was a messenger preparing people for the coming Messiah (see Isaiah 40:3-5, quoted in Luke 3:4-6). Jesus was this promised Messiah, a fact confirmed by Simeon (Luke 2:25-32). By telling the birth stories of John and Jesus, Luke emphasizes how these events were all part of the same glorious plan of God.

Lesson 5  David’s Son. Luke 18:35-43
Today’s Scripture text takes place on Jesus ’ final journey to Jerusalem, a journey that began in Luke 9:51. At the point in Luke’s Gospel of today’s lesson, the end of the journey is drawing near. Today’s text, Luke 18:35-43, describes the fourth and final miracle in what we might call “Luke’s journey section” (compare the other three in Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6; 17:11-19).  Just before today’s text begins, Jesus had warned his disciples (again) that he, the Son of Man, was going to die and rise again on the third day (Luke 18:31-34; compare direct references and allusions to Jesus’ death in Luke 5:35; 9:22, 44-45; 12:49-50; 13:32-33; 17:25). As we read the numerous events and teachings between Luke 9:51 and 18:35, we get the impression that Jesus was in no hurry.

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December 11th and 18th, 2024

The word “Advent” means “Coming.” The season of Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas when we celebrate the coming of Jesus as God’s gift to the world. Each week focuses on a different aspect of the story of Christ’s coming.

Advent Bible Study Calendar/Lessons   (click here)     

Replay Lesson 1