Chapter One
Session 1
Knowing
Christ
THE BIG PICTURE
Have you ever wondered what you might say to the people
you love if you knew you had only one more chance to communicate
with them? What would you say? What would you
want to communicate?
If I knew I could write only one more book, teach only one
more class, preach only one more message, or write only one
more small group study guide, it would be on the topics contained
in the following pages. I am referring to the absolute
basics. Not basics in terms of simplistic thoughts or truths, but
basics in terms of the core building blocks of life.
It is not difficult for me to get motivated to prepare messages
on a whole variety of subjects. I love to teach on themes that
traverse the landscape of human experience. Over the years I
have tackled topics such as Christians in the marketplace,
Christians in a sex-crazed culture, handling personal finances,
and developing healthy relationships. I have been privileged
to give messages on many books of the Bible and speak on a
vast array of themes and topics. But of all of these, none is
more important than what we will focus on in this study.
From time to time we need to strip away all the extraneous
material and get right to the heart of the Christian message.
This core message of the Christian faith has transformed my
life. It grips me every time I have an opportunity to communicate
it. Whether I am talking with one person over a cup of
coffee, leading a small group, or teaching a few thousand
people, it really doesn't make any difference-it is the same
life-changing message every time.
A WIDE ANGLE VIEW
1 If you knew it was your last chance to speak your
heart, what would you say to a family member or
friend who was not a Christ follower?
A BIBLICAL PORTRAIT
Read Genesis 3:1-21
2 After Adam and Eve ate the fruit and disobeyed God,
the way they looked at everything changed. What
shift occurred in the way they viewed one of the
following:
How they viewed themselves
How they viewed each other
How they viewed their God
3 Adam and Eve saw God slaughter innocent animals so
that He could make clothing to cover their nakedness
and shame. What did Adam and Eve learn about one of
the following:
Their condition
God's view of sin
The price of sin
SHARPENING THE FOCUS
Read Snapshot "The Passover Lamb"
THE PASSOVER LAMB
God had told Moses that every Israelite family must sacrifice a lamb and place the blood of that lamb
on the doorpost of their home. If they would not, the firstborn male of their home would die when the
angel of death came over Egypt.
Imagine you are transported back in time to Egypt in the days of Moses. You are in a pasture as a
Jewish father is taking his twelve-year-old son out to find a one-year-old lamb.
"What are we doing, Dad?" the boy asks.
"We are going to get a prize sheep."
"What for, Dad?"
"You will see."
They find the best lamb in the flock and bring it back to the shed. The boy sees his dad get the machete.
"What are you going to do, Dad?" the boy asks again.
"I am going to slaughter the lamb."
"What did the lamb do, Dad?"
The father thinks long and hard and tries to form his words very carefully. "Son, the lamb didn't do anything,
but our nation has sinned against God. He is about ready to exercise justice and pass judgment on all of us. But
God said that if we find an innocent third party, an innocent unblemished lamb, the lamb's blood will act as a covering
for us."
The son thinks about this and says, "Dad, that sounds very unfair. What happens if we don't sacrifice the
lamb?"
With a solemn look at his son, the father speaks the truth. "If we don't sacrifice the lamb and place its blood
on the doorpost of our house, you will die before morning."
4 If you were that son talking to his father, what would
you say to your dad at this point in the conversation?
How would you feel if you were the son?
5 If you were the father, how would you explain the
necessity of the lamb being sacrificed?
Read Snapshot "A Perfect Sacrifice Is Coming"
A PERFECT SACRIFICE IS COMING
More than 700 years B.C. the prophet Isaiah broadcast a news brief that spread across the land. Isaiah
started talking about a new sacrifice, an ultimate sacrifice, the final sacrifice. He said that an innocent
third party would once again pay the price for sinful people. But this time the sacrifice would be radically
different; it would not be a lamb, but an innocent human (see Isa. 53:1-7). Centuries before it
would happen, Isaiah pointed to a perfect sacrifice that would be paid to free people from their sins
and save them from judgment.
Now turn the clock ahead to the first century. Jesus has already been born and is about thirty years old. A
man by the name of John the Baptist is living in the desert outside of Jerusalem. Multitudes of people are coming out
to hear him preach and be baptized. One day, in front of all of the people, John catches a glimpse of Jesus. John
hushes the crowd and says, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). John is declaring
the truth. Jesus is the ultimate Lamb, the innocent third party who will shed His blood as the payment for sinful
people.
6 Isaiah pointed to Jesus and wrote:
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and
familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their
faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he
took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But
he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon
him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep,
have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and
the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
What did Isaiah promise that Jesus would do for you?
How do you feel when you read these words?
7 Think about the story of the father and son going out
to find a prize lamb to sacrifice so they could place its
blood on the doorpost of their home as a covering.
What did Jesus have in common with the sacrificial
lamb of Exodus?
Read Snapshot "Jesus, the Final Sacrifice"
JESUS, THE FINAL SACRIFICE
It is the first century, and you are in the grandstands right outside of the court of Pontius Pilate. Jesus
has been arrested. He is convicted on false charges and now, as He is strapped up, a Roman soldier
takes a whip with nine straps covered with pieces of metal and glass and begins flogging Jesus in
public. You see the blood of the sinless, only begotten Son of God begin to flow. You watch as Jesus
is brought to the hill of Calvary where an executioner gets delight in pounding nails into His wrists
and feet. The blood of the perfect Lamb of God continues to flow.
You remember that Jesus said to His followers that nobody could take His life. You realize this is no
accident-Jesus is laying down His life for your sins. An innocent third party is paying the price you deserve. As you
look at Him on the cross, you realize His blood is flowing so that your blood won't have to flow.
As the last drops of His life blood are flowing onto the dusty ground at the foot of the cross, you hear Jesus
cry out "It is finished." You realize this is not a cry of defeat but a declaration of victory! Finally, all sacrifices
are now over. The ultimate sacrifice has come-it has been paid with the blood of Jesus. Through Christ our sins have
been paid in full. As you watch Him die, you know you are loved beyond measure and description. You realize that God
has exercised His judgment on His own precious Son, and He is not angry with you anymore. Through accepting Christ as
your Savior, His blood is applied to the door of your heart and judgment passes over you.
8 If you have received God's forgiveness through the
shed blood of Christ, describe when this happened
and how it has changed your life.
If you have not yet received this forgiveness, what is standing
in the way?
9 Knowing the price God paid to show His love for you
and realizing what Jesus did to offer you forgiveness,
what words of thanks and praise do you want to lift
to God?
PUTTING YOUR SELF IN THE PICTURE
Remember, Remember, Remember
May we never forget the price God paid to offer us forgiveness
of sins. Take time in the coming week to memorize Isaiah
53:5-6. Think deeply about them and remember the
depth of God's love for you.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon
him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep,
have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and
the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Making an Impact List
If you have received God's forgiveness through Christ, you
will want others to know God's love. Make a list of some
people in your life who are not followers of Christ. Commit
yourself to praying for them regularly during the time you are
part of this small group study. Also, pray for God to open
doors of opportunity for you to begin talking to others about
your love for Jesus.
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(Continues.)
