Welcome to: Bible Study - Lesson #21  
 

A Year's Worth of Bible Studies

Opening Observations

• Nearly everything we know about Jesus comes from the four gospels.

• Many people have set views about Jesus, but few of them have ever read the gospels.

• Spend an hour a week over the next year studying the life of Jesus in the four gospels.

 

  
 

Follow the life of Jesus in the table. Start by reading down one of the columns (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and looking up the Bible references. Complete Matthew before moving on to Mark, and so on.

Note what each gospel writer includes and leaves out.

• Ask yourself why a gospel writer tells a particular story in his gospel.

• What do the events tell us about who Jesus was?

• Note any differences between the gospel writers' accounts of the same incidents, and consider what these differences emphasize.

 
     
 

A Harmony of the Four Gospels

Topic Jesus' birth and childhood

 

Matthew

 

Mark

 

Luke

 

John

 

Jesus' family tree

 

1:1–17

 

 

3:23–38

 

 

His birth

 

2:1–12

 

 

2:1–39

 

 

Temple visit and childhood

 

 

 

2:40–52

 

 

Preparing for public ministry

 

Jesus' baptism

 

3:13–17

 

1:9–11

 

3:21–22

 

 

Jesus' temptations

 

4:1–11

 

1:12–13

 

4:1–13

 

 

 
 

Jesus starts his ministry

 

John points to Jesus

 

 

 

 

1:19–34

 

Jesus' first “sign” (miracle)

 

 

 

 

2:1–12

 

Jesus meets Nicodemus

 

 

 

 

3:1–21

 

Jesus' work in Galilee

 

Jesus' arrival in Galilee

 

4:12–17

 

1:14

 

4:14

 

4:43–45

 

Call of the twelve apostles

 

4:18–22

 

1:16–20

 

5:1–11

 

 

The Sermon on the Mount

 

5:1–7:29

 

 

6:20–49

 

 

Some of Jesus' parables

 

13:1–53

 

4:1–34

 

8:4–18

 

 

Some of Jesus' miracles

 

8:23–9:8

 

4:35–5:43

 

8:22–56

 

 

Jesus walks on the sea

 

14:22–33

 

6:45–52

 

 

6:16–21

 

Said to be the Christ

 

16:13–20

 

8:27–9:1

 

9:18–27

 

 

Jesus' transfiguration

 

17:1–13

 

9:2–13

 

9:28–36

 

 

 
 

Topic

 

Matthew

 

Mark

 

Luke

 

John

 

Jesus' work in Judea

 

Journey to Jerusalem

 

19:1–2

 

10:1

 

9:51–62

 

7:10

 

Jesus in Mary and Martha's home

 

 

 

10:38–42

 

 

Jesus teaches a prayer

 

 

 

11:1–13

 

 

Jesus brings Lazarus back to life

 

 

 

 

11:1–44

 

 
 

Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem

 

The rich young ruler

 

19:16–20:16

 

10:17–31

 

18:18–30

 

 

Jesus predicts his death

 

20:17–19

 

10:32–34

 

18:31–34

 

 

Jesus arrives at Bethany

 

 

 

 

11:55–12:11

 

Jesus' last week

 

Jesus enters Jerusalem

 

21:1–9

 

11:1–10

 

19:29–40

 

12:12–19

 

Jesus cleanses the Temple

 

21:12–16

 

11:15–19

 

19:45–48

 

 

The widow's offering

 

 

12:41–44

 

21:1–4

 

 

Teaching about the end

 

24–25

 

13:1–37

 

21:5–38

 

 

The Passover meal

 

26:17–29

 

14:12–25

 

22:7–30

 

13:1–30

 

Peter's denial predicted

 

26:31–35

 

14:27–31

 

22:31–38

 

13:31–38

 

Jesus' final teachings

 

 

 

 

14:1–17:26

 

Jesus in Gethsemane

 

26:36–46

 

14:32–42

 

22:39–46

 

18:1

 

Good Friday

 

27:11–60

 

15:2–46

 

23:1–54

 

18:28–19:42

 

Resurrection appearances

 

28:9–20

 

[16:9–18]

 

24:1–49

 

20:1–21:23

 

Jesus' ascension

 

 

[16:19–20]

 

24:50–53

 

 

 

 

  
 

15 Ways to Enhance Your Bible Study

 
 

Read to Make You “Wise for Salvation”

Remember what the main purpose of the Bible is. It is not to acquire knowledge. According to 2 Timothy 3:15 , Bible reading is “to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Don't Be Afraid to Study the Bible

• Don't forget that you will get nowhere without relying on the Holy Spirit as you read, think, and study.

• Read through a different Bible book each month.

• Read one psalm every day.

 
 

Things to Do

1 Compile your own biography.Find all the references you can to Peter in the New Testament. Make a list of the references. Write down one thing you learn about Peter's character next to each reference.

2 Read from a version of the Bible you have never used before.

3 Read one chapter from the New Testament in as many different Bible versions as possible.

4 Memorize verses. Memorize one Bible verse that has really helped you each week or month. Make a list of these verses and note down why you like them.

5 Read an Old Testament book you are unfamiliar with.

6 Watch a video about the Holy Land.

7 From the Book of Proverbs, compile a list of topics that are mentioned.

8 Use a computer. There are numerous software programs available. Your local Christian bookstore should be able to help you.

9 Buy a study Bible. These help you to understand the Bible better and better.

10 Join in with other people. Many churches and Christian organizations have Bible study groups, which can be very useful places for learning more about the Bible.

11 Read everything written in the New Testament by John. Start with John's Gospel, then his three letters, and finally the Book of Revelation.

12 Read John chapter ten alongside Psalm 23 .

13 Each Christmas, ask for a present to help your Bible study.

14 Read a promise from the Bible before you go to sleep.

15 Listen to Handel's Messiah.

 

  
       
       
    Source: Water, M. (1998). Bible Study made easy. The Made Easy Series (30). Alresford, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishers Ltd.