The Gospel of Matthew: God With Us
Resource Book: Robert A. Bryant
Leader's Guide: Victoria Smit
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Resource Book:
$22.00
Leader’s Guide CD-ROM/DVD:
$22.00 |
Kerygma's newest study explains with all we have to unite
us, we still find ways to create division. It is an age-old
question: do we focus on what sets us apart, or what
holds us together?
The First Evangelist and the new Christian community saw
themselves first as part of Judaism, not separate from
it. This community, like the Gospel writer who addresses
it-was the most “Jewish” among the gospel communities.
A distinguishing feature of the Gospel According to Matthew
is its use of the Greek term ekklesia, which means an
assembly of ones who are called out” and it conveys nothing
of the static conception of the word “church” held by many
today. Matthew is the only gospel to use this term and both
times it comes from the lips of Jesus. The
Church is so important to Matthew that he describes the
nature and purpose of the Messiah’s new community throughout
the gospel and two full chapters are devoted to teachings of
Jesus that are specifically aimed at guiding the community
of faith in its life and service.
According to Matthew, the Church is an earthly manifestation
of the kingdom of God, and it is comprised of Jesus’
followers who have been called out to live righteously in
the world and to serve in the manner of the Christ with deep
humility and unfathomable forgiveness. In Jesus, there
is a new community at work for the blessing of the world.
What is it that binds us together? Jesus - God With
Us. |


