Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Matthew 2

Last Updated on December 6, 2024 by Rocklyn Clarke

Description

Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:

Matthew 2

Purpose

Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.

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Matthew 2

This chapter has 3 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.

Lesson 1: The Visit of the Magi

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 2:1-12 NIV – The Visit of the Magi
• Micah 5:2 – (click on “read full chapter” in Bible Gateway to see this verse in its context)

Checkout the following:

• • Christmas Nativity Mistakes: Cybertrucks and Overbooked Inns – John Dyer
  • The Bible Explained: What We Get Wrong in the Nativity Scene – YouTube (00:08:39)
  • Luke 1:26-56 – Kingdoms collide

Topics to explore:

• • How many Magi were there?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • God With Us [Matthew] – Tim Mackie – YouTube (48:23)
  • Walking The Text: The Characters of Christmas (5 part series)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • Watch the “God With Us” video from the Tim Mackie series on Matthew above.

Lesson 2: The Escape to Egypt

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 2:13-18 NIV – The Escape to Egypt
• Hosea 11:1 NIV – (click on “read full chapter” in Bible Gateway to see this verse in its context)
• Jeremiah 31:15 NIV – (click on “read full chapter” in Bible Gateway to see this verse in its context)

Checkout the following:

This passage is the first murder recorded in the New Testament. Checkout the first murder recorded in the Old Testament: 

• • Genesis 4 (NIV) – Cain and Abel
  • Bible Project: Son Of Man – YouTube (00:05:50)

Topics to explore:

• • Jesus and his family were forced to become refugees in Egypt (refugees are an example of the poor). Why did God allow this to happen? How did God provide for them? How should we treat refugees?
  • Can you imagine anything more tragic than the death of an innocent child? Why does God allow tragedies to take place?
  • “Out of Egypt” – redoing Israel’s history the right way.

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • God With Us [Matthew] – Tim Mackie – YouTube (48:23)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • Read the context of Hosea 11:1. How does God feel about his “son” that he called out of Egypt in this passage? Is Matthew quoting Hosea 11:1 as a parallel or as a contrast?
  • If you haven’t already, watch the “God With Us” video from the Tim Mackie series on Matthew above.

Lesson 3: The Return to Nazareth

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 2:19-23 NIV – Bible Gateway
• Isaiah 11:1 NIV – (click on “read full chapter” in Bible Gateway to see this verse in its context)

Topics to explore:

• • “Out of Egypt” – redoing Israel’s history the right way.

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • God With Us [Matthew] – Tim Mackie – YouTube (48:23)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • If you haven’t already, watch the “God With Us” video from the Tim Mackie series on Matthew above.

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Advance to Matthew 3