Adult
• 4 Sessions of Learner’s Materials
• 4 Sessions of Teaching Materials
• 4 Handouts
1. Luke 2:21-40
2. Luke 2:41-52
3. Luke 3:15-22
4. Luke 4:14-30
Entering a small conference room, we exchanged suspicious glances and made superficial introductions. It was obvious that we all had come from various backgrounds, yet our journeys had brought us together—even if only for this one week—in New York City. Taking a moment to survey the room, examine the faces, and really get a sense of each person’s presence, I soon discovered that we each had our own story to tell. And that is exactly what we did.
Granted, we took plenty of time out to draw, to color, and to get our stories out into the open, but above all else, we communed! Within our small group, autobiographies were taking shape, and not just your standard, “run-of-the-mill” autobiographies. On the contrary, these were spiritual autobiographies—the stories of our lives, the stories of our faith.
We began by noting signposts, landmarks, or just any essential events from our lives that we could recall. Then, as we plunged further into our examination, we began taking into consideration the different elements connecting those events. Before long, we all realized just what it was that had held us—all of us—together during our most difficult times. Although each of us had experienced very different circumstances, we understood that, in the end, we all relied upon a common denominator: the fact that our hope was rooted in faith.
Over the course of this unit, we will be taking a glimpse into a tiny window of Jesus’ spiritual autobiography. In other words, we will study the early signposts that became the foundation for his spiritual journey, pointing out landmarks that clearly gave him a sense of direction. In this way, we can use any clues we find to discern just what it took for Christ to become fully empowered to fulfill God’s mission and purpose.
One thing we all have in common is that each of us has our own history. Some choose to ignore it, while others prefer to absorb it, to soak it all in. Jesus not only claimed his history, but he even thrived on it, allowing the roots and tradition of Judaism to affect his whole life. Our own histories are just as apt to affect us as well—that is, if we will allow them to—and in fact, can even come to dictate our decision-making processes. As you move through this unit, write your own spiritual autobiography, discovering for yourself the importance of roots, tradition, and family.
by Phill Nall
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