Adult
• 4 Sessions of Learner’s Materials
• 4 Sessions of Teaching Materials
• Handouts
1. John 13:1-20
2. Mark 8:22-26
3. Luke 17:7-10
4. Luke 4:16-21
When we think about the reason Jesus came into the world, the first thing that probably comes to mind is to make atonement for our sin. But Jesus also came to live a life before us the way God intended life to be, the way that God wants us to live.
To help us form a clearer picture of Jesus’ life, these four sessions invite us to think about four actions characteristic of how Jesus lived. It is helpful to remember that Jesus’ lifestyle is not a matter of guesswork. The image of Jesus provided by these Gospel accounts furnishes us with an example to follow in living a life this is pleasing to God.
In recent years, there has been a rebirth of interest in what Jesus did as a model for how we should live. For centuries, Christians have sought to pattern their lives after Jesus’ life. From the fifteenth-century devotional classic The Imitation of Christ, to the immensely popular novel In His Steps in the early twentieth century, to the WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets and bumper stickers adorning the lives of Christians in our time, the idea of Christlike living has inspired Christians to endeavor to do as Jesus did.
A clear indication of the popularity of an idea is the number of parodies it spawns. WWJD? must have caught the attention of the nation, because first there was the slogan of a movement attempting to persuade Americans to replace their gas-guzzlers with more economical cars. It asked, “WWJD?—What Would Jesus Drive?” Late-night comics have come up with a variety of questions for Jesus’ actions. One gets the impression that non-believers in society would like to see Christians apply more, not less, of Jesus’ example to our own situations.
“What Would Jesus Do?” is not entirely a hypothetical question, because Jesus did model a life of meaning and purpose. We are going to spend four weeks asking, “How can I live a life more pleasing to God by intentionally endeavoring to do as Jesus did?” May these sessions assist you in walking in his steps.
by Amy Mears
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