Lesson1TeachingPlanIntroductionSummers
INTRODUCTION
Everything About Me Must Be Fulfilled
TEACHING AIM: To see that the Old Testament points to Jesus and is fulfilled in Christ.
WHY STUDY THIS LESSON? From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is telling one big
unfolding story, with Jesus as the main character. We are called to see Jesus everywhere in the
Bible.
DESIRED OUTCOME/PRACTICE: That students of the Bible would begin to see the entire
Bible, including the Old Testament, as a preparation for Jesus the Messiah, who would come and
fulfill the promises of Scripture.
Background Passage: Luke 24
Focal Passage: Luke 24:25-32,44-47
 Jesus claimed that the Old Testament (“Moses and all the Prophets;” “the law of Moses,
the Prophets, and the Psalms”) pointed to Himself.
 Jesus claimed that the Old Testament spoke of the Messiah who would come to save
God’s people from their sins.
 Jesus claimed that His death and resurrection were foretold and a necessary part of God’s
redemptive plan.
Memory Verses: “Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning
Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:26-27).
PREPARING TO TEACH
Everyone loves a good story. Stories help us understand and explain who we are. Stories
motivate us, remind us of what’s important, and help us connect the past, present, and future.
Followers of Jesus answer life’s vital questions with the biblical story of God’s creation,
humanity’s rebellion, God’s promise of redemption, and His restoration of creation through the
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The goal of “God’s Unfolding Story” is to advance the storyline of the Bible so adults can
connect the dots, not just so they can gain more biblical knowledge, but so they understand
where they fit into God’s story and journey toward a more Christ-centered life. Purposefully and
prayerfully invest in personal study and lesson preparation so you can present what may be
familiar Bible stories in interesting and fresh new ways and guide adults to apply scriptural truths
to their lives, becoming progressively transformed into the image of Christ.
Read the Venture In Travelogue for Lesson 1 and complete the activities. Study the highlighted
Scriptures (Luke 24:25-32,44-47; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; John 5:37-40) by reading the passages in
various translations at www.biblegateway.com, and by consulting the study notes at
www.mystudybible.com. (Enter the Scripture passage, then click “Read” under Study Bible Notes
Tool.) Record questions and insights in the margin of your Travelogue (pp. 9-18). Pray God will
use you and this study to help participants hunger to know more about and become part of His
story.
Display beloved children’s books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon,
Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, Magic Tree House, Boxcar Children, Green Eggs and Ham, and Tom
Sawyer. If possible include The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Place a stack of
3X5 cards near the display.
TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
IT’S A LOT MORE THAN A WONDERFUL LIFE
A Much Bigger Story
Greet adults as they arrive, and invite them to survey the book display. Request they write on a
3X5 card some of their favorite childhood stories and compare favorites with other participants.
After a few minutes, determine what seems to be the group’s favorite stories. Ask when we
outgrow our love of stories and why. Explore why stories are so powerful and enduring. Pray for
the Spirit’s guidance as you begin your study of the greatest story ever told.
Teaching Option
Show the clip of the movie scene referenced in the Travelogue (p. 9):
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfUV-F9jFro). Invite volunteers to summarize the bigger
story behind that scene. Discuss the three Travelogue questions (p. 11): If you have seen “It’s a
Wonderful Life”, what do you like the most about the movie? Which characters do you connect
with and why? What aspects of the gospel does George Bailey model? What does our love for
stories of redemption say about the longing in our heart for an ultimate story of redemption and
restoration?
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RANDOM BUFFET OR BANQUET OF GRACE?
Hold up your Bible and ask how it is similar to and different from a collection of well-loved
stories. Emphasize that not only is the Bible true, as opposed to fiction and fantasy, it is also one
big story rather than a composite of disjointed stories. Consider why many people regard the
Bible as a collection of stories instead of one cohesive story. Ask: What may happen when
people approach the Bible like a “random buffet” rather than a “well-planned banquet of
grace”? Point out with the buffet approach people miss seeing how the whole story fits together
and how God has sovereignly worked throughout history and individual lives to fulfill His plan.
State this series of the JourneyOn Foundations Curriculum will help adults gain an accurate
perspective of the Bible as a whole.
Teaching Option
Ask who has watched an entire TV series on Netflix©. Explore whether they gained greater
understanding of the show’s characters and unfolding story line by viewing the episodes
sequentially from the beginning.
Three Important Goals
Relay the first of the three goals of this series (Travelogue p. 12): 1. Demonstrate how the Bible
is telling one big unfolding story. Read this quote: “The Bible is not a mere jumble of history,
poetry, lessons in morality and theology, comforting promises, guiding principles and
commands; instead it is fundamentally coherent. Every part of the Bible—each event, book,
character, command, prophecy, and poem—must be understood in the context of the one story
line.” 1 Encourage adults to find the fourfold plot of that one story line. (Creation to fall to
redemption to restoration, Travelogue, p. 12.)
Point out the second goal: to recognize Jesus as the main character and hero in the Bible’s one
story line. Read this statement from the Travelogue (p. 13): We must stop looking for a moral in
every Bible story, and start looking for Jesus in every story. Ask: Why would that make a
difference in how we read Scripture? How could it make a difference in how we live? If you were
able to display The Jesus Storybook Bible point out its subtitle: “Every story whispers his name.”
Explain adults will be listening for those whispers and seek to see in fresh, new ways how His
story fits together, with Jesus in the beginning, middle, and end.
Emphasize the third goal by reading from the Travelogue (p. 13): We want this series to help
us find our place in God’s big story of redemption and restoration. Every one of us has an
important part to play in God’s story, which offers much more than a wonderful life. Only God’s
story offers an abundant and eternal life. Jesus is the point, but each of us matters.
Teacher Tip
Stress stories are more meaningful when we involve ourselves in them. Urge adults to get
involved in this unfolding story by reading and completing all activities in the Travelogue.
Explain you might not always call for responses to every activity, but adults are always welcome
to share activity responses or a comment they have highlighted.
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IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS
Jesus, without apology or arrogance, declared all Scripture was about Him. For context of this
lesson’s focal passage, read Luke 24:13-15. Discuss from the Travelogue (p. 14): What does this
[v. 15] say to you about the pursuing heart of Jesus, and about His desire to reveal Himself to
us? How has Jesus revealed His nearness to you during seasons of suffering, testing, confusion,
loneliness, or change?
From Slow to Burning Hearts
Acknowledge we might not always immediately recognize Jesus’ presence; neither did those two
disciples. Summarize Luke 24:15-24. Invite a volunteer to read verses:25-27. Inquire: What tone
of voice do you think Jesus had when He asked these questions: Perplexed? Irritated? Gently
chiding? How do you think His interpretation led them to think differently about the events they
had so sadly recounted in verses 19-24?
Teacher Helps
A chart of Old Testament Messianic prophecies and their New Testament fulfillments can be
found in the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2003) on
pages 1112-1114. Or go to www.mystudybible.com, click on LIBRARY, then Dictionaries, then
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. When the dictionary loads, type “Messiah” in the window.
Once the article loads, click the right arrow button above the article and the chart will appear.
Invite someone to read Luke 24:28-32. Consider reasons Jesus may have given the impression
that He was going farther. Note Jesus doesn’t cram His story down anyone’s throat, but waits
for invitations from hungry hearts. Ask: How can we urge Jesus to stay with us and continue
teaching us? When has Scripture set your heart on fire? Discuss the Travelogue question (p. 16):
How can you tell when your “slow heart” has become a “burning heart”—ablaze with an
awareness of the glory and grace of Jesus? That is, what’s the difference between merely having
a quiet time and experiencing intimacy with the Lord? Examine whether having the heart set
ablaze is a rare occasion for a believer or if it can be the norm and if so, how.
Briefly summarize verses 33-43. Ask a volunteer to read verses 44-47. Explain the Law of
Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms are three major divisions of the Hebrew Bible. Ask: Can
we ever understand Scripture unless Jesus opens our minds? Explain your reasoning. How can
Jesus open our minds?
Ask adults if they recall being instructed in school to state the main idea of a story. Ask how
Jesus stated the main idea of God’s one story. Determine what role each individual has in that
story. (Repent of sins, receive forgiveness, and proclaim the story of God’s salvation to all
nations.)
Excited Prophets and Thrilled Angels
Ask a volunteer to read 1 Peter 1:10-12. Discuss: How do we have an advantage over prophets
and angels? What might they think when they see how believers use the Bible? What can we
learn from the prophets and angels about what to do with the Word of God? Point out this study
can help adults carefully investigate the Bible and listen for how all of it whispers Jesus’ name.
The Difference Between Religion and Relationship
Ask adults to listen for a warning about studying God’s Word, then read John 5:37-40. Call for
responses. Discuss the Travelogue questions (p. 18): How does this passage demonstrate that the
only way you can derive life from the Scriptures is to see Jesus in the Scriptures? If you don’t see
Jesus as the main character in all the Scriptures, whom then will you choose as your spiritual
heroes? If you don’t see Jesus, how will this lead you away from the gospel into some form of
performance-based spirituality?
Conclusion
Request adults retrieve their 3X5 cards with their favorite childhood stories and write on the
blank side their responses to these questions: What do you want the story of your life to be? What
role do you want Jesus to play in that story? What one step will you take to move Jesus toward
being the central figure in your life’s story? (Suggestions for the last question include:
memorizing Scripture [point out this week’s memory verses], reading the Bible through looking
for Jesus in the storyline, engaging in spiritual disciplines [worship, sacrifice, meditation, fasting,
etc.].)
Close in prayer, thanking God for the gift of His Word and asking Him to open minds to
understand and live His story.
Follow Through
*Email participants, thanking them for their commitment to be involved in this exciting and vital
study of God’s Word. Remind them to memorize Luke 24:26-27.
*Contact adults who were absent, expressing your excitement about this study and inviting them
to join the class for the next session. Offer to bring them a Travelogue so they can catch up on
the study before the next session.
1
Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story,
2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014), 14.