The Gospel Project® for Adults

POINT 1 JESUS’S POWERFUL TEACHING PROMPTS ASTONISHMENT

(LUKE 4:31-32).

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee,
and was teaching them on the Sabbath.
32 They were astonished at his teaching
because his message had authority.

Explain:

Verse 31 (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Jesus’s move to Capernaum was not
to avoid the Nazarenes but primarily
a strategic move to proclaim the gospel
in a more diverse, catalytic space.

Discuss:

• How should we balance strategy with faith in and dependence on
  the Holy Spirit in our ministry efforts?
• (Jesus and the apostles thought strategically often;
• there is a place for utilizing our God-given intellect and ingenuity;
• however, we must also be careful not to rely
  solely on our idea of the “best” strategy;
• there are times when the Holy Spirit leads us to what may seem,
  by the world’s standards, an ignorant way to do something;
• we must balance savviness with
  prayer, faith, and looking for the Lord’s leading)

Explain:

Verse 32 (the bold words fill in blanks in the DDG):

Jesus preached from the absolute authority of God the Father,
through the power of the Holy Spirit,
and with perfect knowledge of God’s plan,
such that the people were astonished at His teaching.

Discuss:

• What does it mean to teach with authority today?
• (on one hand, Jesus is in a category all His own;
• yet in the Great Commission, Jesus commands us
  to make disciples by teaching all that He has commanded in Scripture;
• in essence, Jesus grants His authority to His followers;
• also, the same Spirit is within us,
  empowering us to help forward the mission Christ began)

Transition:

Though Luke has already sufficiently demonstrated the authority of Jesus
through His birth story, genealogy,
anointing, teaching, and more,
there is much more to be added to the proof-pile
of Jesus’s authority as Christ, the Son of God.

AUTHORITY

Being God the Son, Jesus already has divine authority
to do whatever He wills and wishes.
But in the eyes of the people hearing His teachings
and witnessing His miracles, Jesus demonstrates this authority,
and it is recognized by the crowds.
Jesus taught with a greater authority,
with more knowledge and insight, than other priests and teachers before Him,
contemporary with Him, and after Him.