Why Four Gospels? - Teacher (Standard) (print)

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Objective: Explain from Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31 that the four Gospels provide complementary, purposeful witnesses to Jesus.

Read: Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31

Opening: Ask: What do you notice first in this passage before we explain what it means?

Say:

Luke says he investigated matters and wrote an orderly account.
Luke addresses a named reader, Theophilus, and states a purpose of certainty regarding what he had been taught.
John says Jesus did many other signs not written in his book.
The four Gospels provide complementary, purposeful witnesses to Jesus.

Ask:

Do: Complete the Gospel Purpose Observation Grid activity.

Close: Pray using one truth from the passage and one faithful response.

Materials: Bible; Gospel Purpose Observation Grid

4 minConnect. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
4 minContext. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
9 minRead and observe. Read and observe the principal passage. Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?
7 minDiscuss. Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation. Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? What should we avoid claiming from this passage?
7 minActivity. Complete Gospel Purpose Observation Grid. Activity: Gospel Purpose Observation Grid. Printable: Y1-L19-P01-gospel-purpose-grid.
4 minRespond. Name one faithful response and pray. Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Materials: Gospel Purpose Observation Grid; Pens or pencils

Low-resource option: Use blank paper and create the same categories by hand.

Memory verse: Luke 1:1-4

Prayer: Thank God for the truth in this passage and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: The four Gospels provide complementary, purposeful witnesses to Jesus.