Jesus, The Way - Executable Outlines

1 Jesus, The WayPresenting jesus As the way To Various BlessingsMARK A. COPELANDJ esus, The WayTable Of ContentsIntroducing jesus As The Way3 jesus , the way To A Better Life9 jesus , the way To Forgiveness14 jesus , the way To God21 jesus , the way Out Of Religious Confusion27 jesus , the way To Eternal Life34 Finding jesus , The Way41 Following jesus , The Way50 Note: This study is based upon an excellent Bible correspondence course programentitled jesus , the way , by Sewell Hall. I have slightly altered the order andexpanded the material is from , a web site containing sermon outlinesand Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or downloadadditional material for church or personal Outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style.

2 ToGod be the glory! Executable Outlines , Copyright Mark A. Copeland, A. CopelandJesus, The Way2 jesus , The WayIntroducing jesus As The WayIntroductionAs we begin this series of studies, I would like to start by having you ask yourself several questions:wDo you have problems?wAre you confused in things pertaining to life itself?wDo you feel lost, with a sense of despair?If you do, don t feel like you are alone. About the time of Abraham, a person who was experiencing agreat deal of suffering said: Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forthlike a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. (Job 14:1-2)These words, spoken nearly four thousands years ago, express the sentiments of millions today. Now,however, there is a way out: jesus Christ!

3 As He Himself said: I am the way , the truth, and the (John 14:6)Yes, to everything that truly good, both in this life and the one to come, jesus Christ is the way !In this study, I want to introduce several areas in which jesus is truly the way . Succeeding lessonswill expand upon these themes, but in this lesson I simply wish to whet your appetite. For example, jesus WAY TO A BETTER LIFEOn one occasion, jesus stated His purpose in coming to this earth: ..I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it moreabundantly. (John 10:10)This abundant life jesus offers is more than simply life in the hereafter . Though He does not promisewealth or luxury, He does assure us loving Father in Heaven, Who cares for His children. As jesus taught in His Sermon on theMount : Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat?

4 Or What shall weMark A. CopelandJesus, The Way3drink? or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek firstthe kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be addedto you. (Matthew 6:31-33) than sufficient provision for those who are willing to follow Him as the way . As we readon another occasion:So jesus answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who hasleft house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands,for My sake and the gospel s, who shall not receive a hundred fold now in thistime; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, withpersecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)Therefore, it is not surprising to find that the happiest people in the world are those who have mostcompletely committed themselves to following jesus as the way .

5 As the apostle Paul wrote, eventhough he was under house arrest at the time: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am,to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry,both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ whostrengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)And when the apostle Peter wrote to Christians undergoing extreme forms of persecution, he couldhonestly say: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you havebeen grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being muchmore precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be foundto praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of jesus Christ, whom having notseen you love.

6 Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice withjoy inexpressible and full of glory, (1 Peter 1:6-8) jesus is WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINSHe is the only solution to a very serious most serious threat to our well-being that weface: Sin! This is because everyone of us is guilty of sin: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23)And sin is not without its consequences! Often physical, but always spiritual! Unless the problem of sinis resolved, the ultimate consequence is eternity in hell!Mark A. CopelandJesus, The Way4 But through jesus Christ, God has made provision for the forgiveness of our sins! Out of love, Godoffered jesus as the propitiation for our sins: In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His onlybegotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

7 In this is love,not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be thepropitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)Through His blood shed on the cross, jesus provides forgiveness for our sins: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)After His sacrificial death for us, jesus explained how those lost in sin could be saved; it involvesrepentance on our He said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for theChrist to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentanceand remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginningat Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47-48)It also involves faith and He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believewill be condemned.

8 (Mk 16:16)But to be truly happy, we need more than just the forgiveness of sins; we need to be restored to theclose union with God which we lost by our sins. In this also, jesus is our answer, for He WAY TO GODMany religions, claiming to be Christian, are almost totally silent about the new relationship Jesusprovides with God, the Father. About all they seem to talk about is jesus , jesus , etc. or Holy Spirit,Holy Spirit, etc. Could this indicate a lack of real understanding of jesus purpose? jesus came to this world to reconcile man back to God the Father. As Paul told the Corinthians: Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through JesusChrist, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was inChrist reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

9 Now then, we areambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we imploreyou on Christ s behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)As we have already noted, jesus claimed to be the only way to the Father:Mark A. CopelandJesus, The Way5 jesus said to him, I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to theFather except through Me. (John 14:6)Why emphasize this point? Because one does not truly experience what it means to have eternal life without having an intimate relationship with the Father, as well as with the Son. And this is exactly whatJesus has to offer us! As He mentioned in His prayer before His trial and crucifixion: jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, thehour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as Youhave given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to asmany as You have given Him.

10 And this is eternal life, that they may know You,the only true God, and jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:1-3)Yes, that eternal life jesus offers to us includes knowing the Father as well as the Son! the way to a better life, the way to forgiveness of sins, the way to wonderful blessings! Butthere is more. jesus is WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSIONC onsider the plight of many who wish to follow jesus . They are confused and even repelled by themultitude of different churches and conflicting doctrines being offered by those who profess to be one does not have to be a part of this confusion! jesus Himself certainly does not approve it. Hetaught us that: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every cityor house divided against itself will not stand.