Oak Hollow church of Christ

Media


The Greatest Commandments and the Life of Jesus

APRIL 19, 2026

Speaker: Jared Street

Summary

In this lesson, Jared Street explores the practical application of the "Greatest Commandments" by examining the life of Jesus as a blueprint. Rather than just teaching the law, Jesus fulfilled it by demonstrating a life of total devotion to God through prayer, obedience, and zeal for truth, while simultaneously showing radical compassion for his neighbors—specifically the sick, the hungry, and the social outcasts. The class concludes that Christians are called to follow this example by meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of others.

Description

The lesson begins with Jared Street sharing a personal anecdote from his coaching career about the importance of preparation and leading by example, drawing a parallel to how Jesus "lived the example" he set for his followers. The core of the discussion focuses on how Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them through the lens of love.

Loving God; The class examines Jesus' devotion to God through several key lenses:
- Obedience and Knowledge: In Matthew 4, Jesus uses his knowledge of scripture to resist temptation, demonstrating a reliance on God’s word over physical desires.
- Purpose: Even as a twelve-year-old in Luke 2, Jesus understood his life's priority was his "Father's business".
- Intimacy through Prayer: Multiple verses in Mark and Luke show Jesus withdrawing to solitary places to pray, establishing that loving God requires intentional, often inconvenient, time spent in communication with Him.
- Zeal for Truth: In John 2, Jesus’ act of cleansing the temple is presented as an example of loving God by defending the sanctity and respect of His house.

Loving Neighbor; The second half of the lesson focuses on the outward expression of Jesus' love:
- Compassion for the Marginalized: By touching and healing a leper in Mark 1, Jesus showed a willingness to help those who were "untouchable" in society.
- Meeting Physical Needs: Through the feeding of the multitudes, Jesus demonstrated that meeting physical needs is often a prerequisite for reaching people's hearts.
- Inclusivity: By eating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus modeled a "physician" approach to ministry, seeking out those who are spiritually sick rather than judging them from a distance.

Outline

I. Introduction
- Teacher: Jared Street (filling in for Sean).
- The Coaching Metaphor: The importance of preparation and "living the example" (using Darius Garland as a modern example).
- Thesis: Jesus did not just teach the two greatest commandments; he lived them.

II. How Jesus Loved God
- Scripture Engagement (Matthew 4:1-11): Resisting temptation through the application of the Word.
- A Life-Long Commitment (Luke 2:49-51; 23:46): From childhood to the cross, Jesus was about his "Father's business".
- The Discipline of Solitude (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16; 6:12): * Prioritizing prayer over convenience.
- Building a relationship through quietness.
- Zeal and Boundaries (John 2:13-17): Protecting the sanctity of God's house.

III. How Jesus Loved His Neighbor
- Healing with Compassion (Mark 1:40-45): Reaching out to the leper and pointing them back to God.
- Feeding the Hungry (Matthew 14 & 15): The importance of meeting physical needs to earn the right to be heard.
- Social Outcasts (Luke 19:1-10; Mark 2:13-17): * Eating with tax collectors and sinners.
- The "Physician" analogy: Seeking the sick, not the healthy.

IV. Conclusion and Application
- Judgment vs. Outreach: Challenging the tendency to "judge a book by its cover".
- The Christian's Role: Sharing the "physician" who helped us with others.
- Closing Prayer: Led by Cody.