Oak Hollow church of Christ

Media


Who is Jesus? - Class 9

SEPTEMBER 30, 2026

Speaker: Jared Street

Summary

In this lesson, Jared Street transitions from Jesus's physical miracles to His instructional ministry. He examines the foundational methods Jesus used to connect with listeners and contrasts His core message against the legalistic tradition of the scribes and Pharisees.

Description

Key themes presented in the lesson include:

* The Pedagogy of Jesus: Jesus engaged listeners as a relational teacher, prioritizing personal relationships, utilizing relatable parables, asking open-ended questions to probe motives, and aiming for heart transformation rather than head knowledge.
* Fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17-20): Jesus did not come to abolish the Old Testament Scriptures, but to fulfill them by restoring God's original intent. While the Pharisees emphasized outward rule-keeping, Jesus emphasized the internal condition of the heart.
* Matters of the Heart (Matthew 5-7): Through contrasting statements ("You have heard it said... but I tell you"), Jesus revealed that sins such as murder and adultery begin internally with anger, contempt, and lust. Genuine righteousness must exceed superficial religious display.
* The Heart of Discipleship: Following Christ requires single-minded devotion—seeking first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), serving God over worldly wealth (Matthew 6:24), and building one's life upon the firm rock of His words (Matthew 7:24-27).

Outline

I. Introduction and Context
* Continuation of the series: "Who is Jesus?"
* Recapping Jesus's purpose on earth:
* To show true heart posture.
* To point people toward following Him (Mark 8:34-38).
* To equip His disciples to lead the future church.
* To reveal Himself as the promised Messiah through signs.

II. How Jesus Taught: Pedagogy and Style
* Relational Teaching: Meeting people face-to-face and caring for physical and emotional needs prior to spiritual instruction.
* Parables: Utilizing familiar, everyday experiences to reveal eternal truths.
* Open-Ended Questions: Prompting students to reflect on the reason behind actions rather than mere surface compliance.
* Heart Transformation: Aiming for practical life application rather than intellectual regurgitation.

III. Fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)
* Clarifying Christ's relationship to the Old Testament Scriptures.
* Confronting the legalistic traditions and rituals established by religious leaders.
* Demanding a higher standard: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees..." (Matthew 5:20).
* Summarizing the Law: Love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).

IV. Core Themes from the Sermon on the Mount
* Internalizing the Commandments (Matthew 5:21-48): Addressing root motives behind murder (anger), adultery (lust), revenge, and hatred of enemies.
* Sincere Devotion (Matthew 6:1-18): Performing spiritual acts (giving, praying, fasting) to honor God rather than seeking human praise.
* Priorities and Trust (Matthew 6:24, 33): Choosing between earthly wealth and God; seeking first the kingdom.
* A Firm Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29): Building life on the rock of Christ's authority rather than shifting sand.

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