Bible Study-The Gospel of Matthew Schedule Outline

Bible Study-The Gospel of Matthew

Join FCCH as Rev. David Clifford facilitates a Bible Study exploring the plot, context, and role Matthew's Gospel plays in our own faith formation. We will gather, at the church, most Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Below you will find an outline of our schedule.

For questions and/more information, please reach out to the church office or check out our Facebook Event for this Bible Study.

Jan. 25 - Introduction

1. The Situation of Matthew’s Gospel
2. Daily Life in the Rural Empire
3. Matthew as a Word of Address
4. The Gospel’s Plot & Structure
5. Reading is Hard Work
6. Bible Study: Formation of Disciples
7. Studying and Living in Communities of Discipleship

     Participant Assignment for Session 1             The Family Album

• Read Matthew 1:1-17

Feb. 1 - Session 1—The Family Album: Matthew 1:1-17

1. Genealogy Provides Interpretive Framework
2. Genealogy Defines Identity and Purpose of Jesus’ Followers
3. Genealogy Frames Entire Narrative in Terms of God’s Purposes

     Participant Assignment for Session 2    God’s Grace and Jesus’ Life’s Work

• Read Matthew 1:18-25
• For further discussion of Matthew's genealogy, see Handout 1.

Feb. 8 - Session 2—God’s Grace and Jesus’ Life’s Work: Matt. 1:18-25 (4^th Sun of Advent—Dec 18 ’23)

1. The Birth of Jesus as Divine Work
2. The Importance of Jesus’ Davidic Legacy
3. Joseph’s Compliance with the Divine Will

     Participant Assignment for Session 3                  John: Baptizing Prophet

• Read Matthew 3:1-12

Feb. 15 - Session 3—John: Baptizing Prophet: Matthew 3:1-12 (2^nd Sun of Advent—Dec 4 ’23)

1. John the Baptizer’s Prophetic Identity
2. John’s Connection with Hebrew Prophets
3. The Content of John’s Message

     Participant Assignment for Session 4                   Jesus’ Ministry

• Read Matthew 4:12-25

Feb. 22 – No Class: Ash Wednesday

March 1 - Session 4—Jesus’ Ministry: Matthew 4:12-25 (3^rd Sun after Epiphany—Jan 22)

1. Conflict with Imperial Powers
2. Jesus’ Public Ministry Begins
3. God’s Empire Versus the Roman Empire

     Participant Assignment for Session 5        Life Shaped by God’s Reign

• Read Matthew 5:3-16.

March 15 - Session 5—Life Shaped by God’s Reign: Matthew 5:3-16 (4^th Sun after Epiphany—Jan 29)

1. The Sermon on the Mount and God’s Reign
2. The Beatitudes and Transformation of Values
3. The Beatitudes and God’s Reversal of Human Action

     Participant Assignment for Session 6         Three Acts of Justice

• Read Matthew 6:1-18.

March 22 - Session 6—Three Acts of Justice: Matthew 6:1-18 (Ash Wed—Feb 22)

1. Giving Alms as Justice
2. Prayer as of Justice
3. Fasting as Justice

     Participant Assignment for Session 7             Healing and God’s Reign

• Read Matthew 11:2-15; 19.
• See Handout 2

March 29 - Session 7—Healing and God’s Reign: Matthew 11:2-15; 19 (3^rd Sun of Advent—Dec 11 ’23)

1. Healings Reveal Jesus’ Nature
2. Words from Isaiah Reveal Jesus’ Nature
3. John’s Identity Reveals Jesus’ Nature

     Participant Assignment for Session 8      Not Enough Food, Too Much Water

• Read Matthew 14:13-36.
• See Handout 3.

April 5 – No Class: Holy Week/Spring Break

April 12 - Session 8—Not Enough Food, Too Much Water: Matthew 14:13-36 (10^th/11^th Suns after Pentecost—Aug 6&13)

1. The Feeding of the Five-Thousand
2. Jesus Walks on Water
3. Jesus’ Words Reveal God’s Presence

     Participant Assignment for Session 9                   Cross Purposes

• Read Matthew 16:13-28.
• “Son of Man” refs.: See Ezekiel 2–3, Daniel 7, and Matthew 8:20; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40; 13:37, 41.
• See Handout 4

April 19 - Session 9—Cross Purposes: Matthew 16:13-28 (13^th/14^th Suns after Pentecost—Aug 27/Sep 3)

1. The Disciples Reveal Jesus’ Identity
2. Interpreting Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
3. The Call to Take Up the Cross

     Participant Assignment for Session 10    The Community of the Cross

• Read Matthew 18.

April 26 - Session 10—The Community of the Cross: Matthew 18 (15^th/16^th Suns after Pentecost—Sep 10 & 17)

1. Community is Child-Like
2. Community is Restorative
3. Community is Inclusive

     Participant Assignment for Session 11             It Shall Not Be So Among You

• Read Matthew 20:17-34.

May 3 - Session 11—It Shall Not Be So Among You: Matthew 20:17-34 (Markan parallel only in lectionary, Year B 22^nd/23^rd Suns after Pentecost—Oct 14 & 20 ’24)

1. God’s Reign and Household Relationships
2. God’s Reign, Masters, and Slaves
3. Reign and Leadership

     Participant Assignment for Session 12         An Anti-Triumphal Entry

• Read Matthew 21:1-17.
• See Handout 5 and 1 Macc 1:10-3:2 for the historical context of struggle against another tyrant, Antiochus Epiphanes, in the 160s BCE.
• See Handout 6 re: Jesus’ actions in the Temple.

May 10 - Session 12—An Anti-Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21:1-17 (Palm Sunday—April 2)

1. The Symbol of the Donkey
2. The Symbol of the King
3. Jesus Condemns the Center of Elite Power

     Participant Assignment for Session 13                     Being Ready

• Read Matthew 24:36-44.
• For discussion of Gen 6:5-22, see Handout 7.
• Compare the Matthew passage to Leviticus 25. On Lev 25, see Handout 8.

May 17 - Session 13—Being Ready: Matthew 24:36-44 (1^st Sun of Advent—Nov 27 ’23)

1. Signs of the Fulfillment of God’s Reign
2. Predicting the Time of God’s Reign
3. Emphasis on Being Prepared

     Participant Assignment for Session 14           Jesus’ Death: Four Perspectives

• Read Matthew 26:1-16.

May 24 - Session 14—Jesus’ Death: Four Perspectives: Matthew 26:1-16 (Passion Liturgy)

1. Predictions of Jesus’ Imminent Death
2. Death at the Hands of Jerusalem’s Elite
3. Jesus Anointed for Burial

     Participant Assignment for Session 15                The Risen Jesus

• Read Matthew 28.

May 31 - Session 15—The Risen Jesus: Matthew 28 (Easter—April 9/Trinity Sun—Jun 4)

1. Mary and Mary Commission to Preach the Gospel
2. The Elite Plan a Counterclaim to the Resurrection
3. Jesus’ Commission of the Disciples