A lot of scholars and even believers out there are quick to undermine the ministry and even the existence of Yeshua/Jesus Christ. However, the entire world serves as a witness that something amazing happened when He rose from the dead – the world changed drastically and has never been the same. Not only can we prove that He was a real person, but we can also prove that He destroyed the sting of death by looking at the world before and after His death, burial, and resurrection.

Yes, I went totally overboard on Matthew Chapter 1, but as it is our very first adventure into first-century context, there were just too many great subjects that needed to be covered. I take kids seriously and I didn’t want to pass over stuff that would enrich their understanding of the Bible! So, without further ado, here is the entire list:

Part 1: Messiah’s Genealogy: Matthew, Luke, and Missing Links?

Part 2: Why is Tamar in Messiah’s Genealogy?

Part 3: Why is Rahab in Messiah’s Genealogy?

Part 4: Why is Ruth in Messiah’s Genealogy?

Part 5: Why is Bathsheba in Messiah’s Genealogy?

Part 6: How Did the Name Yeshua Become Jesus?

Part 7: Betrothal, Marriage, and Divorce in Ancient Israel

Part 8: Honor and Shame: Messiah’s Origin Story

Part 9: “Jesus Son of Joseph” – Adoption in the Ancient World

and here are the extras I put out:

What is Context? Why is it Important?

Can We Learn from People Who Reject Messiah?

How did Mary Prove Her Innocence? Torah Portion Nasso

This week we are going to divert from our trip through Matthew Chapter 1 to address a common concern – namely, can we learn from people with whom we do not see eye to eye? We are going to talk about the difference between listening to a scholar who is an expert in a certain field vs considering them a spiritual advisor. It is very important to understand the difference because the only reason we know anything about Yeshua/Jesus outside of what is written in the Bible is through reading the Jewish writings – without them, we would know nothing about the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians or the political situation of the first century.

On the few occasions where I have actually taught live, this is my favorite thing to teach. The kids laugh, I laugh – and it really shows how differently people see things. I find that it really helps kids get excited about studying Bible context. If you haven’t checked out the new Context for Kids rating system, I included the link here for you parents to watch. I need you to understand why I have instituted the ratings and how I need you to work with me to ensure that older kids get the context they need but younger kids are protected from anything they are not ready for.

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