Christ Simply: A Chronological Self-Guided Study of the Life of Christ

By Andrew M. Rector

Everyone is invited ... this book is for anyone who has wanted to read through the life of Christ in chronological order. Anyone who wants to journal his or her thoughts reading through the life of Christ. Anyone who has wanted to be introduced to Jesus Christ for the first time. The invitation is always open.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew M. Rector
• Release date: May 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370143542

Andrew M. Rector

Two things I love to do the most include graphic design and writing. I was an editor at a publishing company for several years; I saw the graphic designers at work and thought, ‘I’d like to do that.’ So I went to art school. I love to read, write and draw. Yes, I am a creative nerd type. I like to read all kinds of books, but science fiction and fantasy are my guilty pleasures.

Book preview

Who Is This Book for?

Everyone is invited …

Rookie Christians: If you are new to the Christian faith, this study is an opportunity to read through the life of Christ to discover the stories about and teachings of Jesus.

Veteran Christians: If you have been a Christian for a while and have never read through the life of Christ in chronological order, this is your opportunity. Or perhaps you want to review the Gospels once again for more personal growth and reflection.

Non-Christians: If you grew up or are part of another faith, you are invited to read through this guide as an introduction to the central figure of Christianity. After you have done so, you can make a decision on what you have found.

So this book is for anyone who has wanted to read through the life of Jesus Christ for the first time. Anyone who wants to journal his or her thoughts exploring who the Son of Man was. Anyone who wants to be introduced to Christ for the first time.

The invitation is always open.

Why Study the Life of Christ?

More reasons abound to study the life of Christ than I could list here, but here are a few important ones:

That he was God: This is what Jesus Christ claimed to be. It is what got him killed. The testimonies of the four men who wrote the Gospels each present a case that Jesus was God Himself.

That he was human: Though beyond our understanding, Jesus was both a human and God. By reading through his life, you will see how he overcame the weaknesses of his humanity and the power he had as the Father.

That he made the ultimate sacrifice: Again, though beyond our understanding, Jesus Christ sacrificed himself so that sin would no longer enslave those who believe he was the Son of God.

To learn how to love God: By giving up all, including his life, Jesus Christ showed us how to love the Father in his dealings with the people he encountered throughout his ministry.

To see how he demonstrated love for all: From the woman at the well to the little children, Jesus Christ is an example for us all on loving our neighbor.

To understand the core of Christianity: By reading through the life of Christ in chronological order, you may gain a deeper understanding of the man who has influenced history more than any other person.

How to Use this Book

Use this book in a way best for you. There are no rules. You can answer every question for every page, or you can answer one or two. You can just read the passage only and answer none of the questions. You can read through the entire life of Christ in two or three sittings or go one page per day. Go at your own pace.

You can use this book as a self-study or as a small group study. You can go through the entire book consecutively, or stop between sections of the life of Christ and study something else for a while: a devotional book, another book in the Bible, or a sermon series from your church. You can always come back.

You can answer the questions in your mind, or you can write down your answers in a separate notebook. You can draw your answers. Keeping a journal as you go through this self-study is highly recommended, but not necessary.

Every few years, you can redo this study and see how you’ve grown spiritually since your last reading. Highlight the passages you wish to commit to memory. Make a list of questions about Jesus Christ before you begin this study. See if they get answered.

However, you decide to use this book, remember to be proactive in your study. If you have a question, research the answer online. Or speak to your pastor. If you do not know the location of a town mentioned in scripture, look on a map of New Testament times. Be auto-didactic.

The choice is yours.

What Are the Four Gospels?

Simply defined, they are the first four books of the New Testament. They all tell the life of Christ, but from the viewpoint of four different men from different sections of society.

Matthew: A Jewish tax collector, who later became one of Jesus’ 12 followers, is said to have written this book. He was also called Levi.

Mark: A Jewish young man, John Mark was the son of a widow who opened her home for the earliest church services in Jerusalem.He was also a protégé of Peter, one of the 12 followers of Jesus.

Luke: This physician was a friend of Paul the apostle. He was not a Jew. Luke wrote a letter to a new Christian named Theophilus which became this book in the New Testament named after him.

John: He was one of the 12 followers of the Christ, and also one of his closest friends. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus, which included Peter, Andrew and James.

PART TWO

Christ Simply

Self-Guided Study

Jesus as a Boy

Prologue of John’s Gospel

John 1:1-18

In your journal, write or draw your thoughts on the following questions as they relate to this account in the life of Christ.

In one or two sentences, summarize what happened in this account.

Who are the characters in this account?

What are the names of places mentioned in this account? Can you find them on a map of New Testament times?

What did Christ say in today’s scriptures?

Does this account relate to something going on in your life right now?

Does this account remind you of any