Emmanuel Tuscaloosa Midweek

Our Rebellion Against God // Humanity's rebellion against God's authority and the consequences of sin.

God the Good Ruler and Creator // The message of the Gospel focuses on the one, true, and living God who is the ruler of all things.

Jesus' Ministry and Jewish Leadership // Jesus is approached at night by a Jewish leader.

Out with the Old // John the Baptist’s ministry ends as Jesus’ ministry begins.

John and Jesus // John the Baptist and Jesus are models of obedience.

Ministry Begins // The ministry of John and Jesus is set to begin.

Public Reveal // Jesus is revealed before the public.

A New King Is Born // Jesus' birth accounts portray Jesus as a unique king with a transcendent kingdom in humble circumstances.

The Messiah // The Messiah's virgin birth fulfills Old Testament prophecies of a new creation, God's presence, and salvation from sin.

The Herald // The parallel foretelling of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit's role in fulfilling prophecy and heralding the gospel.

The Son of God, Pt. 2 // In John's gospel, Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, bridging divinity and humanity to fulfill God's promises and restore the relationship between God and man.

The Son of God, Pt. 1 // In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as both the son of David and the son of God, fulfilling Old Testament promises and covenants.

Covenants // Jesus is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

The King of the Jews // The Old Testament's promises are fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who, as the son of David and Abraham, is revealed as the promised Messiah and Lord ushering in a new era of divine kingship.

The Romans, Pt. 2 // Herod's rise to power was marked by ruthless actions such as executing Zealots and manipulating the Jewish Sanhedrin, along with his Hellenization policy and tumultuous personal life.

The Romans, Pt. 1 // Rome gained control over Israel through alliances with the Maccabees and appointed Herod the Great as king, who is known for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.

The Zealots // The Zealots were a Jewish sect with a strong commitment to liberty, opposition to foreign rule, strict religious observance, and a belief in a future Jewish salvation, often resorting to violent actions including terrorism, and influencing certain segments of the Jewish population.

The Essenes // The Essenes were known for communal living, beliefs in predestination, an emphasis on Scripture study, and fearlessness in the face of death.

The Sadducees // Like the Pharisees, the Sadducees emerged during turmoil but differed in their interpretation of Scripture, their realm of operation, and their attitude towards the gentile world. 

The Hasmonean Dynasty // The Hasmoneans, Maccabean rebels against Greek rule, fought for power, while the Pharisees opposed Hellenism, championing the Torah through the Synagogue, and seeking influence despite lacking direct power.

The Maccabees // The Hasmonean Dynasty emerged in response to Antiochus IV's oppressive measures, led by the Maccabees, to restore true worship, culminating in the rededication of the Temple.

The Seleucids // After Alexander's death, Ptolemy and Seleucus emerged as successors. The Ptolemies Hellenized conquered lands, including Palestine, leading to tensions with orthodox Jews. Antiochus Epiphanes later tried to force Greek culture on Judea, sparking conflict.

The Ptolemys // The spread of Hellenism and the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, facilitated the global accessibility of Jewish culture and faith, influencing the Mediterranean world and aiding the spread of the gospel.

The Greeks // The promises made to Abram remained in effect despite the challenging state of Israel, and Alexander the Great's arrival in Palestine allowed the Jews in Judea to maintain their own laws and exempted them from tribute, facilitating the spread of Greek language and culture that would later contribute to the dissemination of the gospel message.

Malachi // Malachi addresses the Israelites' problems of intermarriage, impure sacrifices, corrupt priests, and the belief that God approves of evil, emphasizing the impending day of judgment and the separation of true believers. The prophecy ends with the anticipation of Elijah's coming as a sign of the day of the Lord.