New Testament Survey: Student Guide 1

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Copyright 2007, 2008,

2009

New Testament Survey

NT 2000

Week One

Terry J. Bovinet, D.Min.

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 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 2

Table of Contents

(Hold Ctrl and click appropriate heading to immediately move to that

section.)

Week One........................................................................................................3
Week One Objectives.......................................................................................4
Week One Objective Summaries and Learning Activities................................4
Objective 1: Determine the purpose of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. .......5
Objective 3: Describe five features unique to Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
...............................................................................................................6
Objective 4: Discuss the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew and Luke.
...............................................................................................................7
 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 3

Week One
Devotional

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded to you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (New International Version)

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 (New International Version)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Luke 19:10 (New International Version)

Imagine watching an event, like a football game, with three friends, and then
the four of you sit down to write your own accounts about that event. After
reading your stories, you would notice some similarities and some
differences. The four of you watched the same game, but would tell different
stories when describing the action.

This scenario took place with the writers of the Gospels -- Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John. They either watched first-hand or gained knowledge from
those who actually witnessed the life and ministry of Jesus. Then they wrote
their Gospels, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, about Him. This week
we will study how Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the synoptic Gospels – synoptic
means “seeing together”) told the story of Jesus, the Christ. We will note
similarities and differences. Yet, all three writers display their love for and
reverence of the risen Lord.

Matthew, who walked with Jesus for three years, truly believed in Jesus as
the one who holds all authority, always. Mark, who received his information
from Peter, freely trusted in Jesus as the one who came in humility to serve
as a ransom for every person in the world. Luke, who completed thorough
research about Jesus, readily accepted that Jesus came to seek and save the
lost.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke did agree on many basic truths. They agreed that
Jesus changed lives then; His followers agree that Jesus continues to change
 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 4

lives today. The Gospel writers told the story of Jesus, who lived some 2000
years ago -- and still lives!

What stories can you tell about Jesus?

Week One Objectives
Each student should:
1. Determine the purpose of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
2. Define the Synoptic Problem.
3. Describe five features unique to Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
4. Discuss the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew and Luke.

Week One Objective Summaries and Learning Activities

Welcome to Week One of NT 2000! We will start our journey through the New
Testament as we study the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Please
consider the material we cover not merely as information, but also as a
means of transformation. The following lists this week’s objective goals and
what you can expect to learn and experience.

• Learning Activity #1: Café

Write an autobiography for introduction purposes. Include
information about your career, goals, and hobbies so the class
can get to know you more. Also, tell us about your “comfort
level” with the New Testament. Post your autobiography in the
discussion forum Café.

• Learning Activity #2: Week One Devotional

Each of us should recognize the importance of applying Biblical
principles to our own lives and educational pursuits. Consider the
devotional above and think of the value of studying the New
Testament both educationally and spiritually.

Post your thoughts in the forum entitled Week One Devotional.

Responses to other are not required.

• Learning Activity #3: Course Project Part I

The course project focuses on a process to understand the
context, objectives, and lessons from each book of the New
Testament. As you create the weekly submissions, develop an
end product that will flow together as a unit rather than five
separate parts. Each week will involve following the same outline
for different books. Please create it as a tool for learning and
teaching. You will receive the books for each week’s assignment
from week to week. For Week One, submit your PowerPoint® on
the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 5

Each biblical book contains a key verse or verses that serve as

the foundation for the book. Think of them like a thesis
statement for a paper you would write. Key verses serve as a
cornerstone for understanding the intent of the author and assist
in interpreting the content of the book. Please learn these
verses because they offer direction about the meaning of the
book. Again, think of how someone from the first century would
respond to these verses and then how your respond to the
verses.

Create a PowerPoint® that outlines the first four books of the

New Testament with the following information:
o Purpose of each book
o Key Verse(s), Theme, and Objectives
o Context (Author, Date, Sources, Audience, Setting, etc.)
o Issues addressed in each book

Use the Course Project rubric provided in the Syllabus to guide

your efforts.

Submit your first week’s Course Project to your facilitator as an

attachment in the drop box entitled Course Project Part I.

Objective 1: Determine the purpose of Matthew, Mark, and

Luke.
Keep in mind the contemporary readers of the book. How would
someone who actually read or heard the teachings from the book
respond to it in the context of their daily lives? Try and put yourself in
their place as you read and study the book. Then, what do we know
about the audience who read the book and how does this help us
interpret the book?

• Learning Activity #4: Reading Insights Discussion

Read Chapters 1-6 (pp. 19-106) of your textbook,
Encountering the New Testament, by Elwell and Yarbrough.

Develop a list of at least three specific insights that you

discovered during the reading assignment in Learning Activity
#4.

Use the Discussion rubric to guide your initial post and

responses to other posts.

Submit your response to the discussion forum entitled

Insights from Reading Assignments.
 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 6

Objective 2: Define the Synoptic Problem.

When authors write any account from their different perspectives, they
will “see” the story from various angles. Think of the football game
illustration from this week’s devotional. Scholars call Matthew, Mark,
and Luke the “synoptic Gospels.” How does the synoptic problem
impact the study of the Gospels?

• Learning Activity #5: Synoptic Problem Paper

Write a 1-2 page paper defining the synoptic problem and
explaining your thoughts on this issue.

To achieve maximum points for content and analysis

described in the Writing Paper rubric provided in the syllabus,
the following elements need thoroughly addressed:
o Similarities between the synoptic Gospels.
o Sources (possible) for the material each synoptic
Gospel shares.
o What sources may each writer have used to
construct his Gospel?
o Solution (your proposal) to the synoptic problem.
How do you explain the synoptic problem?

Submit your Synoptic Problem Paper to your facilitator as an

attachment in the drop box entitled Synoptic Problem Paper.

Objective 3: Describe five features unique to Matthew, Mark,

and Luke.
While the Gospels share many aspects as they tell the story of Jesus,
they differ in some of the details and in unique ways. For example,
Matthew and Luke relate the birth narrative while Mark does not
mention the birth of Jesus, but the birth narratives from Matthew and
Luke differ. Find five features (parables, miracles, teachings, stories,
etc.) from each writer that the other two writers do not use.

• Learning Activity #6: Five Unique Features Discussion

What unique features does each of the synoptic Gospels
contain? Post your findings in the discussion forum Five
Unique Features. Use the Discussion rubric provided in the
Syllabus to guide your initial post and responses to other
posts.
 New Testament Survey: Student Guide 7

Objective 4: Discuss the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew

and Luke.
Jesus taught his disciples and followers some principles of living that
apply to the Church and the followers of Jesus to this day. Many people
know, love, and can recite many verses from this sermon. What can
you learn about the nature of Jesus and the purpose of life from the
Sermon on the Mount?

• Learning Activity #7: Sermon on the Mount Discussion

Read the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew and Luke and
study three commentaries (in addition to your textbook) on it.
Reflect on the meaning and purpose of the Sermon on the
Mount. Consider what the sermon would have meant to the
people who first heard it and then what it means to you.

Use the Discussion rubric provided in the Syllabus to guide

your initial post and responses to other posts.

Submit your response to the discussion forum entitled

Sermon on the Mount. Include your references.