This four-part Bible study looks at who Jesus is and answers questions like What has the cultural embrace of a distorted Jesus done to our view of our Savior? Does the insertion of a distorted Jesus into secular culture make the culture more Christian, or Christianity more secular? Should Jesus simply be my Savior, or must He also be all those things that a therapeutic culture demands?
Topics: Culture, Jesus, Salvation

You can download a PDF of Bible Study: Jesus and Culture. If you use it, let us know in the comments!

Leader’s Overview

This study will:
  • Establish the identity of Jesus, His role as the Word made flesh, and show how the Law always condemns and the Gospel of Jesus always saves (Lesson 1).
  • Identify how our culture has made the grave error of exchanging the truth of God for a lie, and encourage your students not to make the same bad exchange (Lesson 2).
  • Show your students the benefits of drinking the living water of Christ instead of drinking the toilet water of godless culture (Lesson 3).
  • Give your students the image of Jesus in His state of exaltation to match the familiar image of Him in His state of humiliation (Lesson 4)

 

Introduction

When was the last time you heard about Jesus outside of church? People speak, write, sing, email, text and swear in the name of Jesus all the time, often without even thinking about it.

Jesus has a rather prominent place in culture in America. Wherever you look, you can see places where His name, His image, and some form of His teaching have a footprint. Whether Jesus is being used or misused, there is little doubt that He is having an impact on culture. Can a man who claims to be the only true God make headway in an America that is increasingly plural, secular, and humanistic?

Unfortunately, many Christians have distorted views of who Jesus is. For many, Jesus has become not just a Savior, but a friend, a therapist, an entertainer, a good moral teacher, a motivator, and yes, a homeboy.

This can be a touchy subject. Anytime you are talking about Jesus, you are talking about something that is very personal to people. There are strong feelings, strong commitments, and deep inner faith involved in the hearts and minds of Christians.

What has the cultural embrace of a distorted Jesus done to our view of our Savior? Does the insertion of a distorted Jesus into secular culture make the culture more Christian, or Christianity more secular? Should Jesus simply be my Savior, or must He also be all those things that a therapeutic culture demands?

Lesson One: Jesus and the Cross

Lesson Two: The Divine Exchange

Lesson Three: Living Water or Toilet Water?

Lesson Four: Jesus in Eternity