Amanda Jenkins - What Does It Mean to Be Chosen?: An Interactive Bible Study

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CHOSEN?

Published by David C Cook

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All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

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The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The authors have added italics, underline, and larger type to Scripture quotations for emphasis.

ISBN 978-0-8307-8268-0

eISBN 978-0-8307-8269-7

2021 The Chosen Productions, LLC

The Team: Michael Covington, Stephanie Bennett, Jack Campbell, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: James Hershberger

Were guessing this Bible study will be unlike others youve encountered. Most studies that include video content are lecture based with teaching centered on a specific topic or portion of Scripture. This Bible study, however, is designed to be used in conjunction with The Chosen, the groundbreaking streaming television series about the life of Jesus. Each session works in tandem with an episode from the show, bringing the Old and New Testaments to life in a fresh way.

To get the most out of the show and the content weve compiled, we have a few suggestions and some people for you to meet. These characters will function as our proxies, pulling us into the story of Jesus and helping us uncover more of our own stories.

But more on that in a minute.

You.

And us.

Because whether youre just starting out on the Jesus road or youre decades along, being chosen has far-reaching ramifications and endless applicationsespecially in a day and age when issues of identity are at the forefront of culture, and insecurity, confusion, and a desire for purpose seem to reign supreme.

This study has been designed for small groups who want unique content and good discussion, but it works just as well for individual study. In either case, each lessons corresponding episode should be viewed before going through the material.

You will end each lesson with a Prayer Focus as well as Further Study suggestions that can be used throughout the week to go even deeper into Scripture.

Each lesson features ten questions that will take you from an introductory level, to an exploratory level, to an engagement level, to an application level.

So many levels.

The Bible verses in this study are taken from the English Standard Version. The ESV is an up-to-date translation aiming at word-for-word formal equivalencywhich is a fancy way of saying its an excellent resource for carefully studying the words of Scripture. But regardless of the Bible translation you use, we encourage you to gain more context by looking up the recommended verses for yourself.

If theres an abbreviation, word, or phrase you dont understand, take a look in the margins where weve translated most of our Christianese.

Weve included an Old Testament Timeline as well as a couple of maps to help you visualize the big picture. Theyre really cool.

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out

Luke 8:2

With so many women in the Bible named Mary, this one was distinguished by her hometown of Magdalaone of several fishing villages on the Sea of Galilee. What we know of her from the New Testament (NT) is that prior to meeting Jesus, she was a tormented woman, possessed by seven demons. Side note: Lilith was Marys alias in episode 1, which derives from an ancient Middle Eastern term for female demons or wind spirits. Only Jesus was able to drive them out, and Mary of Magdala became one of His devoted followers.

In a culture that viewed women as less valuable than men, Mary became a significant member of the team.

1. She was among the female disciples who traveled with Jesus and financially supported His ministry (Luke 8:13).

2. She was present at His crucifixion and burial (Matt. 27:5661).

3. She was the first to witness the empty tomb (John 20:1) and meet the resurrected Jesus (John 20:1118; Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:16).

And she got to tell the boys.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

John 3:1

There were different factions within Judaism:

Pharisees:

scholars who interpreted the law to the masses, along with oral traditions. Connected to the local synagogues and highly respected by the common people. Believed in the afterlife.

Sadducees:

the professional religious aristocracy connected to the temple, committed to the written law alone. They were resigned to submit to Roman rule. Did not believe in the afterlife.

Essenes:

separatists who lived in various communes that were focused on prayer, holy living, and the future. Not directly mentioned in the New Testament.

Zealots:

political activists organized to rebel against Rome and against Jewish leaders who cooperated with Rome.

Nicodemus was a leading Pharisee in first-century Judaism and a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews (John 3:1). As a spiritual leader, he had influence in all areas of society since Israels religious system determined the laws of the land politically, culturally, and socially. Pharisees were well-respected, theologically conservative believers in God and His Word, often laypeople devoted to pure living and worship in the local synagogue. On the other hand, priests who were connected to the official worship practices of the Jerusalem temple were more likely to be members of the Sadducee party and were typically in league with Roman rulewhich is why Quintus (the fictional Roman leader who interacts with Nicodemus in episode 1) comments on the Sadducees being the enemies of the Pharisees (Acts 23:110).