Comparative Study: God’s Promise

(5–8 minutes, easy setup)
Learners will look at many Old Testament Scriptures that point to Jesus’ fulfilling God’s promise.
Provide a dry erase board and a marker. To see more prophesies and fulfillment Scriptures go to http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/Prophecies-Jesus.htm.

Write the following verses on the board. Explain that Jesus is the fulfillment of many promises and prophesies in the Old Testament. Share that, we are going to look at the following verses and see how the birth of Jesus was a promise fulfilled by God. Invite volunteers to read the following verses. After each verse, ask: What prophecy is addressed? How did God fulfill this promise or prophecy?

Genesis 3:15 (Messiah would be born of a woman. See fulfillment in Matt. 1:20; Gal. 4:4.)
Micah 5:2 (Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. See fulfillment in Matt. 2:1, Luke 2:4-6.)
Isaiah 7:14 (Messiah would be born of a virgin. See fulfillment in Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 1:26-31.)
Genesis 12:3 (Messiah would come from the lineage of Abraham. See fulfillment in Matt. 1:1, Rom. 9:5.)
Genesis 17:19 (Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. See fulfillment in Luke 3:34.)
Numbers 24:17 (Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. See fulfillment in Matt. 1:2.)
Genesis 49:10 (Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. See fulfillment in Luke 3:33, Heb. 7:14.)
2 Samuel 7:12-13 (Messiah would be heir to King David’s throne. See fulfillment in Luke 1:32-33, Rom. 2:3.)

[Adapted from http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/Prophecies-Jesus.htm.]

Point out that these are only a few of the prophesies fulfilled by Jesus. Share that, from the beginning, God had a plan for our salvation. Say: God loves us and created us to live harmoniously with Him, but unfortunately sin keeps us from God. Share that sin is such a serious problem that God had to do something radical to fix the problem. Conclude that God sent His only son to earth to die so that we may one day live in harmony with Him.