OICA Project

Observation: What is being said?

Interpretation: What is being meant?

Correlation: Where else is it being said and / or explained?

Application & Meditation: What will I do about what is being said? Keeping the Bible and what it teaches on your mind.

Goal 1 - Observation

The Bible presents one cohesive account of God's Salvific efforts towards humanity: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

However, as we mentioned these efforts are entrenched in human history and by definition can not be fully understood outside the context it took place in.

The goal of this project is to develop a chronological timeline of the events that occurred in the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ from the four Gospels

Resources

http://biblesanity.org/docs/lifeofchrist.htm

http://www.lifeofchrist.com/life/harmony/

https://thechronologicalgospels.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TCG_NativitySample.pdf

Deliverable

This part of the project is for your own knowledge and understanding. There is no deliverable.

Goal 2 - Interpretation

Now that we have developed a Chronological Timeline of the Life of Jesus Christ, it's time to look at:

  1. The audience to each of the Gospels - Who was the intended audience of each of the Gospels?
  2. Enumerate the themes in each of the Gospels - What are the main themes which the Gospel author attempted to concentrate on? Ex Christ's divinity?
  3. What is unique to each of the Gospels - Unique attributes of the Gospels? Ex: It had emphasis on Old Testament references.
  4. Bonus: Pick one or two events in the Gospel which illustrate Christ's service on earth and do some research from the writing of early fathers of the church on these events. What do they say? What insight did you gain from their interpretations?

Resources

Presentation 01

Presentation 02

Harmony of the Gospels

http://newadvent.org/fathers/1602.htm

http://newadvent.org/fathers/1701.htm

http://newadvent.org/fathers/2001.htm

http://newadvent.org/fathers/2401.htm

http://newadvent.org/fathers/1015.htm

http://newadvent.org/fathers/1016.htm

Deliverable

  1. Report outlining points 1 - 3
  2. Bonus report outlining the two events and the results of the research.
  3. 10 minute presentation which cover at least deliverable 1

Due Date

 

Goal 3 - Correlation

Each Gospel does not exist in a vacuum it came in a long line of books from the old testament and on many occasions they refer to them.

  1. Enumerate the Old Testament references in the Gospels
  2. Select three of these references and give an explanation of why they are significant and how they deepen our understanding of the events in the Gospels

Resources

www.biblegateway.com

http://scwtenor.com/harmony/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Quotations-in-the-Old-Testament-in-the-New-Testament.pdf

https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/quotes.cfm

Deliverable

  1. Find Old testament references in your Gospel, which prophecy about the following (It is understood that not every Gospel will have references to all. Find the ones relevant to your Gospel):
    1. Incarnation
    2. Virgin Birth
    3. Christ is the Son of God
    4. Christ will be preceded by a messenger
    5. The place of his birth
    6. His name
    7. Christ's three occupations (Prophet, Priest, King)
    8. Visited by wise men
    9. He came from Heaven
    10. Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver
    11. Silent in front of his accusers
    12. Crucifixion
    13. Vinegar to quench his thirst
    14. Burried among the dead
    15. Resurrection
    16. Assention
  2. Report on each of the references which are made about the old testament in the Gospel (Deep Dive):
    1. Why are they significant?
    2. Why did the author make these particular references
    3. What nuance of understanding do these references add to the New Testament text?
    4. Who was the original author of these references in the Old Testament
    5. Describe these Old Testament references and their context in the Old Testament book they occur in.
  3. 10 minute presentation

Due Date

 

Goal 4 - Application & Meditation

Now that we have acquired an understanding of the Gospels, what do they mean to us as servants?

Jesus Christ is the highest reference in humility and service. As God himself there is no greater humility than to leave his glory and be one of us, carry our sins and die on the cross on our behalf.

  1. Look at the life of Service of Jesus Christ and concentrate on two principles which you think would be most beneficial to your service
    1. explain how Jesus Christ displayed these principles in his life.
    2. Why do you think these principles are important in the service?
    3. How do you see yourself applying these principles in the service?

Deliverable

  1. Report outlining the details of the Goal
  2. 10 minute presentation.

Due Date

 

Structure

  1. Four Groups
  2. All groups will do a Chronological ordering of the events
  3. Each group will take 1 Gospel and do Goals 2-4 on them
  4. Each group will submit each goal's deliverable on the due date indicated