Rabbi
Snapshots of the Savior
April 29, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
Today I want us to see Jesus the TEACHER…
- Yes came to save, but the quintessential teacher.
- He had 3 1/2 years to teach ALL the valuable information concerning life….

WHY was Jesus such a good teacher???
Mt 7:28 "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:"
Mt 13:54 "And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mt 22:22 "When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."
* People walked miles just to hear Jesus teach.
* People scaled mountains just to hear Jesus teach.
* People climbed on roof-tops just to hear Jesus teach.
* People went without food for long periods of time just to hear Jesus teach.
WHY?
1. Jesus dealt with people's FELT NEEDS.
- Read the gospels Jesus was all about IDENTIFICATION.
* The other religious leaders would NOT talk to the masses. (special venues & to elite)
Jesus walked among them (women at the well; Nicodemus @ night; the rich young ruler)
Whether they need healing, a word, a touch- he always started there!

Lk 4:18-19 Jesus 1st sermon
* I'm going to preach the GOSPEL= good news (preach= announce/ cry; gospel= evangelize)
* Jesus CONNECTED with people… sometimes he spoke to them, touched them, listened to them…

* Jesus was all about felt needs… He was all about IDENTIFYING with us…BUT He didn't stop there… He just didn't say, "Well I met there felt needs- so that is that."
- When Jesus dealt with felt needs he went to INNOVATION.
* Every time he met a felt need he would illustrate it with a parable, a word picture, an example that the audience could identify with.
* Something that the RECTACULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEM could identify with…
- "That's something valuable, I better pay attention to that…"
* Jesus was the Master Illustrator… Storyteller. (Mt- John stories & sermons)
(74% of us are VISUAL learners) Word pictures…
Example:
1. Piece of fruit with Adam & Eve
2. Salt with Lot
3. A ram with Abraham
4. A basket with Moses
5. Grapes with Samson
6. A sling with David
7. Ultimately a CROSS with Jesus… Innovation / creativity.
* The Trinity- all about creativity… God the Father/ Son/ Holy Spirit - (3 in 1… 1 in 3)
- The Father invented innovation
The Son modeled innovation
The Spirit empowers innovation…
* Jesus preached from boat bows, drew in the sand, picked up fish, pointed to a child, pointed to trees, talked about a sower, talked about a building falling down---

* CONTEMPORARY - CREATIVE, things that blew people away.
Mk 12:35-40

* Some might say that we are into entertainment… I laugh.
Remember scripture:
Mt 7:28 the crowds were astonished…"
Mt 13:54 "…they were astonished…"
Mt 22:22 "… they marveled…"
Sounds like they were "entertained".

Def. "Entertain"= "to hold the attention of…"
*** THAT"S my GOAL! - To entertain you- (by definition)
* Hopefully you will never be bored coming to this church- is you are blame the communicator not God.
* The church should be the most innovative. CREATIVE!
* Jesus was so creative:
1. Jesus said- one time (picture a camel… a needle… get into the kingdom of God)
The wealthy were self-reliant… do you have wealth or does wealth have you?
2. Said you could take a tree chop of the branches & put them in your eye, but you could see the little bit of saw dust in someone else's contact lens - great word picture.
- We just like to judge others- Jesus said you just take care of your own life.
3. If Jesus was here today 2007- would talk in modern terms…

* Jesus the Master communicator, illustrator…
1. He spoke Aramaic the street language, not classical Greek
2. His parables were well thought out they had meaning to them.
* That is why we have tried to be innovative…

* Our challenge is to take something (WOG) very deep, complex, & challenging & make it SIMPLE.
NOT SIMPLISTIC, but SIMPLE.

* Apostle Paul concerned about people making the WOG muddy, complex… 2 Cor. 11:3
* All of us should have two things when we listen to a message:
1. What do we need to KNOW…?
2. What do we need to DO!
* My goal is not just get you here, but what will change your life between services…
Not just INFORMATION, but APPLICATION so there is TRANSFORMATION!
69% of Christ's words were about APPLICATION.

* Where do we live out application- the venue of the local church?
- When gifted communicators give out the WOG- in any class supernatural stuff occurs.

Heb. 10:25
1. We should gather together corporately for teaching / feeding.
2. We should sit privately for feeding- at home (reading & studying the WOG)
3. We should have (soon) small group meetings - for relationships & biblical principles.

* After Jesus Sermon on the Mount- Jesus said…Mt. 7:25-27
- Are you JUST hearing?
Or are you building you life on the Rock?
* We have two options when it comes to Christ…
1. He was a fake, a fraud…
2. He was the Real thing- God in the flesh- the Sinless Son of God- the Savior of the world.

* The "good teacher" thing is an advertisement of someone's ignorance.
* Jesus said he was God!

* What is "He" in YOUR life?