Luke 1:1 – 8:56

Questions

2009

The Gospel of Luke is the third of the Synoptic Gospels, synoptic meaning “to see together” or “to share a common point of view.”  That is why we see so many similarities in these three Gospels.  It is believed that the Gospel of Mark was written first and then Matthew and Luke used this as a source, or base, from which to write their Gospels.  Each has a different perspective and is written to a different audience.  Mark targeted a Roman Gentile audience.  He described Jesus as the Servant who came to suffer for the sins of many.  Matthew wrote primarily to a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s long awaited Messiah and rightful King.  His genealogy, unlike Luke’s, focuses on Jesus’ royal descent from Israel’s greatest king, David.  Luke addressed a broader Gentile audience.  He portrays Jesus as the Son of Man, the answer to the needs and hopes of the human race, who came to seek and save lost sinners.

Luke helps us see these hopes and needs met as we see Christ portrayed as the Great Physician, ministering to the pariahs of society – tax collectors, Samaritans, Gentiles and sinners as well as you and me.  Unlike a Jewish writer, Luke the Gentile gives women a central role in the life and ministry of Jesus; from the extended stories of Elizabeth and Mary, all the way from the Cross-,  to the Resurrection. 

We see at the heart of His Gospel, Jesus’ relentless progression toward the cross, the very purpose for which Christ had come to the earth, He would not be stopped.  The saving of sinners was His whole mission.

Chapter 1

1. Immediately we are blessed with the Good News of the Gospel.  Name several things that strike you as important.  (A) Vs. 3 –“What God has done in fulfillment of His promises.” – We see the OT _________ fulfilled by          Himself – He not only prophesied these events, He fulfilled them.  We can           Him!  He says that he writes to “reassure you of the          of all you were taught (v.4).”  He is writing after researching deeply and talking to the disciples and other eyewitnesses to let us know that the _________is ______!
2. What does v.6 say about Zechariah and Elizabeth?  (A) They were both ________ in God’s eyes, “careful to obey __ of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.”  Some think that only ____ ________ believers can be righteous and this only thru Christ Jesus.  Apparently, these two were especially blessed and empowered by the ________ _________to live truly righteous lives.
3. Elizabeth was barren and by now, old.  How must that have affected her and her husband’s righteous living?  (A) Barrenness was seen as a sign of _____ disfavor and she felt an _________.  How hard to live the righteous life when people point their fingers at you and believe that God does not love you!  Have you ever felt that way?
4. What do vs.13-17 say to you about God?  (A) God has a perfect ______ with Zac  and Liz a part of it.  He hears their ______, answers and blesses them with child.  Not just any child, but one filled with the _____ _____, even in His mother’s womb.  His ministry will turn many _________ to the Lord and He will fulfill the prophecy Of Mal. 4:5,6 and come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah, to usher in the Day of the Lord.  It shows us emphatically that God is Sovereign!
5. A prominent religion here in AZ claims that God the Father had physical sex with Mary to conceive Jesus.  What does Scripture tell us?  (A) V. 35 – the ____ _______(not a physical being), would come upon Mary and the ______ of the ______ _________ would overshadow her.
6. Zac. Prophesies after being filled with the Holy Spirit.  What is significant about how He sees things?  (A) In vs. 68-69, He talks about God’s blessing of Israel, that He ____ ______ and ________ His people.  Notice this is past tense.  He sees God’s yet future and promised Messiah as _________ having done the work of salvation because of the promises given him.  We know he is not speaking of John, because in v. 69 he says that this “Horn of Salvation” would be from the house of David – only the ________ could fulfill this role.

Chapter 2 - Christ Is Born.

Mary and Joseph are on their way to Jerusalem in order to register for the census demanded by the Romans.  Mary is pregnant and they travel to Bethlehem, the ancestral city of Joseph’s lineage thru David.  Mary has her firstborn son (other sons and daughters are to follow), but this one is set apart.  An angel appears to shepherds in the fields declaring that a baby is born in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord (v.2: 11).  The heavenly host of angels singing “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men (v.14).

1.     What three titles were given to Jesus in v. 11?  Their meaning?  (A)  _____ – Only _____ can save from sin, it is expressed in His name, Jesus, Jehovah is ________; the _______ – the word is _____, or Christos in Greek, meaning the _______one, the One the Jews had waited for so long; the Lord – the word means master and is used to translate the _______ name of God, which in Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the _____of hosts,” Lord being translated into Hebrew as _______, eternal God and God of the Old, and now the New, Testament!

2.     The word “peace” in the angels’ declaration – is he calling for world peace as every Miss America contestant has called for?  What is the peace he is declaring?  (A) This is not a universal declaration of peace toward all humanity (this will not happen until the _________ Reign of Christ), rather it speaks of the peace found only in _________ through Jesus.  Romans 5:1, “therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God…” peace being the first great _______ of Justification – the sinner’s _____ with God is over!

3.     What strikes you the most when you read Simeon’s Psalm in vs. 25-35?  (A) He was one of the few in all of Israel to understand that the time of ________ was at hand.  He was ________ with the Spirit (v.25), had prophecy ________ to him through the Spirit (v.26), ____ to the Temple by the Spirit (v.27), understood that this was the Messiah (vs.30) – “For my eyes have seen your Salvation (the One who would _________ His people from their sins).”

Chapter 3 – John the Baptist Prepares The Way

The entire chapter relates to baptism, a fitting subject for John.

V.9 – “Even now the axe of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots.  Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” 

1.     Who is John addressing?  Does it apply to you?  (A) He is addressing the _________ ____, especially the Pharisees.  Taking the axe to the roots means that ____ gets to the root of things and is not impressed with simply ______ oneself a religious person, especially when such profession does not produce _____.  While addressing the Jews, many today think of themselves as a “good person” or profess to attend church, etc.  – it is not good enough! 

2.     John said that the Messiah would come baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire (3:16).  What is the difference between the two?  (A) Jesus’ would baptize ________ with the Holy Spirit, and this began at Pentecost.  Today, the moment a sinner trusts Christ, he or she is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ.  The baptism of fire is not the “tongues of fire” at Pentecost – it speaks of the __________ every _________ will experience in the Lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).

Chapter 4 – The Temptation of Jesus

1.     Why was Jesus tempted if He was The Son of God? (A) Satan tempts Him by saying, “If you are the Son of God”(v.3) meaning “In view of the fact that you are…” Even Satan knows that He is God.  As God’s Son, Jesus did only what was _________ by the Father.  Satan was trying to _______ Jesus from the Father just as he separated Adam and Eve from God in the garden.

2.     What spiritual resources did Jesus use to face and to overcome Satan?  (A)  _____ (3:21), the Father’s _____ (3:22), the power of the _____ (4:1), and the _____ of God (“__ ________ _______”).

3.     We hear it all the time; “The church is full of hypocrites, so why should I go?”  What do you see in the actions of Jesus to combat this (v.15)?   (A) Jesus made it a ____ to go the local synagogue, even though the “religious system” was _____.  It is not about what others do – it is about how you _________ to your call.

4.     Why were the people in the synagogue that day furious?  (A) Reading from Isaiah’s prophecy, it was clear that He was declaring Himself the ______ (vs. 18-19).  When He spoke of Elijah’s ministry to the widows of Zarepath and Naaman, He was excluding the _____ from God’s favor.  These two were _________.

Chapter 5 – The Difference Jesus Makes

Jesus calls His first disciples – they already were influenced by Jesus and followed Him in Capernaum and Galilee, but not full time.  They had returned to their fishing trade and by morning, had caught no fish.  Because of the large crowd gathered at the seashore, Jesus jumps in Simon’s boat and preaches from there.  Soon He directs Simon to put out into the deep and to let down their nets.  This made no sense to Simon – they fished all night in the shallows and caught nothing – by now the fish were in the deep and too deep for net fishing.  Simon says, “…but if you say so, we’ll try again.” 

1.     What does this say about Simon Peter?  How might you have responded?  (A) Simon had seen great miracles take place; only they had not yet ________ him personally.  Yet, he had faith in the ______ of God enough to _______ and to ________.

2.     Simon, Andrew, James and John responded to the Lord’s call by following Him –“they left everything and followed Jesus (v.11).  How does your call to leave your nets behind and follow Jesus (to catch people) sound to you?  How would you describe your willingness to be a disciple?  What would it mean you to be “catching people?”  ____________________________________________________________.

3.     Jesus heals the sick – He healed a leper by responding to the man’s plea, “Lord, if you are want to…(v.12), and by touching him.  Afterwards He went out into the wilderness and prayed.  Even Jesus needed to recharge His batteries and did so through prayer.  What do you do to “charge your batteries?”  ____________________________________________________________________.

4.     Later, Jesus encounters a huge crowd and within the crowd are men who bring their paralyzed friend to be healed (vs.18-20).  They are examples of how friends ought to minister to one another and help needy sinners to come to the Savior.  How did they help their friend?  (A) They had _____ that Jesus would heal him (v.20) and God honors that kind of faith.  They were ______ in their efforts so that nothing _________ them, not even the crowd.  They were __________ and when they could not get in the traditional way, they tried the untraditional, radical way and succeeded!  Have you ever been that kind of friend and loved unconditionally?

5.     How did Jesus react to all of this show of support and effort?  (A) “Seeing ______ _____, Jesus said to the man, son, your sins are forgiven (V.20).  Jesus responded to the faith of the man and his friends, forgave the man his sins and then healed him.

Chapter 6 – The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

This Jesus, the Son of Man (His favorite title for Himself here on earth) also calls Himself the Lord of the Sabbath.

1.     In what way is He Lord of the Sabbath?  (A) Jesus, in defiance to the Jewish leaders, chose to do much of His work on the Sabbath day.  He is the Lord of the Sabbath because He gave the ____ in the first place, and no one was better qualified than He to _______ its true ________ meaning and to stop it from being misunderstood.

2.     POP QUIZ – Without looking at your Bible, name the twelve apostles and name the order in which they were called.  Just kidding (but it would be good to know!)

3.     Jesus gives the twelve a sermon we call The Beatitudes consisting of four blessings and four warnings (or woes).  He does so to emphasize what being a part of His kingdom must be like. Examine the first four principles.  (A) “Blessed are you who are ____” – those who purposely ______ to be poor in order to share their Savior with others.  Poverty in itself is not a blessing, but self-imposed poverty for His sake is.  “Blessed are you who ________” – again, this does not refer to those millions who are starving from malnutrition, rather it refers to those disciples who deliberately adopt a life of ____-______.  “blessed are you who _____” – Sorrow in itself is not a blessing, rather Jesus is speaking about tears that are shed for ___ _____.  Tears for the lost, tears for those who will die not knowing Him, tears for a religious system that is impotent and self-serving.  “Blessed are you who are _______, excluded, mocked and cursed because you are identified with the Son of Man” – not for those who suffer because of their own sins, but for those despised, shunned, and slandered because of their ________ to Christ. 

4.     In contrast, examine the four warnings.  (A) “Sorrows for those who are ______” – woe to those who lay up treasures here on earth, who have wealth and who fail to use it for the ______ benefit of others.  “Sorrows to those who are ______ and prosperous now” – this flies in the face of the current “prosperity teachers,” those who go for all the gusto now, those who make life “All about me.  It is yours, just name it and claim it!”  Their reward will be now and later, when rewards are handed out in eternity future for faithful, sacrificial discipleship, theirs will be missing.  “Sorrow to those who laugh carelessly” – to those who live a life dedicated to “having a good time” and are oblivious to the desperate condition of men outside of Christ.  Later they will weep over missed opportunities and self-indulgence.  “Sorrows for those who are praised by the crowds” – sorrow for those who live life for man’s praise because the very nature of the gospel actually offends the ungodly.  They want no part of this sacrificial lifestyle Christians are called to and mock those who commit their lives to Christ.  It is not about you, but all about Christ!!!

In Vs. 46-49, Jesus teaches what it is like when someone comes to Him, listens to His teaching, and obeys Him.  Explain it in your own words so that even an unbeliever can understand it.  ____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________.

Chapter 7 – The Son of Man Expands His Ministry

1. Jesus leaves the crowds and goes to His adopted “home” city, Capernaum.  The elders of the Jews asking for help for a Gentile Centurion’s servant confront him.  In light of the Beatitudes, what stands out for you in this matter?  (A) This Roman officer perfectly portrays that which the Beatitudes call all to _______.  He highly ______ his servant, he was _____ to those not of his own religious persuasion and ______ them, he built a synagogue for the Jews; he _____ that Jesus could heal and showed great respect for Him.
2. It is amazing to watch Jesus in action!  He practices what He preaches.  In v.13, can you see anything that would support this claim?  (A) When Jesus saw the widow’s sorrow, His heart ________ with great ________ for her.  In spite of the crowds, He took the _____ to ________ someone in great need and did something about it.  It says that He touched the coffin, thereby defiling Himself according to the law.  He cared so much that He put the ______ of the mother over His own.
3. In contrast, vs.44-47 shows us a different attitude towards what Jesus taught.  In the home of a certain Pharisee named Simon, Jesus taught Simon a lesson on forgiveness. Compare the woman who worshipped Jesus and the actions of the Pharisee.  (A) From the time He entered the house, the woman had lavished affection on Jesus, washing His feet with her ____ and wiping them with her ___, and ________ His head with oil.  On the other hand, Simon offered not even the requisite courtesies to Jesus – washing his dusty feet, offering him a welcome kiss, and anointing him with oil.  Because of her sacrificial service and obvious ________, her sins were forgiven her.  On the other hand, Simon’s sins were not forgiven.  His actions showed that he never acknowledged his _____ and sin.  We saw a great miracle in the healing of the centurion’s servant, a greater miracle in raising the widow’s son from the dead, but the greatest miracle was Jesus saving this woman from her sins and making her a new person!  This miracle met the greatest need, brought the greatest results (that last forever) and cost the greatest price.

Chapter 8 – Lessons about Faith

One of the major themes of Luke is about how to get faith and use it in the every day experiences of life.  Jesus taught that faith comes from receiving the Word of God into an understanding heart.  It is not a question about whether or not we have faith, we all do, but it is a question of what the object of our faith is.  Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from listening to this message about the good news – the Good News about Jesus Christ.”

1.     In the parable of the Sower in 8:4-15, what do the Sower, the seed and each type of soil represent?  (A) Initially, the Sower is ____, but it represents all who share the _____ with others.  The seed is the _____ of God, for, like seed, the Word has life and power and produces spiritual fruit.  When a person hears and understands the Word, then the seed is planted in the heart.  What happens then depends on the nature of the soil (the human _______).

q      The hard soil (the footpath) – one who _____ the Word and immediately allows the devil to snatch the seed away.

q      The shallow soil – the emotional hearer who _____ _______, but the interest wanes and he does not continue.

q      The crowded soil (fell among thorns) – the person who does not truly ______ and weed out the things that hinder the harvest.  He is close to salvation, but the things of the world distract and eventually ______ out that which matters most.

q      The good soil (fertile soil) – One who hears the Word, understands it, receives it within, is truly saved, and proves it by patiently producing ______.

*In all four circumstances, the problem is not with the Sower or with the seed.  The problem is with the soil.  The human heart will not submit to God, repent and receive the Word, and be saved.  Without God’s direct intercession, it never would.  Verse 39 reads “…all the wonderful things God has done for you.”

2.     What great truth is revealed in vs. 17-18?  (A) All truth will be ________ in the ________ and rewards or punishment doled out accordingly.  One’s ________to the light (the Gospel of Truth) in this life is crucial, because at the throne of judgment there will be no opportunity to embrace truth that was once _______ (Rev. 20:11-15).

3.     We learn many lessons from the story of the woman tormented by bleeding for twelve years.  Faith is the overriding lesson here.  But why did Jesus ask her to give witness publicly?  Verse 44 tells us plainly that as soon as she touched the tassels on His robe, the bleeding immediately stopped.  (A) The public ___________ was for her sake.  Jesus could have kept on walking, not taking the time to speak to her, but He chose to ________ her before the crowd.  It was an opportunity for her to ______ Christ and ________ God.  If she would have crept away the same way she approached, she would have not met Jesus personally or heard His words of _______ and comfort (8:48).  Perhaps the healing was to encourage Jairus.  The same Jesus who healed this woman might help heal his daughter.  The lesson is that you can be a part of the crowd and never get any blessing from being near Jesus.  It is one thing to “_____ _____” and another thing to “_____ ____” by faith.  Our faith may be small as hers was, but even a touch will do!