Gospels Week 3 - Luke
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Announce Missions stuff. Pray
Announce Missions stuff. Pray
john Stewart
talbot family with loss of their son.
funeral Friday 2pm here
visitation thursday 6-8
Donna Rudd - I serve with Africa’s Hope, and specifically Pan Africa Theological Seminary (PAThS), both of which are under the umbrella of Assemblies of God World Missions. We train leaders, pastors and educators on all levels off education. I work primarily with PAThS, (the doctoral program, and I work with the students to facilitate their enrollment and progression through the program. When they graduate, they will be the ones who lead the churches and help maintain sound doctrine in the thriving, growing African Church.
Please pray for our PAThS team for strength and wisdom as the program grows. Pray for our students, who often juggle mountainous ministry duties and financial challenges at the same time they are studying in a very rigorous program. Pray for their families and their health.
Please pray for me, for wisdom and strength, and for family members of mine who are struggling with significant health issues.
Kovachs - The church can pray for wisdom as we assisting Global University’s India College of Ministry during their time of rapid growth. In addition, we are working with the Central Asia Theological Institute with their vision to train pastors and leaders to reach the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and a persecuted people group seeking refuge from a large communist nation to the east of the region. Tentatively, I will be traveling there in March, and will be needing God’s anointing and protection as I go.
The Gospel of Luke - Jesus is the Perfect Man
The Gospel of Luke - Jesus is the Perfect Man
Gospel Means – “Good News”
This begs the Question – Good News about what?
Remember – In the Old Testament the Jewish people are looking for a Messiah. Jesus is the answer to the hopes and longings of the Jewish people.
The Gospels Primarily answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”
There are Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The First 3 are very similar. They are referred to as “The synoptic gospels.”
"Synoptists," meaning "syn" = "together" and "opsis" = "a view" - therefore, Matthew, Mark and Luke are the Synoptists (giving a like view) while John relates the Divine aspects of Jesus' life.
The gospels are biographies about Jesus. Each of the four writers is trying to prove a point about who Jesus is.
ILLUSTRATION: If people were to write biographies about my life, one might write about my relationship with my wife. Another might write about my relationship with my parents. Another might focus more on what I do for a living. The writers would arrange their material in such a way that suits their purpose.
The writers all arranged their content in such a way that their points regarding Jesus would be apparent to their original audience.
Matthew portrays Jesus as King; Mark portrays Jesus as Servant, and Luke portrays Jesus as Son of man.
Matthew portrays Jesus as King; Mark portrays Jesus as Servant, and Luke portrays Jesus as Son of man.
Matthew writes to the Hebrew mind; Mark writes to the Roman mind while Luke writes to the Greek mind.
Matthew writes to the Hebrew mind; Mark writes to the Roman mind while Luke writes to the Greek mind.
Luke is the longest of the four gospels - It is also the longest book in the entire New Testament.
Who wrote Luke? Tradition tells us that Luke wrote Luke and Acts.
1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
How to Read the Bible Book by Book Orienting Data for Luke
according to very early tradition, Luke the physician and sometime companion of the apostle Paul (see Col 4:14), the only Gentile author in the Bible
It’s interesting that Luke, the only Gentile author in the Bible writes the majority of the New Testament! Word for word, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts account for more of the New Testament than even the letters of Paul.
Luke Traveled with Paul
Luke might have pastored the Church in Philippi
Luke was with Paul during his first Roman Imprisonment (Col 4:14; Phil 24)
Who was Luke Written To? (See Luke 1:1-4)
Theophilus is otherwise unknown; in keeping with such prefaces in Greco-Roman literature, he was probably the patron of Luke-Acts, thus underwriting its publication.
The implied readers are Gentile Christians, whose place in God’s story is ensured through the work of Jesus Christ and the Spirit.
Luke is written to establish Theophilus in the Christian Faith; To edify and instruct someone who was already saved, not primarily to evangelize the lost.
Of the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), Luke gives the greatest amount of information concerning its own beginnings and manner of production.
Luke’s Goals:
To put together a an account of what Jesus did “among us”
To write an orderly account
This does not mean the book is in chronological order
It does mean Luke had a plan and logic to how he wrote
He investigated things before writing his account so that he can give Theophilus a complete and accurate picture of the truth about Jesus.
He roots the events of Jesus’ life in History
No other writer gives such precise dating for his narrative as Luke
1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.
No other writer gives such a complete sketch of Jesus’ career from birth to ascension (The story begins 15 months before the birth of Jesus)
What did Luke Emphasize?
Luke Emphasizes that Jesus is The Son of Man
Luke Does emphasize Jesus is the son of God, but his primary objective is to show Jesus the perfect man
Angels acknowledge him (Luke 1:35)
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
Demons acknowledge Him (Luke 4:41)
41 Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.
God the Father Acknowledges Him (Luke 9:35)
35 Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”
Luke presents Jesus as a member of humanity who lived the perfect life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke Focuses on Jesus’ Humanity by including:
Genealogy from Joseph all the way back to Adam.
38 Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.
Jesus’ development as a human being.
Luke is where we get the most information concerning Jesus’ Birth
Shepherds, angels, etc. All in Luke’s Account
It’s the only gospel that gives us a story of Jesus as a boy. Luke 2:41-52
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
Notice, Luke tells us how Jesus is growing and developing.
Luke’s portrait of Jesus was ideally suited to the Greek mind. The Greek ideal was human excellence - The Perfect individual - In his gospel Luke shows that Jesus fulfilled this ideal in the highest sense.
Luke Emphasizes that Jesus is the Savior of All
Emphasis on Women - Luke mentions women 43 times. (Only mentioned in Matthew and Mark 49 times combined)
The Birth of Jesus is seen from Mary’s perspective.
Women supported the Apostles and Jesus Financially (Luke 8:1-3)
Presence of women at the cross (Luke 23:49)
Resurrection reports to women (Luke 24:1-12)
Children receive more prominence in Luke than is usual in writings from Ancient times
Jesus is pictured as the advocate of the poor and oppressed.
Seven or eight of Jesus parables in Luke are concerned with eh contrast of poverty and wealth, or stress economic need.
The Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43)
Friend at Midnight needing bread (Luke 11:5-8)
Rich Man (Luke 12:13-21)
Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
Unrighteous Steward (Luke 16:1-13)
Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
Widow and Unrighteous Judge (Luke 18:1-8)
ALL THESE PARABLES BELONG EXCLUSIVELY TO LUKE
Luke Emphasizes the Holy Spirit
There are more references to the Holy Spirit in Luke than in Matthew and Mark Combined.
All the main characters of the gospel were empowered by the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist
Mary
Elizabeth
Zacharias
Simeon
and Jesus!
Jesus:
Conceived by the Spirit - Luke 1:35
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
Baptized by the Spirit - Luke 3:22
22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
Tested by the Spirit - Luke 4:1
1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
Empowered by the Spirit - Luke 4:14-18
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
Cheered by the Spirit - Luke 10:21
21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
Expected his disciples to be empowered - Luke 24:49
49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Luke Emphasizes Prayer - 9 times Jesus prayed and 7 are unique to Luke!
Luke Emphasizes Salvation
The Parables of the Lost sheep, Lost coin, and Lost son (Luke 15) are all unique to Luke
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
What is Luke trying to get across?
What is Luke trying to get across?
Luke portrays Jesus as the perfect man, who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, comes to seek and save the lost and the broken.
Luke portrays Jesus as the perfect man, who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, comes to seek and save the lost and the broken.
What does this mean for us?
What does this mean for us?
Jesus shows us how to live empowered by the Spirit and Prayer
Some say “Jesus could do that because he was God” - But we forget, He was 100% God, but he was also 100% Human!
Jesus did not cheat and play the “God card” to get through life. He went through life as a human being empowered by the Spirit.
Jesus spent time in prayer. He was dependent upon the father.
Luke 3:21 - Jesus also baptized, and praying.
21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,
Luke 5:16 - He withdrew and prayed.
16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Luke 6:12 - He continued all night in prayer to God.
12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.
Luke 9:18 - As He was alone praying.
18 One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
Luke 9:29 - And as He prayed (transfiguration).
29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Luke 11:1 - As He was praying in a certain place.
1 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Luke 22:32 - I have prayed for thee - for Peter.
32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:44 - He prayed more earnestly
44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
Luke 23:34 - His first utterance on the Cross - a prayer.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Luke 23:46 - His last utterance on the Cross - a prayer.
46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
You and I must live lives of prayer, empowered by the Spirit!
The Church, just like Jesus is:
Conceived in the Spirit - The Day of Pentecost
Baptized in the Spirit
Tested by the Spirit
Empowered by the Spirit
Cheered or Encouraged by the Spirit
God is calling us to a place of deeper prayer!
He’s calling us to a place of deeper dependence upon the Holy Spirit
There are things God wants to accomplish that can only be accomplished as we Pray and depend on His spirit.
Tonight, can we spend some time in prayer and ask for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit on our lives and our church?