Encounter Jesus – Luke 1

Overview & Birth Announcements

Luke 1

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

Luke Week 1 – Overview Handout

Lesson Notes

This fall we continue our study “Encounter Jesus” as we work through the Gospels. We are currently in Luke, having already finished looking at Matthew and Mark. If you missed the 2016-2017 part of the study, feel free to go back through the recordings here.

Goals & Objectives of Encounter Jesus

  • Ephesians 4: 11-15 – to KNOW Jesus, not just know about Him
    • Knowledge of the Son of God
    • To know the measure of the stature of Christ we need to see Him in action regularly – why the Gospels need to be a regular part of our Bible reading
  • To be a place for all level of Bible students to gather and study the Word
    • Always in context, always whole thoughts, try our best to explain first, then apply
    • Great place to invite friends, neighbors, etc who are interested in Jesus but nervous about a traditional Bible study (yes, you can listen online but you miss most of the question/answer time which can be very valuable as well)
      • I won’t ask any questions or put people on the spot
      • No mandatory homework – though I encourage reading between meetings
      • Ask questions – I’ll do my best to answer, the group often knows the answer, and if not I’ll bring an answer back next week
  • We will discuss Luke until Christmas
  • There is a lot of overlap between Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptics)
    • I’ve organized this program as a 2 year program and chose topics within each gospel to avoid repeating a passage or event
    • For Luke we’ll look at early life and ministry, then focus on a number of the unique parables found in Luke
    • Our study will highlight Luke’s big ideas and themes, so that as you read Luke in the future, you’ll be equipped to get more out of it

Overview of the Gospel According to Luke

  • Early, strong, unanimous, historical attribution to Luke, companion of Paul, whom Paul calls the physician
  • Gospel of Luke written as part of a two-volume set with Acts
    • Key themes carry through both
    • Prophecies found in the gospel are fulfilled in Acts
    • Meant to be read as one book
    • Luke-Acts is 25% of the New Testament
  • Purpose – Luke 1: 1-4
    • Organize existing written and oral eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus into an “orderly” account – that we may have certainty about what we’ve been taught
    • Orderly is not the same as Chronological
    • Luke often organizes by theme and geography over chronology
    • Orderly also in terms of critically evaluating sources and references
    • He works hard to put Luke-Acts into the Roman historical context
  • Outline
    • Births of John & Jesus (Luke 1-2)
    • Preparation for Ministry (Luke 3: 1 – 4: 13)
    • Jesus in Galilee (Luke 4: 14 – 9: 50)
    • Journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9: 51 – 19: 27)
    • Jerusalem – Death & Resurrection (Luke 19: 28 – 24)
  • Major Themes & Motifs
    • Like any great literature, each gospel highlights particular themes and motifs of Jesus, as God inspired the author
      • Knowing these themes help us read the gospels more effectively
      • Knowing the themes from the various gospels helps us develop a richer understanding of Jesus Christ
    • Salvation for All and Healing
      • Probably the major unifying theme for the whole book
      • Emphasis on outcasts, Samaritans, Gentiles, tax collectors, immoral women (13 women are mentioned who don’t appear in any other gospel), thieves
      • “The Lessers of Society” – the last become first, the first last
    • The Work of the Holy Spirit – 18 references in Luke, 57 in Acts
    • Prayer & Praise – We see many people praying and praising God extensively, including Jesus: Also teaching on prayer
    • Poverty & Wealth – Jesus talked about money a lot and its negative influence when we lust after it. Luke shares that extensively with us.
    • Kingdom of God
    • New Exodus prophesied by Isaiah
    • Sovereign Rule of God Over History

Jesus – The Beginning

  • Luke begins with two intertwined birth narratives – John the Baptist and Jesus
    • Scripturally they are a pair – bound together in Malachi; one to prepare the way for the other
    • This is exactly what Luke emphasizes by interweaving these two miraculous pregnancies
  • Gabriel Foretells the Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1: 5-25)
    • verse 5 – Note the attention to detail – chronology/historical context – typical of Luke
    • verse 7 – The Lessers – “the righteous lesser” because they were infertile
    • verse 9 – Sovereignty of God – chosen by lot
    • verse 10 – Praying – the multitude, then verse 13 – “Your prayer was answered”
    • verse 15 – Holy Spirit – John will be filled even in the womb (which we seen when Mary visits)
    • verse 25 – Reversal – Elizabeth’s shame taken away by God
  • Gabriel Foretells the Birth of Jesus (Luke 1: 26-38)
    • verse 31 – Salvation – Jesus = “The Lord Saves”
    • verse 35 – Holy Spirit
  • Mary & Elizabeth
    • verse 41 – Holy Spirit
    • Magnificat – Emphasizes Sovereignty of God and the Great Reversal