Dear Friends,

We are called to follow Jesus. We can follow if we learn about His life and tease out what applies to us. We must learn His values, practices, and commands and then let the Holy Spirit give us the desire and power to follow.

Starting Sunday, I will begin teaching through the book of Luke.

Luke wrote this gospel as the Holy Spirit led to be a historical Chronological recounting of Christ’s life. He did this for learners to read and follow. Luke’s Gospel is full of surprises. In fact, Luke recounts more surprising reversal than the other gospels combined.

As much as many churchgoers claim they believe the bible much of what is commonly accepted as Christian has nothing to do with the life and teaching, we find in the Gospel of Luke or any other bible passage.

Let’s make a commitment to change that. Let’s spend this next year looking, learning and living the life of Jesus we find in the bible. Let’s learn to sort out the corrupting falsehoods in our thinking that come from other places and begin with God’s help to live and look more like Christ.

I can’t wait to see you.

Joe

 

 

Preparing for Sunday-December 1, 2019 – HIS-story-Luke

Please read the following scripture from Luke’s gospel and answer the questions.

 

 

 

Luke 1:1-25  Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2)  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,3)  it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4)  so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. 5)  In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6)  They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7)  But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. 8)  Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10)  And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11)  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12)  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13)  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14)  “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15)  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16)  “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17)  “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18)  Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19)  The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20)  “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” 21)  The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22)  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23)  When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. 24)  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25)  “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

 

 

 

 

How much history have you read?

 

 

Why do people read biographies about famous or interesting people?

 

 

What do we hope to gain as we hear some one’s story?

 

 

Describe how a story changed you or made you think differently.

Luke 1:1-4  Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2)  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3)  it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;  4)  so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

 

 

Why is learning the life story of Christ essential to truly following Jesus?

1 John 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

 

 

How are the Gospel stories supposed to change us?

 

 

What kind of man was Zacharias?

Luke 1:6-13 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7)  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. 8)  Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9) according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10)  And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11)  And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12)  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13)  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

 

 

 

How does God see a baby’s birth in hard times differently than most people in hard times?

Luke 1:14-17 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15)  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16)  “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  17)  “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

 

 

What kind of person was Elizabeth?

Luke 1:24-25  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25)  “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

 

 

How where women treated in the time of Christ?