HOME BIBLE STUDY GUIDE THE GOSPEL OF LUKE - BETHEL GOSPEL CHAPEL

BETHEL GOSPEL CHAPEL

HOME BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

For the next 19 weeks we will be studying the life and ministry of Jesus as it is

recorded in the Gospel of Luke. We will be doing a general survey of the book on

Wednesday evenings and on Sunday morning the ministry will highlight a specific

part of each chapter. By handling the material in this way it is hoped that any

difficulties which you encounter in your personal study will be resolved; that you will

gain in knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and, as individuals and as a

congregation, we will have a greater appreciation of what the Lord Jesus has done.

Webster¡¯s New Collegiate Dictionary defines "historian" as a writer of history,

especially one who produces a scholarly synthesis. Luke was such a person. He has

provided us with a record of all that Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1). Luke, who

was not an eye witness of the events, tells us that he had at his disposal accounts

written by others, and the testimonies of people who were eye witnesses and were

themselves servants of the Word. After careful research inspired by the Holy Spirit he

wrote this Gospel in which he records "the salvation which was first announced by the

Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him" Hebrews 2:3.

Luke is accurate in the information he gives. After doing research for many years in

the region where the events described by Luke (particularly in Acts) were enacted,

Ramsey states unambiguously that Luke¡¯s history is unsurpassed in respect of its

trustworthiness." Summing up he wrote: "Luke is an historian of first rank; not merely

are his statements of facts trustworthy, he is possessed of the true historic sense ... In

short, this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians." N.I.C.

on the Gospel of Luke, pp. 39-40 Harrison, in Acts, The Expanding Church, pp. 21 &

25, states that Luke is accurate in the information he gives. "Geographical notes are

accurate, as are the references to Roman officials, who are always called by the title

appropriate to their position. For Acts the confirmation of historicity is overwhelming."

Luke himself makes this claim for his record of the life of Jesus. He writes "so that you

may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1:4.

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In his essay Christian Apologetics, C.S. Lewis makes a point which we need to keep in

mind throughout these studies. He says that "the great difficulty is to get modern

audiences to realize that you are preaching Christianity solely and simply because you

happen to think it true. . This is the consistent argument of the New Testament. II

Peter 1:16 "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the

power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

After reading the assigned chapter(s) in Luke and before answering the study

questions, record your own observations in regard to the information in the chapter.

Also record any questions which this information raises in your mind. After answering

the study questions write down any unresolved problems which you have, so that

these may be discussed either in your group or by the speaker at the Family Bible

Hour. Your study leader will be responsible to see that problems are brought to the

attention of the speaker prior to Sunday morning.

Sources used in the preparation of these lessons:

Acts, The Expanding Church by Harrison, Moody Press, 1975.

The Life and Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson, Eerdmans, 1950.

New International Commentary of the New Testament, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, by

Geldenhuis, Eerdmans, 1979.

God in the Dock, Essays by C.S. Lewis, Eerdmans, 1970

Expositor¡¯s Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, by Liefeld, 1984

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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

STUDY 1

READ: Chapters 1 & 2

Observations:

Questions:

1. Where did Luke obtain the information which he presents to us, concerning the life and

ministry of Jesus; vs.1-4?

2. Who were Zechariah and Elizabeth; vs. 5-10?

3. List the promises made by Gabriel concerning John: vs. 11-17.

4. List the promises given to Mary concerning her Son, Jesus: vs. 26-33.

5. How is Elizabeth able to identify Mary as the mother of our Lord: vs. 39-45?

6. What do you learn about Mary and Zechariah from Mary¡¯s song; vs. 46-55 and Zechariah¡¯s

prophecy; vs. 67-79?

7. Why does Joseph take Mary, in the last days of her pregnancy, from Nazareth to

Bethlehem; Luke 2:1-7? (See a Bible Atlas for the location and distance between these two

towns.)

8. For what other reason does Joseph make this journey; vs.11-15? (See also Matthew 2:1-6)

9. What do you learn about the home in which Jesus grew up from vs. 21-24 and 41-42? (If

you are not familiar with the rites of circumcision, purification, consecration and the feast of

Passover, READ: Genesis 17:1-14, Exodus 13:1-2 (11-16), Leviticus 12:1-8 and Exodus 12:1-20.

10. Luke is the only writer to record anything about Jesus¡¯ childhood. What do you learn

about Him from vs. 43-52?

Problems:

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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

STUDY 2

READ: Chapters 3 & 4

Observations:

Questions:

1. What moves John to begin his prophetic ministry; v.2?

2. Read this passage, vs.4-6, in its original context in Isaiah 40:1-11. What is the good

news that John has for Zion?

3. Why did John¡¯s preaching consist primarily of a call for a baptism of repentance?

4. There is an appropriate action f or each group of people identified in vs.10-14. Are

there parallels to these that are appropriate today? List them.

5. Are actions such as John¡¯s rebuke to Herod (vs.19&20) appropriate today? Explain.

Regarding the differences between the genealogies recorded in Matthew and in Luke

3:23-38, they have been explained in part by one or more of the following

assumptions:

(1) Joseph¡¯s lineage is given in Matthew, Mary¡¯s in Luke;

(2) the legal line is traced in Matthew, the actual line of descent in Luke; and

(3) there was a levirate marriage at one or more points in the line. Expositor¡¯s Bible

Commentary, Vol. 8, p. 861.

The Bible study leader has a more detailed explanation to deal with this difficulty.

6. What do you think is the most significant factor in the temptation of Jesus; Luke

4:1-12?

7. Read the quotation from Isaiah, vs. 17-19, in its original context, Isaiah 61:1-3.

Suggest why Jesus stopped reading where He did.

8. Jesus¡¯ original reception was favourable. Why does it change to one of hostility; vs.

22-30?

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9. What characterizes Jesus¡¯ teaching and actions; vs. 31-37?

10. Come prepared to discuss driving out evil spirits why we have so many accounts

of Jesus and healing people.

Problems:

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

STUDY 3

READ: Luke Chapter 5

Observations:

Questions:

1. List the things which you learn about Jesus¡¯ first disciples from vs. 1-11.

2. Read John 1:35-42. What other information about these men do you learn from

these verses.

3. Explain in a short paragraph the process by which these men became the followers

(disciples) of Jesus.

4. What do you learn about Jesus from vs. 12-16?

5. How have the friends of the paralytic demonstrated their faith vs. 17-20?

6. Why do the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law take exception to what Jesus

says; vs. 20-21?

7. How does Jesus prove that he is more than an ordinary man; vs. 23-26?

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