An “Essential Church”: Poised For Twenty-First Century Ministry

A Study Outline of the Gospel of Luke Chapters 1-12

Prepared by Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.

Overview: The Gospel of Luke was written to a man named Theophilus. It is believed that he was a high official in the Roman government. Luke wrote this Gospel to help the reader better understand the life and mission of Jesus Christ in the world. It is written primarily to those who were called Gentiles (all who were other than Jews). In contrast to the other Gospels, Luke gives special attention to Jesus at prayer (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 9:18; 9:29; 23:46; 22:32; 11:5-13; 18:1-8). This Gospel also gives special attention to women; the importance of praise, and the universality of God’s love for all human beings. Instruction: Read each chapter before going back to study!!

August 2010 - Luke Chapter 1:

I. First Week – The Foretelling of John’s birth – Luke 1:1-25

A. The power of an “upright life” before God. (1:6)

B. The pain of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s life (without child. (1:7)

C. Zechariah’s faithfulness in spite of his disappointment (1:8-10)

D. Doubting the truth of God’s promise. (1:18-22)

E. The joy of knowing that God keeps God’s promises. (1:23-25)

Question: How does the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth speak to you about faithfulness to God; persistent prayer, dealing with disappointments as a Christian, doubting God’s promise; marriage vows; and God’s grace?

2. Second Week – The Foretelling of Jesus’ Birth – Luke 1:26-38

A. What it means for the Lord to be with us. (1:26-28)

B. The meaning of finding “favor with God”. (1:29-33)

C. Struggling with God’s doing the unusual even though we are inadequate. (1:34-38)

D. Surrendering to God’s will. (1:38)

Question (s): Is God trying to get your attention for His service? What might we learn from Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, and the affirmation that “nothing is impossible with God”?

3. Third Week – Blessed to be a Blessing to the World – Luke 1:39-56

A. The sharing of our joy with others (Mary visits Elizabeth) – 1:39-45

B. To be chosen by God often means that we will bear both joy and sorrow as a result. Mary

became the mother of God’s Son who went on to suffer and diel

C. The revolutionary message of Mary’s hymn – Jesus would: 1) scatter the proud, 2) bring

down the mighty & exalt the humble; and 3) will fill those who are hungry; and send away

those who are rich.

Questions: 1) What does it mean to be blessed? 2)The Christian faith offers the church and world a revolution rather than a comfort seat at the table.3) How are we prone to water down the Gospel for our times?

4. Fourth Week – The Birth of John the Baptist and the power of a name – Luke 1:57-80

A. In ancient Palestine, the birth of a boy brought great joy in the home and town. (1:57-58)

B. What’s in a name? (1:59-66)

C. A Father’s vision of his son’s promise (1:67-80) The analogy of John’s role and

preparation for living the Christian life: 1) “Preparation” for the Christian life (v. 76); 2)

“Knowledge of salvation” (v. 77); 3) “Forgiveness” of our sins (v. 77b), and 4) walking in

the “paths of peace”. (v. 79b)

Question: John’s name means “Jehovah’s gift” or “God is gracious”. 1) What might John’s birth story teach us about naming and speaking promising words into our children’s lives? 2) What might children learn about God’s favor and promise in their lives from the birth stories of John the Baptist and Jesus?

September 2010 - Luke Chapter 2:

1. First Week – Joseph and Mary Journey to Bethlehem – Luke 2:1-7

A. The decree from Caesar Augustus – In that day, the Romans exempted Jews from military service. Thus, the purpose of the census was for taxation.

B. The censuses were taken every 14 years. For Joseph and Mary, the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was 80 miles. They had to carry their own food and hope for adequate lodging.

C. The time came for Mary to give birth and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, and laid him in a manger – a place where animals feed.

Question (s): 1) What are the implications of the symbolism of there being no room for Jesus in the inn in Bethlehem? 2) How might this reality continue to play out in our lives and churches even today (no room in the inn for Jesus)? 3) What are some of the ways Jesus gets shut out of our lives, homes, and churches?

2. Second Week – The Gospel comes by way of Shepherds and Angels – Luke 2:8-20

A. The Shepherds were faithfully keeping watch over their sheep. They were despised by many notable people because their job was dirty and thought to be unclean, and their flock made great demands upon their time. Some think that these were special shepherds who “were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen”.

B. The angel’s visit to those shepherds disturbed them. After the angels had departed, the shepherds decided to go and see this thing for themselves. (2:8-15)

C. When the shepherds had visited with the baby Jesus, they became instant witnesses. (2:17)

D. The crowd and Mary reveal the power of personal testimony. (2:18-19)

E. The shepherds returned home with praise and testimony. (2:20)

Question: A European monarch once said – “I cannot rule my people unless I know how they live.” 1) What does the birth of Jesus in a manger and the news coming to shepherds say to you about God’s coming to us in the places where we live? 2) What does this passage have to say about our identification with others in their particular settings and world? 3) If God could use smelly shepherds, what about us (me)?

3. Third Week – The Importance of Rituals and Hopeful Expectation – Luke 2:21-40

A. The circumcision of Jesus on the eighth day, and the time of purification were ways his parents acknowledged that He was a gift from God. (2:21-24)

B. When a dream comes true. Simeon had lived for this day. Simeon foretold something of Jesus’ promise: 1) cause many to fall, 2) Others would rise, and 3) He would face much opposition.(2:25-35)

C. Anna never ceased to hope, worship nor pray for the day when the Messiah would come (2:36-40)

Questions: 1) What lessons might we learn from the ceremonies Joseph and Mary went through with Jesus in terms of infant baptism in our church? 2) What might we learn from Simeon and Anna about how to keep our hopes alive and the power of hoping for the right things?

4. Fourth Week – The Boy Jesus at the Temple – Luke 2:41-52

A. It was mandatory that every Jewish boy who was twelve and over, who lived within 15 miles, had to attend the Passover. This was Jesus’ first Passover meal. (2:41-42)

B. Jesus remained behind after his parents returned. He was obviously intrigued by what he saw and heard. His parents finally discovered he was missing and returned finding him listening and asking questions. (2:44-50)

C. Jesus returned home with his parents and was obedient to them as he grew up. (2:51-52)

Questions: 1) What might CME’s learn about the importance of the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion from this passage? 2) How might we help our youth better appreciate Holy Communion? 3) What does Jesus remaining behind in the Temple tell us about the importance of teaching in the church? 4) What lessons might I as a young person learn from Jesus about the importance of obedience to parents and God?