Luke: The Better Part (Chris)

Chapter 10 in Luke's Gospel contains two well-known passages: the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the story of Martha and Mary.  This week's lesson addresses fundamental questions of faith raised by these stories.  How can we overcome all of the difficulties, distractions, and dangers of earthly life to rest securely in the peace and blessing of God?  Is it enough to be a "nice person," or is there something even more basic and more important at the heart of discipleship in Christ?  There is "Good News" in this message.  God wants us to live unburdened and fulfilled, and Jesus teaches us how to do so.

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Luke: To Jerusalem (Chris)

Chapter 9 of Luke's Gospel is pivotal in the story of Jesus Christ and his earthly ministry.  The key verse (51) is: "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem."  This week, we will explore the transition towards the fulfillment of Jesus' purpose and the significance of this seemingly simple statement.  What did "Jerusalem" mean to Jesus and to his followers?  What should it mean to us?  What are our priorities as Disciples of Christ?  Where does this road of life we are traveling lead?  How are we called to follow our Lord and Savior now and in the days to come?

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Luke: Who do you say Jesus is? (Randy)

When John the Baptist was in prison facing certain death, he began to have doubts about Jesus. Was he really the Messiah?  If so, why wasn’t he doing anything to restore Israel?  Where was the promised judgement? And by the way, why hadn’t he gotten me out of jail yet?!  We share John’s doubts and ask similar questions, but Jesus wanted to John – and us – to know that God doesn’t operate the way we think.  Through Luke’s gospel (7:18-35), we will explore how Jesus answered John and use that example to understand who he really is.  We’ll conclude by asking ourselves the same question: Who do you say Jesus is?

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Luke: The Power of Christ (Chris)

Jesus performs many miracles in Luke's Gospel.  These are acts of compassion, but they are much more than good deeds.  Jesus demonstrates for his followers and for us the difference between God's power and worldly power and ultimately God's values versus worldly values.  The world breaks us down but God lifts us up.  The world is selfish but God is loving and kind.  The ways of the world lead inevitably to death but the ways of God in Christ lead to eternal life.  We will explore miracles this week and will celebrate the Good News they offer us as followers of Jesus.

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Luke: Hope for Healing (Randy)

We tend to have a somewhat transactional relationship with God, but Luke wants us to know that Jesus wants so much more from us.  He wants our heart.  While fear keeps us from Jesus, he wants us to approach him so he can help us.  In this lesson, we examine four stories from Luke 8:22-56 that show us how Jesus drives out our fears so he can give us peace, heal our bodies, and guarantee us everlasting life. 

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Luke: Following Christ (Chris)

 Jesus came to save and ultimately to rule the world.  He is the King of kings, yet he was born in poverty and obscurity.  He was empowered to overcome physical limits in service to God, yet he humbled himself by refusing supernatural powers when it came to his own comfort or prestige.  When he chose his friends and followers, he largely ignored the wealthy and powerful.  Instead he selected those who were on the margins of society but willing to be faithful.  This week's lesson focuses on that group of disciples.  We will explore Luke 5:1-11 and 27-32, Luke 6:12-16, Luke 7:1-10 and 18-23, Luke 8:1-3 and 19-21, and Luke 9:1-6.  The questions to explore are: why did Christ select these "ordinary" people, and how can we be like them in our own lives?

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Luke: Jesus's First Sermon (Randy)

I found this advertisement nailed to a tree just outside of Nazareth and thought you would like to see it:  “Did you hear the great news?  Jesus is coming to synagogue here in Nazareth tomorrow, and he is sure to speak!  He has been traveling around Galilee for a while now, and everyone is talking about his miraculous healings and other acts.  We hope you will come hear our hometown hero during service tomorrow.”  

Ok, maybe I made that up, but we can imagine something like this circulating through Nazareth when Jesus returned to his home in Luke 4.  He had just gotten baptized and faced the devil in the desert (Luke 3), and now he was home to share the goals of his ministry. Drawing on Luke’s narrative in Luke 3 and 4, we will examine what Jesus said and discover the true nature of his ministry on earth.

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