Bible Study / Luke 6

Get Started:

1. What did love feel like when you were a teenager? Is it different now?

Go Deeper:

2. Read Luke 6:1-5. In Luke 6:5, Jesus calls Himself Lord of the Sabbath. What do you think He meant by that?

• In the parallel passage in Matthew 12:1-14, He says that someone greater than the temple is here (referring to Himself)
• Jesus speaks about a passage in 1Samuel 21:1-6 when the priest in the temple gives David and his companions the bread that was meant only for priests. If the priest could give David the bread of the Presence, certainly the Christ could give His companions wheat on a Sabbath day.

3. In Luke 6:11, it says they discussed what they might do to Jesus. What, specifically, were they discussing? Was Jesus aware of their discussion? If so, what did He do about it?

• In the parallel passage from Matthew, it says they discussed how to kill Jesus. (Mt. 12:14)
• Matthew 12:15 says, “aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place”

4. In Luke 6:13, Jesus calls His disciples to Him and chooses 12 of them. He then calls them apostles. What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

• All apostles are disciples but not all disciples are apostles.
• From Strong’s Concordance, the Greek for disciple is - 3101. mathetes math-ay-tes' from 3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.
• From Strong’s Concordance, the Greek for apostle is - 652. apostolos ap-os'-tol-os from 649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

5. In Luke 6:27, who is Jesus speaking to? Read John 10:27 and 14:15. Should the love described in the following verses of Luke 6 be expected of non-believers? Why or why not?

6. In Luke 6:29, do you think Jesus is teaching against self-defense? Why or why not?

7. Read Luke 6:30. Does Jesus really want us to give to “everyone” and “anyone” anything they might ask?

8. In Luke 6:32-34, Jesus contrasts the type of love He is speaking about to the type of love found among “sinners.” Why is the love of a believer supposed to be different than that found in the world?

• The love of a believer is supposed to look like the love of God. Read Luke 6:35-36

9. Verse 35 talks about doing good and lending without expecting anything in return. Does that mean we should never lend money unless we’re planning to “write it off”?


Put it into practice:

1) Verse 36 gives promise of reward to those who obey Jesus’ command. It reminds us that God is kind to people whether or not they return the favor. Who is someone you need to show this type of kindness toward?


Quote Of The Week:
We all have some dying to do. Jesus showed us how it should be done.
--Stephen Neill

Bible Study / Luke 5

Luke 5

Get Started:

1. What’s your favorite fish to eat? To catch? Do you like lake, stream or ocean fishing?

Go Deeper:

2. In verse 5, Peter explains to Jesus why His suggestion wont work but then agrees to do it anyway. Have you ever been prompted by God’s Word to do something that didn’t make sense at the time? Share the event with your group.

3. Read about Peter’s reaction to the success of their fishing trip in verse 8. Why does Peter want Jesus to “go away”? What emotions do you think are being experienced by Peter? Is Peter afraid? If so, of what?

• Exodus 33:18-20 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." 19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

4. Compare Peter’s reaction in verse 8 to Isaiah 6:5. How is Isaiah’s reaction similar or dissimilar to Peter’s? Continue reading the verses that follow. What do you see happening in these verses that alleviates the tension we are reading about? What are the resulting responses?

5. In verse 10, Jesus tells Peter that he will now “catch men.” What does Jesus mean by this? What can be learned about "catching men" from what Peter just experienced?

6. As you read verses 8 and 10, why do you think Jesus chooses to use a “sinful man” in the endeavor of “catching men?”

7. “I’m a pretty good person” is a statement you will hear often when discussing with someone his/her need for a savior and how God has provided for that need. Do you think it’s important for a person to arrive at the conclusion that Peter did in verse 8? Why or why not?

Put it into practice:

1) Have you gone “fishing” lately? Pray to be used by God to “catch men.” Pray also for God to be preparing the people you come into contact with to hear the good news.

Quote Of The Week
Unless we change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.
--Chinese Proverb

Luke 3 Bible Study

Luke 3

Get Started:

1. What do the following songs all have in common? Error Of Our Ways, Just My Imagination, Can I Get A Witness, My Girl.

• All these songs are done by the Temptations.

Go Deeper:

2. Read Luke 3:21-22. Why was Jesus baptized? Is baptism commanded for Christians, or is it more of a suggestion or good idea? What Bible passages help answer these questions?

• Matthew 3:13-15
• Acts 2:38-39
• Matthew 28:19-20

3. What Bible passages describe the symbolism of baptism?

• Colossians 2:11-12
• Romans 6:3-4

4. After Jesus was baptized, He was led into the desert, “full of the Holy Spirit.” Who led Him into the desert? What does James 1:13 teach about temptation? Based on these two passages, what do you think it means in the Lord’s Prayer when it says, “lead us not into temptation?”

• Notice that the Spirit led Jesus in the desert but it is the devil that did the tempting.
• God does not tempt us but I think He does test us. These tests are not meant to tell God something about us that He doesn’t know, but to tell us something about God that we may not know.
• Based on these two passages, what do you think it means in the Lord’s Prayer when it says, “lead us not into temptation?” If I put it another way, I might say; “God, please don’t lead me into a time of testing, for I fear I may fail.”

5. Read Luke 4:6. Is what the devil says in that verse true? What Bible passages provide insight into this question?

• 1John 5:19
• John 12:31
• Ephesians 2:1-2

6. In Luke 4:12 it says not to put the Lord your God to the test. What is the difference between trusting and testing God?

7. When do you think the “opportune time” of verse 13 was?

• Matthew 16:23
• John 14:30
• Luke 22:3

8. Over and over, Jesus quotes the Bible in response to the temptations of the devil. In Luke 4:10, the devil quotes the Bible to Jesus. What Bible verse is being quoted by the devil? Is his quote accurate? Is his use of this verse acceptable? Why or why not?

• Scroll down to the next post for thoughts on this question.

9. If you know that you are particularly “at risk” for certain temptations, what kind of plan or strategy do you have in place to overcome them? Share some “overcoming” insights with your group.


Making The Connection:

1) If there’s ever a good time to be tempted by the devil, it’s when you are “full of the Holy Spirit.” Pray in community for a fresh filling of the Spirit.

Quote Of The Week
I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than any other man I know.
--D. L. Moody

Luke 4

Many theological, and even practical misunderstandings about the Bible and living the Christian life are the result of the misuse of Scripture. Often, this misuse is completely unintentional. One of the most common misuses of Scripture is using a passage or verse out of context.

A very good way to make sure you are not using Scripture out of context is this simple rule: Never Read A Bible Verse. In other words, never just read one verse without reading the verses that precede and follow it. The surrounding verses and paragraphs will help you understand the context. Knowing the contextual setting for a verse will help you understand the meaning more clearly and allow you to make a more Biblical interpretation. With the right interpretation, you are now ready to apply this truth to your life.

In Luke 4:10, the devil is quoting Psalm 91:11-12. If he would have read just one more verse, he would have been talking about his own destruction! As you can see, the intentional misuse of God's Word is one of the devil's favorite tools. He's been using it for quite some time. (See Genesis 3)

Bible Study - Book of Luke

Luke Study
Luke 3

Get Started:

1. Who was Luke? Was he one of the disciples? An apostle?


Go Deeper:

2. Read Luke 1:1-5 and 2:1-2 and 3:1-2. What is the significance of Luke's listing of these political and religious figures?

• Luke is often called a historian. Here, he seems to be fixing for the reader a precise date and chronology for the beginning of John’s ministry.
• I think this should tell us something about the care and accuracy that, for Luke, seem to be a priority in writing this Gospel.

3. Verse 4 quotes a prophecy from the Old Testament. In what way did John the Baptist “Prepare the way” for the Messiah? Does repentance prepare the way for salvation?

4. Verse 3 says that John preached a “baptism of repentance.” In what ways is that similar/different from Christian baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

5. Scripture teaches that anyone who believes in Christ needs to be baptized. If someone was baptized by John the Baptist, and then subsequently believed in Jesus, would he/she need to be baptized again? Why or why not? How does Acts 19 1-7, inform your answer?

6. Read Luke 3:7. What is John referring to with the term “the coming wrath?” Also read Luke 3:17. Are these two statements referring to the same thing?

7. In Luke 3:8, John talks about something to do and something not to do. In this verse, how do these two statements relate to one another? How does a person “produce fruit in keeping with repentance?” What point is John trying to make?

• Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.
• How does a person “produce fruit in keeping with repentance?” In verses 10-14, the people were asking the same question. John gave them some examples.

8. After reading Luke 3:7-17, what is your opinion of John’s evangelism technique? How is his technique different than yours? What would you have included/not included?

9. How does what is written in verses 3-6 connect with the central thrust of John’s message? Do you think John gave a complete Gospel presentation? Why or why not?


Thinking About The Implication:

1) In verses 10-14 the people were asking John, “What should we do?” In what way do you think John would answer that question for you if you could ask today? Pray about that.


Quote Of The Day
A salty pagan, full of the juices of life, is a hundred times dearer to God, and also far more attractive to men, than a scribe who knows his Bible….in whom none of this results in repentance, action, and above all, death of the self. A terrible curse hangs over the know-it-all who does nothing.
--Helmut Thielicke