Bible Studies SYLLABUS 2016 LUKE’S GOSPEL Chapters 1–12
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Having completed our review of the books of the Captivity, we return in 2016, God willing, to the gospel writings and Luke’s fast-moving narrative. Here we are taken from the appearances of Gabriel and the incarnation in Bethlehem, to the synagogues and seashore of Galilee, as Luke arranges for us the history of ‘all that Jesus began to do and teach’ (Acts 1:1 ESV). Here we discover the person and work of God revealed in His Son as He travels to the cross, being received and rejected on the way. ‘No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him’ (10:22). It is our prayer that through our study of the gospel according to Luke, the Son shall choose to reveal to us His Father, whom He so glorified on earth. As in previous years, we ask contributors to select and explore only two or three of the topics suggested, to minimise overlap between contributions. We welcome too, of course, thoughts on other points in the portion for the month not raised by the syllabus questions. To leaders of assembly study using the syllabus we commend a short presentation from time to time giving brief overview of themes such as Luke’s probable Gentile background, interest in character, women and their importance to the Lord, the detail of illnesses and their healing. We expect contributors will also wish to remark on these distinctive features of such a gifted author. Please take advantage of our ‘Question & Answer’ service, and feel free to follow up a debatable point via our ‘Mail-box’ section. ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it’ (Luke 10:23-24).
January ‘What then will this child be?’ (Luke 1) • God’s choice of a barren woman, and a virgin, to bear His sent ones. • What insight is given into the characters of Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary? • What was the purpose of John’s ministry, and why were restrictions placed on the manner of his life (vv.13-17,76-77)? • If Luke’s record was based only on the eyewitness of others, how can it be relied upon to provide such certainty (vv.1-4)? February ‘A Saviour who is Christ the Lord’ (Luke 2) • The importance of Bethlehem. Why did God cause Mary to come here? • What elements of the law were fulfilled when Joseph and Mary came to Jerusalem (vv.22-24,27,39)? Why is the fulfilment emphasised (cf. 5:14)? • Why did Simeon address his words in verses 34-35 to Mary alone? • What was behind the Lord’s response to Joseph and Mary in verse 49? March ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ (Luke 3) • The political background to the commencement of the Lord’s ministry (vv.1-2). • Why did John condemn those who came to be baptised by him (vv.7-9)? • Were those who received John’s baptism saved as a result (cp. Acts 19:1-7)? • Why did the Lord need to be baptised with a baptism for repentance? • The Lord’s birth being miraculous, why was His earthly genealogy important; and why include it here, rather than in the description of His birth? April • • • • •
‘He has anointed me … He has sent me’ (Luke 4) The work of the Spirit in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus, as seen in the Gospels. Deceptions employed by the Enemy, and how the righteous can resist them Why did the Lord choose to read from Isaiah 61 in Nazareth’s synagogue? What ignited the anger of the people of Nazareth (v.28)? Why was their reaction worthy of note as different from those in other places (vv.15,32,44)? Luke’s emphasis on the miracles of the Lord before expounding His teaching
May ‘The Son of Man has authority’ (Luke 5 – 6:19) • The importance of solitude in sustaining the Lord’s ministry (5:16; 6:12; 9:18, etc) • Why did the disciples of John and of Jesus adopt different modes of living (v.33)? How does the parable of the garment and the wineskins help explain this? • Explain the title ‘Son of Man’ (5:24; 6:5). Is it a lowly title? • Explain the Lord’s attitude towards the Sabbath. June ‘You will be sons of the Most High’ (Luke 6:20 – 7:17) • Luke only now begins to set out the Lord’s teaching. Why is his account of the beatitudes and woes so different from Matthew’s? • Vv.27-36: outward behaviour towards others. What profit is in this behaviour? • Vv. 37-45: our inner selves. How are we equipped to assess our inner condition to ensure we don’t fall into the traps described? • How did the centurion demonstrate his faith?
July • • • • •
‘Take care then how you hear’ (Luke 7:18 – 8:21) 7:20; 8:19-21 What were the origins of these doubts towards the Lord? Explain the meaning of Luke 7:28. On what basis was the Lord willing and able to forgive the sins of the woman at the Pharisee’s house (cf. 5:24)? Was the purpose of parables to conceal meaning (8:10)? Explain the principle of 8:18. How does this apply to us?
August ‘Who do you say that I am?’ (Luke 8:22 – 9:27; 10:1-16) • Compare the four miracles in 8:22-56. What do they tell us about God’s nature and ours, how we approach Him in need and how He responds? • Cp. 8:39 and 8:56. If the purpose of miracles is to confirm ‘such a great salvation’ (Heb. 2:3-4), why did the Lord want some miracles to remain unknown? • To what extent do 9:1-6,10 and 10:3-12 provide a model for our own work in taking the gospel to the world? • What is involved in taking up our cross daily (9:23)? October ‘My Son, my Chosen One’ (Luke 9:28-62; 10:17-42) • What was the purpose of the transfiguration? What did it mean to Peter for the rest of his life (2 Pet. 1:16-21)? • Given 9:1, what prevented the disciples from healing the boy (9:40)? • Consider the cost of following Jesus (9:57-62). • How does the example of the Samaritan teach us to love our neighbour today? • How do we balance the needs for listening and serving (10:38-42)? November ‘Something greater than Solomon is here’ (Luke 11) • Extract the principles of prayer from the model taught by the Lord. • What relationship is there between persistence and effective prayer? • Reconcile 9:50 and 11:23. • Why would the blood of the prophets be required of the generation of that day? December ‘You also must be ready’ (Luke 12) • When will 12:8-9 take place? Would the Lord deny one who has been saved? • How should we guard against both the complacency of the rich man (v.19) and the anxiety of the poor (v.22)? • What kingdom was being promised to the disciples in verse 32? How was it to change their assessment of the present? • What did the Lord mean in saying He had come to bring division (cp. Eph. 2:17)?
NOTES 1. Paper-writers, please note that a shorter article focused on one or up to three subtopics is most helpful. Articles covering all the passages for the month may have sections removed by editors, so as to make the magazine a more efficient tool for those who consult it. 2. Papers should not exceed 500 words. 3. Papers should be typed in the current Bible Studies format, i.e. beginning with From Ourtown: and on one side of A4 paper. Scripture references added in curved brackets should be written with the book titles abbreviated, a colon between chapter and verse(s), and a hyphen to indicate consecutive verses or a passage: e.g., Romans chapter 9, verses 14, 15 and 19 to 23 would be typed (Rom. 9:14-15,19-23). Where it is possible, we prefer contributions to be sent by e-mail. Attachments in Microsoft Word.docx format are preferred, but most formats can be read. 4. Editorial practice is to use the names of Biblical books in full when they form part of a sentence, but when given as a reference to use the Revised Version abbreviations. References to other works should include at least the title and the author, with preferably the publisher, place and date, with page number. 5. Contributors are asked to indicate the version of Scripture they are using; this greatly eases the task of checking quotations. 6. Papers on the monthly subject should be sent to: P. Whitehouse, 1 Orchid Drive, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8UU, e-mail pbwhitehouse@btinternet.com , and should reach him NOT LATER than the 28th day of the third month prior to the date of publication; i.e. January’s paper should arrive by October 28th. 7. Special articles of a study nature will be welcomed. These and other correspondence should be sent to: M. Archibald, 49 Kinpurnie Road, Oldhall, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA1 3HG e-mail m-archibald@talktalk.net
Editors: M. Archibald, R.B. Fullarton, J.T. Needham, P.H. Doel