“Luke / Acts Week 3 – Jan. 15-19”

Monday, January 15, 2024

Monday – Luke 3:1-20 John Prepares the Way
1. Luke gives us a vivid sense of John’s character through an OT quote and dialogue. Putting these together, how do you picture John and his preaching? If John were to come down the main street of your town with a megaphone, what would he be saying?
2. John details that repentance includes a change in attitudes and actions. Who responds to his message? What does John say the people should think and do? How would this prepare them for the Lord’s arrival?
3. John’s popularity led the crowds to think he was the Messiah. How does John compare himself and his work to Jesus and His ministry?

Tuesday – Luke 3:21-22; Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:29-34 John Baptizes Jesus
1. Being sinless, Jesus does not need to repent of anything (1 Pet 2:22). So, why does He submit to John’s baptism (see: Mat 3:14-15; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 2:17)?
2. How do you think it impacts Jesus to witness the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descending, and hearing the voice from Heaven? What do these do for John (see: Jhn 1:31-34)?
3. As with His baptism, many key events in Jesus’ life are accompanied with prayer (ref. 6:12; 9:18, 29; 11:1; 22:41). Do you think to pray like this? Why or why not?

Wednesday – Luke 3:23-38 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1. Only Luke gives us Jesus’ age when He starts His ministry. Thirty years old is significant in the accounts of Joseph (Gen 41:46) and David (2 Sam 5:4). It is also the age in which priests entered temple service (Num 4:3, 23). With these in mind, what might Luke be hinting at with mentioning Jesus’ age?
2. By reaching all the way back to “Adam, the Son of God,” Luke is not stressing Jesus’ ethnic heritage (as Matthew does, 1:1-17) but His humanness. Reflect on this: Jesus came to be one of us to redeem us (Php 2:3-11; Heb 2:17)! How does this deepen your appreciation for Him?
3. In Rom 5:15-19, Paul draws a contrast between Adam and Jesus. Chart the effects of Adam’s sin and Jesus’ righteousness. Why is Jesus’ effect “much more” than Adams?

Thursday – Luke 4:1-13 The Temptation of Jesus
1. Pulling the idea of Jesus descending from “Adam, the son of God” into the temptation scene, how does Jesus, the Son of God, resist Satan’s temptation where Adam (and Eve) failed (cf. Gen 3:1-24)?
2. In your own words, describe the nature of each temptation Jesus faces from Satan?
3. Hebrews 4:15 tells us Jesus “has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Think of your fiercest temptation, in what ways is it like the ones Jesus faced? How will you, like Jesus, resist Satan’s attacks? 

Friday – Luke 4:14-15 Jesus Begins His Ministry
1. It was the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness for temptation by Satan. Now, Jesus comes “in the power of the Spirit” to begin His ministry. Why do you think it was necessary for Jesus to be tempted before He starts teaching the people?
2. Luke simply says Jesus “taught in their synagogues,” while Mrk 1:15 gives us a synopsis of His message. To what degree, if any, is this message still relevant today? Explain.
3. While his miracles will bring notoriety, it’s Jesus’ teaching that first stirs the crowd. What is it about His teaching that causes people to glorify Him then and now?

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