Monday – Luke 4:16-30 Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
1. After making the point of Jesus ministering in Galilee (vv. 14-15), Luke now zooms in to look at His message in Nazareth. Summarize the message Jesus proclaims in His hometown.
2. After declaring the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2a in Himself, the Nazarenes’ question how Jesus can say this. Who do they think Jesus is? Why is their error crucial, considering the proclamation Jesus makes?
3. Observe the Nazarenes’ swift-changing attitudes toward Jesus, from praise at first, to fury when He mentions episodes from Elijah and Elisha. How do you account for the change? What impresses you most about the way Jesus passes through the midst of the violent crowd?

Tuesday – 1 Kings 17:8-24 The Widow of Zarephath
1. Mentioned by Jesus in Nazareth (Luk 4:25-26), trace the events that led to Elijah going to a Gentile widow of Zarephath, in the land of Sidon (ref. 1 Kgs 16:29-17:7).
2. On the brink of starvation, why do you think the widow honors Elijah’s requests? Identify any principles for living by faith in her actions?
3. How does Jesus use the experience of Elijah going to the gentile widow in Luke 4:24-26 to illustrate Jewish rejection and Gentile acceptance of Him and His gospel (cf. Acts 18:5-6; 28:23-28)?

Wednesday – 2 Kings 5:1-14 Naaman Healed of Leprosy
1. Mentioned by Jesus in Nazareth (Luk 4:27), trace the events that led to the Syrian general, Naaman, to Elisha and the one true God of Israel. (Note any evangelism principles you see in this episode.)
2. Why is Naaman reluctant to wash in the Jordan? How does his faithful obedience lead to his cleansing? In what ways do you see his washing in the Jordan prefiguring baptism for believers today (Tit 3:4-7)?
3. How does Jesus use the experience of the gentile Naaman coming to Elisha in Luke 4:35 to illustrate Jewish rejection and Gentile acceptance of Him and His gospel (cf. Acts 22:17-23)?

Thursday – Luke 4:31-37 Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon
1. Following His rejection in Nazareth, Jesus moves to Capernaum. Put yourself in the synagogue that day, describe the people as they listen to Jesus teach and witness Him cast out the demon.
2. In this scene, Luke emphasizes the authority of Jesus’ word. What makes His teaching authoritative? How does healing the man with an unclean demon further emphasize the authoritative power of His word?
3. Luke concludes this scene by stating, “reports about Him went out into every place.” Reflect on how the authoritatively, powerful word of Jesus is transforming your life. Who in your life needs to hear your report on the words of Jesus? Prayerfully make your plans to talk with them.

Friday – Luke 4:38-41 Jesus Heals Many
1. Leaving the synagogue, Jesus goes to Simon’s (Peter) house where his mother-in-law is sick. How do you imagine his tone and words as he appeals to Jesus to heal the sick woman? In what ways does knowing that the apostle Peter had familial concerns encourage you (wife, 1 Cor 9:5; son, 1 Pet 5:13)?
2. Write as many adjectives as you can think of, to describe Jesus repeatedly laying “His hands” on the sick. 
3. After the demons proclaim, “You are the Son of God!” (also: v. 34), Jesus would not allow them to speak. What might be some of the reasons Jesus silences the demons from further declarations (see also: vv. 34-35)?

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?

Monday – Luke 1:57-80 The Birth of John the Baptist / Zechariah’s Prophecy: The Benedictus
1. The focus of John’s birth narrative is on the neighbors and Zechariah. Three times, Luke describes people’s spontaneous reactions to John’s birth. What might Luke’s purpose be, in repeating this fact?
2. Zechariah’s nine months of silence (cf. Luk 1:18-20) reflects what is going on in Israel in his day. Many believed prophecy had been silent for four hundred years but now it was bursting out again. From his prophecy, summarize his praise  of God for Jesus (vv. 68-75, 78b-79) and John (vv. 76-77).
3. After a series of dramatic events surrounding John’s birth, Luke ends the episode by encapsulating John’s life in v. 80. What potential promises does this summary statement hold for Israel’s story?

Tuesday – Luke 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus Christ
1. Luke sets his narrative in the context of history (cf. Luk 1:5; 2:1-2; 3:1-2). How does God use Caesar’s census for His purposes (cf. Mat 2:1-6)? Many considered Augustus the Roman Empire’s Lord and Savior. What contrast, if any, do you think Luke is making between Augustus and Jesus? (cf. Luk 2:11)
2. Why do you think God allows His son to be born in the circumstances described in v. 7, rather than in a royal or at least a comfortable household? (consider: 2 Cor 8:9; Php 2:3-11)
3. Using the following verses, write the reasons why Jesus was born into the world: 1 Jhn 3:8 (cf. Gen 3:15); 1 Tim 1:15-17; Heb 10:1-10. Record any other passages you can think of.

Wednesday – Luke 2:8-21 The Shepherds and the Angels
1. Reflect on what God is saying by having His Son’s birth announced to such people as lowly shepherds in the field, rather than to the nation’s officials or at least to people considered respectable?
2. In his message to the shepherds, the angel ascribes to Jesus three titles: Savior, Christ, and Lord. Separately, what does each title emphasize? Together, how do they form a paradox with a babe in a manger?
3. All who hear about the shepherds' experience “wondered” about the child, while Mary “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (v. 19; cf. v. 51b). Does this suggest any ways you might respond to Jesus? Prayerfully consider how you need to capture the wonder and marvel of Jesus.

Thursday – Luke 2:22-40 Jesus Presented at the Temple / Return to Nazareth
1. While in the temple fulfilling the Law, Mary and Joseph are met by man named Simeon. What impresses you about the old man? Summarize the details of his prophecy concerning Jesus’ mission to the Gentiles and to Israel, along with his word to Mary.
2. Imagine seeing the prophetess Anna’s reaction to the infant Jesus; describe what you see and hear. 
3. Luke’s epilogue of Jesus’ birth narrative is a brief statement about the family returning to Nazareth. Contrast Luke’s account with Matthew's (Mat 2:16-23). Why do you think Luke skips over the drama of these details?

Friday – Luke 2:41-52 The Boy Jesus in the Temple
1. Put yourself in the place of Mary and Joseph looking for Jesus, how would you feel for those three days?
2. This is the only scene from Jesus' childhood in the scriptures. Do you sense He is being a mischievous twelve-year-old or something else altogether? Explain.
3. As with John’s narrative, Luke ends with a summary statement of Jesus’ intellectual, spiritual, and social growth. In which of these areas do you need to grow? What steps will you take to achieve this?

Monday – Luke 1:1-4 Dedication to Theophilus
1. From the dedication to Theophilus, what does Luke identify as his purpose and methods for writing his gospel account?
2. Luke is writing well after the events of Jesus’ life and decades after the church began. Why do you think Theophilus needs assurance of the “certainty concerning the things [he had] been taught”?
3. As you start this reading plan of Luke/Acts, what is your purpose for studying Luke’s twin works? To what degree, if any, are you hoping to have what you’ve been taught confirmed? Identify any aspects of your faith you think will be challenged by reading Luke/Acts? Why?

Tuesday – Luke 1:5-25 Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
1. The circumstances of the birth of John are very unusual. Why do you think God wants this birth to be unusual? Yet, how does the announcement and conception of John follow an established Old Testament pattern (Gen 18:1-15; 21:1-7; Jug 13:1-25; 1 Sam 1:1-20)?
2. Gabriel’s description of John’s calling echoes Mal 3:1; 4:5-6. In your own words, summarize John’s four-fold mission.
3. How does Zechariah show a mixture of half-faith and devotion in his encounter with Gabriel? Do you find yourself sympathetic or critical of his response of unbelief? Explain your view.

Wednesday – Luke 1:26-38 Birth of Jesus Foretold
1. Gabriel’s second announcement is even more extraordinary than his first. How does Mary’s experience contrast to other miraculous conception accounts in scripture? In addition to prophetic fulfillment (cf. Mat 1:18-25; Isa 7:10-14), why do you think it was necessary for the Christ to be born of a virgin?
2. The description of Mary’s son in vv. 31-33 is grand in its scope. Consider how the angel’s description draws upon passages such as 2 Sam 7:1-17; Isa 9:1-7; Jer 23:5-6.
3. Reflecting on Mary’s response to the angel’s message, how does her courageous “yes” to God’s plan inspire and challenge you in your own journey of faith? In what ways can you cultivate a faith like hers?

Thursday – Luke 1:39-45 Mary Visits Elizabeth
1. Two relatives, an old woman, and an unmarried virgin, meet for the first time after each becomes miraculously pregnant. As you imagine this scene, what do you see, hear, feel, and experience?
2. In what ways do you think Elizabeth’s pregnancy and her praise strengthen Mary’s faith in what God is doing through her (cf. Luk 1:34-38)?
3. Note that at the sound of Mary’s voice, John, while in utero, “leaped for joy.” Coupled with Psalm 139:13-16, what does this glimpse into the womb tell you about the life of the unborn?

Friday – Luke 1:46-56 Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
1. What causes Mary to launch into a song of praise? Elaborate on her description of God as the blesser of the humble and savior of the weak. How does your concept of God compare to hers?
2. Compare Mary’s song with Hannah’s prayer in 1 Sam 2:1-10. In what ways, do you think praising God helps these two women as they serve the Lord? How does praising God aid you in serving Him?
3. Select two or three phrases from Mary’s song that resonate with your own heart and life right now.
Write them out and magnify the Lord for His great blessings.