Why Do You Call Me Coach? Luke 7-9 December 20, 2010

What was I thinking?

 

Yes, I will train with you for “The Rookie Triathlon.”  The enthusiasm of being invited to be a part of a triathlon team quickly subsided as I began to research training plans for TRIATHLON WANNA-B’s.  Reality dawns on me.  I need more than a partner, a training manual, a schedule, equipment and a coach.

I need to take action, persevere, be disciplined and face my fears… over a LONG period of time!  Success will be directly related to the quality of my training each day.  Optimal results will only come if I submit to the authority and guidance of the coach.  My intellect, emotions and weak physical body will have to submit to his authority.

Training for a triathlon transforms my mind and body much like effective Bible study transforms my personal life.  The results of each one are directly proportional to the amount of action I put into place each day.

Last week the study of Luke chapters 4-6 ended with Jesus teaching the 12 disciples and a large group of people from the surrounding cities.

Imagine Jesus asking, “Why do you call me coach and do not do what I say?” “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: a seasoned athlete competing at the highest level.” “But the WANNA-B athlete hears my words but he does not act accordingly, he is like a couch potato unable to endure the rigors of the race.”

 

 

This week I challenge you to join me as we put the words of “Coach Jesus” into action from the study of Luke chapters 7-9.

 

Luke chapter 7 begins with a man who understood authority.  A Roman centurion (an officer in the Roman army) who put his commanders orders into practice daily. 

 

 

Things to Do this Week

Read Luke chapters 7-9 on pages 1667-1676 in “The New Inductive Study Bible.” (Or use the Bible of your choice.)

Make an effort to read and interact with a portion of Luke each day.

• An easy way to read Luke is one event at a time.  List each main event in the margin of your Bible for easy reference.  Mark every reference to time with a circle. Underline geographic locations.
• Record your answers to the questions below in a notebook or journal.
• Consider adopting this pattern for your personal Bible study time each day.

1. Pray –  John 14:26  Ask the Helper, the Holy Spirit to teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance what you read and study.
2. Read Scripture – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Why?  All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness; so the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
3. Interact with Scripture – 2 Timothy 2:15 Why?  So you will not be ashamed and you will be able to accurately handle the word of truth and apply it to your life effectively.  Interaction with scripture includes:  keeping everything in context; marking repeated words & references to time; asking questions… who, what, where, when, why & how; using scripture cross references to allow scripture to interpret scripture; word studies (dictionary, lexicon, concordance)
4. Pray – Philippians 4:4-9 Thank God for what you learn.  Ask God to help you PRACTICE what you learn.  Ask God to help you THINK correct thoughts based on what you learn.

 

Main Events – Luke 7-9

 

• Read Luke 7:1-10  Note:  a centurion is an officer of the Roman army.  Who was sick and about to die?  Who sent for Jesus?  Who did he send?  What did the Jewish elders say about the centurion in verse 5?  Jesus responded to the request from the Jewish elders and headed toward the centurion’s house.  What did the centurion’s friends say to Jesus in verses 6-8?  How did Jesus respond in verse 9?  What happened to the slave?  Where does Jesus Christ get His authority from?  Support your answer with scripture.  Give an example from the previous chapters in Luke 1-6 where Jesus was under authority. 

 

• Read Luke 7:11-17  When Jesus saw the widow woman with her dead son, what emotion did he feel for her?  What did Jesus do?  Jesus has authority over life and death.  When fear gripped the people what did they do and say in verse 16?  What areas in your personal life to you need to exhibit compassion?  What can you say to glorify God? 

 

• Read Luke 7: 18-35  John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod.  Read Matthew 14:1-12 to understand why John was imprisoned by Herod.  Take what you have learned from these passages of scripture and consult the chart on page 1658 “Herod’s Family Tree” to determine which Herod imprisoned John the Baptist.  After John’s disciples leave, Jesus explains to the large group of people that John is “one who is more than a prophet.”  How did the people and the tax-gatherers respond to what they heard in verse 29?  How did the Pharisees and the lawyers respond to God? …to John?  How did Jesus respond to John in Luke 3:21-22?  Have you responded to John’s exhortation to be baptized with water?  Have you followed Jesus’ example?  Why or why not? 

 

• Read Luke 7:36-50  What do you learn about the religious man Simon the Pharisee?  What do you learn about the woman who was a sinner?  How did Jesus respond to the Pharisee?  …to the woman?  Who are you most like? 

 

• Read Luke 8:1-3  Who is Jesus traveling with?  What do you learn about the women in the group? 

 

• Read Luke 8:4-18  What is the seed in the parable?  Think of your heart as the soil for the seeds of God’s word.  Which type of soil is your heart most like?  Are there hidden things in your heart that are displeasing to God that you need to turn from and ask forgiveness from God?  Are there steps of obedience that you need to take?  Ask God to give you His help and power through the Holy Spirit. 

 

• Read Luke 8:19-21  What two characteristics does Jesus use to define family in verse 21?  Remember to keep this passage in context with all that the scripture teaches about family from Genesis to Revelation. 

 

• Read Luke 8:22-25  In the previous chapters of Luke we have seen that Jesus teaches with authority.  He also has authority over life and death, over sin, over disease, over demons, over fish in the nets and He is the Lord of the Sabbath.  What does Jesus have authority over in verses 22-26?  How does this impact your current circumstances? 

 

• Read Luke 8:26-39  How did the demons affect the behavior of the man?  What was the response in verse 30 when Jesus asked, “What is your name?”  The demons implored Jesus not to command them to go away to the abyss.  To learn more about the abyss see Romans 10:7; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 9:11; Revelation 20:1-3                                   

In Luke 8:32 did the demons have free reign to do anything they wanted to do? Who has authority over demons?  Does Jesus have complete authority over demons or can they usurp His authority?  Back your answer up with scripture.  What did the man who was freed from the demons ask of Jesus in verse 38?  What did Jesus instruct the freed man to do in verse 39?  Has God done something in your life that you need to tell others about?

• Read Luke 8:40-56  Who is Jarius and what did he want with Jesus?  What made the woman with the hemorrhage well?  What happened in verse 49 to Jarius’ daughter?  What was Jesus’ response in verse 50?  Who went with Jesus into Jarius’ house to see the girl?  What emotions did they exhibit inside the house in verses 52-56?  Is there an area of your life where you need to apply faith?  What steps of faith do you need to take?

 

• Read Luke 9:1-9  What did Jesus give the 12 when He called them together?  List the instructions that Jesus gave the disciples.  Jesus had been teaching and leading the disciples by example.  Now review the list of instructions He gave the disciples.  Did Jesus model each of these instructions for them while they traveled with Him?  Review the previous chapters and note in the margin of your list of instructions, where Jesus modeled each instruction before giving it to the disciples in chapter 9.  How did Herod the tetrarch respond to what was happening?

 

• Read Luke 9:10-17  Remember Jesus called the 12 disciples in Luke 6:13 “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles.”  The word disciple means a learner or a pupil.  The word apostle is defined as a delegate, messenger and one sent forth with orders.  Notice how the 12 grew from pupils in chapters 6-8 and then in Luke 9:1-9 they were sent forth with orders.  In verse 10 the apostles returned to Jesus.  How did the 12 respond to the need of the people in verse 12?  What was Jesus’ response to them?  Here we see that Jesus has authority to create and multiply food. How much food was provided?  Were the people satisfied?  How much was left over?  Do you have a need in your life that is bigger than anything that you can provide for alone?  Ask God to provide for your specific needs.

 

• Read Luke 9:18-27  What question did Jesus ask the disciples in verse 18?  How did they respond?  What did Jesus tell the disciples about Himself and what was to come in the future?

 

• Read Luke 9:28-36  What happened 8 days later?  Who went up the mountain with Jesus to pray?  While Jesus was praying what happened to His face?  Who were the two men talking with Jesus?  During this prayer time what did Peter, John & James do according to verse 32?  What was Peter’s bright (a.k.a. foolish) idea in verse 33? What was God’s response to Peter’s bright idea?  Who is speaking in verse 35 and what does He say?  How do the disciples respond in Verse 36?   Remember what Peter wrote to the followers of Christ in 2 Peter 1:16-19. “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but WE WERE EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY.  For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain  So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to PAY ATTENTION as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”  Note:  “appearing in glory” = magnificence, excellence, as apparent in their exterior brightness, a most glorious condition or most exalted state

 

• Read Luke 9:37-50  What happens the next day?  What does Jesus tell the disciples about Himself?  The disciples are struggling in several areas in this passage of scripture.  What issues were they struggling with?  Have you struggled with these same issues?  What do you learn that can help you when you struggle?

 

• Read Luke 9:51-62  Locate Bethsaida and Jerusalem on the map “Israel in the Time of Christ” on page 1661.  Now locate Samaria.  Notice Samaria is a city and a region.  In our modern day context, it would be the city of Austin and the greater Austin area.  The Samaritans were considered “half-breeds” by the Jews.  The two groups did not associate with one another.  In Israel the most direct route from the north to the south was through Samaria.  It was common practice for the Jews to take the longer route around Samaria.  Jesus chose to go through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem.  When the Samaritans did not receive them how did James and John respond in verse 54?  This makes me laugh but it also gives me insight into myself.  I am a lot like the disciples.  Often, I wish to use the power of God for my purpose, not His purpose.  Have you caught yourself looking like the foolish disciples? 

 

How does Jesus respond in verse 55-56?  Remember how Jesus instructed the disciples in Luke 9:5, “And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city,” (call fire down upon them from heaven).  NO, Jesus said, “shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”  Give thanks to God because Jesus came to save us.  He did not come to destroy men’s lives.  My life and purpose needs to look more like the life of Jesus.  What about your life?

Feed the Fire Comments

 

Who do you call Coach?  Have you responded to Jesus’ call to “FOLLOW ME”?  Maybe you are an unconvinced observer.    The Bible is a safe place for the” follower” and the “unconvinced observer” alike to bring their questions.  Continue to study the Bible for yourself. 

Feed the fire and encourage others.  When something jumps off the page and into your life from your study of Luke, share your comments.

Training for His purpose,

Ginger

Reality Check – Luke 4-6 December 14, 2010

Reality Check?

 

 

“…heaven was opened

      …the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove

                      …a voice came out of heaven

                                      …You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” 

 

    

 

 

 

 Insert yourself into the scene… standing on the bank of the river.  John has just baptized Jesus of Nazareth.  A thirty-something year old man is before you.  A carpenter by trade he is a local guy from the neighborhood.  Jesus is praying and the events above unfold.  You are an eyewitness.  What are you seeing with your eyes?  What do you hear?  What do you think?

 

“I’m more convinced than ever that people don’t care to hear about our Jesus these days until they meet the reality of Jesus in our lives.”  Lysa TerKeurst 

 

I heartily agree with Lysa! 

 

Is Jesus a reality in your life or is he some action hero from long ago?

 

This week join me as we examine three chapters from the book of Luke in the Bible. (Luke 4-6)  Remember, Luke is the chronological account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

 

Chapter 3 of Luke begins with John the Baptist preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The chapter ends with Jesus being baptized by John.  Notice the next event in Jesus life as detailed by Luke the beloved physician in Luke 4.

 

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit

 

                …was led about by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness for forty days

 

                                being tempted by the devil.”

 

Wow, what a jaw dropping dose of reality!  God speaks from heaven… then Jesus is smack dab in the middle of the wilderness, tired, hungry and being tempted by the DEVIL.  Have you experienced this type of tectonic shift in your life?  If your answer is yes, you will want to dig in and see how Jesus handled this transition.

 

 

Things to Do this Week

 

Read Luke chapters 4-6 on pages 1660-1667 in “The New Inductive Study Bible.” (Or use the Bible of your choice.)

Make an effort to read and interact with a portion of Luke each day.

 

• An easy way to read Luke is one event at a time.  List each main event in the margin of your Bible for easy reference.  Mark every reference to time with a circle. Underline geographic locations.
• Record your answers to the questions below in a notebook or journal.
• Consider adopting this pattern for your personal Bible study time each day.

1. Pray –  John 14:26  Ask the Helper, the Holy Spirit to teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance what you read and study.
2. Read Scripture – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Why?  All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness; so the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
3. Interact with Scripture – 2 Timothy 2:15 Why?  So you will not be ashamed and you will be able to accurately handle the word of truth and apply it to your life effectively.  Interaction with scripture includes:  keeping everything in context; marking repeated words & references to time; asking questions… who, what, where, when, why & how; using scripture cross references to allow scripture to interpret scripture; word studies (dictionary, lexicon, concordance)
4. Pray – Philippians 4:4-9 Thank God for what you learn.  Ask God to help you PRACTICE what you learn.  Ask God to help you THINK correct thoughts based on what you learn.

 

Main Events – Luke 4-6

• Read Luke 4:1-13 Now put yourself in the setting with Jesus.  How would you have responded?  What three incentives did the devil use to tempt Jesus?  How did Jesus respond to each temptation?  According to verse 13 was the devil finished tempting Jesus?  What areas of your life has the devil tempted you in?  How does the fact that the devil departed from Jesus encourage you?  How does the fact that the devil departed from Jesus “until an opportune time” impact you?

 

• Read Luke 4:14-15  After Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where did he go?  What did he do?  How did the people respond?

 

• Read Luke 4:16-30 Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth speaking and teaching.  Who is He teaching?   Jesus was a H.O.T. influencer among the people.  In Galilee He was “Praised by all.”  What was the response of the people in the synagogue in 4:28-29?  How did Jesus respond to their rejection?  As a modern day H.O.T. influencer (Hungry for biblical truth, Obedient, Teachable), what do you learn from Jesus example about handing the positive and negative responses of the people around you?

 

• Read Luke 4:31-37  In Capernaum, we see the people are amazed by Jesus teaching because He was teaching with authority.  How did Jesus respond to the outburst from the crowd by the man who was possessed by a demon?  Who did Jesus rebuke?   What happened to the man who was possessed by the demon?  How did the crowd respond?   Where did Jesus’ authority originate? (Hint:  Luke 3:21-22)  Where does your authority originate as a leader, parent, single adult, employee or student?  How does that authority impact your daily life?

 

• Read Luke 4:38-41 Jesus goes to Simon’s home.  Note:  This passage does not identify which Simon is being referred to.  Among Jesus disciples there were two men named Simon (Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot).  The New Testament also refers to Simon, father of Judas who betrayed Jesus; Simon Magus, the Samaritan wizard; Simon the tanner; Simon the Pharisee; Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ; Simon the cousin of Jesus, the son of Cleophas and Simon the leper. Why did Jesus heal Simon’s mother-in-law according to verse 38?  Does Jesus have authority over sickness and demons?  What did the demons know about Jesus?  Could the demons speak whatever they wanted to speak?  Why or why not?

 

• Read Luke 4:42-5:11  When Jesus departs from the crowd in verse 42 how do the people respond?  How did Jesus express His purpose to the crowd in verse 43?  What did Jesus do in verse 44?  What was his location in verse 44?  Whose boat does Jesus get into in the lake of Gennesaret?  What do you learn from the interaction between Jesus and Simon Peter that can help you in your personal life?  Who else was with Jesus and Simon Peter that day?  In verse 11 we see “they left everything and followed Him (Jesus).  Who left everything and followed Jesus?

 

• Read Luke 5:12-16  What does Jesus do in the passage of scripture?  How were the people responding to Jesus?  Jesus was actively teaching individuals and large groups on a daily basis.  He was also healing many people and casting out demons.  In the mist of all of this activity, what did Jesus do “often” according to verse 16?  Where did he go?  How would you characterize the wilderness?  How often do you pray?  Where do you pray?  Do you need to make any adjustments in your prayer life?  If yes, what?

 

• Read Luke 5:17-26  Where was Jesus teaching?  Who were the people in the audience?  How many people were in the audience?  Who told Jesus what the Pharisees and scribes were “reasoning?”  What happen to the man who was brought in on the stretcher?  Why?

 

• Read Luke 5:27-35  Who was Levi and where was he?  What did Jesus say to him in verse 27?  How did Levi respond?  How did the Pharisees and their scribes respond?  Who did Jesus tell the scribes and Pharisees He had come to call?  What was he calling them for?  Remember John’s teaching in Chapter 3.  According the Luke 3:3-6 what was John preaching?  The prophets wrote about a man who would be “the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord… all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”  Do you see that John and Jesus were the fulfillment of the prophecy written by Isaiah?  John was the one in the wilderness making ready the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Remember how Elizabeth greeted Mary when she came to visit in Luke 1:39-45.

 

• Read Luke 5:36-39  A parable is a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.  What do you learn from the parable of the wine skin?

 

• Read Luke 6:1-11  This passage covers two separate instances on two different Sabbath days.  In Exodus 20:8 we learn, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.   Remember Jesus came to fulfill God’s law not break it. The Sabbath is the Lords’ day and Jesus wants us to know and remember that it is His day.  We are to honor the Sabbath by spending the day in His service for His honor.  These examples are not a license to sin but an example that brings us back to the real intent of God’s instruction in Exodus.  Does this insight into the Sabbath day challenge you or encourage you?  Are you like the Pharisees… just going through the motions to satisfy some law or expectation?  Or are you more like the disciples and the man who was healed on the Sabbath… fully engaged in spending time with the Lord on His day serving and honoring Him?

 

• Read Luke 6:12-16  Jesus chooses 12 disciples.  List the 12 disciples that are listed in this passage of scripture.

 

• Read Luke 6:17-38  Jesus is teaching the disciples and a large group of people.  Make a list of the “blessing” Jesus gives.  Make a list of “woes.”  Make a list of instructions.  What do you learn from the lists you have made?

 

• Read Luke 6:39-45  What do you learn from each parable that you can apply to your life?

 

• Read Luke 6:46-49  How are people described who calls Jesus Lord and yet they do not do what he says?  How are people described who hear the words of Jesus and act upon them?  A call to action is clearly identified in these verses.  Which people are you most like?  What action do you need to take today to be H.O.T. (Hungry for biblical truth, Obedient, Teachable)?  How will you encourage and influence others to be H.O.T.?  

 

Feed the Fire Comments

 

Feed the fire and encourage others.  When something jumps off the page and into your life from your study of Luke, share your comments.

Feeding the fire,

Ginger

Raising Valiant Sons and Daughters July 23, 2009

 

 

Valiant Son

 

Strong, brave and courageous young men and women are among us.  You and I have seen them in our midst and marveled at their courage and depth of character.  What does it take to raise valiant sons and daughters in a generation plagued by greed, immorality, political unrest and every kind of wickedness?

 

Two imperfect individuals come together as Dad and Mom and create junior.  Maybe Dad and Mom are a team pulling together or they are individuals still pulling in their own direction.  Sometimes parents make a sacrificial decision to let someone else raise their child.

 

Regardless of the steps that bring us to parenting we still want to do our best.  When we embrace our responsibilities to equip the next generation; where do we begin if we want to raise valiant sons and daughters?  Our sons and daughters will become the adults of tomorrow.  Will they be courageous young adults who will lead and influence their families, communities, cities, nations and the world for what is good and right?

 

This morning I was awed as I began to read my Bible about a young man named Daniel.  As a child and as a young teenager, Daniel lived in a nation where God was forgotten and mocked.  The nation of Israel was filled with every kind of wickedness.  The people worshiped the works of their own hands.  Wickedness, a forgotten God and people worshiping the works of their own hands sounds a lot like the nations of our world today.

 

Not only was Daniel surrounded by all of this wickedness in his homeland, as a teenager he was taken as a slave into the immoral nation of Babylon.  Imagine if our sons and daughters were taken from us as young teenagers into a wicked immoral environment, how would they function?  Would they be sucked into the conduct of the people around them or would they stand for what they know is right and true?

 

As I observed young Daniel’s life after he was taken as a slave, I saw some amazing characteristics. First, I saw who his “running buddies” were; Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  Daniel and his three friends are described as intelligent, endowed with understanding, discerning in knowledge, and they had the ability for serving in the king’s court. Next, I saw that Daniel “made up his mind” to follow the dietary guidelines given to the nation of Israel by God.  Daniels obedience prompted God to grant him favor and compassion in the sight of the commander. The results, Daniel and his three friends were taken into the king’s personal service.  Out of all of the handsome, intelligent, knowledgeable youths taken from Israel not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  The king also found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers and wise men in the nation of Babylon. Daniel and his friends were valiant, strong, brave, courageous and successful because they knew their God and they obeyed Him faithfully.

 

Let us stand together as parents of the next generation.  First we must put off the practices of the world and apply the teachings of the Bible in our daily lives.  To lead by example we must know, love and obey God with our whole hearts.  Next, we must teach our children to know, love, and obey God with their whole hearts.  None of us will ever get it right all of the time; neither will our friends, family and Christian brothers and sisters.  God extends grace and encourages us to dust off the sin and get right back on His path.

 

Like Daniel, our sons and daughters will choose their “running buddies” and make up their own minds whom to follow.  We can trust God to bless and correct.  Let us join together and ask God to help us be valiant parents who lead by example and equip our children in the truth of Who God is and the importance of obeying Him and following His plan each day of our lives.

 

Only God can bring the increase and grant us courageous young adults who will lead and influence their families, communities, cities, nations and the world for what is good and right.  Our responsibility is to be faithful in parenting according to Biblical principles and trust God to raise valiant sons and daughters in our midst for His purpose.

 

   Raising warriors,

  Ginger