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