Change is coming…
Out with the old, in with the new…
What is your priority for 2011?
Do you need insight at work or home?
Need help with relationships, marriage or parenting?
Do you need to get your physical body or spiritual body in shape?
As Jesus approached the end of His life, He was purposeful to prepare His followers for the changes that lay ahead. Consider the words of Jesus from Luke 12.
All things that are hidden will be revealed.
Do not worry or be anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense.
The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say when you need to say it.
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed.
Seek God first and He will provide what you need.
Be ready, Jesus will return unexpectedly.
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be ready?
Things to Do this Week
Read Luke chapters 13-15 on pages 1683-1688 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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 13-15
- Read Luke 13:1-5 Highlight the word “repent.” Notice chapter 13 begins with the phrase “Now on the same occasion…” Review Luke 12 to see what the occasion is. Who is in the audience in Luke 12 that Jesus is addressing? Jesus tells this audience to “Be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Luke 12:40 What does Jesus say about the Galileans who had been put to death by Pilate? What does Jesus say about the 18 who were killed when the tower fell on them in Siloam? Who will die according to verses 3 & 5?
- Read Luke 13:6-9 In Luke 12:40 Jesus instructed this audience to “Be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. Following the admonition to be ready Jesus teaches the group with several parables. What do you learn from the parable of the fig tree?
- Read Luke 13:10-21 Where is Jesus teaching? How did Jesus respond to the woman who had been sick for 18 years? How did the synagogue official respond to Jesus? Why? How did Jesus respond to the synagogue official? What was the response of the opponents in verse 17? What was the response of the “entire multitude” in verse 17? Explain how your personal response to Jesus teaching is more like the opponents or the multitude.
- Read Luke 13:22-35 Where is Jesus and where is he going? Have you ever wondered how many people are being saved? Jesus answers this question beginning in verse 24. What do you learn about the people that are being saved? What had the people been doing who are not saved in verse 26? Who had they been with? What does Jesus say to the people He does not know? What will happen to them? Mark the word see in verse 28. When will there be weeping and gnashing of teeth? Why? According to verses 28-30 who will be reclining at the table with Jesus in the kingdom of God?
- Read Luke 14:1-24 Where is Jesus and who is with Him? What day of the week is it? What happens in verses 1-6? What were the invited guests doing in verse 7? What do you learn from the parable that Jesus told to the guests in verses 7-11? What does Jesus say to the host in verses 12-14? Who do you invite to your home? Does Jesus instruction to the host challenge you to look at who you invite into your home differently? Who is blessed according to verse 14? A guest challenges Jesus in verse 15 by saying, “Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Jesus responds by restating the truth of verses 12-14 in parable. What do you learn from Jesus’ answer in verses 16-24?
- Read Luke 14:25-35 A large group of people are traveling with Jesus. What is Jesus main point in verses 25-35 to the people traveling with Him? What is required of a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- Read Luke 15:1-2 Who is listening to Jesus? Who is grumbling? Why? Jesus responds to the grumbling by telling three parables in chapter 15 to the audience of tax-gatherers, sinners, Pharisees and scribes.
- Read Luke 15:3-7 What is the main point of the parable of the sheep? When is there joy and celebration in heaven?
- Read Luke 15:8-10 What is the main point of the parable of the coins? When does the woman call her friends to rejoice with her? When is there joy in the presence of the angels of God?
- Read Luke 15-12-32 Who are you most like, the younger son, the older son or the father? Why? According to verse 32 why was there rejoicing?
Are you ready? Jesus will return unexpectedly.
Are you willing to DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE READY?
Repent…
be blessed by inviting others to join you…
rejoice with heaven because one who was dead and lost has been found and has begun to live!
Thank you dear friends for sharing this journey with me.
Whatever it takes,
Ginger
Ginger Craddock | Executive Coach
Find Joy In The Journey 