Posts from 2021

Posts from 2021

Luke 2:22-40 Study Questions

Luke 2:22-40 Study Questions Read Leviticus 12.  What did the purification laws of Moses require? How do the purification rituals foreshadow what Jesus was sent to do? What facts about Simeon stand out to you in verses 25-27? What privilege did Simeon enjoy because of his willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit? How does seeing Jesus allow Simeon to “depart in peace”? Who does Simeon say the Lord’s salvation is for and why is this important? Simeon prophesied…

Luke 2:1-21 Study Questions

Luke 2:1-20 Study Questions Find a bible map to locate the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem.  How far did Joseph and Mary travel and for what reason? Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17, Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2.  What prophecies were fulfilled through Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem? Read 2 Corinthians 8:9.  What did Jesus give up to come to us as a baby in a manger? Who did the angels first announce the birth of Christ to and how is this an…

Luke 1:57-80 Study Questions

Luke 1:57-66 Study Questions: Define the word mercy and list the ways that the birth of John the Baptist was a great mercy from the Lord to Elizabeth. Use blue letter bible or some other commentary resource to research the naming practices of the Jewish people.  What did the people expect the child’s name to be and why? What happened when Zechariah confirmed what the baby’s name would be? How did God ignite attention and curiosity amongst the people through…

Luke 1:26-56 Study Questions

Luke 1:26-38 Study Questions: 1. Who was sent to Mary and with what message? 2. How did Mary respond and what reassurance did Gabriel give Mary in vs. 28? 3. Compare and contrast Gabriel’s response to Zechariah’s “how?” and Mary’s “how?”  How does Gabriel’s response to each reveal the heart attitudes behind the question? 4. What was the name Mary was to give to the promised child and by what other name will he be called?  How do these names…

Luke 9:18-27 Study Questions

Luke 9:18-27 Study Questions Study Questions: What 2 questions did Jesus ask his disciples in verses 18-20 and how did the disciples respond? Why was it important for Jesus to see if his disciples knew who Jesus really was? Why does it continue to be an important question for people even today? Considering the cultural and political climate of Jesus’s day, why do you think Jesus commanded the disciples not to tell anyone who he really was? In vs 22,…

Jonathan’s Story

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7 As many of you know, we recently lost our second born son, Jonathan to colon cancer. When Jonathan was first diagnosed a year ago December, our family was of course stunned and disappointed. As the months passed by and chemo treatment was pursued, our prayers were, “Please heal him, Lord!” But with that, I had another prayer, “Lord, use this cancer to…

Luke 8:40-56 Study Questions

Luke 8:40-56 Study Questions Compare the crowd waiting for Jesus to return to the crowd Jesus just left behind in Gerasenes. How does this reflect how people react to and receive Jesus today? Compare and contrast how Jairus approached Jesus to the way the Centurion approached Jesus in the beginning of Luke chapter 7.  What was similar and what was different between the two scenarios? Who touched Jesus on the way to Jairus’s house and why? Compare the similarities and…

Basics of Interpretation

In these three brief videos, Pastor Matt outlines a basic process and principles for interpreting the Bible. We hope this serves you well as you seek to understand and apply God’s Word in your own study, or with your small group. Basics of Interpretation, Introduction – What are we trying to do, and why? Basics of Interpretation, Part 1 – Principles of Interpretation Basics of Interpretation, Part 2 – Interpretation Process Supporting Material Seminar handout, bibliography, and recommended tools (PDF)…

Luke 8:22-39 Study Questions

Divisions: Luke 8:22-25: Jesus calms a storm. Luke 8:26-39: Jesus heals a man with a legion of demons. Luke 8:22-25 Study Questions What happened when the disciples and Jesus tried to cross the lake? What was the reaction of the disciples to the storm? How did Jesus meet their need and what question did he ask them? Jesus said they would cross the lake, and Jesus is always true to his word.  How could faith have changed the way the…

Luke 8:1-18 Study Questions

Luke 8:1-18 Divisions Luke 8:1-15: Jesus tells the parable of the sower.Luke 8:16-21: Jesus talks about human response to the light of the gospel. Luke 8:1-15 Study Questions What do we learn from verses 1-3 about Jesus’s value of and intent for women that are involved in his ministry? How was this different than how women were typically viewed and treated in this culture? (you can find more information at crossway.org, article entitled “How Jesus Viewed and Valued Women written…

Luke 7:38-50 Study Questions

Luke 7: 38-50 Study Questions: Who was hosting Jesus at the dinner, and who was the surprise visitor? What does the phrase “woman of the city” mean? Use a bible dictionary or the website blueletterbible.com to understand the term “anoint/anointed/anointing” and the Jewish customs surrounding it. What did the woman’s actions towards Jesus demonstrate about her heart and who she believed him to be? Why did Simon the Pharisee doubt that Jesus had prophetic powers? How did Jesus show that…

Luke 7:18-35 Study Questions

Luke 7:18-23 Study Questions Why couldn’t John come to Jesus himself to ask his questions? (see Luke 3:19-20 & Mt. 11:2 for help) In what ways did Jesus respond to the questions posed by John’s disciples? Read Isaiah 61:1. John knew Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah. Based on this prophecy, what might John expect Jesus to do about his prison situation? Read Isaiah 29:18-19 & 35:5-6. How did Jesus referring to this scripture speak to John’s question and expectation? It…

Luke 7:1-17 Study Questions

Divisions:Luke 7:1-10 Believing without seeingLuke 7:11-17 Seeing without believing Main Truth: Following Jesus requires that we walk by faith not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Luke 7:1-10 – Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant. Study Questions: What was a Roman Centurion?  Take time to research the typical dynamics between Roman officials and the Jews. What was unique about this Roman Centurion? What do the Centurion’s decisions and instructions say about what he believes about Jesus? How did the Centurion’s opinion of…

Luke 3:3

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (ESV)

Luke 1:3-4

…it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (ESV)

A Comforting Promise: God’s Presence

Throughout the last year, I’ve been reading Charles Spurgeon’s devotional “Morning and Evening,” and one of the recent entries (morning of July 26) urges us to “Take care that thy faith is of the right kind – that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone.”  That morning, I was feeling overwhelmed with some responsibilities and situations, and those words reminding me depend on Jesus himself were what I needed. Pondering what…

Haggai 2:4

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua… Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord.  Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts. (ESV)
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