1. Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2015 Adult Bible Study Guide Apr May Jun 2015 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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4. The Book of Luke Introduction M atthew wrote primarily to the Jews, and so he emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah. Mark wrote to the Romans, and we see Jesus marching across the land with the news about the kingdom. John was a deep thinker, and in his Gospel emerges Jesus the Word, the Creator, the Son of God.

5. The Book of Luke Introduction But Luke writes with an eye on the Gentiles. To them, he presents Jesus, the Son of man, as the Savior of the world and Friend of humanity. The universality of salvation is the underlying theme of his Gospel, so his genealogy traces Jesus all the way to Adam and links him to God.

6. The Book of Luke Introduction Luke’s Gospel is the longest in the New Testament. Some miracles appear only in Luke, such as the raising of the widow of Nain’s son (7:11–17) and the healing of Malchus (22:50, 51). (For other miracles, see 5:4–11, 13:10–17, 14:1–6, 17:11–19.)

7. The Book of Luke Introduction Many parables are peculiar to Luke, including several famous ones: the good Samaritan (10:30–37), the rich foolish man (12:16–21), the prodigal son (15:11–32), the rich man and Lazarus (16:19–31), and the Pharisee and the publican (18:10–14). The Zacchaeus story (19:1–10) is also unique to Luke.

8. The Book of Luke Our Goal U nder the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Luke surveyed the historical materials, interviewed the eyewitnesses (1:2), and then, with “perfect understanding of all things,” wrote “an orderly account” that readers “may know the certainty” of Jesus and His good news (vss. 3, 4, NKJV).

9. The Book of Luke Contents 1 The Coming of Jesus 2 Baptism and the Temptations 3 Who Is Jesus Christ? 4 The Call to Discipleship 5 Christ as the Lord of the Sabbath 6 Women in the Ministry of Jesus 7 Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Prayer 8 The Mission of Jesus 9 Jesus, the Master Teacher 10 Following Jesus in Everyday Life 11 The Kingdom of God 12 Jesus in Jerusalem 13 Crucified and Risen

10. The Book of Luke Lesson 1, April 4 The Book of Luke Lesson 1, April 4 The Coming of Jesus

11. Key Text Luke 1:37 NKJV “ ‘ F or with God nothing will be impossible.’ ”

12. The Coming of Jesus Initial Words L uke places the story of Jesus in history—real people, real times—in order to dismiss any idea of mythology with his narrative. His readers must stand in awe and wonder at the fact that Jesus is real and that through Him God has invaded history with the “ ‘Savior, who is Christ the Lord’ ” (Luke 2:11 NKJV).

13. The Coming of Jesus Quick Look 1. The Witness of John (Luke 1:13-17) 2. The Witness of Mary (Luke 1:34-38) 3. The Witness of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

14. The Coming of Jesus 1. The Witness of John Luke 1:13-17 NKJV “ ‘ A nd you shall call his name John.... And he will turn many...to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

15. 1. The Witness of John “Call His Name John” T he birth stories of John and Jesus have parallels. Both are miracles: in the case of John, Elizabeth had gone well past the child-bearing age; in the case of Jesus, a virgin was to bear the child. The angel Gabriel announced both birth promises. Both announcements were received in a spirit of wonder, joy, and surrender to God’s will.

16. 1. The Witness of John “Call His Name John” Both babies were to grow and become strong in the Spirit (1:80, 2:40). But the mission and the ministry of the two miracle babies were distinct and different. John was to be a preparer of the way for Jesus (1:13– 17). Jesus is “ ‘the Son of God’ ” (vs. 35) and the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies (vss. 31–33).

17. 1. The Witness of John The Desire of Ages 98 “The birth of a son to Zacharias,...was to teach...a truth that we are slow to learn.... In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing; but that which we cannot do will be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul. It was through faith that the child of promise was given. It is through faith that spiritual life is begotten....”

18. The Coming of Jesus 2. The Witness of Mary Luke 1:34-38 NKJV “ T hen Mary said...,‘How can this be since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered...,‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the...Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God....’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maiden of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ ”

19. T he birth of Jesus Christ was no normal event. It was marked in God’s eternal calendar, and “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4, NKJV). It is the fulfillment of the first promise God made after the entrance of sin in Eden (Gen. 3:15). 2. The Witness of Mary “Call His Name Jesus”

20. 2. The Witness of Mary “Call His Name Jesus” The virgin birth of Jesus goes against all nature, and it cannot be explained by nature or naturalistic philosophy. Even Mary had her question: “ ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ ” (vs. 34). The angel assured her that this would be the work of the Holy Spirit (vs. 35), and “ ‘with God nothing will be impossible’ ” (vs. 37).

21. 2. The Witness of Mary “Call His Name Jesus” Mary’s immediate and faithful sub- mission was remarkable: “ ‘Let it be to me according to your word’ ” (vs. 38). Every human question, no matter how logical, must give way to the divine answer. Be it Creation or the Cross, the Incarnation or the Resurrection,—the divine initiative demands human surrender and acceptance.

22. The Coming of Jesus 3. The Witness of Simeon Luke 2:29-32 NKJV “ ‘ L ord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which you have pre- pared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.’ ”

23. 3. The Witness of Simeon At the Jerusalem Temple L uke 2:25–32. Note three points about the theology of salvation that Simeon brings to the fore: salvation is through Jesus; salvation is prepared by God; salvation is for all peoples—to the Gentiles as well as to Israel. These truths tie in with the first angel’s message of Revelation 14:6, 7.

24. 3. The Witness of Simeon Predicts Two Features of Jesus’ Ministry First, Christ is “ ‘destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel’ ” (2:34). Christ has brought light and salvation to all, but not without cost to the recipient. With Christ there is no neutral ground: accept Him or reject Him, and upon the appropriate response one’s salvation depends. Faith in Christ is nonnegotiable.

25. 3. The Witness of Simeon Predicts Two Features of Jesus’ Ministry Second, Simeon prophesies to Mary, “ ‘a sword will pierce through your own soul also’ ” (2:35). The reference no doubt is to the Cross, which Mary will witness. Mary and all the generations that follow her ought to remember that without the Cross, there is no salvation. It is the hub around which the entire plan of salvation revolves.

26. The Coming of Jesus Final Words T he virgin birth is of God’s making, marked by His mystery, majesty, and mission. It is truly beyond human understanding too. If God does exist, and He has the power to create and sustain the universe, why should something like the virgin birth be beyond His power? “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (1:37).