When you think about the Gospel message, do you include Jesus’ resurrection as an equal component with his death and burial? Often, the way we talk about the Gospel in evangelical circles makes it seem like Jesus is still in the grave, but that’s not the case; he’s resurrected! What does his resurrection say about the type of faith a Christian has? On a basic level, the Christian faith is a living faith, not a dead faith; a happy faith, not a sad faith; a hopeful faith, not a mournful faith (that’s not to say there aren’t times to mourn of be sad, but the resurrection of Jesus and our future resurrection is the final word in our story of faith and that is an encouraging thought).

Jesus, other than giving physical proofs of his resurrection, the only other proof he used was the Scriptures. Luke wrote his Gospel so that Theophilus (and us) can have certainty. How do you think about the Bible? Is is good stories that teach us to be moral? Is it mostly true with some unbelievable stuff in there? Or, is the Bible the authoritative word of God, true in every word? What would it change about your life and faith to recognize that when we sit down to read the Bible or study the Bible we are sitting down to a totally different category of literature, God’s Word? Do you think the Scripture is sufficient to lead us into salvation and to instruct us in our day-to-day lives? In the past, what other authorities have you put on equal footing with the Scripture?

In considering the resurrected Jesus’ commandment for his people to be witnesses, how does that make you feel? Does it feel weighty or burdensome? Does it feel uncomfortable? Do those feelings change when we consider the fact that in Luke 24, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to his followers and that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now resides in us and God’s Holy Spirit is ready to empower our witness? What would change in our lives if instead of feeling like witnessing is a “should” it is a “get to”? Instead of saying that I should share my faith and I should testify to the saving power of the Gospel, I get to do those things and see God work the miracle of faith in the people around me? Maybe this isn’t where you are today, but for me, this is a good place to repent of my lack of belief in God’s promises, and my lack of compassion for those who haven’t heard the Gospel message.

1. Read Luke 23:44-49. Luke records the centurion’s confession (v47) as the ‘final pronouncement’ on Jesus’ life. What do you think he witnessed that convinced him of Jesus’ innocence?

2. Jesus’ innocence unmasks our sin. Read Luke 23:13-25 and list the characters mentioned. How does each contribute to the end result of an innocent man being killed? What underlying sins/motivations are exposed along the way? How does the cross unmask our sin as well?

3. Jesus’ innocence conquers over sin. Read Col 2:15 and Revelation 5:1-5. Why does Jesus’ blood conquer sin when nobody else’s can?

4. Jesus’ innocence replaces our sin. The veil of the temple (v45) represented a necessary separation between a holy God and sinful man. What role did Jesus’ innocence play in the veil’s destruction and our access to God? (For help, see Heb 7:26-27, 10:19-25)

5. Jesus’ innocence is our mission. Read Philippians 2:14-16. What role does innocence play in the witness of the church? In v16, some translations read ‘holding fast’ while others read ‘holding forth’. What is the difference between these, and why are both necessary? How does a mission of innocence affect the way we respond to the unrest in our nation today?

6. Luke 23 is designed to focus our attention on Christ, his innocence, his power, and his mercy. Take time together to reflect slowly and quietly on the passage and respond in prayer and worship.

For further discussion

1. Our nation is experiencing extraordinary unrest after the killing of George Floyd. Share with one another how you are personally processing. What emotions are you feeling? How do you think the Lord wants you to respond?

2. Pastor Chris Georges stressed the importance of ‘deep empathy’, of recognizing injustice and racism not as ‘their’ problem but as ‘our’ problem. What makes empathy between black and white cultures in America so difficult? What role can we play in addressing the issue?

3. In the dialog with Pastor Georges, Robb mentioned two unhealthy ways to respond to Floyd’s killing: violence/destruction and apathy/silence. Why is each of these unhealthy? To which are you more inclined?

4. In the current climate, the loudest voices tend to be accusatory ones on every side. It is important to confess and repent of sin, but it is also important to celebrate the grace of God and give thanks for the good work he has accomplished. Where have you seen forward motion regarding justice and racial reconciliation in our nation? In our church? In your personal sphere?

5. Look again at Luke 23:13, 18. With the entrance of the Roman authorities, what critical shift occurs in the role of the people (compare Luke 19:47-48, 20:19, 21:38, 22:2)? How would you explain this baffling dynamic? What lessons can we learn about our own culture’s social dynamics, mob culture, & political allegiances?

6. Throughout Luke’s gospel, we’ve seen the consistent categories of religious leaders, people/crowds, and disciples. In chpt 23, the disciples are glaringly absent and silent. What role does their silence play?

7. Jesus Barabbas was in prison for killing someone during a riot (v25). Considering our current national climate, how do you respond emotionally to this character? To the crowd’s insistence that he be released?

1. Read Luke 22:3-6 and 22:54-57. Compare the betrayal of these two men.

2. With which man do you identify? (No judgment!)

3. Read Luke 22:22-23. Why would the other disciples discuss who would betray Jesus?

4. In this week’s message, Zach encouraged four choices - commitment, listening to Jesus (the Word), awareness about Satan and your fleshly desires, and repentance. Did any of these resonate with you?

5. How has the COVID19 pandemic created opportunities for both failure and spiritual growth?

1. In his sermon this morning, Robb spoke about two common unhealthy responses to COVID-19 stressors - “giving up” on the disciplines of daily life, or “giving in” to fear and anxiety. Which of these do you see more in your circles? In your own life?

2. Read Luke 21:8-19. These ‘unsigns’ bear witness, not to the end, but to the current brokenness of the world. What instructions or exhortations does Jesus give us in these verses? How do they relate to us during the COVID-19 era?

3. Compare and contrast Luke 21:20-24 with vv25-28. What key event does each section foretell? What sign[s] accompany each event? Why do you think Jesus spoke to these two events, when the disciples seemed to only ask about one (v7)?

4. Read Luke 21:29-33. The parable of the fig tree corresponds to the prophecy in vv 20-24. Luke’s gospel was almost certainly written and circulated before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70, and there are substantial traditions from the early church that Jerusalem Christians successfully escaped that terrible event, fleeing the city when they saw “Jerusalem surrounded by armies.” Some believe these words were fulfilled at that time, while others believe a more complete fulfillment is yet to come. Either way, what value is there for us in knowing Jesus spoke these words, if we ourselves will likely never need to flee Jerusalem?

5. Read Luke 21:34-36 and Matthew 24:42-44. This second parable of the trap/thief corresponds to the prophecy in Luke 21:25-28. How is the application different from the parable of the fig tree? What does it mean for us to ‘stay awake’?

1. When have you been blessed by someone else’s exercise of authority? When have you seen authority misused or abused? Contrast these experiences aloud with your group. What makes for good or bad uses of authority?

2. Read Luke 20:1-8. Why is Jesus’ question difficult for his opponents? What does it reveal about the way they understand authority?

3. Read Luke 20:9-18. When the villains in the story are brought to justice, how do the religious leaders respond (v16)? Why would anyone protest justice being served to murderous villains in a make-believe story!? What was Jesus revealing about the religious leaders’ own authority?

4. In Luke 20:42-43. Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1. This Old Testament passage is quoted more often in the New Testament than any other scripture, revealing its great importance. How would you answer the question Jesus asks in v44? And how is it that this passage finds fulfillment in Jesus? (For help, see Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2:32-35)

5. Jesus warned his disciples against the scribes’ example of leveraging authority for self-serving gain (Luke 20:45-47), and instead set an example of leveraging authority in self-sacrificial servanthood (Luke 22:25-27). In the heightened tensions of this COVID-19 era, how might we be tempted to make grabs for authority or serve ourselves rather than others? What specific choices can we make to follow Jesus’ way of sacrificial love instead?

Luke 19:1-10

1.       What are some of the ways that the blind beggar (right before Zacchaeus) and Zacchaeus and himself could have justified feeling totally unworthy of Jesus’ attention?  What are some of the things you would use to justify why you don’t think you are worthy of Jesus’ attention today?

2.       What are some of the ways that the bling beggar and Zacchaeus had to overcome obstacles in order to meet Jesus?  What obstacles are you experiencing today in trying to meet Jesus?

3.       The story about Zacchaeus, the story of the blind beggar, and the parable of the minas all talk about stewardship of God’s resources as an act of worship stemming from God’s acceptance of us in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.  One of the most interesting components of this story is the servant who chose not to invest.  Why do you think this mina was taken from him?  What do you think his lack of investment of the mina communicated about his view of the nobleman?  Was the nobleman actually a harsh master?  Does his giving of cities communicate that he is harsh?  How do you see our relationship with God?  Do you view him as harsh and cruelly judging the investment of our stewardship or do you see him as generously rewarding and celebrating our choice to love and trust him?

1. When you go to God in prayer, what are your most common habits of thought and emotion? What might they tell you about how you relate to God?

2. Read Luke 18:9-14. This parable contrasts two strategies for justification. What were the 3 contrasts mentioned in the sermon today? Are there any other contrasts you see?

3. In Philip Eveson’s essay on the doctrine of justification, he introduces justification as a grace given to “guilty sinners, who turn in self-despairing trust.” What is meant by ‘self-despairing trust’? How does the tax collector embody it? What would it look like for someone in our day?

4. Everyone struggles with self-righteousness to some degree. Review the ‘diagnostic questions’ from the sermon. Which question is most helpful to you in identifying your own tendencies toward self justification?

   • Do you have a tendency to look down on others with a critical eye?

   • Does your sense of personal goodness, acceptability, and self worth rise and fall according to how well you think you are performing?

   • When you think about your ‘righteousness bank account’, are you worn out from trying to make deposits to keep it (hopefully) in the black, or are you resting in the finished work of Jesus’ merciful atonement?

5. End your time in celebration of God’s merciful atonement for sinners. Review this list of verses on justification (or another list of your choosing). Speak verses to one another and to the Lord by ‘personalizing’ the address. For instance:

   • “Joe, Phil 3:9 says you are ‘found in Him, not having a righteousness of your own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, a righteousness from God that depends on faith.”

   • “Katie, just like Abraham, you have believed the Lord, and he has counted it to you as righteousness (Gen 15:6)!”

   • “Lord, you yourself bore our sins in your body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By your wounds, we have been healed. Thank you! (1 Peter 2:24)

1. Have you ever been in a relationship where forgiveness was not pursued or extended? What is it that makes forgiveness difficult at times?

2. Read Luke 17:1-4. Why does Jesus place so much emphasis on the issue of sin/repentance/forgiveness?

3. Read Luke 17:5-6. Why do the disciples respond as they do in v5? What is the implication of Jesus’ reply in v6? In what way is forgiveness an exercise of faith?

4. Read Luke 17:7-10. Jesus uses the lowliest term for a servant, a Greek term more often translated as ‘slave.’ What does it mean to be a slave of Jesus, and what does it have to do with forgiveness?

5. How can we give priority to the work of forgiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic? What is one step you can take to be a conduit of Jesus’ grace and forgiveness this week? Spend some time praying for one another.

Happy Easter! He is risen!

1. What about ‘normal life’ are you missing most during this COVID-19 lock down? How do you find joy in the midst of this crisis (or any crisis)?

2. Read Luke 15:1-7. To whom does Jesus direct his parable? Why did he tell it to them?

3. Peruse Luke 15:8-32. Here, Jesus tells two more parables that mirror the first one about the sheep & the shepherd. Which words from the first parable are repeated over and over in the other parables? In what way[s] do the parables differ/progress? What do these details tell us about what Jesus is trying to communicate?

4. Read Luke 15:17-20, 25-30. Describe in your own words the action of each son toward his father. How does his father respond to each? What do these interactions tell us about the heart of God?

5. In his sermon, Robb focused mainly on the relationship between the father and the younger son. What is the role of the older son, in light of Jesus’ audience (v1-2)? What message/application might the Lord have today for those of us who have been part of the ‘religious insider’ group for some time?

6. Today is a day to worship and celebrate. Take time to sing, pray, feast and enjoy the Father’s heart of love toward you. Respond wholeheartedly to his love by drawing near to him in JOY.

1. What is the fanciest meal you’ve ever been to? How did it make you feel to attend?

2. Read Luke 14:1-6. How would you describe the relationship between Jesus & the religious leaders in this story? Why do you think the lawyers and Pharisees failed to answer Jesus’ questions?

3. Read Luke 14:7-11. In this parable, what actions does the host perform? How does this parable describe the events that took place in vv1-6?

4. Jesus’ parable ends with a proverb in v11. This proverb is a classic example of the ‘divine passive’, a way of expressing the action of God without naming him (as a way of showing reverence). What does this punctuating statement tell us about the character of God?

5. Read Philippians 2:6-11. How does this ancient Christ hymn illustrate the principle of the parable in Luke 14?

6. Read Philippians 3:4-9. What did Paul have to abandon in order to ‘humble himself’ and receive Christ (vv5-6)? What kinds of things might we put in a similar list? What 'false confidence’ might you personally need to set aside in order to know the fullness of fellowship with Jesus?

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. Take a moment to share about an area of life where you’ve experienced loss or disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. How are you processing the disruption? Is there a silver lining?

2. Read Luke 13:22-30. What question precipitated this dialog with Jesus (v23)? Why do you think Jesus chooses a banquet to illustrate salvation?

3. Which character in the story represents Jesus? What is the character’s role? What is Jesus communicating to us about himself?

4. Jesus speaks about a ‘narrow door’ in v24. In what way is the door narrow? What is he telling us about the opportunity to enter into salvation?

5. Read Luke 13:31-35. In the previous passage, Jesus likens himself to the host of a great banquet. What image does he use in this passage to describe himself (v34)? What is the imagery meant to communicate?

6. We all have ‘mother hens’, or places we run to for security and comfort. What ‘hens’ in our culture have proven to be false securities during the COVID-19 pandemic? What other ‘hens’ keep people from finding refuge in Jesus? What hens are you personally tempted to turn to, rather than turning to Jesus?

7. Take some time to worship Jesus for who he reveals himself to be in Luke 13. Pray together for one another & for the world around you.

Explore Further

Take some time to review this chart of the meals of Jesus recorded in Luke’s gospel. Some scholars see the meal narratives as the basic narrative framework of the book. What do we learn about Jesus, his mission, and his focus from these meals?

5:27-32 Banquet at Levi’s House

7:36-50 Dinner at Simon’s House

9:10-17 Feeding the 5,000

10:38-42 Hospitality at the home of Mary and Martha

11:37-52 Dinner at a Pharisee’s House

14:1-24 Sabbath Meal at a Pharisee’s House

19:1-10 Hospitality at the home of Zacchaeus

22:14-38 The Last Supper

24:28-32 Breaking Bread at Emmaus

24:36-43 Jesus Eats Meal in Presence of Disciples

Song Lyrics

Stand in Your Love

Bethel Music

When darkness tries to roll over my bones
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own
When brokenness and pain is all I know
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken

My fear doesn't stand a chance
When I stand in Your love!

Shame no longer has a place to hide
I am not a captive to the lies
I'm not afraid to leave my past behind
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken!

There's power that can break off every chain
There's power that can empty out a grave
There's resurrection power that can save
There's power in Your name, power in Your name

Source: LyricFindSongwriters: Ethan Hulse / Josh Baldwin / Marcus R. Harris / Rita E SpringerStand in Your Love lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing, Music Services, Inc

Yes And Amen

Chris Tomlin

Father of kindness
You have poured out of grace
You brought me out of darkness
You have filled me with peace
Giver of mercy
You're my help in time of need
Lord I can't help but sing

Faithful you are
Faithful forever you will be
Faithful you are
All your promises are yes and Amen
All your promises are yes and Amen

Beautiful Saviour
You have brought me near
You pulled me from the ashes
You have broken every curse
Blessed redeemer
You have set this captive free
Lord I can't help but sing

I will rest in your promises
My confidence is your faithfulness

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Tony Brown / Chris McClamey / Nate Moore

Yes And Amen lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, Capitol Christian Music Group

Be Unto Your Name

Robin Mark

We are a moment, You are forever
Lord of the Ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting, reigning on high

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name, be unto Your name

We are the broken, You are the healer
Jesus, Redeemer, Mighty to save
You are the love song we'll sing forever
Bowing before You, blessing Your name

In Christ Alone

Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Discussion Questions

1.     Share a moment when you did not believe the eventual would become the actual and you were “found out” by the future.

2.     Which of the stories in this passage did you connect with most? (Rich man and barns, Good Servant, Unfaithful Servant, Fig Tree)

3.     In the 4 Keys to discerning real followers, which was most convicting to you?

4.     How would you answer the question, “What is the best news you could get today?”  Be honest.

5.     In general, do you think of God’s return as a burdensome event, or as a joyous reunion?

6.     Of the truths in this passage about real followers of Jesus, which is most significant to you and why?

7.     As you think about the faithful servant, what would look different about your life if you were expectantly waiting on Jesus return, but didn’t know when he was coming back?

Explore

·       Read chapter 11 and especially the portion at the end concerning the Pharisees.  Think about the three main groups that Jesus addresses, Pharisees, crowd, disciples.  How does his address to each have a different tone?

·       How do we understand that Luke 12:1-Luke 13:9 is a literary unit of Luke?

·       Read John 15, who do you think each character in the parable of the fig tree (in Luke 13) represents?

·       Should we be overly concerned about the more severe punishments and the less severe punishments in the second story about the servants?  Is this a main point of the story?  Is there ever a time when being punished by God is not a big deal?

·       Think about the Pharisees declaring that Jesus works were from the devil (in Luke 11 or the parallel Mark 3) and Peter denying Christ, and Jesus saying that anyone who says a word against the Son of man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. What’s going on there?

1. Choose one word to describe your earthly father to the group. How do our fathers impact the way we relate to our heavenly Father?

2. Read Luke 11:2, 13. Jesus begins and ends his teaching by referring to God as Father. Robert Stein (NAC) notes that the title Father is associated with God just 15 times in the entire OT, compared to 165+ times in the NT gospels. Why do you think Jesus instructs his disciples to begin with this title?

3. Many scholars believe the requests of v2 are 'eschatalogical prayers.' That is, they are concerned with the end of the age, when the kingdom of God comes in its fullness and the name of God is finally and entirely 'hallowed' or known to be holy. Why do you think Jesus might encourage his disciples to begin prayer this way?

4. Read Luke 11:3-4. In what ways is bread like forgiveness? Why might we fail to ask for one or the other?

5. Read Luke 11:5-13. The central teaching (vv9-10) is surrounded by 2 parables. According to the parables, what might hinder us from faithfully asking, seeking, and knocking? What would it look like to struggle with the issues addressed by the parables? What would it look like to overcome them?

If you would like to read Martin Luther’s guide to praying through the Lord’s Prayer, you can download it here.

• Can you remember a time when you were stubborn?  What was that like?  What did you think about that when you got some space and realized you were being stubborn?

• Jesus said he came to do a number of things in these verses.  Pick the one that feels most meaningful to you and meditate on it.  Consider what life would look like if Jesus hadn't come and done that.  Think about someone you can encourage and share that hope with this week.

• Consider what it means to be in the Year of the LORD's Favor.  How does your currently reality feel like it is not in line with being in God's favor?  It is right to mourn our broken world; feel free to write down or share with a friend where you feel brokenness.  As you mourn, take time to then write or share how the reality of Jesus' second coming can bring hope to us.

1. Read Luke 4:38-41.  What did Simon witness in this section?

2. Read today's passage, Luke 5:1-11.  What was Simon's response to the miracle of fish?

3. Taking Luke 4:38-41 and Luke 5:1-11 into account, what brought Simon to this big moment of realization in 5:8?

4. Discuss the statement Jesus makes regarding Simon in Luke 5:10.  

5. Share a Luke 5:8 moment in your life.  How did it change your spiritual trajectory?

6. Has your response to Jesus' mercy been to "fish" (gather people into God's family)?

1.       Can you remember a time that you had an important task to accomplish and you were single-mindedly focused on completing it?  Share that memory with the group and talk about how it felt to have everything else fall by the wayside as you fulfilled your task.

2.       The pace and tone of Luke change at the baptism of Jesus in chapter three and his temptation in chapter four.  What has changed for Jesus with these events, and is that change simply a result of his messianic role, or is it also informative for us today?  If it is informative for us; how?

3.       In Luke 4:16-30, Jesus makes some people angry.  How does Jesus’ understanding of God’s kingdom and the synagogue crowd’s understanding of God’s kingdom differ?  If we fast-forward today, what pitfalls does our culture and context create to understanding the Bible rightly?  How can we protect ourselves from a culturally and contextually driven understanding of the Bible?

4.       Throughout the combined volume of Luke-Acts, Luke presents describes the Holy Spirit as very active, especially in chapters three and four.  As we see the Spirit leading Jesus in chapter four, what ways can you be confident in the Spirit’s leading and empowerment in your life, and how does that understanding change the ways you invest your time?

5.       Pause for a moment and consider the centuries-long, breath-holding of expectation and fulfillment that Jesus releases in the inauguration of his ministry.  What aspect strikes you personally as most marvelous and amazing about God’s Son?

Other biblical themes to explore:

·       The genealogy of Moses in Exodus 6.

·       The temptation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.

·       Israel’s years in the wilderness.

·       The stories of Elijah and Elisha.

Themes in Luke to observe

·       The misunderstood kingdom

·       The work of the Holy Spirit

·       Being “sent”

·       Words and works

Group Questions

1. Take a few minutes to answer the question "Who am I?". Use no more than five words. Share your answers with one another, along with any needed explanation.

2. In Luke 3:21-22, Father Son and Spirit are all manifest. In your own words, describe the quality of relationship between the Father and Son.

3. What bearing does Jesus' sonship have on us as his followers? How is our 'sonship' (or daughterhood) similar to his? Different? For help, see Romans 8:9-17

4. What place does sonship have in defining our identity? If you lived every day as a beloved, well pleasing child, how would it impact your life? What keeps us from living in light of this reality?

For further discussion and/or personal study:

1. In the 1st Century, the term 'Son of God' was already full of cultural connotations. Read the following excerpt from Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible:

   • Jesus’ unique sonship is antithetical to concepts of sonship popular in the ancient world. In Hellenism, people believed a man could be a “son of the gods” in many ways: in mythology, by cohabitation of a god with a woman whose offspring was imagined to be superhuman; in politics, by giving generals and emperors high honors in the cult of Roman emperor worship; in medicine, by calling a doctor “son of Asclepius”; and eventually by ascribing to anyone with mysterious powers or qualities the title or reputation of “divine man.”
     
     In the OT, certain men before the days of Noah (Gn 6:1–4) and “the angels” (including Satan, Jb 1:6; 2:1, and other heavenly beings, Ps 29:1; 82:6; 89:6 rsv margin) are called “sons of God.” Israel as a people was the chosen son of God. This corporate sonship became the basis of Israel’s redemption from Egypt: “Israel is my first-born son” (Ex 4:22; cf. Jer 31:9). Corporate sonship was the context for focus on personal sonship in the divine sanction of David as king: “I will be his father, and he will be my son” (2 Sm 7:14). David’s “adoptive” sonship was by divine decree: “I will proclaim the decree … ‘You are my son; today I have become your Father” (Ps 2:7); and it was the prophetic prototype of the “essential” sonship of Jesus, David’s royal son (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22; Acts 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5). Other messianic prophecies ascribe divine names to the Davidic messiah: “Immanuel” (Is 7:13, 14) and “Mighty God, Everlasting Father” (9:6, 7). These are fulfilled in Jesus (Mt 1:23; 21:4–10; 22:41–45).
     
     

2. Luke understood the cultural climate of the day, and intentionally builds a new 'theology of Sonship' in his gospel.
   
   Split into groups of 2. For about 5 minutes, have each group explore one of the passages below and record any info that helps shape the identity of Jesus as 'Son'. (If you have less than 12 people, omit or combine passages. If you have more than 12 people, form larger groups)

   • Luke 1:26-38

   • Luke 2:1-21

   • Luke 2:22-40

   • Luke 2:41-52

   • Luke 3:1-22

   • Luke 3:23-38
     
     

3. Compare your findings with one another. In what ways does Luke intend for us to understand the term with regard to Jesus? How does it differ from Hellenist/Roman understanding? From OT Hebrew understanding?
   
   

4. Spend time worshiping Jesus the Son of God in light of all the facets of his glory represented in Luke's narrative.

• Do you like surprises? Share about the biggest surprise you’ve been a part of, either on the giving or the receiving end.

• Luke 2:9 is an example of what Robb called an ‘interrobang (‽) moment’, when people are filled with awe, fear, bewilderment, surprise, etc. Skim through Luke 1-2. What other interrobang moments does Luke record in these opening scenes? What might these moments foreshadow for readers about Jesus’ future ministry?

• What do you think is meant when the angels sing ‘glory to God in the highest’ (v14)? How does the shepherds’ response to the glory of God compare/contrast to the angels’? What does that imply about their relationship to God?

• Biblical peace (v14) is less about tranquility and more about wholeness. In your circles, or in your life, what robs people of peace? How does Jesus bring peace?

1.    Pastor/theologian Bryan Chapell says, "People are like Swiss cheese, full of holes!" It is true of us all, yet most needs go unknown. Without mentioning names, take a moment as a group to recall some of the silent burdens carried by people in your lives. How do these 'holes' affect their lives? Why do you think people are often reluctant to share their needs?

2.    Read Luke 1:5-25. What lack or need did Zechariah and Elizabeth face? How did it affect their lives (v25)?

3.    Zechariah is chosen to enter the temple to burn incense (v9), a symbol for the prayers of the people. What specific prayer does the angel come in response to, according to v13? 

4.    Have you ever had to serve others while simultaneously having a sense of your own profound neediness? How does one's own need impact his or her capacity for ministry? Positively? Negatively?

5.    Review the songs of Mary and Zechariah (Luke 1:46-55, 67-79). Mary sings to "God my Savior" and Zechariah praises him for raising up a 'horn of salvation."  What verbs are attributed to God in these verses? What implications can be derived about the nature of our Savior/salvation?

6.    Spend time confessing your needs to one another and to the Lord in corporate prayer. Don't be afraid to pray desperate-sounding prayers! Consider one verb from question 5 to pray back to the Lord on behalf of someone in your group, or for yourself.

1. Read Ezekiel 36:22–38. Discuss what God’s role will be in Israel’s restoration.

2. Locate the verses where God highlights the importance of His word in the equation. Find the verse where He promises to place His Spirit within Ezekiel.

3. Ezekiel 37:4-5 reinforce the importance of God’s word and His Spirit in the process of bringing the bones to life. Have you ever considered these as the two essentials for equipping believers for ministry?

4. In your own life and ministry, do you elevate other resources (money, your house, cars, etc.) in a way that hinders your reliance on the word and the Spirit? Discuss.

5. Jesus declared that we don’t live on bread alone but on God’s word. Are you feeding on the scripture in a regular fashion? If you were arrested and imprisoned for your faith today, would you be spiritually sustained by what you have taken in?

6. If you still have time, read Romans 8:1-11 as a benediction.