Luke by Dennis McCallum (2015)

An introduction to the Book of Luke, including its historical reliability and the case for Luke's authorship. When the angel Gabriel visits the virgin Mary to tell her she will bear the Messiah, Mary chooses to respond in faith and gratitude, despite the risk of legal prosecution and her husband's rejection of her testimony. Mary decides to present herself to God as a willing participant in his plan. This passage illustrates humans' ability and decision to willingly participate in God's Will for their lives or reject God's Will through refusal, failure to decide, or passivity.

An analysis of the biblical and prophetic case for both John the Baptist and Jesus' mission. John the Baptist came ?in the spirit and power of Elijah? and prepared the way for the Lord, preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. The scriptural case for John the Baptist being the Old Testament Elijah himself is analyzed and compared to the expectations of the time surrounding the second comings of Jesus and Elijah. The complex case for why the fulfillment of these prophecies was not clear until they occurred in history demonstrates the intricacy and brilliance of God's plan.

An introduction of Jesus to the world and an analysis of the surrounding historical detail and circumstances during the birth of Christ. King Herod, who was aware of Jesus' birth, commanded a group of Magi to tell him where the Messiah was so he could go and worship Him, though his plan was to kill Him. This is compared to pseudo-seeking the truth about God, defined as stating that one is seeking the truth but in practice ignoring the evidence that is presented. The Magi, who were not Jews at all, came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, demonstrating God's power to work through any means to reach real seekers of the truth about Jesus.

An analysis of the genealogy of Jesus and a harmonization of the seeming difficulty of tracing his family line through the parallel genealogies in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. These separate genealogies are shown to be the separate family lines of Mary and Joseph, qualifying Jesus to be both of the family of priests and the family of kings. The historical and biblical comparison is shown to be not only astounding and accurate but indicative of Jesus' identity as the true Messiah.

The three temptations of Jesus are recorded: to be autonomous from God by turning stones into bread, to prematurely claim his rightful rulership by worshiping Satan, and for Jesus to leap from the temple to be prematurely recognized for who He is. Jesus uses Scripture to resist and refute Satan's words, demonstrating the need for every believer to know the Bible deeply and well enough to use it in spiritual warfare. The believer is encouraged to know Satan's tactics and aim for persistence in winning battles that Satan will repeatedly bring into his or her life.

Jesus' first declaration that He is the fulfillment of ancient messianic prophecies and His teaching is followed by miraculous acts of healing and exorcism, challenging the naturalist to consider the existence of the supernatural. Supernatural claims in the Bible are compared to those of other world religions, showing Biblical miracles to be astoundingly unique, indicating that Jesus' miracles are symbolic of his deity. Skeptics are invited to approach God with a desire to be convinced of the supernatural, and with an expectation that the same God who created the universe will answer by bringing the miraculous into their own lives.

A distinction is made between a decision to receive the free gift of God's forgiveness and a decision to respond to God's call to follow Him. The case for evangelism is made, pointing out peoples' need to be told about their position before God and how to be forgiven. There is no logical or loving reason not to tell others about Christ. This appeal is for people to make the first decision. The second decision is to respond to God's call for the believer to follow him and present his or her life in service to God in order to reach people with the Good News.

Jesus' ministry is shown to target the outcasts and untouchables of society with mercy and compassion. The Pharisees avoided these people at all costs, worried only for their legalistic concern for themselves. Jesus, however, was willing to forgive sin, touch a leper, and accept a despised tax collector into his circle, demonstrating His compassion for the rejects of this world. The believer is challenged to have this same attitude toward even the most repulsive individual.

An analysis of Jesus' parable of the wineskins, detailing that old wineskin are old human institutions and approaches to facilitate God's work, while the new wine is what God is doing at the time. Jesus argues that new wineskins are needed to keep up with God's new plan that He is establishing through Jesus. Modern institutional church wineskins are shown to also be a barrier to God's work (anti-cussing, special music, clergy dress, etc.), and are repelling people whom Jesus is trying to reach even though most people are interested in spiritual things.

Most people have heard some version of the "Golden Rule" but do they really know what it says? Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and he took it a step further when he said, "Love your enemies!" According to Jesus, loving other people involves action on our part. It is not a passive thought or passing feeling. Learn more about this type of love in The Sermon on the Plain.\r\n

Jesus resumes his teachings from the passage known as the Sermon on the Plain. He gives instructions for creating close, personal relationships with other believers. A key part of developing loving relationships is being able to resolve conflict in a healthy and constructive way. Jesus gives us the freedom to admit when we are at fault. In this passage he gives further instructions on what to do and what not to do after we admit our fault.\r\n

The Bible says God is our rock; He is a firm and unshakable foundation on which to build our lives. The life God wants us to lead is one driven by faith in Him. It is based on His grace and not on our good works. Biblical faith is also action-oriented. We hear what God says and then act accordingly. This faith is illustrated through three stories of healing in the book of Luke.\r\n

God is working in each of our lives to help us see our need for Him and understand the work Jesus did for us on the cross. Through the Parable of the Soils, Jesus tells us about four different responses people have to his message. Three of the responses lead to the hearers turning their backs to God while only one leads to a life lived for God to the fullest. Jesus points out that our response is completely up to us; it all comes down to our attitude and whether we are willing to listen to God or not.\r\n

The subject of miracles is a polarizing one, many people are on one end of the spectrum or the other. Jesus performed miracles; in fact, He did many miracles in His lifetime. And the miracles Jesus performed showed that He had power over the natural world. God created the world through Christ, so He had the ability to alter it. See how Jesus exercised that power through the different miracles He performed in this passage.\r\n

Jesus sends the disciples out to do ministry and tells them to depend on Him for power and authority. Then Jesus feeds 5,000 men through the disciples, with 12 left over baskets. Similarly, we are called to depend on God's power to meet other people's needs, trusting that God will provide for us as we minister. Donal O'Mathuna shares his testimony.

Who do you think Jesus is? Your answer has immense implications, in this life and the next. Jesus asks us not only to trust in his free gift of eternal life, but also to entrust our earthly lives to Him as well. This life of discipleship will cost us everything we have, but in return we'll experience an exciting, fulfilling earthly life and an eternity full of rewards.

Peter, James and John witness Jesus's transfiguration into His heavenly, glorious form on the mountain. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus, demonstrating that the Law and Prophets bear witness to Jesus though predictive prophecy and typology. Peter didn't want this amazing experience to end, but experiences aren't everything in the Christian life. Patrice McCormac gives her testimony.

We can learn a lot about Jesus in these three interactions with His disciples. The disciples are concerned with who is the greatest among them, competition with people outside of their group doing God's work, and their hatred of the Samaritans. Jesus confronts them with the fact that the greatest in His kingdom has the humility of a child, that those who aren't against them are for them, and that He came to love and save everyone.

To be saved, we must follow the entire Law perfectly all the time or we must place our trust in Jesus to fulfill the Law for us. A religious leader, wanting to lower the standard of the Law to a level he could attain, asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, demonstrating that every person is a neighbor we are called to love, even if they are our worst enemy.

Martha hurries around making preparations, while Mary sits at Jesus' feet. Mary stands as an example of the intimate relationship that Jesus wants with each one of us through prayer. Jesus gives us an example of prayer that includes dependence, praise and petition. Martha McCallum speaks about her experience with prayer.

Jesus tells a parable to argue that if a selfish person would give his persistent neighbor what he needs, then a good and loving God will generously give us everything we need. If we seek God and His will out in prayer, then God promises that we will find Him and experience His goodness. Therefore, we should be persistent in prayer, which leads to deeper faith and dependence on God's love and power.

God and His people are living in the midst of a spiritual war against Satan. Jesus tells us that we are able to bind the strong man, Satan, and invade his kingdom through prayer. When we pray, we unleash God's power to destroy Satan's attacks. Therefore, we should be alert and engage in spiritual warfare.

Jesus calls believers to fight against worry and being consumed the material cares of the world. Instead, Jesus calls believers to lean on Him as Lord and provider, as we reprioritize our values and goals to reflect His. God not only offers eternal life through Jesus Christ; He also will reward believers who invest in His plans.

Jesus asks hard questions to draw out peoples' inaccurate view of God's approach to sin and righteousness - where the unfortunate are punished by God and the righteous are not. Jesus' denies this view. Four worldviews are discussed, three are argued against regarding the ?Problem of Evil,? the Biblical view on evil and suffering being the only logical and loving belief system, revealing the real character of God.

Jesus describes what the coming ?the Kingdom of God? is like, a concept His audience was eager to discuss. However, Jesus defies people's expectations and describes a spiritual Kingdom that at face value does not seem attractive, powerful, or wise. Indeed, this Kingdom is not about installing an institution, but about spreading God's Love.

Jesus teaches and extolls humility, or servanthood, as a very different way of life than pride. Different forms of postmodern pride are explored and contrasted with the Biblical view of humility. Opportunities to learn humility are also discussed. Includes references to Aristotle, Stanton, Andrew Murray, and C.S. Lewis.\r\n

Jesus speaks to an audience of both the lowest of society's low as well as the self-righteous. Jesus addresses the self-righteous lot by telling three parables that each reflect God's character. He teaches how much God loves the humble sinner and the lengths God goes to win that person to Himself; as well as the dangers and consequences of a self-righteous person's attitude toward God.

Jesus tells an interesting parable about a recently fired manager who cheats his former master out of money to provide for his future. Like the manager, we too have only a short time left on this earth; yet too many Christians live to serve this world and forget that they are stewards of their wealth and possessions. Jesus declares that it is impossible to serve both God and wealth; therefore, we should exchange our temporary wealth for heavenly, eternal wealth.

The Pharisees believed that wealth was a sign of God's blessing, so Jesus confronts their belief by telling a parable about a poor beggar named Lazarus and a rich man living in luxury. When both men die, Lazarus goes to heaven and the rich man ends up in hell, begging for the mercy he was unwilling to show to Lazarus during his life. Jesus shows us that God has great concern for the poor, and as His followers we should fight to serve the poor with our wealth.

In this passage, we focus on 4 of Jesus's interactions with His disciples and end with a miracle. First, Jesus warns His disciples against false teaching and then explains the basis for corrective discipline and forgiveness. When the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith, He replies that they should focus on the object of their faith rather than the amount of faith. Jesus then tells a parable of a faithful, dutiful servant and rejects the attitude of entitlement. Finally, Jesus heals 10 lepers, but only one returns to say thanks, which illustrates how a lack of gratitude causes spiritual blindness.

Jesus confronts the Pharisees' self-righteous attitude with a parable of a tax collector and a Pharisee who went to the temple to pray. Jesus condemns the prideful Pharisee who boasted to God about his own good works and praises the humble tax collector who begged God for mercy. Then Jesus explains to His disciples that people must receive the kingdom of God like a child to enter it. God wants us to approach Him in childlike humility and to reject the Pharisees' comparative and judgmental attitude.

Jesus says that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus exposes a rich young ruler's idolatry of wealth because he's unwilling to give it away to follow Jesus. By contrast, a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus, receives salvation and responds with joyful generosity.

In these parallel passages, Jesus tells parables to illustrate the fact that we're accountable to God as stewards. The master leaves three servants in charge of a portion of his wealth. When the master returns from his journey, he finds that two of the servants have been faithful with what was given to them and rewards them with more. However, the last servant has done nothing with his portion, which the master angrily takes from him. Similarly, God has given each of us a stewardship that we can use to serve Him (lasting in reward) or self (ending in loss).

Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowd is overjoyed, but Jesus weeps over the city because they don't recognize that He's fulfilling prophecy in their midst. Though it's written 500 years earlier, Daniel 9 predicts the exact year that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem. Today we are able to verify Jesus' claims through evaluating predictive prophecy. Debbie Rudy shares her experience with weighing the evidence for Jesus.

Tensions rise between Jesus and the religious leaders after he drives swindlers out of the temple court. They question Jesus' authority, but Jesus sees through their pseudo-seeking and refuses to answer them. Then Jesus tells the parable of the evil vintners, who beat the workers and killed the son of the vineyard owner. Finally the religious leaders try to trap Jesus in a question about taxes, but He wisely tells them to give to Caesar what is his and give to God what is His. The question is this: will we submit to God's sovereignty in our lives, or will we continue to refuse Him, like the religious leaders in Jesus' day?

Jesus tells His disciples about the future judgment of Israel in which the temple will be destroyed and the Jews displaced. When the disciples inquire about the timeline, Jesus responds with a series of signs but assures them that the Gentiles' time in Jerusalem is only temporary. Less than 40 years later, Jesus' words came true; and today we see even more Old Testament prophecy about the end times fulfilled as the Jews are regathered to Israel. The Bible stands alone in it's ability to make astonishing predictions, confirming it's claim to be God's Word.

In the Olivet discourse, Jesus speaks with his disciples about what to expect at the end of time in a period referred to as "the great tribulation". He explains that this will be a time of chaos and intense suffering before Jesus comes back to judge the earth. We will discuss general preconditions for this time period and explore biblical prophecy surrounding this event.

Jesus spends the final hours before he is betrayed eating the traditional Passover meal with his disciples. Jesus explains that the Old Testament ritual of Passover was intended to be a picture of what He would ultimately do by dying on the cross as a substitute for sin. He instructs his disciples and us to take communion together in remembrance of his sacrifice on our behalf.

Judas Iscariot notoriously betrays Jesus the night before Jesus's death, but Jesus's right hand man, Peter, also betrays Jesus by denying him 3 times. Both Judas and Peter feel sorry for what they did, but one ends up hanging himself while the other goes on to lead the early church. We will explore the difference between guilty remorse which leads to death and humble repentance which leads to salvation.

It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of Jesus' death on the cross! Not only did Jesus endure immensely painful physical torture and humiliating psychological torment, he also bore God's judgment for all of humanity's sin and was rejected by his Father. As arrogant humanity acted out its historic contempt for God, God acted out of His humble love for us by offering us forgiveness through Jesus.

New Testament critic Bart Ehrman says, "one of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified..." But what came next? Historial evidence points to an empty tomb 3 days later. We will explore possible explanations for the empty tomb and evidence that Jesus did in fact raise from the dead!