Messianic Healing, Messianic Secret, Messianic Mission

Luke 4:38–44

Sermon Notes

  1. The Messianic Healing, vv. 38–39
  2. The Messianic Secret, vv. 40–41
  3. The Messianic Mission, vv. 42–44

Reflection questions

  1. Read vv.38–39; also read Revelation 21:4–5. Now consider – How should we consider Jesus’s miracles in light of our future resurrection and eternal home? And what do you think of the following statement? “They [the miracles] are all intended to fasten in our minds the great truth that Christ is the appointed Healer of every evil which sin has brought into the world.” (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thought on the Gospels: Luke, 1:97)
  2. Why did Jesus not want the demons to tell others about His identity? Compare John 6:15.
  3. What was Jesus’s mission? What is our mission? (Consider Matthew 28:18–20) How can did Jesus stay focused on His mission (v.42; compare Mark 1:35ff)? How did He avoid distractions? Was Jesus afraid to say, “No,” to the expectations and requests of others that interfered with His mission? What lessons can we learn from His practices?

Messianic Power: The Word Spreads

Luke 4:31–37

Sermon Notes

The word is:

  1. Astonishing, vv. 31–32
  2. Authoritative, vv. 32–36
  3. Alive, vv. 36–37

Reflection questions

  1. When is the last time you read something in God’s Word that astonished you? When is the last time you prayed the words of Psalm 139:23-24? Should there be any connection between those two questions?
  2. Have you ever experienced a time in life where your knowledge of God was increasing but your love for God and others did not? Read 1 Cor. 13:1-7 (esp. v.2). In which aspect of love (from I Cor. 13) do you need to grow the most right now?
  3. We often focus on evangelism as an act of obedience (as it should be), but do we also make it a regular item of prayer? Consider Paul’s prayer requests in Ephesians 6:18-20 and Colossians 4:3-4.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Luke 4:14–30

Sermon Notes

  1. The Year of the Lord’s Favor, vv. 14–19
  2. The Focus on the Lord’s Sermon, vv. 20–24
  3. The Anger over the Lord’s Rebuke, vv. 23–30

Reflection questions

  1. Jesus’s ministry was both widely acclaimed and angrily rejected. What kind of lesson should that be to us about how our words will be received? (See John 15:18–25)
  2. Does it surprise you that Jesus tells the people he realizes that they don’t believe in Him? Can you think of another time He does this? See John 6:26–29, esp. v.26; notice what story occurs in 6:1–15, as well.
  3. Read Dt. 8:7–8 and Psalm 67:1–5. Why did God bless His people? Was it because of something inherent in them? What was God trying to the world through His chosen people? What was God’s purpose for His chosen people? And what remains the same about that purpose for His people (see Mt. 28:18–20)?

Jesus, son of David, of Abraham, of Adam, of God

Luke 3:23–38

Sermon Notes

Questions to ask of the text:

  • Why is this Genealogy included?
  • Why is it included in this specific part of Luke's Gospel?
  • What are Luke's unique purposes including it (i.e. how is it different than Matthew's list and purposes)?

Conclusion: Luke's main point is to show his audience that Jesus is both the son of Mary and Joseph AND the son of God. He is both God and Man.

Discussion Questions & Further Study

  1. What are some other parts of the Bible that are hard for you to get through when reading?
  2. How can slowing down and asking questions of hard texts help you find meaning from them?
  3. Why was it important that Jesus was born in the lineage of David? Why was it also important that Jesus not be born of "ordinary generation"?
  4. Why is it important that Jesus was fully Divine? Why was it also important that Jesus was fully Human?
  5. Read 1 Corinthians 15:21–22. How does being born of Adam bring death? How does being "in" Christ bring life?
  6. Do any of these questions mean anything (or matter) to you? (Read Hebrews Chapter 2 for help)

He Must Become Greater

Luke 3:15–22

Sermon Notes

  1. The Mightier One, vv. 15–18
  2. The Meek One, vv. 19–20
  3. The Beloved Son, vv. 21–22

Reflection questions

  1. John said he was unworthy to do the work of the lowliest servant (untying someone’s sandals) for Jesus, who was far greater than John. What emotions do you feel when you realize that Jesus did a similar, lowly task for his disciples, by washing their feet? (cf. Phil 2:3–8; John 13)
  2. John’s hellfire and brimstone preaching is called “good news” in Luke 3:18. Is news of judgment good news to you? Is judgment the sum-total of the good news? What other blessings are included in the gospel/good news?
  3. Why was Jesus baptized if He was sinless? (Consider 2 Cor. 5:21)

Repentance Leads to Change

Luke 3:7–17

Sermon Notes

  1. Repentance Changes Us: Through Reconciliation

    • Reconciled to God (Saved from his wrath by Repentance: v.7–9, 17)
    • Reconciled to Others (The Fruit of Repentance is loving others: v.10–14)

  2. Repentance Changes the World: Through us being Salt and Light

    • Salt to the World (What a repentant life looks like at work: v.12–14)
    • Light to the World (How a repentant life affects our witness: v.7, 12–14)

  3. Conclusion (v.15–16)

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you think of God more in terms of his love or his wrath? How are both true of him?

  2. How would full, honest repentance (open acknowledgment of our sin) lead us to trust more in the work of Christ?

  3. What is an example where you can be outwardly obedient, but inwardly you have the wrong (perhaps selfish) motives?

  4. John the Baptist doesn't call people out of the service of Rome, instead, he tells them to stay and to do their work ethically. As Christians, we have multiple areas of "work" (in our home, with our children, at our church, at our employment). For your particular responsibilities, what would it look like to serve un-ethically? What would it look like to serve sacrificially for the good of others in that area?

  5. Why should Christians be people who are the most comfortable with receiving criticism?

Further Thought: John the Baptist preaches a message of Repentance, that others needed to be honest about admitting their sin, even publicly through baptism. God uses others to reveal to us our sin. Being scared to receive criticism can sometimes reveal we don't fully believe that we are completely forgiven in Christ. If you are willing, ask someone you trust to be honest about your sin, and how it has hurt them. As those feelings of condemnation, guilt, and defensiveness come, remember that, if you are in Christ, you don't need to defend, you're free to acknowledge the sin, safely resting in Christ's record and not your own.

John: The Baptizer and Forerunner

Luke 3:1–9

Sermon Notes

  1. A new prophet for a turbulent time, vv. 1–2
  2. A new way of life for a wayward people, v.3, 7–9
  3. A new highway for The King to come and save His people, vv. 4–6

Reflection questions

  1. Why does God send a prophet (John) and then another prophet (and priest and king - Jesus) to save God’s people? Why doesn’t he send someone to overthrow the oppressive government ruling over Israel? Compare this story to Judges 6:1–12. Why do you think God waited to send a deliverer, and why did he first send a prophet to Israel? How do these stories tell us what we as God’s people need most?
  2. Reflecting upon John’s calling as a prophet (see v2), JC Ryle writes: “Let it be a part of our daily prayers, that our churches may have no ministers excepting those who are really called of God.”1 Why is that an important prayer? What is the nature of their work, and what is one of the difficulties of their work? (See Hebrews 13:17)
  3. Read Luke 3:4–6 – What obstacle is keeping you from living the way that God has called you to live? What “mountains of pride need to be broken down” and what “valleys of self-pity need to be raised”2 so that you can prepare your heart for the King’s arrival?

In THE Father’s House

Luke 2:39–52

Sermon Notes

  1. The God-man grew into manhood, vv. 39–42, 52
  2. The God-man longed to be in His Heavenly Father’s house, vv. 40–50
  3. The God-man submitted to His earthly parents’ authority, vv. 49–51

Reflection questions

  1. Jesus is not simply an example to us (see 1 Peter 2:24), but Scripture does tell us to follow His example, sometimes (see 1 Peter 2:21–23). How does the example of Christ’s childhood challenge us to new obedience? (See Hebrews 5:7)

  2. As you consider Luke 2:49, do you think of God’s law as a duty or a delight? Consider the words of this hymn (Love Constraining to Obedience), from William Cowper: “To see the Law by Christ fulfilled, To hear His pardoning voice, Changes a slave into a child And duty into choice.” Also consider Hebrews 10:5–7 and Ps 40:6–8.

  3. Why is it important that Christ lived and died for you? See 1 Peter 1:18–19; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21. Why is Christ’s death different or better than someone else’s death, better than the death of a lamb or goat or bull?

What Jesus Came to Do

Luke 2:21–37

Sermon Notes

Jesus came to:

  1. Fulfill the Law (v. 21–24)
  2. Save (vv. 21, 30)
  3. Give consolation and comfort (v. 25)
  4. Be a light to the Gentiles (v. 32)
  5. Be the glory to Israel (vv. 26, 32)
  6. Cause the rise and fall of many (v.34)
  7. Die (v. 35)
  8. To reveal the hearts of mankind (v. 35)

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some common misconceptions and wrong beliefs about who Jesus was and what he came to do?
  2. What are some different names and titles for Jesus Christ? (A quick google search can help you out here) How do their meanings help us understand what Jesus came to do?
  3. If you were to summarize the mission of Jesus, what would you say it was? What steps were taken in his life to accomplish it? How does it connect/apply to us?
  4. Our text said Jesus was appointed for the rise and fall of many, and the scriptures describe Jesus as either a cornerstone or a stumbling block. Why is this? Some people seem to be rather unaffected Jesus, but how does a proper understanding of him prevent us from being “neutral” about Jesus?