Part 1 – Luke 19:28-22:46 Growth Group Study Booklet Living for Jesus By making, maturing and mobilising disciples For His Glory 1 Part 1 – Luke 19:28-22:46 Introduction to Luke - Page 3 Luke 19-24 Chronology - Page 4 Space for notes - Page 5 Study 1 – Luke 19:28-48 - Page 6 Study 2 – Luke 20:1-19 - Page 8 Study 3 – Luke 20:20-44 - Page 10 Study 4 – Luke 20:45-21:4 - Page 12 Study 5 – Luke 21:5-36 - Page 14 Study 6 – Luke 22:1-23 - Page 16 Study 7 – Luke 22:24-38 - Page 18 Study 8 – Luke 22:39-46 - Page 20 Space for Notes - Page 22 Luke Overview + Map - Page 23 Studies in this study booklet prepared by: - Leo Woodward, Joel Allen & Bill Forgeard 2 Introduction to Luke Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul (Col. 4:14). He wrote this Gospel and its sequel, the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Luke–Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in Acts 28, which would have been c. a.d. 62. Both Luke and Acts are addressed to “Theophilus” (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1), about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus. Luke informs us from the beginning (1:1–4) that his is not the only Gospel to have been written nor the only Gospel account that could be written (cf. John 21:25). Nevertheless, the church has always recognized the great gift that the third Gospel is to us. There are many beautiful and essential teachings of Jesus and pictures of the gospel that come to us from Luke alone. While the historical and theological witness of all four Gospels contains many consistent themes, Luke describes for us the gospel and its application in several specific and important ways. At the broadest level we learn from this Gospel account that the gospel is multi-faceted and full-orbed. That is, the gospel is explained and applied as being about our whole lives, physically and spiritually, externally and internally, for now and for the future, in our relationship with God and with others. The gospel is not simply a message about religion and the “religious” portion of our lives. Rather, Luke’s presentation helps us see clearly that the gospel of Jesus is about the comprehensive blessedness of God available to us through Jesus Christ. At a more specific level Luke retells the stories and teachings of Jesus in a way that consistently emphasizes that the gospel is a matter of the heart, the inner person, not mere external religion. Jesus constantly reveals the heart motivations behind our actions and pushes us toward opening our hearts in humility toward God. As a result, the gospel in Luke is often presented as a call to reevaluate everything in the world according to God’s perspective, not ours. This means valuing humility over prestige, mercy over justice, favor with God over favor with people, and—especially challenging to us— valuing a rich relationship with God over the power of money. To emphasize this comprehensive understanding of the gospel, Luke uses a variety of complementary images to describe it. The gospel includes the message of peace, the offer of forgiveness of sins through repentance, the promise of inheriting eternal life, the invitation to enter the kingdom of God, and the joy of being with Jesus as a disciple. In all of this, the gospel is good news because it announces the grace and peace that have now come to sinners in Jesus Christ. From the Gospel Transformation Bible (Study Notes for Luke by Jonathan Pennington). 3 Luke 19-24 Chronology Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem (Luke 19:29-44) Monday Jesus cleanses the temple (Luke 19:45-48) Tuesday Jesus teaches in the temple (Luke 20:1-21:36) Wednesday* Jesus continues teaching as his enemies plot against him (Luke 21:37-22:5) Thursday The Passover meal and the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:7-46) Friday Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, Peter’s denial, Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod, Jesus condemned, crucified, dies and is buried (Luke 22:47-23:56a) Saturday The disciples rest on the Sabbath (Luke 23:56b) Sunday The women & disciples learn of Jesus’ resurrection at the empty tomb, Jesus appears on the road to emmaus, Jesus appears to the disciples (Luke 24:1-49) Some time later Jesus’ ascension (Luke 24:50-53) * Possible, but not certain 4 Notes 5 STUDY 1 Luke 19:28-48 Kick Off: Describe an occasion in your life when you suddenly burst into praise of God, or praise of someone you particularly admired. Key Verses: Luke 19:38-40 Big Idea: Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb, our Lord and Saviour, is wholly worthy of praise and honour. Investigate & Apply: Read Luke 19:28-38. 1. Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem as He did, riding a donkey? (See Zechariah 9:9). 2. Most of the crowd were embracing Jesus as Messiah. What sort of Messiah were they embracing? What sort of Messiah was Jesus actually portraying? 3. What may have been Jesus’ thoughts as the crowd were paying homage to Him and praising God? 4. Read Luke 19:39-40. Jesus entered Jerusalem during the Passover period. He also entered the city in a public way that challenged the Pharisees. Why? (See Acts 2:23, 1 Corinthians 5:7). Read Luke 19:41-44. 5. For what reasons did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? 6 Read Luke 19:45-46. Jesus cleanses the temple. 6. Why were the temple courts “a den of robbers”? (See Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11). 7. If Jesus desires that our lives be characterised by informed zeal, praise of God, and a genuine commitment to growing into a mature Christian, how would we go about cooperating with the Holy Spirit to aid that growth? Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon, read Luke 20:1-19. 7 STUDY 2 Luke 20:1-19 Kick Off: Do you find it easy or difficult to submit to authority (employers, government, law enforcement etc.)? Key Verse: Luke 20:17 Big Idea: Those who reject the authority of Jesus now will face his rejection of them at the final judgment. Investigate & Apply: Read Luke 20:1-8. 1. Do you think that the chief priests and scribes had a right to question the authority of Jesus? Why or why not? 2. What are the two different motivations behind their answer to the question that Jesus asks them (v. 5-7)? 3. Why might Jesus have refused to answer their question (v. 8)? Read Luke 20: 9-19 4. What is the main point that Jesus is making with this parable? 5. Why do the people react so strongly to the way that the parable ends (v. 16)? 8 6. Can you think of any ways that we are in danger of rejecting or opposing the work of God’s kingdom? 7. Who or what is the stone that Jesus mentions in verses 17 and 18? How are these verses connected with the parable he has just told? 8. The Jewish authorities clearly fear the people rather than Jesus in verses 6 and 19. How does fear of what people think of us sometimes stop us from serving Jesus? Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon, read Luke 20:20-44. 9 STUDY 3 Luke 20:20-44 Kick Off: How do you usually react when you’re confronted with a tricky question or situation? Are you more likely to try and avoid the challenge or relish it? Key Verse: Luke 20:26 Big Idea: Jesus’ wisdom in answering his opponents proves his authority and power. Investigate and Apply: Read Luke 20:20-26. 1. What might the scribes and chief priests have been hoping that Jesus would say in answer to their question (v. 22)? 2. How did Jesus’ answer undo their plan to trap him? 3. How should we respond to the governing authorities of our nation in light of Jesus’ answer? What might this look like in practice? Read Luke 20:27-40. 4. Do you think that the Sadducees’ question is stupid or clever? What point are they trying to prove? 5. What is your initial reaction to Jesus’ teaching about marriage and the resurrection in verses 34-36? 10 6. How does Jesus use the Old Testament to prove the reality of resurrection in v 37-38? Read Luke 20:41-44. 7. What point is Jesus making with his questions and quotation from Psalm 110:1? 8. How does this section relate to the previous passage about marriage and the resurrection? Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church.