Passage: Luke 1:1-4 -"So that you may know the certainty of the things you've been taught."
Luke-a little about him.
2 Tim. 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
"along with those who call on the Lord" The New Ehglish Version says "in the company of others". We are meant to pursue God in company with others! We aren't alone in our pursuit....do it alongside others!
In 2 Tim. 4:9-12 in vs 10-11 Paul has been abandoned by others. He said only Luke was with him. Luke may have been the one taking Paul's dictation here. Could Luke tell Paul's time of death was near? Luke was Paul's BFF!
Who was Luke? Col. 4:10-14
He was the loved physician (called the beloved physician in some versions). He was a man of means. He shows up in Paul's life in Acts 16:6. In Acts 16:10-15 the "we" and "us" includes Luke. In between verses 8-10, Luke shows up.
Church historians tell us that Luke and Paul met in Antioch, so we can assume that may have been Luke's hometown. Years have gone by since the time of their meeting. In Galatians 4:13-15, in Paul's letter to the Galatians, Paul is ill. His illness is bad enough that it effects his eyes. If Luke is a doctor there, for Antioch is in Galatia, then it is possible Luke met Paul there. (All fun to think about). Paul goes through Galatia in Act 16 and it is after this Luke starts the "we" and "us" in Troas. So Luke may have joined them in Galatia.
Luke put the "company" in the "accompany" and stays with Paul until Paul's end.
7 Things We Can Learn From Luke
1. We were created for good company.
2 Tim. 2:22 -Keep company with those of a pure heart.
I Pet 1:22 says you are purified by obedience to the Truth. And pure hearts love deeply!
We are purified at salvation but Peter is talking here about surrender to obedience....walking in God's way. If we walk in God's way, we do not fall into the cycle of repeat sin. Surrender is the key!
Disobedience to God deforms the heart. Obedience to God reforms the heart.
There may be people we love who are not believers, and we should love them, but our close walks and relationship should be with those who obey Christ. Even if it is a person who needs your help and wants to spend a lot of time with you. Being constantly one on one with an unhealthy relationship can mess us up, too. It is better to minister to this type of person in a small group context so that you may hold each other accountable.
2. An individual calling can only be fulfilled in a "we" context.
Acts 16:10 Throughout the book of Acts, you see "we" and "them" or "they".
Luke stays anonymous-that is meant to be all of us! We cannot fulfill God's destiny for us on our own. It takes a band of believers praying, supporting and upholding one another.
We don't have a "wee" calling but a "we" calling.
Your calling is as blessed as the people in your life you are blessed with.
Luke wrote two books. In the book of Luke, he wrote about things he didn’t witness and in the book of Acts, he was there but he didn’t name himself. What would happen if we took the "self" out of our study of God's word. Stop approaching it as to what God has for ME, but as for what God has to SAY. Just study the Word and say "God surprise me!"....we are to self centered. Let God work as He will.
Hermeneutics means a "method or a principle of interpretation".
Do you see the word "her"? Do you see the word "me". If the "her" is in "me", I will miss what He has to say about Himself.
See the word "he"? We should want to know about Jesus!
At the same time, look at point #3.
3. God never overlooks a single "me" in the bigger "we".
Scholars believe the book of acts was written in Ad 61 -63.
Acts 28:30- Luke is with Paul and may have written the books at this time...the time close to Paul's death.
Just as Luke may have been thinking he was just "along for the ride" or "lost in the crowd" (Luke stayed with Paul for two years)....God inspires a man (Luke), who is caring for an apostle, to write the longest canon....with more verses than any other. With Luke and Acts, Luke wrote 2157 verses. Paul write 2032 verses. Luke wasn't just along for the ride, God used him greatly!
Luke 1:3 says...it seemed good to me to write an account of"....... God didn't do a BIG miracle or speak outloud to Luke, it just "seemed good to Luke" to write the book of Luke. But God was in it.
Let's take a new looke at Luke 4:1-4
If you have heart for God's will, you won't have to worry about missing His will...He will reveal it to you.
Jesus became a friend of sinners so that we could become a friend of God.
Luke 4:3 "It seemed good, also to me to write an account"....there had been other accounts of the times of Jesus on the earth. Luke did not mind being an "also".
Other passages in scripture that uses the word "also".
Luke 8:1-2, 12:8, 16:10 John 10:16, 14:3, 19, Rom 1:6, 8:30-32, I Cor. 6:14, Eph. 1:11, 13, 2 Tim. 2:2, I Pet. 2:5, I Jn 1:3, col. 3:14 and 2 Tim. 4:7,8. O, blessed also!
Also-another life standing out, sold out, sticking out, spent out
(side note)single women-Luke was single. He served the Lord without distraction...no wife and children to tend to. He had flexibility in ministry that a married person wouldn't have.
In Luke 4:1-4 and in Act 28:28-31, Luke uses a High Greek beauty and artistry in his writing. It is a greek language for the educated and those who investigate. The rest of the two books are in layman's writing. These books would be written on a scroll and at the top of the scroll you could only see the first four verses:
(read them...it is a neat thing to read to introduce the scroll)
Luke 1:3 and in Act 1: 1-2 --Both books are written to Theophilus. Theo-means Friend of God and Philos means Friend. Friend of God.
Three ways of thinking about this:
a. It's written to all of us symbolically (we are all friends of God)
b. it's a pseudomyn- (I know I spelled that wrong) "fake name" because it was too dangerous to reveal who
c. it was a real person.
Beth thinks it was a real person. In Luke it says "most excellent Theophilus" which was a way one would refer to those in prominient positions. Later, in Act...it is just Theophilus. Some think perhaps he was not saved when Luke wrote to him in the book of Luke but later, when Luke wrote Acts, Theo had become a believer and had dropped the formalities with his friends...but this is just something fun to think about.
Another interesting fact...Luke makes reference to friendship more than any other writer of the bible.
Luke 7:31-35 This "proverb" Jesus was telling means sometimes you don't know what is wise until it shows it's reaping or it's end.
The Pharisees did not understand that THEY were the sinners that Jesus was a friend to. The "outcasts" (like the "sinner" woman who Jesus went to right after he told them this story) became the "insiders'....Jesus, Himself, was an outsider. Jesus spent time and loved the Gentiles, the poor, the publicans, the outcasts, and WOMEN. Jesus was a friend to them.
Luke left us an example of the art of curing souls.
Luke 15:17, 31-we are all inspired to be a "doctor'.
Luke 13:10-14--When Jesus heals the woman who couldn’t even straighten up..and he heals her on the Sabbath which makes the Pharisees in an uproar.! Luke is the only one who fills us in on this story. The Pharisees think the Sabbath is not a day for healing! The are indignant. In verse 15, Jesus calls them hypocrites. They would rather be "comfortable" than see healings that are "against the rules".
Beth says she was the like the woman who couldn't stand up....her sin was so great. Anyone with habitual sin or addictions can memorize scripture and when old thoughts or images come, spout off the Word till the go away. I Pet. 1:22 My abundant life comes from my obedience to God. Take addictions one day at a time, Your victory is in His authority. Jesus has the art of healing souls.
Ezekiel 16:4-7 No matter what your sin looks like, God will bring you to beauty!!!
We have been graciously graced and forgiven and has moved others to give us grace. But we don't grace some because of our bitterness and unforgiveness. Forgiveness means to send something forth.
Maybe if we don't have "good company" we should take a look at ourselves.
But the "I" back in the "Luv you"....saying I love you exposes ourselves or may not be returned. So instead of "Luv ya"...say "I love you!"
I Cor 12:31c says "most excellent way". To LOVE. Love is the excellent way.
(back to the 7 points)
5. We can revel in the certainty of the things we have been taught. Luke 1:4.
"taught" in Greek is ketecheo Sounds like catechism. Salvation through Christ. Everything God teaches us is to reach us...to get us to know Him.
Our heart aches for those trying to live godly lives without God. A relationship with the Creator is why we are taught. It is why we learn. 2 Tim. 1:12- Know HIM. He is our certainty.
Our faith is based on facts.
If you are not sure that "God is good" then know that God is great. The more you need Him, the more you will see Him revealed. When it is darkest of all, maybe you are in the cleft of the rock and covered by His hand. God is faithful.
John 20: 29 is talking about US. We are blessed because we haven't seen Him but we believe.
In Acts 1:1-4 Jesus had died and come back to those He loves. They kept seeing Him but then He would go away for a time. He did this for 40 days. How hard this must have been for them!! 40 days is an important number in the bible. There were 40 days of testing for Christ, 40 days of rain for Noah, Moses was on the Mount 40 days, the spies were out for 40 days. Elijah was fed for 40 days, Jesus on earth for 40 days, a child is in the womb 40 weeks.
But in Acts 1:4, Jesus is eating with them. In John, He made them breakfast and ate.
"eating" is a compound Greek word synalizo syns means together and lizo is to salt...to SHAKE with salt.
Jesus had them "shaking the salt" together! He tore break and they ate from the same piece. They drank from the same cup.
Salt is preservative. A cleanser. We are the flavor. We are not meant to blend in. We don't have to be unlikeable to be spiritual....they need to "taste and see that the Lord is good". We are called to the Dining table to commune and fellowship. Stop the divisions between denominations and spiritual gifts. If we have received Christ, then we are family. They will know us by our LOVE. Our witness is at stake.
In Acts 27:20, 33-35 Luke and Paul are on a ship together. It is dangerous. Paul told then it wouldn't go well but they didn't listen. After 14 days, Paul tells them to eat something. He break bread and gives it to them as Jesus did in Luke 22:19. It was a unique communion on the ship. It may have been just a meal to most there but to Luke and Paul it was Communion!
6. Jesus has passed us the salt, also.
The early church and Christ's followers are long gone, but we are here and can be used. We have the salt shakers.
7. We can be the many convincing proofs that Jesus is alive.
Act. 28:28-31 The last word in the book of Acts (in it's original language) is "unhindered". We are called to a life that is unhindered. God calls us to be unshackled to preach Jesus.
We don’t have time for bitterness, unforgiveness. Do whatever you have to do to BE FREE. We have the power through Christ.
Tradition says that Luke died at 84 years of age filled with the Spirit.
He had been the great narrator where Jesus was the main point.
Beth's grandson, Jackson, was suppose to write his story in K5. That age has a small vocabulary and weak writing skills. Jackson's life story was "I love you, Mrs. Marino" (his teacher).
I love you, Jesus was Luke's story. Is it ours??
Luke-a little about him.
2 Tim. 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
"along with those who call on the Lord" The New Ehglish Version says "in the company of others". We are meant to pursue God in company with others! We aren't alone in our pursuit....do it alongside others!
In 2 Tim. 4:9-12 in vs 10-11 Paul has been abandoned by others. He said only Luke was with him. Luke may have been the one taking Paul's dictation here. Could Luke tell Paul's time of death was near? Luke was Paul's BFF!
Who was Luke? Col. 4:10-14
He was the loved physician (called the beloved physician in some versions). He was a man of means. He shows up in Paul's life in Acts 16:6. In Acts 16:10-15 the "we" and "us" includes Luke. In between verses 8-10, Luke shows up.
Church historians tell us that Luke and Paul met in Antioch, so we can assume that may have been Luke's hometown. Years have gone by since the time of their meeting. In Galatians 4:13-15, in Paul's letter to the Galatians, Paul is ill. His illness is bad enough that it effects his eyes. If Luke is a doctor there, for Antioch is in Galatia, then it is possible Luke met Paul there. (All fun to think about). Paul goes through Galatia in Act 16 and it is after this Luke starts the "we" and "us" in Troas. So Luke may have joined them in Galatia.
Luke put the "company" in the "accompany" and stays with Paul until Paul's end.
7 Things We Can Learn From Luke
1. We were created for good company.
2 Tim. 2:22 -Keep company with those of a pure heart.
I Pet 1:22 says you are purified by obedience to the Truth. And pure hearts love deeply!
We are purified at salvation but Peter is talking here about surrender to obedience....walking in God's way. If we walk in God's way, we do not fall into the cycle of repeat sin. Surrender is the key!
Disobedience to God deforms the heart. Obedience to God reforms the heart.
There may be people we love who are not believers, and we should love them, but our close walks and relationship should be with those who obey Christ. Even if it is a person who needs your help and wants to spend a lot of time with you. Being constantly one on one with an unhealthy relationship can mess us up, too. It is better to minister to this type of person in a small group context so that you may hold each other accountable.
2. An individual calling can only be fulfilled in a "we" context.
Acts 16:10 Throughout the book of Acts, you see "we" and "them" or "they".
Luke stays anonymous-that is meant to be all of us! We cannot fulfill God's destiny for us on our own. It takes a band of believers praying, supporting and upholding one another.
We don't have a "wee" calling but a "we" calling.
Your calling is as blessed as the people in your life you are blessed with.
Luke wrote two books. In the book of Luke, he wrote about things he didn’t witness and in the book of Acts, he was there but he didn’t name himself. What would happen if we took the "self" out of our study of God's word. Stop approaching it as to what God has for ME, but as for what God has to SAY. Just study the Word and say "God surprise me!"....we are to self centered. Let God work as He will.
Hermeneutics means a "method or a principle of interpretation".
Do you see the word "her"? Do you see the word "me". If the "her" is in "me", I will miss what He has to say about Himself.
See the word "he"? We should want to know about Jesus!
At the same time, look at point #3.
3. God never overlooks a single "me" in the bigger "we".
Scholars believe the book of acts was written in Ad 61 -63.
Acts 28:30- Luke is with Paul and may have written the books at this time...the time close to Paul's death.
Just as Luke may have been thinking he was just "along for the ride" or "lost in the crowd" (Luke stayed with Paul for two years)....God inspires a man (Luke), who is caring for an apostle, to write the longest canon....with more verses than any other. With Luke and Acts, Luke wrote 2157 verses. Paul write 2032 verses. Luke wasn't just along for the ride, God used him greatly!
Luke 1:3 says...it seemed good to me to write an account of"....... God didn't do a BIG miracle or speak outloud to Luke, it just "seemed good to Luke" to write the book of Luke. But God was in it.
Let's take a new looke at Luke 4:1-4
If you have heart for God's will, you won't have to worry about missing His will...He will reveal it to you.
Jesus became a friend of sinners so that we could become a friend of God.
Luke 4:3 "It seemed good, also to me to write an account"....there had been other accounts of the times of Jesus on the earth. Luke did not mind being an "also".
Other passages in scripture that uses the word "also".
Luke 8:1-2, 12:8, 16:10 John 10:16, 14:3, 19, Rom 1:6, 8:30-32, I Cor. 6:14, Eph. 1:11, 13, 2 Tim. 2:2, I Pet. 2:5, I Jn 1:3, col. 3:14 and 2 Tim. 4:7,8. O, blessed also!
Also-another life standing out, sold out, sticking out, spent out
(side note)single women-Luke was single. He served the Lord without distraction...no wife and children to tend to. He had flexibility in ministry that a married person wouldn't have.
In Luke 4:1-4 and in Act 28:28-31, Luke uses a High Greek beauty and artistry in his writing. It is a greek language for the educated and those who investigate. The rest of the two books are in layman's writing. These books would be written on a scroll and at the top of the scroll you could only see the first four verses:
(read them...it is a neat thing to read to introduce the scroll)
Luke 1:3 and in Act 1: 1-2 --Both books are written to Theophilus. Theo-means Friend of God and Philos means Friend. Friend of God.
Three ways of thinking about this:
a. It's written to all of us symbolically (we are all friends of God)
b. it's a pseudomyn- (I know I spelled that wrong) "fake name" because it was too dangerous to reveal who
c. it was a real person.
Beth thinks it was a real person. In Luke it says "most excellent Theophilus" which was a way one would refer to those in prominient positions. Later, in Act...it is just Theophilus. Some think perhaps he was not saved when Luke wrote to him in the book of Luke but later, when Luke wrote Acts, Theo had become a believer and had dropped the formalities with his friends...but this is just something fun to think about.
Another interesting fact...Luke makes reference to friendship more than any other writer of the bible.
Luke 7:31-35 This "proverb" Jesus was telling means sometimes you don't know what is wise until it shows it's reaping or it's end.
The Pharisees did not understand that THEY were the sinners that Jesus was a friend to. The "outcasts" (like the "sinner" woman who Jesus went to right after he told them this story) became the "insiders'....Jesus, Himself, was an outsider. Jesus spent time and loved the Gentiles, the poor, the publicans, the outcasts, and WOMEN. Jesus was a friend to them.
Luke left us an example of the art of curing souls.
Luke 15:17, 31-we are all inspired to be a "doctor'.
Luke 13:10-14--When Jesus heals the woman who couldn’t even straighten up..and he heals her on the Sabbath which makes the Pharisees in an uproar.! Luke is the only one who fills us in on this story. The Pharisees think the Sabbath is not a day for healing! The are indignant. In verse 15, Jesus calls them hypocrites. They would rather be "comfortable" than see healings that are "against the rules".
Beth says she was the like the woman who couldn't stand up....her sin was so great. Anyone with habitual sin or addictions can memorize scripture and when old thoughts or images come, spout off the Word till the go away. I Pet. 1:22 My abundant life comes from my obedience to God. Take addictions one day at a time, Your victory is in His authority. Jesus has the art of healing souls.
Ezekiel 16:4-7 No matter what your sin looks like, God will bring you to beauty!!!
We have been graciously graced and forgiven and has moved others to give us grace. But we don't grace some because of our bitterness and unforgiveness. Forgiveness means to send something forth.
Maybe if we don't have "good company" we should take a look at ourselves.
But the "I" back in the "Luv you"....saying I love you exposes ourselves or may not be returned. So instead of "Luv ya"...say "I love you!"
I Cor 12:31c says "most excellent way". To LOVE. Love is the excellent way.
(back to the 7 points)
5. We can revel in the certainty of the things we have been taught. Luke 1:4.
"taught" in Greek is ketecheo Sounds like catechism. Salvation through Christ. Everything God teaches us is to reach us...to get us to know Him.
Our heart aches for those trying to live godly lives without God. A relationship with the Creator is why we are taught. It is why we learn. 2 Tim. 1:12- Know HIM. He is our certainty.
Our faith is based on facts.
If you are not sure that "God is good" then know that God is great. The more you need Him, the more you will see Him revealed. When it is darkest of all, maybe you are in the cleft of the rock and covered by His hand. God is faithful.
John 20: 29 is talking about US. We are blessed because we haven't seen Him but we believe.
In Acts 1:1-4 Jesus had died and come back to those He loves. They kept seeing Him but then He would go away for a time. He did this for 40 days. How hard this must have been for them!! 40 days is an important number in the bible. There were 40 days of testing for Christ, 40 days of rain for Noah, Moses was on the Mount 40 days, the spies were out for 40 days. Elijah was fed for 40 days, Jesus on earth for 40 days, a child is in the womb 40 weeks.
But in Acts 1:4, Jesus is eating with them. In John, He made them breakfast and ate.
"eating" is a compound Greek word synalizo syns means together and lizo is to salt...to SHAKE with salt.
Jesus had them "shaking the salt" together! He tore break and they ate from the same piece. They drank from the same cup.
Salt is preservative. A cleanser. We are the flavor. We are not meant to blend in. We don't have to be unlikeable to be spiritual....they need to "taste and see that the Lord is good". We are called to the Dining table to commune and fellowship. Stop the divisions between denominations and spiritual gifts. If we have received Christ, then we are family. They will know us by our LOVE. Our witness is at stake.
In Acts 27:20, 33-35 Luke and Paul are on a ship together. It is dangerous. Paul told then it wouldn't go well but they didn't listen. After 14 days, Paul tells them to eat something. He break bread and gives it to them as Jesus did in Luke 22:19. It was a unique communion on the ship. It may have been just a meal to most there but to Luke and Paul it was Communion!
6. Jesus has passed us the salt, also.
The early church and Christ's followers are long gone, but we are here and can be used. We have the salt shakers.
7. We can be the many convincing proofs that Jesus is alive.
Act. 28:28-31 The last word in the book of Acts (in it's original language) is "unhindered". We are called to a life that is unhindered. God calls us to be unshackled to preach Jesus.
We don’t have time for bitterness, unforgiveness. Do whatever you have to do to BE FREE. We have the power through Christ.
Tradition says that Luke died at 84 years of age filled with the Spirit.
He had been the great narrator where Jesus was the main point.
Beth's grandson, Jackson, was suppose to write his story in K5. That age has a small vocabulary and weak writing skills. Jackson's life story was "I love you, Mrs. Marino" (his teacher).
I love you, Jesus was Luke's story. Is it ours??
1 comment:
Dear Donna,
Thank you for sharing your notes from Beth Moore's Simulcast! There were some interruptions in transmission while we were watching it in our church in Singapore and I had to leave before it ended.
God bless.
Jennifer
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