Choosing Followers; Giving Marching Orders

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 3 to study Luke 6:12 through as far as we get.  We probably won't get much further than the choosing of the Twelve.

Seeing the choosing and the immediately following sermon as connected ties who was chosen to the 'job description' for the position.  These can be disconnected, but I believe in Luke's mind they are very closely connected.  The main reason is that, between them, the distinct grammatical element of "Now it happened..." (v.1), or "And it came to pass..." found in verse 1 and 12 is missing in verse 17.  This construction also appears in verse 6 but is left untranslated in nearly every translation due to a textual variant leaving it out.  Luke has used this structure nearly every time he transitions from one event to another.  So that it's missing in verse 17 is something to consider.

If you're still awake, go ahead and read through the remainder of the chapter.  Keep in mind that this passage generally parallels Matthew 5 through 7.  Reading them together is helpful, but can also be confusing.  Matthew doesn't connect the sermon to the selection of the Twelve, but does mention the disciples.  He also has more than double the amount of sayings of Jesus; many of which do not occur in Luke at all (others are located in other places in Luke).

But we may not get further than the distinct differences between the different lists of the Twelve this week.  For comparison, these lists are found in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Acts 1:13 (also by Luke).  Some name differences, like two, are easy to reconcile.  Others can be, but some can't. So work through them, but also be ready to accept that we just simply don't know.

The order of study should be to read the passage first, jotting down your own thoughts and questions.  Only after you have studied on your own should you look at other sources.  Let the Spirit lead you first so He can point out to you the areas He wants to work on in your life; your own AHA moments.

After you have a good handle on the passage, let me shake it up a little as you go through the questions below.  These only go through the selection of the Twelve and the setup for the sermon.

• What does it reveal to you about the Trinity that Jesus has the need to pray all night before He selects the Twelve?
• Jesus selects twelve of His disciples and designates them apostles.  Considering that the word apostle basically meant "emissary" or simply "someone on a mission for someone else", why do you think this designation was used here?
• Andrew, the brother of Peter makes the top, right behind his brother. In Matthew he's in the same place, in Mark though he's buried in the middle.  Since Mark gets his material from Peter, why do you think he would put Andrew so much lower?
• At least Andrew is in every list.  In Luke, who is this other "Judas" (see also John 14:22), and where is Thaddeus?  And why does no one include Nathaniel (see John 1:45)?
• Consider the other lists.  What do you think about differences in order?
• In Matthew 5, the sermon occurs on a mountain (Matthew 5:1).  Here Luke has Jesus descending to a "level place".  Considering the content similarities why do you think that the "places" are different?
• Luke has Jesus working as He speaks.  He's healing, and people are being healed just by touching Him.  Luke mentions that the power to heal is radiating from Him.  Why do you think this element of the setting is important for the content of the sermon?
• People came from Tyre and Sidon, not just Jerusalem and Judea.  Look Tyre and Sidon up on a map.  Do you think that there were Gentiles in the group?  Why do you think the possibility might be important to Luke?

After going through the questions, consider your observations, what you've read in commentaries, and whatever you been able to glean from the questions above.  What AHA moments have you discovered in this passage?  What actions do you need to take in light of what you've discovered?

Staying Alive In Church

This is the page for the small group meeting Thursday, September 27.  This week we will be in Acts 5 (or at least start it).  It's a long chapter and a lot happens, so we'll get through as much as we can in the time we have.

As you read through the chapter, notice that the first eleven verses really are a continuation of the last 5 of chapter 4.  The rest of the chapter is made up of the near extinction of very happy apostles.  Read through the chapter a few times and look for the odd things people do, or don't do (the religious leaders, the apostles, and what are the people doing?).  Write down questions that come up and bring them to the group Thursday.

After reading through several times, consider these questions as you read through a final time:

• When did Ananias claim all the money was at Peter's feet?
• What would Ananias and Sapphira gain by lying? What probably motivated them?
• Why would they think they could "pull it off"?
• Why do you think Sapphira didn't hear about her husband's death at some point?
• When verses 13 and 14 are taken together, how do people join the group?
• What is drawing people from the outlying areas into Jerusalem?
• What does it take to be healed by Peter?
• Who do the religious leaders lock up?
• Which segment of the religious leaders does this?
• Who leads the apostles out, and why tell them to go back to the temple?
• If the captain and his officers fear being stoned by the people, why would the religious leaders not fear the same thing?
• Read the article on the sect of the Pharisees at this link (or at least the part on their beliefs - section II).  Why would this group give any support to the believers against the Sadducees?
• What about Gamaliel's point makes some sense?  What doesn't?
• Look up Theudas at this link.  Which explanation sounds better to you?
• Look up Judas of Galilee at this link.  Which of these two do you think makes better support for Gamaliel's point?
• Consider the reason for the apostles (remember Acts 1:21-22), what might have happened to the church had the assembly carried out their initial intent?
• So, instead of killing them, what does the assembly do?
• How effective a threat/punishment is it?
• What do the apostles do after the flogging?
• How does the church respond to these events?

That should do for the next few days.  I am looking forward to studying this passage with you.  Remember each other before our Master.  Blessings upon you until we see each other Thursday!