Some Home Town Hero?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 27 to study Luke 4:14-30.  This begins Jesus' ministry, and only Luke starts Jesus out in Nazareth.  There are some really peculiar elements and curious behaviors on both sides.

Read through the passage a few times, jot down notes and questions. After you have a few notes of your own, go through some commentaries looking for different perspectives.  Lastly go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus goes to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit. Why do you think it made sense to get some experience under Him before he went back home?
• Jesus returns to the place where He was raised.  He follows His custom of going to the synagogue.  How do you imagine the scene in the synagogue in Nazareth?  How does the scene progress?
• Readings are specific, and the passage Jesus chooses isn't on the list (so some say).  Why do you think Jesus would deviate from the prescribed readings?  What do you think the people in the synagogue thought about that?
• Jesus sits and declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing.  Why do you think the people respond as they do?  What is their point?
• How do you think their response affirms or denies Jesus' declaration that He fulfills the prophecy?  Or what do you think of their response?
• Jesus' response supposes their request that He do the things in Nazareth that He's done elsewhere.  Why do you think this is a criticism of the people of Nazareth?
• Jesus also supposes that He is not welcome there (v.24).  What do you think it was in what they said or how they responded to Him in the synagogue that gave Jesus that impression?
• He then sites examples from Elijah and Elisha.  In Sidon, Elijah was hiding from Ahab.  Why do you think this fits this situation?  With Elisha, Naaman goes to the king of Israel, not Elisha, so how does that fit this situation?  How sure can we be that neither prophet did anything in Israel for widows or lepers?
• Jesus' point obviously isn't in the details of the lives of these prophets.  So what do you think His point is?  Why do you think it was meaningful to site these particular two prophets?
• The people are full of wrath.  They take Jesus to the 'brow of the hill' except Nazareth doesn't seem to have a 'cliff' or some such.  So what do you think they meant? 
• Jesus simply passes through them and leaves.  How do you imagine that happening?

That should keep us busy for a while.  Remember to bring your questions and notes to the group.

If You Are...Tempted

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 20 to study Luke 4:1-13, the Temptation of Jesus.  It is a short passage, but I figured that there would be plenty to keep our attention for an hour or so just in 13 verses.

This passage follows immediately on the baptism of the last chapter.  There are plenty of questions to ponder especially when this account is considered along side Matthew's account.  Read through the passage several times, making notes and questions.  Look at the passage in as many diverse translations as you have.

Only after you have your questions and notes should you go to commentaries.  There are plenty of options, Blue Letter Bible has several resources.  If you have a tablet, I encourage you to get the Blue Letter Bible App, making it even more convenient.  There are commentaries, but also an encyclopedia, Strong's Concordance, and a couple of nice dictionaries.

After you have done your stuff, go back through with the questions below:

• Luke describes Jesus as "full of the Holy Spirit".  How do you think Jesus could be anything else?  Why do you think Luke is using that description here?
• Read Matthew 4:2, 3; and then Luke 4:2 again.  How long was Jesus being tempted?
• In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus fasts for 40 days.  Why do you think this detail is important?
• In both Matthew and Luke they include the detail that, after the 40 days, He was hungry.  Why do you think they worded it that way?  Wasn't He hungry before that?
• Consider the 'format' of the devil's temptation, 'If you are...' What do you think the devil is getting at with Jesus?  Why do you think he thought that was Jesus' weak-spot?
• The first temptation is the stone-to-bread suggestion.  Jesus performs lots of miracles, who cares since no one is around, why is this one wrong?
• Jesus' responses to the devil all come from Deuteronomy (or can be found there too).  What about His response about the 'stone-to-bread' suggestion transforms the issue?  What do you think is the issue for Jesus?
• The second and third temptations are swapped in Matthew and Luke.  It's hard to know who 'published' first, so why do you think the order is different here?  Which order do you think makes more sense?
• The devil shows Jesus all the nations or kingdoms of the inhabited earth in a moment.  In Matthew, the devil shows Jesus all the nations and their glory.  A little difference in emphasis here, so why do you think Luke ignores their glory and instead focuses on the fact that the devil did it in a moment?
• In Luke, the devil claims the kingdoms are his to give, and Jesus doesn't dispute this claim.  What do you think that means that the devil can claim that he has all the kingdoms of the world?
• The requirement the devil sets on his giving Jesus the kingdoms is that Jesus bow down and worship him.  We look at this and it sounds really stupid.  What do you think we know now that perhaps the devil didn't know then? Or why do you think the devil went right there?
• Jesus responds again from Deuteronomy.  The issue isn't the kingdoms, it's worship.  What sorts of things do we attempt to gain, but at the cost of worshipping Jesus?
• The final temptation listed in Luke is the bungee-jump from the pinnacle of the Temple.  What does the devil say Jesus would gain here?
• The devil quotes Psalm 91:11, 12.  Look at verse 13 though.  Look at the verses before and after.  Besides the irony that the serpent is quoting a passage referring to his defeat, what else is do you see interesting in the Psalm 91 passage?
• What does it mean to you that the devil used a passage of Scripture in his temptation?  What does that tell you about Scripture knowledge?
• Jesus replies that we are not to 'test' the Lord.  Yet in Malachi, God says to 'test Me in this...'  So, what do you think the issue with this temptation?
• Consider all three temptations together.  What do you think the common thread of each of these is? 
• What do you think makes up a temptation?
• What do you think is the difference between a temptation and a 'test'?
• Consider the possible consequences for Jesus acquiescing to any of these temptations.  What is it about each one that would make them 'sin'?
• How do you define 'sin'?

That should be plenty to keep us busy.  Remember to bring your own questions and observations to the group Thursday.

Blessings upon you until then!

Re-Focus on Jesus

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 13 to study Luke 3:15-38. This picks up from where we left off last week. We will then proceed through the end of the chapter.

The people's response to John and his response is interesting. Read through the passage several times, note interesting details, and jot down questions. You may find it useful to review genealogies in Genesis and Chronicles.

After going through on your own, review some commentaries or study Bible notes. Look online at Blue Letter Bible site, or other Bible site you like. Maybe some brief article on John the Baptist would help as well. Those can be found in a good Bible dictionary or encyclopedia.

• How does John depict Jesus' ministry and purpose?  Is that how you would characterize His ministry and purpose?
• Remember Herod was mentioned in the 'timing' in verse 1.  Where was Herod? And therefore, where along the Jordan was John?At what point in Jesus' baptism does the Holy Spirit appear?
• Read Matthew 3:13-17 and Mark 1:9-11. Now read John 1:32-34. Think through the slight differences in detail. Who heard and saw what?
• What do you think the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit was before this?
• Why do you think Luke would add that Jesus was praying during the baptism? Or do you think that means it happened afterwards?  Or what do you think Luke is referring to?
• What difference does it make whether the voice speaks to Jesus or those around Him? ('You are' in Luke and Mark versus 'This is' as Matthew has it)
• Go to Matthew 1, and list just the names backwards from Jesus to Zerubbabel.  Then flip back to Luke 3, and list the names forward from Joseph to Zerubbabel.  Considering the numerous differences, just in this section, what do you think might be going on?
• There are fewer differences from Zerubbabel back to David, but still Matthew fairly closely follows the king list of Judah in the line of David.  Where do you think Luke is drawing his from?  If you find more than one commentary, what do they think?
• Considering both lists (Luke and Matthew), what do you think the point of each might be? 

That will probably be more than we can get through once again, but we'll give it a shot.  Who knew genealogies could be fraught with so much controversy?

John The Dipper

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 6 to study Luke 3:1-20. This is the ministry of John the Baptist (or Dipper). I didn't realize that Luke goes through the whole thing in 20 verses and then goes back a little for the baptism of Jesus. Why would Luke use the whole of John's ministry as his introduction into who he was?

Read through the verses a few times (yes, over and over) and jot down questions and insights. Use a few translations and note their differences, at least ones that seem to disagree on what something means. After that, use your commentaries or ones you find online, and see what questions are answered, and what additional questions you come up with.

After doing all that, go back through with the questions below:

• Verses 1 and 2 are about the timing.  Why do you think Luke spends so much time on timing here?
• Consider the list of people Luke chooses to place John's ministry in time.  Why do you think it made sense to use people like that?
• Luke quotes a prophecy of Isaiah (40:3-5a).  Read the rest of the prophecy (40:1-8 perhaps).  How does the coming of Jesus, announced by John fit the depiction in Isaiah?
• Why do you think John would refer to those coming out to him as 'children of vipers'?
• What constitutes repentance for John? Why would that be important?
• Why do you think John would undermine their reliance on Abraham?
• Consider the people's response to John as he lays into them.  Why do you think they would be so receptive to his critique?
• We're not soldiers extorting, or tax collectors, but how do you think we can apply John's word to them?
• How does John depict Jesus' ministry and purpose?  Is that how you would characterize His ministry and purpose?
• Remember Herod was mentioned in the 'timing' in verse 1.  Where was Herod? And therefore, where along the Jordan was John?

That should carry us through an hour anyway.  Blessings upon you all until we see each other Thursday!

Old-lady Prophet and a Lost Boy

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 30 to study Luke 2:36-52. This too can be considered familiar if you attended Sunday School as a kid. As adults, we don't tend to spend much time on Jesus' childhood. Seems he's always going to the Temple; which sets us up nicely for his adult life.

Read through the remainder of chapter 2 a few times. Jot down notes and questions that come to mind. Try to imagine you're there watching these events. Imagine it like 'reality tv' or something. What do you see, hear, and think. Then go to commentaries, and see what questions and answes you find.

After this, go back through with these questions:

# What role do you think Anna served in the Temple as a prophetess?
# Considering the religious 'machine' of the busy temple system, what do you think of Simeon and Anna, clearly two anomalies in an otherwise cynacal religious system? If there's room for them, who else might you find there?
# Simeon takes (or receives) the Child, but Anna simply talks about Him around Him. How do you imagine this looked?
# Who are these ones looking for the redemption of Jerusalem? Why not the redemption of all Israel?
# They return to Nazareth. That does not coincide well with Matthew's account, since the Wise guys haven't shown up yet. What are possible explanations?
# Jesus is raised in a devout family. Why do think Luke makes such a clear point of that?
# They go to Jerusalem for the Passover yearly. But year 12, He is 'lost'. What do you think is going on with Jesus?
# They travel a whole day, then take three more to find Him in the Temple. Where did He 'live' for four days?
# Pretend you're Joseph. How does it feel to hear Jesus ask why they didn't know He had to be in His Father's house?
# Jesus returns and submits to them. How do you feel about the paradox here? Jesus, God incarnate, submits to human parents. Why is this even necessary?
# How do you parent God?
# How does God grow in favor with God?

Sorry for the lame formatting. Blogger doesn't have many text format options. But these questions should keep us busy for a few minutes.

News Boys

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 23 to study Luke 2:15 through 35.  We didn't finish with the shepherds last week, so we'll pick up there and continue through Simeon, or as far as we get.  We have a lot of chapter 2 left, so we'll take it as we can.

This passage (or two passages) are very interesting.  The shepherds tell their story far and wide, but we're left wondering about the people's response.  And then there's the process with Jesus' parents and the legal rules they're following.  And then there's Simeon, an enigma.

Read through the passage a few times, jotting down observations, questions, notes.  Read it in a few different translations to see differences. Think through those differences and make more notes. After you have some notes and questions, only then look through commentaries (Blue Letter Bible app or site if you need some).  Adjust your questions and notes accordingly.  After you've done that, go back through with the questions below:

Luke 2:15-20

• The show is over, and all they know to look for is a baby in cloths lying in a feed trough.  Why do you think that was enough?
• It is enough detail and they find the three.  Luke doesn't say what the shepherds did while with Joseph and Mary, but what do you think they did?  They had to have done one thing at least.
• The shepherds then tell everyone (and Bethlehem is crowded right now).  The people who hear wonder, what do you think is significant about what Mary does?  Keep in mind, Luke uses Mary's response as a 'contrast' to everyone else here.
• Who else from Bethlehem do you think came to see the three?

Luke 2:21-22

• In Matthew, we find none of this detail.  We do in the case of John's circumcision in the previous chapter, except for one detail, the trip to Jerusalem.  See what 'law' you can find that explains why they need to go Jerusalem and why.
• What laws of purification are 'they' following?  See what you can find, again.
• Why do you think it is so important for Luke to include these details?  What point do you think he's trying to make with his readers?

Luke 2:23-35

• Read verse 23 in several versions.  What is Simeon waiting for?  What do you think that means?
• How old do you think Simeon is?  We always think he's old, but it never actually says that.  So how old do you think he was?
• The Holy Spirit is 'on' Simeon.  Considering the infrequency of such qualities in the Old Testament, what purpose do you think the Holy Spirit has for him?
• So how do you imagine Simeon 'receives' the baby? What does that look like as you imagine it?  How do you imagine Joseph and Mary responding?
• What do you think of Simeon's 'song'?  It begins with, "Now dismiss" and in Latin it's 'Nunc Dimitis' which is used in Catholic and Protestant liturgical worship.  
• What do you think is going on in Simeon's mind and heart?
• Joseph and Mary witness this 'song' by Simeon.  What do you think they think?
• After this brief musical interlude, Simeon has some things to say to Mary.  Why do you think Mary specifically?
• In his song, Simeon says that Jesus will illuminate the glory of Israel, but to Mary he says that he is appointed for the 'falling and rising of many'.  How do you think these ideas might be connected, or do you think they are?
• You are told that your new-born son will be "a sign to be opposed", what do you feel?  What emotions (gut response) do you have in response?
• Oh, and by the way, a sword will pierce your soul too.  He just a bearer of great news isn't he?  What do you think he meant by that remark? 
•  So, does the sword through Mary's soul reveal the thoughts of many hearts, or does the sign to be opposed reveal those thoughts, and a sword pierces Mary too?  Look around at different translations.  What do you think that all means?
• What does this comment tell you about Luke's perspective of Mary as he writes?  
• Why do you think he seems to know her so well?

That should be plenty to wade through for us.  Be sure to bring your own notes, questions, and comments. See you Thursday!

The Birth of Jesus - In July!

This the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting July 16 to study Luke 2:1-20.  Merry Christmas!  In July!  There are some interesting elements to this very familiar account that should be fun and helpful for us.

Per our usual, read through the passage several times.  Jot down observations and questions you have from the details you read.  Once you have those, then go to any commentaries you have available.  See which of your questions you can answer, and then gather more from what commentaries have. 

After having done that, go back through with the questions below:

• What commentary were you able to find on the 'timing' of the birth of Jesus?  It seems important to Luke, so how spot on was he?  Or do we know?
• Who is not mentioned in Luke's account, even obliquely?  I'm thinking of the person we usually use for the timing of Jesus' birth.
• What city is typically thought of as the 'City of David' in Hebrew Scriptures?
• David figures prominently in where Joseph goes.  Why not 'Judah' or some other reference, why do you think David is the 'head' of his family?
• Regarding timing again, are Joseph and Mary married yet?
• How important to Luke do you think the 'stable' is as the place Jesus was born?  
• Shepherds shepherding, living outdoors, the time of year must be warm.  So when, in the year do you think Jesus was born?
• One angel shows up.  So, what are the odds it's Gabriel?
• The announcement is made, the shepherds are impressed, why do you think the 'choir' was necessary?
• If the shepherds were afraid at one angel, what do you think they felt when the 'multitude' showed up?
• Read the 'song' of the angels in a few translations.  So who is this peace for?  And is the 'good will' or 'favor' already present, or also a 'gift'?
• The show is over, and all they know to look for is a baby in cloths lying in a feed trough.  Why do you think that was enough?
• It is enough detail and they find the three.  Luke doesn't say what the shepherds did while with Joseph and Mary, but what do you think they did?  They had to have done one thing at least.
• The shepherds then tell everyone (and Bethlehem is crowded right now).  The people who hear wonder, what do you think is significant about what Mary does?  Keep in mind, Luke uses Mary's response as a 'contrast' to everyone else here.
• Who else from Bethlehem do you think came to see the three?

That should keep us talking (and guessing) for a while.  Remember to bring your questions and observations.