Dec 14: Shepherds

This week we'll be looking in Luke at the story about the angels appearing to the shepherds.

Dec 7: Joseph, the Stand-in Father

This week, weather permitting, we'll look at Matthew 1:18-25.

The full study can be downloaded for a small fee, at

http://www.jesuswalk.com/ebooks/christmas-incarnation.htm

Get ready to get ready

We are not meeting on Nov 30th. On Dec 7, we'll start a short (3-week) study on scriptures having to do with Advent and the Christmas story.

At our recent church board meeting, as a discussion opener our pastor asked us, "What words or things do you associate with the Christmas story?"

Someone said, "You'll shoot your eye out!"

Nov 23: The end and the beginning

This week we'll wrap up our study of Luke, and do some preliminary work to prep for our study of Genesis.

Here are some things to ponder:
Recapping Luke:

1. Briefly explain the most important points of the gospel as you understand it from Luke.

2. How would you describe Jesus’ character as Luke portrays him?


Looking Forward to Genesis

Thumb through your Bible’s book of Genesis. It might help if you use a Bible that has headings or labels.

1. Some of us were taught stories of Genesis as children. Do you have a fond memory of any part of Genesis?

2. What stories or people in Genesis would you like to read about?

3. Are there any parts of Genesis that are particularly disturbing or thrilling to you?

4. Is there a story in Genesis which you remember from your childhood, but that you would like to re-examine?

Nov 16: A New Understanding

Luke 24: 36-53

In verse 49, what kind of power is Jesus talking about?

Nov 9: On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-15 On the Road to Emmaus
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.


Why were these two disciples kept from recognizing Jesus? How would their walk have been different if they had recognized him from the beginning?

Nov 2, 2008 Burial and Resurrection

Follow-up question which came up during our discussion today:

Were the disciples dumber than a sack of potatoes? Jesus told them many times what would happen, and yet they could not wrap their minds around the resurrection. Or was the idea of a resurrection too far away from how they interpreted Jesus' predictions, so we should give those poor disciples a break?


Luke 23:50-56; Luke 24: 1-12
Burial and Resurrection

A few questions for you to ponder:

If you were with the women as they approached the tomb early that morning, what would you expect to see? How would you react to what you actually saw?

Oct 26, 2008: The Crucifixion

Read Luke 23:26-38, 39-43, 44-49

1. Who is in the crowd, and what is the crowd doing? (v. 27; refer also to Luke 23:13-25)

2. Read Jesus’ words in 23:34. Whom is he forgiving? Was Pilate forgiven? The soldiers? The chief priests? The crowd? Judas?

3. Compare Luke 23:46 to Psalm 31:5.

4. What is the meaning of Jesus' death?