Luke 16:26
“There is a great gulf fixed . . .”

Between man and God there is a great gulf of separation. This gap is caused by sin, and makes it impossible for us to have fellowship with God. This is precisely the reason Jesus came. He bled and died on Calvary’s cross to bridge the gap; to make it possible for us to know God now, and spend eternity with Him. This life will come to an end, and when it does, only what we have done with Christ will really matter. In this story, the rich man reveals what happens to those who refuse Christ. Not only do they live separated from God, but they die that way.

Since every thing we have wears out, it is difficult for us to understand the concept of eternity, yet the Bible teaches us that the life to come has no end. Our response to Jesus determines our eternal destiny. Sadly, some are unwilling to surrender to Christ because of the lifestyle they enjoy. I beg you, learn the lesson from the rich man, and give up the passing pleasure of sin, for the eternal reward.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 16

1. Who are the main characters in this next parable of Jesus?
2. What was the steward doing wrong?
3. The steward, was he faithful with what he was given responsibility over?
4. God has blessed us with so much materially speaking, have you been faithful with what God has blessed you with?
5. Read verse 13 and take a few moments to consider who you are serving.
6. Why were the Pharisees not happy when they heard these things?
7. Being married is AWESOME! GOD LOVES MARRIAGE. TAKE A MOMENT AND PRAY FOR YOUR SPOUSE.
8. Jesus tells a story that apparently is not a parable. There is a distinct difference between the rich man and Lazarus. When they both died, why do you think they ended up in different places? Now read 2 Corinthian’s 5:8, are you confident of the truth that is in this passage?

Old Testament:
Numbers 1- Dry Times
Numbers 2- Family

Luke 15:2
“This Man receives sinners . . .”

Man lives as though God and eternity are a mystery. Even before I became a Christian, I had heard the pseudo–verse, “God works in mysterious ways.” Here, in Luke 15, the mysterious ways of God are revealed. We see clearly how he feels about the lost, as well as what He does about it.

Jesus tells three stories, and in each one, He is played by a different character. In the first, He is the man who has a lost sheep and leaves all He has to find it. In the second, He is played by the woman who searches diligently to find the one lost coin. Finally, in the third, He is played by the father who patiently waits, while his son wastes his life. We see clearly the heart of God toward the lost and wayward. He willingly gave up all, clothed Himself in humanity, to seek and save the lost.

The message is clear. If you are wayward, come back to Him. He loves you and wants to forgive you. If someone you love is wayward, express to them the same loving grace that the father showed his son, as you pray and await their return.

Pastor Jim

Questions For Luke 15

1. Who came to “draw near” to Jesus to hear Him?
2. In the next parable, what item does Jesus use to illustrate a lost sinner?
3. What happens in Heaven when a sinner repents?
4. Who are the main characters in the next parable?
5. In your own words describe the father’s heart for the son that returned.
6. Was the older brother happy for the younger brother’s return?
7. Now describe the father’s heart for the older son who questioned his father.
8. All three parables were spoken to the ones who drew near to hear Jesus. They were the tax collectors and sinners. Remember, they were the lowest of the low in society. Take a moment to consider what they were feeling as Jesus told them these stories. PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS HEART OF COMPASSION FOR SINNERS!!!!!!

Luke 14:15
“Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

Jesus tells a story to reveal His desire for all men everywhere to be saved. The cast includes God, played by the man giving the feast; the Christian, played by the servants sent out to invite people to the feast; and the population of planet earth, played by those who receive the invitation. Notice the excuses given by those who reject the offer. Two of the three who reject the invitation use business as an excuse. Perhaps they were driven by a sense of responsibility. Thinking they did not have time for spiritual things, but must provide for their families. Or perhaps, they were caught up in the desire for more. I believe it was Rockefeller, who, when asked how much money was enough said, “Just a little more than you have.” The third person refused to come, using His family as an excuse. Perhaps he even desired to come, but thought his wife would not be interested. Notice he said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” He may have been thinking, I will eventually come, but now is not a good time for me.

These excuses are as common today as they were then. God has sent His church with a message for every man, woman and child, inviting them to Heaven’s banquet. Sadly, for many, an unwillingness to let go of the things of earth is keeping them from the Kingdom of Heaven.

Finally, notice how God responds.

“Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.”

“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

God’s heart breaks for those who refuse, but that doesn’t stop His desire for reaching the world with the invitation to heaven.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 14

1. Where was Jesus at the time when He healed the man with dropsy?
2. What is the one word that sums up verses 7-14?
3. What were the three excuses made why the guest in the next parable didn’t come to the great supper?
4. What happened to the men who made the excuses?
5. What adjective is used to describe the multitudes?
6. Jesus would turn to that multitude and shock them with two comments. What were the two comments?
7. Jesus isn’t condoning hatred of family. It is understood that your love for Jesus should be so extreme that it makes your love for family and yourself seem like hatred in comparison. The question, is your love for Jesus growing toward that end?
8. A disciple is a follower of Jesus. You can be a Christian but not a disciple. To be a disciple, one must consider what lies ahead. Your Bible might title this section “counting the cost.” Jesus sums up two illustrations with one verse. Write that verse out and consider your life in light of that verse.
9. Are you a salty Christian? God wants to use you to further the work of the kingdom. Salty Christians are more useful in the hands of the Master. Take a moment and consider the whole of chapter 14. Pray these things into your heart right now.

Old Testament:
Leviticus 26- Idols
Leviticus 27- This Old House

Luke 13:12
“Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

I imagine what the scene must have been like in the Synagogue that day. The crowd had gathered like they did every Sabbath. For some it was no more than a religious duty, for others, it was how they expressed their devotion to God. The scene suddenly shifts from the normal activities of prayer and Bible reading to a woman with a serious medical condition. She had been suffering for eighteen years and nothing could be done for her. Without hesitation Jesus called her to Himself, and when she responded to the call, He healed her. Imagine being there! Imagine the joy that would fill her, perhaps like the lame man in Acts 3, she leaped with joy, celebrating what Jesus had done for her. I would expect to read that the service changed that morning, as the people broke out in unrestrained praise. Sadly however, rather than hearing praise,  we hear the sound of objection.

“There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Sometimes the only response I can muster is WOW! I am amazed. Jesus changed the life of a woman in agony, but instead of people flocking to Him with praise, they objected to what He had done. Why were they so angry? I think it was because He violated the culture of the day. The religious leaders had developed a whole system of what was allowed on the Sabbath. Healing of the sick was not included. They might have been happy with Jesus making people’s lives better, but when He began to mess with the culture, they were infuriated. We read later, it was his changing of the cultural norm that motivated the religious leaders to make a deal with Rome and have Him crucified.

Things are not so different today.

For the past 2000 years the earth has been filled with people like this woman, who have responded to Jesus and have been transformed by Him. He has taken those who society has neglected, even rejected, and has made them heroes of faith. Yet, many still object to Him. Jesus is not rejected because He has not changed lives, but because He changes culture; because He dares to declare what man tolerates is often abominable to God. Much of what Jesus said and did is contrary to our culture. Rather than falling down before Him in worship for who He is and what He does, many raise up their fists in objection. “How can He say He is the only way?” “How can He say that my lifestyle is wrong, I was born this way, it’s hereditary, we are in love…”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 13

1. Jesus to emphasize a point repeats Himself. Write down the repeated verse in the beginning of the chapter.
2. What tree does Jesus use as an illustration in the next section?
3. The women bent over, did she come to Jesus or did He call out to her?
4. After Jesus healed her, what was her response?
5. Jesus uses two things to compare the Kingdom of Heaven. What are they?
6. What was Jesus talking about as He was journeying to Jerusalem?
7. Describe God’s heart for the Jewish people in the last two verses.
8. The Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah in Jesus’ day and today. Israel is God’s chosen people. Now take a moment and read Ephesians 1:1-14. Take note of the believers place in Christ and let your response to these things be Paul’s response at the end of verse 14.   “TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY”

Old Testament:
Leviticus 24- Mind Of The Lord
Leviticus 25- You Deserve A Break

Luke 12:13
“Then one from the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’”

Jesus tells the story of a rich man who believed true life was found in great possessions. He worked hard and was very successful. His success caused him to evaluate his life. His conclusion, he needed to work harder so he might acquire more, and be able to retire in comfort. He began to increase his efforts, acquire more, build larger storehouses for all his possessions. All the while, hoping for that time when he would be able to live at ease and enjoy it all. Sadly and expectedly, he died and all of his riches were of no use to him as he stepped into eternity.”

Jesus describes him as a “Fool!” because “. . . he laid up treasure for himself, but was not rich toward God.”

This story is valuable because it is so common. It seems that our culture could be described as those who are laying up treasure and yet are not rich toward God. There is a constant push all around us to get more. More wealth means more comfort, more enjoyment, even more life. Meanwhile, we neglect storing up treasures where it really matters.

How about you? Are you rich toward God? Are you making investments into eternity? We do that by using our earthly treasures to further the kingdom of God. It has been said,  we can see what matters to a person by looking at their checkbook. Some of us object and say, “But I am not rich, I don’t have any extra.” It seems to me,  the rich tend to trust in riches, the poor tend to look to others for help, the middle class tends to strive to maintain the comfort level they have achieved for themselves and their families. To all of us, Jesus says the same thing

“Life does not consist of the abundance of things we possess.”

He is a fool who “Lays up treasures for himself but is not rich toward God.”

“Don’t worry about your life… Life is more than food and the body more than clothing.”

“Your Father knows the things that you need.”

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.”

“Where your treasure is your heart will be also.”

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Let’s be those who are rich toward God

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 12

1. How many people had gathered together?
2. Which verse best fits your life verse 8 or verse 9?
3. Verse 15 is a truth that should sink deep into our hearts. Take a moment and consider your own heart. Now read John 10:10. Where does life come from according to this passage?
4. Briefly sum up the parable Jesus tells to illustrate this earthly perspective.
5. What is the theme of verses 22-30?
6. Which verse describes the cure to verses 22-30?
7. Read verses 35- 40 and be honest with yourself. Are you living with this kind of expectancy?
8. Which side of the divide are you on according to verses 49-53?
9. I’m reminded when Jesus died that the veil in the temple was torn in two. That veil separated God from man. As a Christian be sure to take full advantage of your position in Christ.

Old Testament:
Leviticus 20- Consecrate Yourself
Leviticus 21- We Have Hope

Luke 11:13
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

There seems to be some striking differences between the Church in the book of Acts and the church today. The impact they were having on their world was tremendous; we read of the sick being healed, the dead being raised, and most importantly, multitudes of people believing in the resurrected Lord, and their lives being transformed. How is it that they, with so little, were able to do so much? We know they did not have the completed Bible, much money, or the technological resources we have today, yet they were turning their world upside down. The secret to their success was the filling of the Holy Spirit. It is clear, what they did not have was overshadowed by what they did have; that is, power from on High!

Here in Luke 11 we are told, the same Holy Spirit that empowered the Apostles is made available to all of us. Jesus said, if we want to be filled with the Spirit all we need to do is ask. However,  it is important that we notice that He emphasizes how we are to ask. Sometimes, we ask without really caring about an answer, other times we ask because we feel like we were required to. We do not expect to get what we were asking for, but we have the attitude that it cannot hurt to ask. I want you to notice that Jesus has been telling us to pray with persistence. He said we should pray like the man who wanted something from his friend, so he knocked UNTIL he received it. Jesus said when we pray, we need to ask, seek and knock. The key is persistence. We are exhorted to pray, pray, and keep praying, until we receive from the Lord. And the primary thing to be praying for, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Do you lack the strength today to live for, and serve Jesus? Are you failing to overcome sin in your personal life, or to be an effective witness of Jesus to your friends and family? What you need is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and you will find that in persistent prayer. Take some time to get alone with God and ask for the Holy Spirit. Start by telling God your need, and your intention for being there, before Him, then begin to worship Him. Let yourself be caught up in how wonderful He is, and the amazing promises He has given us. Focus specifically on the promise of the Holy Spirit, and just keep asking. God will pour out His Spirit upon you, but He does require persistence in prayer.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 11

1. Who are we to address when we pray?
2. What is happening in the second phrase of Jesus model prayer?
3. What do we learn about prayer in the story of the friend coming at midnight?
4. What are the two requirements to receive the blessing of Jesus in verse 28?
5. In the section of Jesus comparing signs, He speaks of the city of Nineveh responding to Jonah’s preaching how?
6. Who is Jesus referencing as the “greater than Jonah?
7. What is the lamp of the body?
8. In the “woe” to the Pharisees, Jesus points out that the inward part, the part that no one sees is more important than the outward appearance. Take a moment and let the Lord examine your inward heart. Are there secret things that need to be dealt with? Now respond as the men of Nineveh did in the description of verse 32 (repentance). Ask the Lord to help you never to return to those things again.
9. Were the lawyers doing any better than the Pharisees?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 18- Counter Culture
Leviticus 19- Being Different

Luke 10:2
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; . . .”

Sadly, the world has no shortage of those who are in need of Christ. Our population has reached the seven billion mark. Seven billion souls walking this planet, many of whom do not yet know Christ. We recognize certain places in the world as being unreached. Places where many, or even most, of the citizens are yet to hear the good news of salvation, through faith in Christ. We need to pray, send, and provide for those who go to the uttermost parts of the earth with the Good News of Christ. However, we cannot neglect to remember the many unreached souls in our own backyard. Here, in Luke 10, as Jesus sends the seventy, we have some practical instruction on how to reach the lost.

Two by two he sent them. Fellowship and accountability are crucial to effectively serving Jesus. When we get discouraged another can lift us up, when we get stuck, another can aid us with a timely word. Team up with a friend, or friends, and commit to serving the Lord together.

Pray! No ministry can be effective without constant, continual, and corporate prayer with your team. PRAY! Pray for opportunities, and for specific people who matter to each of you. Don’t stop praying, God will answer.

Go! Sometimes the very thing keeping us from seeing God work in our lives is just getting involved. Service is not something we should only know about and talk about, but it is something we must be doing. Who can you share Christ with today?

Carry nothing. While it is not wrong to have, it is wrong to put confidence in what we have. It is usually what we lack that keeps us from telling others about Christ. “I don’t know what to say”, or “What if they ask a question and I don’t know the answer?” When we let those things stop us, we are not trusting Jesus.

Say peace to this house. Be a blessing to those who don’t know Christ, yet. They are not the enemy, but the object of Jesus’ love. Think about the behaviors of those Jesus to whom reached out. They were sinners in every way, but Jesus loved them and reached out to them. Do the same.

Tell them the Kingdom has come near. Let people know that salvation is a call away. Paul said it is not far from us, but so close that all a person needs to do is believe and receive. That message is easy to remember and you have been equipped by Jesus to share it.

Let’s team up, and go out with the glorious message of salvation through faith in Christ.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 10

1. The Lord is looking for laborers or people to go out into whose harvest?
2. What does Jesus say is the problem with the harvest?
3. Are you a laborer for the Lords harvest?
4. According to verse 3, is it safe to be a laborer?
5. As we are sent out according to the command of verse 4, we have no choice but to __________________in the Lord.
6. As a laborer, if people reject the message of Jesus that you share, who are they actually rejecting?
7. The seventy servants return to Jesus and illustrate for us the byproduct of being a laborer for Jesus. How did they return to Jesus?
8. According to verse 20, what are we to rejoice in?
9. Take a moment and consider the story of the Good Samaritan. Now take a moment and pray that the Lord would give you a heart like Him.
10. Now consider the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus just finished communicating in this chapter the importance of serving Him and being a laborer in His harvest. What is the more important part as illustrated by Mary?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 16- Go-Goat
Leviticus 17- Imposter

Luke 9:1

“Then He called His twelve disciples. . . “

When the Lord calls us to serve Him, there seems to be a universal response. Our hearts cry out, “I can’t.” This was the same response of Moses, Saul and Gideon. We feel this way because the Lord always seems to call us to do what is beyond our capacities. A young woman with small children senses a call to teach in children’s church, or a retired couple hears the call to the mission field, or a young man has a burning in his heart to become a pastor, and the voice in our head cries out “I can’t.” I think there is something encouraging here as Jesus calls the twelve. He is sending them out to serve Him. They will encounter many with needs beyond their capabilities to handle. They will cross paths with the sick, who will look to them for the answer, the demoniacs, who are held under by the powers of the devil, and some will oppose the work of God. For their journey they are told to take nothing; no money, no provisions, no extra stuff. These things will not equip them for the ministry. Jesus wants them to understand that those are not the things that enable them, nor will a lack of those things restrict them. Instead, Jesus provides everything that is necessary. We read, “He gave them power and authority” All of their objections, and ours, should be silenced by these six words. Whatever reasons they had for objecting to the call, whatever lack they may have felt, must be silenced when Jesus declares, “I have given you power and authority.” Just as their objections are silenced by His promise, so must ours be silenced. Whatever objections you have to the call of God on your life, understand what He calls us to, He equips us for. As He said to Gideon, He says to you “Mighty man of valor… Go in this might of yours”(Judges 6:14). Will you go?

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 9

1. What did Jesus send the disciples to do?
2. Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples out with nothing on their journey?
3. Why do you think Herod wanted to see Jesus?
4. How many men followed Jesus to the deserted place?
5. How many baskets were left over after all the people were fed?
6. What example does Jesus set for us in verse 18?
7. Who do you say Jesus is?
8. Verse 23 says that in order to be a follower of Jesus (a disciple) you must deny yourself. List some things in your life that may be hindering your walk with the Lord. Are you willing to give those things up for Jesus?
9. What happened to Jesus face as He was praying on the mountain?
10. Who were the five people present with Jesus on the mountain?
11. Read verse 35. Are you taking time to listen for the voice of Jesus?
12. Take a moment and think about the contrast of verses 43 and 44.
13. What subject does Jesus come back to in verses 57 – 62?

Old Testament

Leviticus 14- Mission Impossible 
Leviticus 15- New Nature

Luke 8:10
“ To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God…”

I love a good mystery; as a child I had a book titled “2 Minute Mysteries.” It was a book of short stories, in which a crime would be described and the reader was left to guess who the guilty party was. The trick was, the answer was hidden. There was always something tucked away that was hard to find, almost like a secret, that revealed the answer. I would try so hard to guess correctly, but most often, when I flipped to the back of the book for the answer I found my guess was wrong. When Jesus speaks of the “Mysteries of the Kingdom,” He is not speaking of a secret truth that only a few can understand by reading their Bibles with a special code. Jesus is telling His disciples that everything we need to know about the Kingdom of God can be found by those who are part of it.

Paul tells us, the truths of God cannot be understood until we are converted (1 Corinthians 1:18). To the unbelieving mind, the things of God rarely make sense, but upon receiving Christ, His words come to life. We find them to be our daily manna, and our source of strength and encouragement. Jesus promised, when the Holy Spirit came, He would guide us in the truth. We are given an example of this at Jesus’ baptism. After the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, He heard the Father speak. One of the benefits of the Spirit coming upon us is, the Word of God comes to life. We begin to hear God speak to our lives as we read His Word. John tells us, because of the work of the Spirit, we have an anointing from the Father and do not need anyone to teach us. Now John is not undermining the need for pastors who teach the Bible, but is declaring, the same God who speaks to Him, will speak to you. We do not need great intellect in order to hear from God, but simply time with Him in the pages of His Word.

The privilege of knowing God has been given to each of us. We can hear Him speak, daily, in the pages of His Word. I wonder, are you taking advantage of that? If you have received Christ, and been filled with the Spirit, allow me to encourage you to go into the Word expecting God to speak to you. He promises to reveal to you the mysteries of His Kingdom.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 8

1. What kind of tidings did Jesus bring concerning the kingdom of God?
2. How many different types of ground are described in the parable of the sower?
3. What does the seed represent?
4. Which description of soil best describes you in vs 12-15?
5. Where did the demon possessed man live?
6. Who did the demon possessed man recognize Jesus as?
7. When the people of the city came to see Jesus how did they find the demon possessed man?
8. Read vs 39. In what ways can you better put into practice this verse in your life?
9. Jairus was a ruler of what?
10. Why did he want Jesus to come to his house?
11. What miracle took place on the way to Jairus’s house?
12. What happened to Jairus daughter?

Old Testament
Leviticus 14- Mission
Leviticus 15- New Nature

Luke 7:40
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”

The event which occurs in the house of Simon the Pharisee stands out to me as one of the most fascinating in the New Testament. No miraculous healing takes place: the deaf do not hear, the blind do not see, nor are the dead raised. Yet this story is both priceless and timeless in the truth it reveals. It is the story of two people and their view of Jesus. Simon was a religious man that showed interest in Jesus. He valued Jesus more than many of his contemporaries.

While other religious leaders were plotting the death of Jesus, Simon was opening his home to Him. He was willing to invite Jesus in, dine with Him, and listen to what He had to say. Then there is the woman. She is quite different from Simon. She is described simply as a sinner. In all probability, she was a prostitute. When she entered the house she did what was customary for the host to do, she washed the feet of Jesus, but  in a very unorthodox way. Instead of a bucket of water and a towel, she used her tears and her hair. It seems she came to Jesus with the purpose of anointing Him with perfume. As she approached Him, she became overwhelmed with emotion, and began to express worship with reckless abandonment. Those who looked on were shocked, both by the behavior of this woman, and by the reaction of Jesus. In response to this Jesus said,

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

This woman’s unrestrained worship flowed out because she knew what Christ had done for her. She knew she was a sinner and desperately in need of the Savior. She placed the highest value upon Jesus, and gave all that she had. Simon was no less in need of Christ than this young woman. His sins, though different, were no less. He was as desperately in need of a Savior as she, but his religious activities blinded him of his need.

How about you? Have you seen your need for the Savior? Do you understand that He has forgiven you of a debt greater than you could ever pay? How do you respond to this? Do you come to Him prepared to worship? Are you willing to give all you have and all you are, to show your love to Him, for all He has done for you? After all, Jesus said the greatest of all commandments was to love Him.

To understand His love for us, we do not need to sin more, we simply need to understand that we are sinners. Take time right now to worship Him, and when you gather for public worship, come prepared to give of all that you are.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 7

1. Who was sick and ready to die?
2. What was the attitude of the centurion in vs 6-7?
3. What word describes the heart of Jesus towards the widow?
4. What was the response of the people when Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead?
5. What is Jesus description of John the Baptist?
6. Who interrupted the meal that Jesus was having with a Pharisee?
7. What did she do to Jesus?
8. What did Jesus do for her?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 12- Bad Connection
Leviticus 13- Unclean