The Gospels

Study Guide

LESSON
FOUR

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING

TO LUKE

2013 by Third Millennium Ministries

www.thirdmill.org

For videos, manuscripts, and other resources, visit Third Millennium Ministries at thirdmill.org.

CONTENTS
HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE ............................................................................. 3
NOTES .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
I. INTRODUCTION (0:20) .................................................................................................................... 4
II. BACKGROUND (1:44) ...................................................................................................................... 4
A. Author (1:58) ................................................................................................................................ 4
1. Traditional view (4:18) .......................................................................................................... 5
2. Personal History (11:23)........................................................................................................ 6
B. Original Audience (18:03) ............................................................................................................ 7
1. Theophilus (18:22) ................................................................................................................ 7
2. Broader Audience (22:02) ..................................................................................................... 7
C. Occasion (24:41)........................................................................................................................... 7
1. Date (24:56) ........................................................................................................................... 7
2. Purpose (26:33) ..................................................................................................................... 8
III. STRUCTURE AND CONTENT (28:20) ............................................................................................ 8
A. Preface: Luke 1:1-4 (29:00) .......................................................................................................... 8
B. Jesus' Beginnings (30:19) ............................................................................................................. 8
1. Birth Announcements (31:37) ............................................................................................... 8
2. Births and Childhoods (34:16) .............................................................................................. 9
3. Johns Identifications of Jesus (39:32) .................................................................................. 9
4. Confirmations as the Son of God (43:03) .............................................................................. 9
C. Jesus Ministry in Galilee (48:56) ...............................................................................................10
1. Sermon at Nazareth (49:50) ..................................................................................................10
2. Teaching and Miracles (59:32) .............................................................................................10
3. John the Baptist (57:57)........................................................................................................10
4. Teaching and Miracles (59:32) .............................................................................................11
5. Preparation of the Twelve Apostles (1:00:41) ......................................................................11
D. Jesus Journey to Jerusalem (1:02:28) .........................................................................................12
1. Nature of Discipleship (1:04:00) ..........................................................................................12
2. Increasing Conflict (1:10:57)................................................................................................12
3. Cost of Discipleship (1:14:23) ..............................................................................................13
4. Jesus Commitment (1:16:24) ..............................................................................................14
E. Jesus Ministry in and Near Jerusalem (1:18:15) ........................................................................14
F. Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection (1:23:42) ............................................................................15
1. Arrest, Trial and Death (1:24:30) .........................................................................................15
2. Resurrection and Ascension (1:32:06)..................................................................................16
IV. MAJOR THEMES (1:34:45) ..............................................................................................................16
A. Description of Salvation (1:36:30) ..............................................................................................16
B. God as Savior (1:44:25) ...............................................................................................................17
1. Gods Power (1:44:41) .........................................................................................................17
2. Gods Plan (1:47:07) ............................................................................................................17
3. Gods Son (1:49:16) .............................................................................................................18
C. People that are Saved (1:51:23) ...................................................................................................18
V. CONCLUSION (2:04:41) ...................................................................................................................19
REVIEW QUESTIONS ..............................................................................................................................20
APPLICATION QUESTIONS ...................................................................................................................26

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE

This study guide is designed for use in conjunction with the associated video lesson. If
you do not have access to the video, the study guide will also work with the audio and/or
text versions of the lesson. Additionally, the lesson and study guide are intended to be
used in a learning community, but they also can be used for individual study if necessary.

Before you watch the lesson

o Prepare Complete any recommended readings.
o Schedule viewing In the Notes section of the study guide, the lesson
has been divided into sections that correspond to the video. Using the time
codes found in parentheses beside each major division, determine where to
begin and end your viewing session. IIIM lessons are densely packed with
information, so you may also want to schedule breaks. Breaks should be
scheduled at major divisions.

While you are watching the lesson

o Take notes The Notes section of the study guide contains a basic
outline of the lesson, including the time codes for the beginning of each
section and key notes to guide you through the information. Many of the
main ideas are already summarized, but make sure to supplement these
with your own notes. You should also add supporting details that will help
you to remember, describe, and defend the main ideas.
o Record comments and questions As you watch the video, you may
have comments and/or questions on what you are learning. Use the
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o Pause/replay portions of the lesson You may find it helpful to pause
or replay the video at certain points in order to write additional notes,
review difficult concepts, or discuss points of interest.

After you watch the lesson

o Complete Review Questions Review Questions are based on the basic
content of the lesson. You should answer Review Questions in the space
provided. These questions should be completed individually rather than in
a group.
o Answer/discuss Application Questions Application Questions are
questions relating the content of the lesson to Christian living, theology,
and ministry. Application questions are appropriate for written
assignments or as topics for group discussions. For written assignments, it
is recommended that answers not exceed one page in length.

2013 by Third Millennium Ministries

www.thirdmill.org

Notes
I.

Introduction (0:20)

The Gospel of Luke reminds us that at the cost of his own life, Jesus came to save
us.

II.

Background (1:44)

A.

Author (1:58)

Two-volume work:

Volume 1: The Gospel of Luke

Volume 2: The Book of Acts

The author of both books wrote to someone named Theophilus.

Evidence that the same person wrote both books:

The style of Greek is similar

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

Emphasize similar themes:

o Universal offer of the gospel
o Work of the Holy Spirit
o Irresistible power of the will and word of God
o Frequent description of Christs work as salvation

1.

Traditional view (4:18)

Unknown author: Theophilus knew who wrote it.

Three types of evidence that confirm that Luke is the author:

New Testament
Luke was with Paul in the later years of his ministry: 2
Timothy 4:11

Early manuscripts
o Papyrus number 75
o Many other ancient manuscripts
o No early manuscripts ascribe it to anyone else

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

Early Church
o The Muratorian Fragment
o Anti-Marcionite Prologue
o Church leaders from the 2nd and 3rd centuries:

2.

Irenaeus (A.D. 130 to 202)

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150 to 215)

Tertullian (A.D. 155 to 230)

Personal History (11:23)

Not an apostle

Gentile convert

Well-educated

Pauls partner in ministry

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

7
B.

Original Audience (18:03)

1.

Theophilus (18:22)
Lukes preface implies that Theophilus was his patron, the one
who commissioned and financially supported his writing.

Theophilus was also Lukes student.

2.

Broader Audience (22:02)

Christians tended to share writings

Highly literary character

C.

Occasion (24:41)

1.

Date (24:56)
At least two factors point to a date between A.D. 65 and 67:

Comparisons between Luke and Mark

The Book of Acts

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

8
2.

Purpose (26:33)
Luke wrote for Theophilus, and for Gentile Christians like him, to
strengthen their young faith in the Jewish Messiah Jesus.

III.

Structure and Content (28:20)

A.

Preface: Luke 1:1-4 (29:00)

B.

Jesus' Beginnings (30:19)

Lukes main concern was to show that:

1.

Jesus was both the Son of God and the son of David

Both fully divine and fully human

Jesus was the Messiah or Christ

Birth Announcements (31:37)

Announcement of Johns Birth: 1:5-25

Announcement of Jesus Birth: 1:26-38

Elizabeths Announcement to Mary: 1:39-56

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

9
2.

Births and Childhoods (34:16)

Johns Birth and Childhood: 1:57-80

Jesus Birth and Childhood: 2:1-52

Despite Jesus humble birth, Marys son really was Gods chosen
Messiah and King.

3.

Johns Identifications of Jesus (39:32)

4.

Confirmations as the Son of God (43:03)

Divine Confirmation: 3:21-22

Genealogical Confirmation: 3:23-38

Personal Confirmation: 4:1-13

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

10
C.

Jesus Ministry in Galilee (48:56)

1.

Sermon at Nazareth (49:50)

2.

Teaching and Miracles (59:32)

3.

Evil Spirit: 4:31-36

Many Healings: 4:38-42

Calling of Three Disciples: 5:1-11

Healing of Leper: 5:12-15

Healing of Paralytic: 5:17-26

Calling of Matthew: 5:27-32

Teaching on Fasting: 5:33-39

Teaching on Sabbath: 6:1-11

Calling of Apostles: 6:12-16

Sermon on the Plain: 6:17-49

Healing of Centurions Servant: 7:1-10

Raising of Widows Son: 7:11-16

John the Baptist (57:57)

Jesus miracles and preaching clearly fulfilled the prophecies of
Isaiah.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

11
4.

5.

Teaching and Miracles (59:32)

Parable of Sower: 8:1-15

Parable of the Lampstand: 8:16-18

Jesus True Family: 8:19-21

Several Miracles: 8:22-56

Preparation of the Twelve Apostles (1:00:41)

Sending of Apostles: 9:1-9

Feeding of Five Thousand: 9:10-17

Apostles Confession: 9:18-27

Jesus Transfiguration: 9:28-36

Jesus Exorcism: 9:37-45

Greatness in the Kingdom: 9:46-50

Jesus prepared his disciples to:

Recognize His Authority

Rely on His Power

Minister as Humble Servants

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

12
D.

Jesus Journey to Jerusalem (1:02:28)

Jesus was committed to Gods plan to save his people, even though it
required him to die in Jerusalem.

1.

Nature of Discipleship (1:04:00)

Evangelism, Difficulties and Empowerment: 9:51-10:24

Three Topics of Discipleship: 10:25-11:13

o Love for neighbor: Good Samaritan, 10:29-37
o Love for God: Encounter with Mary, 10:38-42
o Prayer: Teaching on Prayer, 11:1-13

2.

Increasing Conflict (1:10:57)

Jesus purposefully antagonized the Jewish leadership to:

Rebuke their poor leadership of Gods people

Call people into his own kingdom

Crucify him in Jerusalem

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

13
For instance:

Accusation and Response: 11:14-28

Warnings Against Hypocrisy: 12:1-3

Warnings Against Synagogues: 12:4-21

Assurance to Poor: 12:22-32

Future Conflict: 12:33-59

Call for All to Repent: 13:1-9

Controversial Healing on Sabbath: 13:10-17

Unexpected Admission to Kingdom: 13:18-30

Increasing Conflict with Herod: 13:31-35

Controversial Healing on Sabbath: 14:1-24

Future Conflict: 14:25-34

Parables Against Hypocrisy: 15:1-32

o Introduction: 15:1-2
o Lost Sheep: 15:3-7
o Lost Coin: 15:8-11
o Lost Son: 15:12-32

3.

Cost of Discipleship (1:14:23)

Teaching on Stewardship: 16:1-17:10

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

14
Teaching on Future Judgment: 17:11-18:8

Teaching on Humility: 18:9-30

Jesus Commitment (1:16:24)

4.

E.

Prediction of Death: 18:31-34

Blessing of Blind Man: 18:35-43

Blessing of Zacchaeus: 19:1-10

Parable of Kings Servants: 19:11-27

Jesus Ministry in and Near Jerusalem (1:18:15)

Jesus Entry Into Jerusalem: 19:28-44

Jesus Cleansing of the Temple: 19:45, 46

Jesus Teaching in Temple: 19:47-21:38

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

15
F.

Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection (1:23:42)

1.

Arrest, Trial and Death (1:24:30)

Plot to Betray: 22:1-6

Last Supper: 22:7-38

Jesus Prayer: 22:39-46

Jesus Arrest: 22:47-53

Peters Denial: 22:54-62

Jesus Trials: 22:63-23:25

Jesus Crucifixion: 23:26-49

o Filled with compassion for the helpless

o Trusted his Father

Jesus Burial: 23:50-56

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

16
2.

IV.

Resurrection and Ascension (1:32:06)

Jesus Empty Tomb: 24:1-12

Jesus on the Road: 24:13-35

Jesus with the Apostles: 24:36-49

Jesus Ascension: 24:50-53

Major Themes (1:34:45)

Salvation: Deliverance from the tyranny of evil and from Gods judgment against
sin.

A.

Description of Salvation (1:36:30)

Personal salvation is primarily a matter of reversing peoples conditions.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

17
Form of salvation: a reversal from bad conditions to good conditions.

Great reversals of salvation also change us on the inside.

Proper response to salvation is joy:

B.

Zechariahs Song: Luke 1:68-79

Marys Song: Luke 1:46-55

Simeons Song: Luke 2:29-32

Angelic Announcements: Luke 1:14, 2:10-11

Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son: Luke 15

God as Savior (1:44:25)

1.

Gods Power (1:44:41)

Luke wanted his readers to understand that God is in control of

everything.

2.

Gods Plan (1:47:07)

Luke taught that salvation is part of Gods plan.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

18
3.

Gods Son (1:49:16)

Lukes gospel repeatedly affirms that Jesus is the Son of God.

C.

People that are Saved (1:51:23)

1.

Gentiles (1:54:00)
The Old Testament speaks of Gentiles being brought into Gods
kingdom.

One of Lukes reasons for writing was to assure the Gentiles of

their salvation in Christ.

2.

Sinners (1:56:59)
People who were ostracized by Jewish society because of their
sins.

3.

Women (1:58:30)
Women didnt have many rights in society and werent highly
valued.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Notes

19
4.

Poor (2:00:32)
Jesus proclaimed the good news of salvation to the poor.

Like the Gentiles, sinners, and women, the poor had very few
rights and werent expected to inherit Gods kingdom.

V.

Conclusion (2:04:41)
The Gospel of Luke presents Jesus as the glorious Son of God who came to earth
as the loving Savior of the world. He extends the good news of Gods salvation to
everyone, regardless of ethnicity, wealth or status.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions
1.

How do we know that Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and that his account is
accurate?

2.

How do we know that the Gospel of Luke was written for Theophilus and Gentile
Christians?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions

21

3.

What was the purpose behind Luke writing to Gentile Christians like Theophilus?

4.

How was Jesus both fully divine and fully human?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions

22

5.

How did Jesus prove that he was the Savior promised by the Old Testament
during his ministry in Galilee?

6.

How did Jesus show his commitment to God plan to save his people in his
journey to Jerusalem?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions

23

7.

What authoritative acts does Luke describe Jesus doing in his ministry in and near
Jerusalem?

8.

How did Jesus accomplish salvation for his people?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions

24

9.

How did Luke describe salvation and the people in need of salvation?

10.

As the Savior of his people, how did God bring salvation to them?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Review Questions

11.

25

Describe the variety of people Jesus came to save.

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org

Application Questions
1.

How should the purpose behind Lukes gospel strengthen our faith?

2.

Why is it important to keep Lukes original audience in mind as we read his

gospel?

3.

Why is it important for us to pray?

4.

How can quoting the Bible help us face temptation?

5.

What are some specific ways you can apply the Sermon on the Plain to your own
life?

6.

What should we learn from the temple cleansing in Lukes gospel?

7.

How should we respond to the reality of the kingdom of God?

8.

Why is joy important in the Christian life?

9.

As disciples of Jesus, why is it important for us to love both our neighbors and
God?

10.

Why is it important to know that Jesus came to rescue his people from
condemnation?

11.

How many of our conditions should we expect to be reversed in this life and
world?

12.

What encouragement do we gain from knowing that Jesus brought Gods

kingdom to earth?

13.

How should we respond to Lukes emphasis on socially disenfranchised groups,

such as sinners and the poor?

14.

What is the most significant thing you learned in this lesson?

The Gospels
Lesson 4: The Gospel According to Luke
2012 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org