Search The Scriptures — Study 44 — Luke 18:1-17

Study 44 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 18:1-17

     1.      Verses 1-8. Why ought we to be persistent in prayer? How does the parable illustrate this? Note the elements both of comparison and of contrast.

     2.     Verse 9-14. What was the Pharisee’s error? Was he wrong to give thanks? What does God require in Prayer?

     3.     Verse 17. To what characteristics of children do you think Jesus was referring?

  

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STUDY 43

Search The Scriptures — Study 43 — Luke 17:20-37

Study 43 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 17:20-37

    1.     What does Jesus here teach concerning the nature of (a) the kingdom of God, and (b) the coming of the Son of man? What is the difference, and what the connection?

    2.     What aspects of His return does Jesus here emphasize? How will it find the world? And how should it find His own people?

Note.  Verse 37.  The figurative language (cf. Jb. 39:27-30) suggest that, ‘Where there is spiritual decay, judgement will come.’ Or, is it perhaps a proverbial saying meaning simply, ‘When the time is ripe, it will happen.’

  

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STUDY 42

Search The Scriptures — Study 42 — Luke 17:1-19

Study 42 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 17:1-19

      1.  Verses 1-10.  Four characteristics of a true disciple are presented in these verses. Can you sum them up in four words? Note the demands for personal application (verses 3-10); and the need to pray for an increase (verse 5) in such qualities.

2.     Verses 11-19.  What was required before the men could be healed? And what did Jesus expect of them afterwards? Can we learn anything from this for our own prayers?

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STUDY 41

Search The Scriptures — Study 41 — Luke 16:14-31

Study 41 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 16:14-31

1.     For what was the rich man punished? In what way does this parable reinforce the lesson of verse 9?

2.     What does the parable teach about the reality of future punishment and the means of avoiding it? What ought men to be doing now? And why?

Note. Verses 16, 17. The ministry of John the Baptist marked the end of the Jewish prerogative. Men of every race and kind could from now on press into the kingdom.  Yet the moral law remained unchanged; e.g., verse 18, the sanctity of marriage.

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STUDY 40

Search The Scriptures — Study 40 — Luke 16:1-13

Study 40 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 16:1-13

The point of this parable lies not in the dishonesty of the steward’s plan, but in his prudent provision for the future.

     1.     Verses 1-9.  For what did the steward’s master commend him? What ought Christian disciples to learn from the wisdom of the world? How can money be used to provide spiritual capital’ for the future? Cf. 1 Tim. 6:18-19.

      2.     Verses 10-13. How do these verses show that Jesus was not condoning the steward’s dishonesty? How ought material possessions to be seen in perspective?

Note.  Verses 9, 11, 13. ‘Mammom’ means ‘money’. It is called ‘unrighteous’ because of the way it easily leads men to dishonesty.  Cf. 1 Tim. 6:10.

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STUDY 39

Search The Scriptures — Study 39 — Luke 15:1-32

Study 39 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 15:1-32

     1.     Show how these three parables answer the Pharisees’ objections (verse 2). What are the Son, the Spirit and the Father all eager to see happen and to bring about?

     2.     What does the story of the prodigal son teach about sin, repentance and the love of God?

    3.     Verses 25-32.  What were the Pharisees meant to learn from this episode? Can you see the same tendency in yourself?

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STUDY 38

Search The Scriptures — Study 38 —Luke 14:25-35

Study 38 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 14:25-35

    1.     Note the reason for this stern teaching (verse 25). What, according to verses 26, 27, does discipleship involve? Was this teaching for that time only, or does it apply still?

    2.     Verses 28-35.  What is the safeguard against spiritual wrecks and ineffectiveness?

Notes

   1.     Verse 26. ‘Hate’ i. e, love less than Me, especially when there are conflicting demands.  Cf. Mt. 10:37.

2.     Verse 27.  The picture is of the condemned criminal carving his cross through the jeering crowds to execution.

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STUDY 37

Search The Scriptures — Study 37 — Luke 14:1-24

Study 37 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 14:1-24

    1.     Verses 7-14.  How does Jesus’ teaching in these verses run counter to the ways of the world? How did His own life exemplify this teaching?

    2.     Verses 15-24.  How is Jesus’ parables related to the remark of verse 15?  What is it that keeps people out of the kingdom, and who will in fact get there? 

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STUDY 36

Search The Scriptures — Study 36 — Luke 13:18-35

Study 36 of "Search The Scriptures” Is:

Luke 13:18-35

     1.     Verses 23-30. What is Jesus’ answer to the question of verse 23? What determines whether a person is saved or not? What inadequate ground of confidence are here exposed?

     2.     Verses 31:35. With what attitude and emotions does Jesus meet the opposition and unbelief of men?  What may we learn from Him in this?

     3.     Verses 18:21. What do these similes teach about the expansion of the kingdom of God? Cf. Mk. 14:9. What is the relevance of this evangelism?

Note.  Verses 32, 33. ‘Today and tomorrow and the day following’: and idiomatic expression for a short period

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STUDY 35

Abiding Is Sometimes Hard!

A few days ago God showed me, the time that I spent moping through the waiting process, I did not grow an iota in Him, spiritually speaking of course. This revelation happened after I wrote my post to come clean about my failure. Of course, I have been doing what needs to be done in order to bring myself to a place where I fulfill my part of the abiding process.  After 3 hours of sleep last night, I awoke in the middle of the night. I knew I should use the time to pray and talk to God, but it felt as if my mind had a mind of its own. It took extra efforts on my part after wasting at least an hour, to stop my mind from running away from me (this is what it felt like.)

I could see how easy it is for us human being, not to want to do what Christ wants to do. Honestly, this had nothing to do with Satan, but everything to do with me. My mind kept wandering off on its own. Finally, I got hold of it and stopped this nonsense. I stopped it because when you are a spiritual Christian, you know that is not the way He wants you to spend time. God’s goal is for us to want to do what Christ likes doing.

My point is, in John 15, God made it clear to us that the abiding process is to be reciprocated.  The Bible also tells us that those who abide in Him will cherish His words, meditate on them, believe in Him, obey His words and depends on Him.  If when I was sulking for a few weeks I did not grow spiritually, obviously I failed to fulfill those things, hence I did not avail myself to share His sap in order to get the spiritual nutrition that I needed to grow stronger as a branch.

The spirit showed me this morning, another part of abiding that I was not thinking of at all because I have been taking things for granted.  He showed me, if I want to reciprocate to Him, perhaps I might want to stop that runaway train mode that my mind is on, grab the bull by the horn and make every effort on my part to start bringing my mind to a level where I know that I am doing what Christ likes doing.

 Anyway, I interrupted my reading to share this tiny bit with you.  Have a great day, as for me, I am going back to my time with God.