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10 January, 2015

Search The Scriptures - Study 7 - Luke 2: 40-52



Study 7 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES IS:
Luke 2: 40-52

1.     Verse 49.  What was the consequence in His life of Jesus’s unique relationship to God?  In what way does this truth apply to us, as son’s of God? Cf. Jn. 14:31

2.     How does the story illustrate the truths of verses 40  and 52?





 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.

Luke 2: 40-52

40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, [a]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Visit to Jerusalem

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “[b]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I [c]have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s [d]house?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He[e]had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these[f]things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [g]stature, and in favor with God and men.

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LESSON 6
















09 January, 2015

Search The Scriptures - Study 6 - Luke 2:21-39


Study 6 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES IS:

Luke 2:21-39 
What did the appearance of Jesus mean to Simeon and to Anna? What, according to verses 30-32, was to be the scope of His work? 
Verses 34, 35. What was to be the effect of Jesus's coming on different classes of people? What would be the cause  of men's failing and rising? Cf. 1 Pet.2:6-8

NOTES

1. Verses 21-34.  After the circumcision of the Child two rites had to be performed: first, His presentation to God (verses 22, 23: cf. Ex. 13:2); second, the sacrifice of purification for the mother (verse 24; Cf. Lv.12:2-8).

2.   Verse 25. 'Looking for the consolation of Israel':i.e., for the coming of the Messiah. Cf. verse 38 and 24:21.



 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.


Jesus Presented at the Temple

21 And when eight days had passed, [a]before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every first born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s [b]Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,[c]to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 Light [d]of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and [e]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, [f]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [g]years and had lived with her husband seven years after her [h]marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.38 At that very [i]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Return to Nazareth

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.


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LESSON 5





08 January, 2015

Search the Scriptures - Study 5 - Luke 2:1-20





Study 5 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES" IS: 

Luke 2:1-20
     1.     What may we learn from the circumstance of our Saviour’s Birth and the status of His first worshipers?
     2.     What do the Angel’s message and the rejoicing of the heavenly host teach us of the importance of the birth of Jesus?  How is the shepherds’ response to this message an example to us?
     3.     Verses 1-7. How do these verses illustrate that God controls all human affairs, effecting His own purpose through the free actions of men? Cf. with verse 4, Mi. 5:2


 I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.


Luke 2:1-20

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all [a]the inhabited earth. [b]This was the first census taken while[c]Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenlystood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is[e]Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men [g]with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherdsbegan saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Marytreasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.


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07 January, 2015

Search the Scriptures - Study 4 - Luke 1:57-80



Study 4 of "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES" IS: 
Luke 1:57-80
The song of Zechariah may be divided thus: verse 58:80, thanks to God for the coming of the Messiah; verses 71-75, the purpose of the Messiah’s coming; verses 76-77, the mission of John; verses 78-79, further picture of the Messiah’s coming.
    1.      Trace in the song of Zechariah the successive stages in the unfolding of God’s plan of salvation through the Old Testament and up to the coming of the Messiah. How does it reveal the unity of the Old and New Testaments?
    2.      What, according to this song, is the purpose of salvation? Is this your experience?
Notes
1.        Verse 69. ‘A horn of salvation’: i.e., one who is strong to save. The horn of an animal was a common symbol of strength; cf Ps. 18:2

2.        Verse 80. ‘The wilderness’: the desolate region around the Jordan and the Dead Sea.




I have copied the Bible verses concerning this study, for your convenience.


Luke 1:57-80

John Is Born

57 Now the time [a]had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [b]displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.
59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, [c]after his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

Zacharias’s Prophecy

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 [d]Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
[e]By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.