Luke - Study 1
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 4:16–21 and 5:1-11 - The call of Jesus (wk 1)
Bible Passage; Luke 4:16–21 and 5:1-11 - The call of Jesus (wk 1)
General Questions
1.In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus reads from Isaiah and declares “The Scripture you have just heard has been fulfilled this very day” What does Jesus’ mission statement (vv.18-19) tell us about what following him might involve?
2.Why do you think Jesus chose to announce his mission in his hometown synagogue? What does this teach us about starting where we are in our own discipleship?
Examining the Call
1.In Luke 5:1-3, Jesus uses Peter’s boat as a platform for teaching. Before the miraculous catch of fish, what does this detail suggest about how Jesus enters our everyday lives and work?
2.Peter, an experienced fisherman, had caught nothing all night but obeys Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets anyway (5:4-5). What does Peter’s response reveal about the kind of obedience required in following Jesus?
3.When Peter sees the miraculous catch, he says ‘Oh, Lord, please leave – I’m such a sinful man’ (5:8). Why do you think encountering Jesus’ power led Peter to this response? What does this tell us about self-awareness in discipleship?
The Cost and Promise
1.Jesus tells Peter “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll be fishing for people” (5:10). How does Jesus transform Peter’s existing skills and identity into something new? What might this mean for our own callings?
2.Verse 11 says they “left everything and followed him.” What did leaving “everything” mean for these fishermen? What does it mean for us today?
Application
1.Compare Jesus’ mission in 4:18-19 with his call to the disciples in 5:10-11. How are proclaiming good news to the poor and “fishing for people” connected? What does this suggest about evangelism and discipleship?
2.The disciples had just experienced their biggest catch ever, yet they left it all behind. What “big catches” or successes might God be calling us to leave behind to follow him more fully?
3.Both passages show Jesus meeting people in familiar settings (synagogue, fishing boats) and disrupting their normal patterns. How is Jesus inviting you to follow him in the ordinary places of your life? What might need to be disrupted or left behind?
1.In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus reads from Isaiah and declares “The Scripture you have just heard has been fulfilled this very day” What does Jesus’ mission statement (vv.18-19) tell us about what following him might involve?
2.Why do you think Jesus chose to announce his mission in his hometown synagogue? What does this teach us about starting where we are in our own discipleship?
Examining the Call
1.In Luke 5:1-3, Jesus uses Peter’s boat as a platform for teaching. Before the miraculous catch of fish, what does this detail suggest about how Jesus enters our everyday lives and work?
2.Peter, an experienced fisherman, had caught nothing all night but obeys Jesus’ instruction to let down the nets anyway (5:4-5). What does Peter’s response reveal about the kind of obedience required in following Jesus?
3.When Peter sees the miraculous catch, he says ‘Oh, Lord, please leave – I’m such a sinful man’ (5:8). Why do you think encountering Jesus’ power led Peter to this response? What does this tell us about self-awareness in discipleship?
The Cost and Promise
1.Jesus tells Peter “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll be fishing for people” (5:10). How does Jesus transform Peter’s existing skills and identity into something new? What might this mean for our own callings?
2.Verse 11 says they “left everything and followed him.” What did leaving “everything” mean for these fishermen? What does it mean for us today?
Application
1.Compare Jesus’ mission in 4:18-19 with his call to the disciples in 5:10-11. How are proclaiming good news to the poor and “fishing for people” connected? What does this suggest about evangelism and discipleship?
2.The disciples had just experienced their biggest catch ever, yet they left it all behind. What “big catches” or successes might God be calling us to leave behind to follow him more fully?
3.Both passages show Jesus meeting people in familiar settings (synagogue, fishing boats) and disrupting their normal patterns. How is Jesus inviting you to follow him in the ordinary places of your life? What might need to be disrupted or left behind?
Luke - Study 2
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Read the following passages of Scripture Luke 6:20-26, 27-36, 43-45 and pray as you begin.
Jesus teaches in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you.” He also warns in verse 26: “What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”(New Living Translation)
Bible Passage; Read the following passages of Scripture Luke 6:20-26, 27-36, 43-45 and pray as you begin.
Jesus teaches in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you.” He also warns in verse 26: “What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”(New Living Translation)
Counter-Cultural Challenge:
In our world today, we are constantly encouraged to protect our reputation, defend ourselves aggressively, respond to critics with sharp comebacks, cut difficult people out of our lives, and surround ourselves only with those who affirm us. We’re told to pursue comfort, financial security, and public approval above all else.
Your Challenge:
Identify one specific person or group who has opposed you, criticised you, or treated you unfairly—whether at work, in your family, on social media, or in your community. This week, instead of avoiding them, retaliating, or speaking negatively about them to others, do something radically counter-cultural:
•Pray for them by name each day this week
•Look for one practical way to “do good” to them (verse 27)
•If given the opportunity, speak a genuine blessing over them rather than returning their criticism
Reflection Questions:
•What does your natural resistance to this challenge reveal about what is “stored up in your heart” (verse 45)?
•How might living this way make you “poor” in the world’s eyes but “blessed” in God’s kingdom (verse 20)?
•What “fruit” (verse 43-44) might God produce in you and in this situation if you trust Him and obey?
Remember: Jesus calls us to “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (verse 36) — showing love not because people deserve it, but because this is who God is and who He’s transforming us to become.
Spend some time praying for one another and the lofty challenge to be counter-cultural in our world today giving thanks for the knowledge that God is with us.
In our world today, we are constantly encouraged to protect our reputation, defend ourselves aggressively, respond to critics with sharp comebacks, cut difficult people out of our lives, and surround ourselves only with those who affirm us. We’re told to pursue comfort, financial security, and public approval above all else.
Your Challenge:
Identify one specific person or group who has opposed you, criticised you, or treated you unfairly—whether at work, in your family, on social media, or in your community. This week, instead of avoiding them, retaliating, or speaking negatively about them to others, do something radically counter-cultural:
•Pray for them by name each day this week
•Look for one practical way to “do good” to them (verse 27)
•If given the opportunity, speak a genuine blessing over them rather than returning their criticism
Reflection Questions:
•What does your natural resistance to this challenge reveal about what is “stored up in your heart” (verse 45)?
•How might living this way make you “poor” in the world’s eyes but “blessed” in God’s kingdom (verse 20)?
•What “fruit” (verse 43-44) might God produce in you and in this situation if you trust Him and obey?
Remember: Jesus calls us to “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (verse 36) — showing love not because people deserve it, but because this is who God is and who He’s transforming us to become.
Spend some time praying for one another and the lofty challenge to be counter-cultural in our world today giving thanks for the knowledge that God is with us.
Luke - Study 3
Pray: Ask God to speak
Bible Passage; Luke 9:1-11
The Mission of the Twelve: Kingdom Power for All of Life
Introduction
In Luke 9:1-11, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with extraordinary authority to proclaim God’s kingdom and demonstrate its power through healing. This passage reveals that God’s kingdom isn’t confined to “spiritual” matters but extends to every dimension of human existence—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
The Text: Luke 9:1-11 (Summary)
Jesus calls the twelve together and gives them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sends them to proclaim God’s kingdom and heal the sick, instructing them to travel light and depend on hospitality. They go from village to village preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Meanwhile, Herod hears about Jesus and is perplexed. When the apostles return, Jesus withdraws with them, but crowds follow, and he welcomes them, speaking about the kingdom and healing those in need.
Focus Verse: Luke 9:6
“They went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
This verse captures the holistic nature of kingdom ministry:
proclamation (“bringing the good news”) and
demonstration (“curing diseases”).
The gospel addresses the whole person and every village—no place or need is outside God’s concern.
Bible Passage; Luke 9:1-11
The Mission of the Twelve: Kingdom Power for All of Life
Introduction
In Luke 9:1-11, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with extraordinary authority to proclaim God’s kingdom and demonstrate its power through healing. This passage reveals that God’s kingdom isn’t confined to “spiritual” matters but extends to every dimension of human existence—physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual.
The Text: Luke 9:1-11 (Summary)
Jesus calls the twelve together and gives them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. He sends them to proclaim God’s kingdom and heal the sick, instructing them to travel light and depend on hospitality. They go from village to village preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Meanwhile, Herod hears about Jesus and is perplexed. When the apostles return, Jesus withdraws with them, but crowds follow, and he welcomes them, speaking about the kingdom and healing those in need.
Focus Verse: Luke 9:6
“They went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.”
This verse captures the holistic nature of kingdom ministry:
proclamation (“bringing the good news”) and
demonstration (“curing diseases”).
The gospel addresses the whole person and every village—no place or need is outside God’s concern.
Key Themes
1. The Authority of the Kingdom
Jesus doesn’t just give the disciples a message; he gives them power and authority (v. 1). Kingdom ministry requires divine enablement, not just human effort or eloquence.
2. Holistic Ministry
The pairing of preaching and healing throughout this passage shows that God’s kingdom touches all of life. The good news isn’t merely about future salvation but about God’s present reign breaking into our broken world—bringing wholeness to bodies, minds, relationships, and spirits.
3. Dependence and Simplicity
The disciples are to travel without provisions (vv. 3-4), learning to depend on God and the hospitality of others. This strips away self-sufficiency and cultivates trust.
4. Universal Availability
“Everywhere” (v. 6) emphasizes that no village is too small, no person too insignificant. The kingdom is for all people in all places, addressing all needs.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean that Jesus gave the disciples both “power and authority”? How are these different, and why do we need both for effective ministry?
Note: Power is the ability to act; authority is the right to act. Consider how this applies to prayer ministry—we need God’s enabling power and the confidences that we minister in Jesus’ name and authority.
2. Why do you think Jesus paired preaching the kingdom with healing the sick? What does this tell us about the nature of God’s kingdom?
Exploration point: God cares about the whole person. The kingdom isn’t just “spiritual”—it addresses poverty, sickness, injustice, and brokenness. How should this shape our understanding of evangelism?
3. The disciples were instructed to take nothing for their journey (v. 3). What might God be teaching them through this instruction? How does this apply to ministry today?
Exploration point: Dependence on God, trust, simplicity, and reliance on community. Discuss how self-sufficiency can hinder our effectiveness in ministry.
4. Luke 9:6 says they went “everywhere” bringing good news and healing. What barriers (internal or external) might prevent us from seeing God’s kingdom as available for “all of life”?
Exploration point: We might compartmentalise faith (sacred vs. secular), doubt God’s concern for practical needs, or struggle to believe that God wants to work through us in everyday situations.
5. When you pray for someone, do you tend to focus more on their spiritual needs or their whole-life needs? How might this passage challenge or affirm your approach?
Exploration point: Examine whether we pray comprehensively for people—their health, relationships, work, emotions, and spiritual life—or whether we unconsciously limit prayer to “spiritual” categories.
6. Jesus welcomed the crowds even when he was trying to withdraw (v. 11). What does this reveal about his heart, and how should it shape how we respond when ministry opportunities interrupt our plans?
Exploration point: Compassion, availability, and flexibility. Consider the tension between rest and responsiveness to need.
1. The Authority of the Kingdom
Jesus doesn’t just give the disciples a message; he gives them power and authority (v. 1). Kingdom ministry requires divine enablement, not just human effort or eloquence.
2. Holistic Ministry
The pairing of preaching and healing throughout this passage shows that God’s kingdom touches all of life. The good news isn’t merely about future salvation but about God’s present reign breaking into our broken world—bringing wholeness to bodies, minds, relationships, and spirits.
3. Dependence and Simplicity
The disciples are to travel without provisions (vv. 3-4), learning to depend on God and the hospitality of others. This strips away self-sufficiency and cultivates trust.
4. Universal Availability
“Everywhere” (v. 6) emphasizes that no village is too small, no person too insignificant. The kingdom is for all people in all places, addressing all needs.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean that Jesus gave the disciples both “power and authority”? How are these different, and why do we need both for effective ministry?
Note: Power is the ability to act; authority is the right to act. Consider how this applies to prayer ministry—we need God’s enabling power and the confidences that we minister in Jesus’ name and authority.
2. Why do you think Jesus paired preaching the kingdom with healing the sick? What does this tell us about the nature of God’s kingdom?
Exploration point: God cares about the whole person. The kingdom isn’t just “spiritual”—it addresses poverty, sickness, injustice, and brokenness. How should this shape our understanding of evangelism?
3. The disciples were instructed to take nothing for their journey (v. 3). What might God be teaching them through this instruction? How does this apply to ministry today?
Exploration point: Dependence on God, trust, simplicity, and reliance on community. Discuss how self-sufficiency can hinder our effectiveness in ministry.
4. Luke 9:6 says they went “everywhere” bringing good news and healing. What barriers (internal or external) might prevent us from seeing God’s kingdom as available for “all of life”?
Exploration point: We might compartmentalise faith (sacred vs. secular), doubt God’s concern for practical needs, or struggle to believe that God wants to work through us in everyday situations.
5. When you pray for someone, do you tend to focus more on their spiritual needs or their whole-life needs? How might this passage challenge or affirm your approach?
Exploration point: Examine whether we pray comprehensively for people—their health, relationships, work, emotions, and spiritual life—or whether we unconsciously limit prayer to “spiritual” categories.
6. Jesus welcomed the crowds even when he was trying to withdraw (v. 11). What does this reveal about his heart, and how should it shape how we respond when ministry opportunities interrupt our plans?
Exploration point: Compassion, availability, and flexibility. Consider the tension between rest and responsiveness to need.