Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Week 1, Day 5, Luke 1:1-4

HOW THIS STUDY IS SET-UP

Have you noticed yet how I haven’t written too much commentary or personal prayer journaling? Nor have I added too much commentary. There is a reason for it.

Actually, that isn’t entirely true. There are a few reasons for it. One of the reasons is because I do not want to shape your thoughts or perceptions about what you study. I want your personal, and group, Bible study to be between you, the Holy Bible, and God—not me. After all, I am more of a Bible coach than a teacher. I help direct where you go initially, but I leave room for God to steer you where and how you need to go. We need to pay attention far more to God and His Word than what any human says—and this is how I will conduct this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project.”

I also wanted you to get used to the format and figure out how to do this study thing before I filled your heads with more data and information. In other words, I wanted to start you off slowly and not hit you with everything at once. I figured this was the kinder, gentler way to do this Bible study—to a point.

My favorite teachers and coaches when growing up were the ones who pushed me beyond my comfort levels and they expected more of me. They helped me see I was made for more than what I thought or imagined. Through their expectation of hard work on my part, and pushing myself, I learned far more from them than anyone else.

This is why I have this Bible study set-up in the manner it is so far—and later. I want to stretch you, help you see you were made for more, and can do more, than you know or imagine. In doing so, you’ll learn about Jesus, get to know Him far more intimately, and learn to live a life of Jesus—more than you could have or imagined.

I will push you. I will expect great things of you. Because God does. It is the prompting of God that drives me to ask this of you—of us. We were made for so much more.

You will not be coddled in this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project.” This will not be easy. It’s meant to help you/us go deeper than ever before. It’s meant to help us learn the text and know it in a deep, personal, intimate way. We will become experts on the Four Gospels in our own right, as God intends. This takes time. And hard work.

Welcome to a Bible study that isn’t for wimps or those who want the easy route. It will help you listen to God and apply His Word to your life in a way you’ve never done before and it will be the most enriching. After all, you’ll listen to God and His Word—not humans, pastors, scholars, or authors. You’ll listen to God alone (and least of all to me, a sinner).

Philippians 2:13 / New King James Version (NKJV)

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

ETC. ETC. ETC.

REMINDER: Don’t forget that you are to do at least the 15 Minute Study each and every day. Then, if you have more time, of the 30 Minute Study. Keep adding more of the minute studies as time allows.

TIP: Work on each day’s study all day and night long. Steal a minute or two (and of course more, if you can) and work on it. The more you do it throughout the day, the more you will get out of it, and the more you’ll actually accomplish.

15 MINUTE STUDY

Part 1: Luke 1:1-4 / New Century Version (NCV)

Luke Writes About Jesus’ Life

1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us. 2 They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. 3 Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order, 4 to help you know that what you have been taught is true.

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions after having read the NCV version of our passage:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

BIBLE STUDY STEP 2: EMPHASIZE

Go ahead and emphasize each of the verses, one by one (one at a time), and answer these questions about what you learn from each emphasis:

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions after having read a new version or translation of our passage. So, for example, you would start with verse 1:

“MANY have tried to report on the things that happened among us,” (NCV).

Now, answer the questions below as you focus on what MANY brings to the forefront and the understanding of the verse.

Then, you will do HAVE—and then prayer journal the questions below. Do this to each verse and each emphasis for the entire passage of Luke 1:1-4.

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

Then, when you are finished, answer these questions:

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything?

7 Who is Jesus?

8 What did He do, think, feel, say?

9 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say?

10 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say?

11 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ?

12 What does this mean for me and my life?

13 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life?

14 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus?

15 Write out a summary prayer.

NOTE: Make sure to read each day the rest of each chapter, even if you are not going to do any of the other 30, 45, or 60+ minute studies.

30 MINUTE STUDY

Do this for another version of the Bible.

45 MINUTE STUDY

Do this for another translation of the Bible.

60+ MINUTE STUDY

Do this for yet another translation of the Holy Bible.

In two days, we will continue with the study of Luke 1:1-4. The next couple of days are review and catch-up.

Week 1, Day 5, Part 1: Luke 1:1-4 / New Century Version (NCV)

Week 1, Day 5, Part 1: Luke 1:1-4 / New Century Version (NCV)

Luke 1:1-4 / New Century Version (NCV)

Luke Writes About Jesus’ Life

(Image credit: Microsoft Images Online 2008-2014.)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Week 1, Day 4 Luke 1:1-4

15 MINUTE STUDY

We’re now going to work on our second reading for the “6+ Year Four Gospels Project” and I hope you forgive me. There’s a great deal for us to glean, so I’m going to jump right in and skip the niceties. Let’s get to the substance instead.

We’re going to do this study over the course of three days, where we study the passage of Luke 1:1-4 as a whole and verse by verse. I think you’re going to see how each day, the 15 minute lesson will grow, where you’re doing a little more, between the start of this project, and approximately Day Ten. Then, the amount required for the 15 Minute Study will stay the same and the 30 Minute will increase for about ten days, and so on, until we reach the 60+ Minute Study—and that will continue to grow throughout this book and eight week study session for this first book.

After all, we need to learn to go deeper, no matter the time. We need to go deeper longer and all day and night long. If we aren’t doing this, we’re missing everything the Word of God says and how Jesus lived His life. The idea is to increase what we can do every fifteen minutes so we’re able to absorb more and study more in any fifteen minute period.

Then, I won’t add a great deal more for each fifteen minute session. I just didn’t want to jump in and have us working at a break-neck pace. I wanted us to work into it. That being said, see the next section.

STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND DO WHAT GOD ASKS OF YOU (PAUSE)

If, at any given time, something really jumps out of you, and you need time to prayer journal, ponder, think on, and prayer journal yet some more, by all means do it. This is especially true if you are doing this on your own or with a partner. If this happens, call your partner and let them know. They can then do four days this week, rather than five as well.

If you are doing this in a group, make sure to make note that you want to focus on “X” (fill in the blank) more in your prayer journal. I would then finish the 15 Minute Study and then focus on “X” for however long you need. If you are able to do it in a short amount of time, then do the 30, 45, 60+ Minute Study. If not, then during your review and catch-up day, you can do more of this lesson.

MEMORY VERSES (OR SHALL I SAY, YOUR READING CHAPTER?)

Oh, dear. I probably lost some of you just by writing that, but hang in there. This might not be what you think. Others of you might be rubbing your hands together with excitement. Again, this might not be what you think. So, what is this section about then?

Find your favorite chapter in the Four Gospels. Or, if you’re like me, I have several. So, find the first one that pops into your mind. Look it up.

Mind was Matthew 6.

What’s yours? Write the reference in your prayer journal.

If you don’t have a clue, here are a couple to consider: Matthew 6, Mark 13, Luke 6, John 10, or John 15. (Oh, but there are so many more. But, I would start there.)

Pick one chapter.

Read it all the way through in your favorite translation of the Bible.

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS
Answer each of these questions: 1 What jumped out at you? 2 What did you learn? 3 What can you apply to your life? 4 What did you say to God? 5 What did God say to you? 6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? 7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say? 8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say? 9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say? 10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? 11 What does this mean for me and my life? 12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life? 13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus? 14 Write out a summary prayer.

Now, either copy your chapter out by hand into your journal or onto notecards—or cut and paste over the internet into a blank document. Pick a format you can carry around with you 24/7. Read the chapter while working out, while cooking or cleaning, and read it when on hold with a phone call. Read it before you get out of your car wherever you travel, read it while in a line like at the grocery store, while you get ready in the morning and when you get ready for bed, etc.

The idea is to read it several times a day, from verse one to the end, so many times throughout the day, you memorize it without even meaning to do so. Make this your chapter for at least the eight weeks we are doing this book or blog post series. Read it over and over and over and over.

And, make sure to prayer journal about it constantly, several times a day, and write out verses in your prayer journal that spoke to you the most at that moment and the reasons why.

Prayer journal the entire chapter at least twice a week. Write it out by hand, whether with paper and pen or on the computer.

This will help you learn more about what it is to live a life of Jesus. You’ll read it so much it will become part of you.

1 INITIAL READING AND PRAYER JOURNALING

Read Luke 1:1-4 in your favorite version of the Bible.

PRAYER JOURNALING

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS
Answer each of these questions: 1 What jumped out at you? 2 What did you learn? 3 What can you apply to your life? 4 What did you say to God? 5 What did God say to you? 6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? 7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say? 8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say? 9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say? 10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? 11 What does this mean for me and my life? 12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life? 13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus? 14 Write out a summary prayer.

Now, let’s go deeper still. Let’s try to glean everything out of this we can. Read this version and all of the cross-references listed after Luke 1:1-4.

Luke 1:1-4 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Dedication to Theophilus

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled[a] among us,(A) 2 just as the original eyewitnesses(B) and servants of the word(C) handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable(D) Theophilus,(E) 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.[b](F)

Footnotes:

1. Luke 1:1 Or events that have been accomplished, or events most surely believed

2. Luke 1:4 Or informed

Cross references:

1. 1:1 : Rm 4:21; 14:5; Col 2:2; 4:12; 1 Th 1:5; 2 Tm 4:17; Heb 6:11; 10:22

2. 1:2 : Jn 15:27; Ac 1:21; 2 Pt 1:16; 1 Jn 1:1

3. 1:2 : Ac 26:16; 1 Co 4:1; Heb 2:3

4. 1:3 : Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25

5. 1:3 : Ac 1:1

1:4 : Ac 18:25; Rm 2:18; 1 Co 14:19; Gl 6:6

-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

-- From source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1%3A1-4&version=HCSB

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions for:

A The first read-through of this version.

B After each cross-reference.

1 What jumped out at you? 2 What did you learn? 3 What can you apply to your life? 4 What did you say to God? 5 What did God say to you? 6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? 7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say? 8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say? 9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say? 10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? 11 What does this mean for me and my life? 12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life? 13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus? 14 Write out a summary prayer.

Luke 1:1-4 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

Luke Writes About Jesus’ Life

1 Many have ·tried to report on [set out to compile an account/narrative of] the things that ·happened [have been fulfilled/accomplished] among us [John 20:31; Acts 1:1–3; 2 Pet. 1:16–19]. 2 They have written the same things that ·we learned from [L were handed down by] others—the ·people who saw those things [L eyewitnesses] from the beginning and ·served God by telling people his message [L were servants of the word; Acts 10:39–41; 1 John 1:1–3]. 3 Since I myself have ·studied [investigated; followed closely] everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent [C a designation for someone with high social or political status] Theophilus, it seemed ·good [fitting] for me to write it out for you. I arranged it ·in order [or in an orderly manner], 4 to help you know that what you have been taught is ·true [certain; reliable; John 20:31].

-- From Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1%3A1-4&version=EXB

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions for:

A The first read-through of this version.

B After each cross-reference.

30 MINUTE STUDY

Luke 1:1-4 / The Message (MSG)

1 1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions for:

A The first read-through of this version.

B After each cross-reference.

Luke 1:1-4 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Introduction

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things [a](A)accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who (B)from the beginning [b]were (C)eyewitnesses and [c](D)servants of(E)the [d]word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, (F)having [e]investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you (G)in consecutive order, (H)most excellent (I)Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been [f](J)taught.

Footnotes:

Luke 1:1 Or on which there is full conviction
Luke 1:2 Lit became
Luke 1:2 Or ministers
Luke 1:2 I.e. gospel
Luke 1:3 Or followed
Luke 1:4 Or orally instructed in

Cross references:

-- From Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+1%3A1-4&version=NASB

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions for:

A The first read-through of this version.

B After each cross-reference.

45 MINUTE STUDY

Write out at least four of your memory verses in your prayer journal—and do so at least four times each. Then, prayer journal about them:

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions: 1 What jumped out at you? 2 What did you learn? 3 What can you apply to your life? 4 What did you say to God? 5 What did God say to you? 6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? 7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say? 8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say? 9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say? 10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? 11 What does this mean for me and my life? 12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life? 13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus? 14 Write out a summary prayer.

60+ MINUTE STUDY

Look up one reference or commentary for Luke 1:1 from here:

1 http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/1-1.htm

Then, answer these questions:

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything?

7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say?

8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say?

9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say?

10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ?

11 What does this mean for me and my life?

12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life?

13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus?

14 Write out a summary prayer.

Now, do the same for Luke 1:2:

2 http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/1-2.htm

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything?

7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say?

8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say?

9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say?

10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ?

11 What does this mean for me and my life?

12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life?

13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus?

14 Write out a summary prayer.

Now, do the same for Luke 1:3:

3 http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/1-3.htm

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything?

7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say?

8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say?

9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say?

10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ?

11 What does this mean for me and my life?

12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life?

13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus?

14 Write out a summary prayer.

Now, do this for Luke 1:4:

4 http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/1-4.htm

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Answer each of these questions:

1 What jumped out at you?

2 What did you learn?

3 What can you apply to your life?

4 What did you say to God?

5 What did God say to you?

6 What did you learn about Jesus, if anything?

7 Who is Jesus? 8 What did He do, think, feel, say?

8 What does He want us to do, think, feel, say?

9 What does He not want us to do, think, feel, or say?

10 How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ?

11 What does this mean for me and my life?

12 How can I apply these lessons learned, and answers received, to my life?

13 How can all of this help me live a life of Jesus?

14 Write out a summary prayer.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE ON TRACK AND GOD IS REALLY WORKING? (WE MUST PERSEVERE.)

Written March 24, 2014, Monday

How do you know when you’re on track with the Lord and God’s really working in, around, and through your life? I mean it. Really. How do you know?

The answer is simple: Distraction. Challenges. Busyness.

All of the sudden, out of nowhere, everything, and I mean everything, comes up and gets you off of your task at hand—being with the Lord. You’re hit with a little bit of everything—and all at once. Distraction, tragedy, challenge, busyness, fear, doubt, anger, frustration, stress, etc.

Well, it’s been that way for me. And my blog posting sure reflects these new developments in my life. All sorts of challenged have happened to those in my life. Terrible, life-challenging, and life-taking challenges. The storms haven’t been rainstorms or thunderstorms. They’ve been more than a torrential downpour. They’ve been hurricanes with tornados—along with an earthquake.

Do you know what I mean?

None of these have been in my life directly. Thank God. But, they’ve been in the lives of those I care about and support. It’s been some heart-breaking, heart-rendering, terrible stud—where I have no idea how I would handle one thing these individuals have gone through. I cannot even imagine. So, my husband, B, and I have been living at the hospital since Thursday. And, the hospital that is best for all the individuals involved is thirty-one miles away in each direction. We’ve traveled this numerous times over the past few days. The dog needs to be let out and fed. So, we do that and quickly grab a quick bite to eat, then, back out the door we go.

Is it just me—or has the enemy tried to stop you and your progress with the Lord and with this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project” (SYFGP)? (Answer this in your prayer journal—and if you’ve experienced this, or when, please contact me so I can pray for you as you go through this—and I ask for yours as well. Contact me at my email or attach a comment at the end of any blog post.)

Have you been tempted to stop altogether? (Same thing as above. Please prayer journal your answer and contact me if you’ve been here, or when you go through this.)

The way I figure, is we need to be praying for each other through this “6+ Year Four Gospel Project.” It’s the only way we’ll make it through.

With how many challenges I’ve faced already, it’s sure letting me know that God is working, and wants to work, MIGHTILY through this SYFGP. In an awesome, powerful, glorifying way. He will show how He is God. But, far more importantly, we will get to know Jesus in a personal, intimate way. More so than we can even fathom or imagine. Furthermore, we will learn how to live a life of Jesus in a way we never knew was possible.

This is inevitable. I know it is. God is working. He’s stirring us. We must persevere—even if this turns into a 20+ year project. God is working.