The Gospel of Luke, To Save the World
ACT I – 12/3 – 12/24: Advent: Luke 1-2
Christmas is about the birth of Christ. But why did he come to earth? Amidst all the presents and the lights the pressure of the season … we feel lost. The Good news of the Gospel of Luke, which begins with the birth of Jesus in chapters 1-2 is this: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).” Are you feeling lost this Christmas? Allow God incarnate himself to meet you where you are. Stage design for advent portion should reflect Christmas themes. This opening section is the major theme of the series set in an Advent Motif.
Luke Series Overview
Have you ever lost something … something that was precious to you? It could be a family member, a wedding ring, a career, or, today, even you phone. Parts of our lives are precious to us. The question is: how far would you go? If someone or something is lost, how far would you go to seek and save them? We live in a world fill with lost people. People are searching, seeking, something bigger and better—something to fill the gap we sense in our hearts. People are longing for salvation but finding it in the wrong places. We need a savior.
The Gospel of Luke is the story of God himself, Jesus Christ, coming to earth to seek and save the lost. Luke is a long book, but it shows us many dimensions of Jesus. In every section we see Jesus seeking us. He comes as a baby through the incarnation … seeking us. He performs miracles to show his power .. as he seeks us. He walks along the road with us as we ask questions. He dies for us … but then he rises again. And now, he sends his followers out into the world to seek the lost.
It’s the call of Jesus. How far would you go … to seek the lost?
What is the point? These books begin with hope, but end in disappointment. The spiritual state of the people are unchanged. The political and social reforms don’t address the core concerns of the heart. The book points us forward to the need for the new covenant which would renovate the human heart as prophesied by Jeremiah (ch 31) and Ezekiel (ch 36).
Act I Sermon Schedule:
12/3 Luke 1:1-4 Intro: Letter to Theophilus & Overview
12/10 Luke 1:5-38 Prediction of John and Jesus’ Birth
12/7 Luke 1:39-80 Mary’s Prayer and Zechariah’s Prophecy
12/24 Luke 2:1-52 The Birth of Jesus
Christmas Eve Morning at 10am
Christmas Eve 4pm & 5:30pm
Don't miss ACT II - Introduction of Jesus, Luke 3-9. Beginning December 31
Commentaries:
David E. Garland, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011).
Robert H. Stein, The New American Commentary, Vol 24 (Nashville: B&H, 1992).
Darrell Bock, Luke: NIVAC
Darrell Bock, Luke: Baker Exegetical Commentary
Mike McKinley, Luke For You found HERE.
Green, The Gospel of Luke (NICNT).
Craig Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels
Craig Blomberg, Interpreting The Parables.
Philip Ryken, Luke (Reformed Expository Commentary).
Books and Articles:
Preaching on Luke by Scott Gibson
Four Reasons You Should Preach Through Luke by Philip Howell (9 Marks). Find article HERE.
A Meal With Jesus. by Tim Chester Find book HERE.
Preaching on Luke by Des Smith (TGC). Find article HERE.
To Change The World. James Davidson Hunter.
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller (Luke 15).
Previous Sermons in this Series
