A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

1. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

2. Without written records of Jesus’ life our entire Christian experience would lack insight and substance…heart and passion Apart from God’s special written revelation…mankind lives in darkness We can’t know the one who called himself the truth or even what truth is! The Gospel of Luke uniquely solves that need for light and truth! A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

3. Luke offer us a clearly researched, historically accurate account of Jesus’ life Luke 1:1-4 (NKJV) Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

4. Luke instructs us that faith in God resides in the midst of a battlefield between Satan and God Luke 8:11-12 (NKJV) "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5. Luke challenges us to follow after Jesus in faith because he uniquely and deeply cares about us. Luke 8:43-50 (NKJV) Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " 46 But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

6. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Through The Gospel of Luke in a Year Why? 1. As our world becomes increasingly diverse, LUKE reminds us that Jesus…and Jesus alone is the answer to our world’s problems The book’s key verse of Luke is in chapter 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

7. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Through The Gospel of Luke in a Year Why? 2. As the World becomes increasingly skeptical of Christianity, LUKE teaches us that Compassionate behavior toward lost- and hurting- people is one of the most basic aspects of following Jesus

8. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship We listen as Jesus made this his call to action- Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

9. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship We watch as Jesus made this his primary approach to human suffering- Luke 7:11-17 (NIV) Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

10. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship We struggle as Jesus makes this a command - Luke 14:12-14 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

11. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship We marvel as Jesus made this a Top Personal priority- Luke 17:11-19 (NIV) Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

12. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Through The Gospel of Luke in a Year Why? 3. As our world becomes increasingly secular and communicates to us that following Jesus can be one of many options, that a zealous spirit for God is not popular, and that tolerance of all other perspectives is expected…LUKE teaches us that Jesus commands a steely eyed, single-minded pursuit of him alone to the exclusion of all other points of view.

13. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Luke 12:49-53 (NIV) "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

14. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Luke 6:20-26 (NIV) Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

15. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Through The Gospel of Luke in a Year Why? 4. As our World becomes increasingly polarized and fragmented by factions and divisions, Luke teaches us that Jesus is interested in all humanity, all races, all nationalities, both genders (male and female).

16. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Through The Gospel of Luke in a Year Why? 5. As our World becomes increasingly hardened by its sinful behavior and by sin’s lie that what was evil is now good and what was good is now evil, LUKE assures us that faithful service to God will be rewarded and that every choice results in momentous outcomes for good or for evil.

17. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Luke 12:1-10 (NIV) Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

18. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Luke 12:35-48 (NIV) "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." 41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

19. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Luke 35 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

20. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Our three-fold Duty 1. To be Humble before God Luke 9:46-48 (NIV) An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest."

21. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Our three-fold Duty 2. To be helpful to Men- Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers….

22. A Compassionate Call to Discipleship Our three-fold Duty 3. To pay Homage to God- Worship and attentive listening10:38-42 Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."