Teaching by Elijah Dally

Week 3: The Kingdom of God Arrives - Luke 4:31-6:16

1. The Authority of Jesus
- Sickness - Luke 4:38-40; 5:12-16; 5:17-26
- Demons - Luke 4:31-37, 41
- Kingdom - Luke 4:42-44
- Forgiveness - Luke 5:17-26

2. The Newness of Jesus
- Fasting - Luke 5:33-39
- Sabbath - Luke 6:1-11

3. The Calling of Jesus
- Disciples - Luke 5:1-11
- Fellowship - Luke 5:27-32
- Apostles - Luke 6:12-16

Teaching by Chad Ragsdale

Teaching by Chad Ragsdale

Teaching by Michael DeFazio

Teaching by Elijah Dally 

Week 2: The Preparation of Jesus for Ministry - Luke 3-4:30

Preparing You for Jesus - The Ministry of John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-20)
- (3:1-2) The King Arrives in History
- (3:3-9) Prepare for the King: Repent
- (3:10-14) What Does Repentance Look Like?
- (3:15-20) John Points Beyond Himself

John the Baptist and Jesus compared:

John the Baptist:
- John ministers in the wilderness - 3:2-3
- John preaches to Israel - 3:3, 18
- John preaches repentance - 3:3, 8
- John announces one greater who is coming - 3:16
- John confronts Herod and is rejected - 3:19-20
- John's ministry results in imprisonment - 3:20
- John prepares people for the coming Messiah

Jesus:
- Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness - 4:1
- Jesus begins preaching to Israel - 4:14-15
- Jesus preaches the fulfillment/good news - 4:18-21
- Jesus arrives as that greater one - 3:21-22; 4:1-21
- Jesus confronts unbelief and is rejected at Nazareth - 4:24-30
- Jesus' rejection anticipates his eventual death
- Jesus declares that the promised age "has been fulfilled" - 4:21

The King Arrives - Luke 3:21-4:30

Who is He?
- Son of God - Luke 3:21-22, 38; 4:3, 9
- New Adam - Luke 3:23-38
- Promised Messiah - Luke 4:14-21

What will He do?
- Defeat evil - Luke 4:1-13
- Heal the broken - Luke 4:18
- Free the captive - Luke 4:18
- Proclaim good news - Luke 4:18-21
- Bring God's Kingdom - Luke 4:18-21

How will He do it?
- In obedience to the Father - Luke 4:1-13
- In the power of the Spirit - Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14, 18
- Through the Word - Luke 4:4, 8, 12, 16-21
- In confrontation with the powers of evil - Luke 4:1-13
- Despite rejection from his own people - Luke 4:24-30

How will people respond?
- Amazement - Luke 4:15, 22
- Questions - Luke 4:22
- Rejection - Luke 4:23-24, 28
- Hostility - Luke 4:28-30
- Praise/Reception - Luke 4:15, 22

Parallels between the Ministries of John the Baptist and Elijah

John the Baptist:
- Appears in the wilderness - Matt 3:1; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:2
- Wears camel's hair and a leather belt - Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6
- Calls Israel to repentance - Matt 3:2; Luke 3:3, 7-14
- Challenges Israel's presumed covenant status: "Do not presume to say... 'We have Abraham as our father'" - Matt 3:9; Luke 3:8
- Announces coming divine judgment - Matt 3:7, 10-12; Luke 3:7, 9, 17
- Confronts King Herod for his sin - Matt 14:3-4; Mark 6:17-18; Luke 3:19
- Herodias wants John killed - Mark 6:19, 24
- His confrontation with the royal household leads to persecution - Matt 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-29
- Prepares Israel for the coming of the Lord - Matt 3:3; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4-6
- Turns Israel toward God - Luke 1:16-17
- Explicitly comes "in the spirit and power of Elijah" - Luke 1:17
- Jesus says John fulfills the coming of Elijah - Matt 11:13-14; 17:10-13

Elijah:
- Lives/ministers in wilderness settings - 1 Kings 17:2-6; 19:4-8
- Known by his hairy appearance/garment and leather belt - 2 Kings 1:8
- Calls Israel to return to YHWH - 1 Kings 18:18-21, 36-39
- Challenges covenant Israel for abandoning YHWH - 1 Kings 18:18, 21
- Announces God's judgment upon rebellious Israel - 1 Kings 17:1; 21:17-24
- Confronts King Ahab for his sin - 1 Kings 18:17-18; 21:17-24
- Jezebel wants Elijah killed - 1 Kings 19:1-2
- His confrontation with the royal household leads to persecution - 1 Kings 19:1-3
- Expected to return before the Day of the LORD - Mal 4:5-6
- Elijah's promised return would "turn the hearts" of God's people - Mal 4:5-6
- The prophetic model John fulfills - Mal 4:5-6
- Elijah was promised to come before the Lord - Mal 4:5-6

Teaching by Michael DeFazio

Welcome and Opening Discussion

- Let's talk about us and Paul. You first.
- My story with Paul...
- Why "wisdom from Paul on walking with God"?

Colossians as Framing Anchor

- From the Lycus Valley (AD 61) to the Four States (AD 2026)
  - What they wanted...
  - and what Paul gave them:

- What we (might) want... and what Paul (wisely) gives us:
  - Not...
  - Instead...
    - gospel _______________ that grounds and guards our effort
    - hopeful _______________ of deep and holistic transformation
    - simple _______________ that unlocks ongoing transformation
    - embodied _______________ where formation takes root

Honestly diagnosing "the world in front of the text"

- What kind of person do you think God wants you to become?
  - Generally...
  - Specifically...

- What aspects of your life fail to match?

- How badly do you want to change?

- How (hard) are you intentionally working to see this through?

If we have time, Paul's gospel in two words...

Teaching by Chad Ragsdale

Week 1: Introduction to the Gospel of Luke - Luke 1-2

Author:
Luke: A companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; Acts 16:10; 20:5; 21:1; 27:1; 2 Tim 4:11)

Date:
Late 60s AD

Purpose: To give an account of salvation history for those who are seeking God

Outline of the Gospel of Luke
Luke 1-2 - The Miracle of Jesus
Luke 3-9a - The Ministry of Jesus
Luke 9b-19a - The Mission of Jesus
Luke 19b-24 - The Majesty of Jesus

The Chiasm of Luke-Acts

A - CAESAR / ROMAN WORLD - Luke 2:1-2 - Caesar Augustus rules "all the world"
B - GALILEE - Luke 4:14-9:50 - Jesus' ministry expands through Galilee
C - TOWARD JERUSALEM - Luke 9:51-19:27 - "He set his face to go to Jerusalem"
D - JERUSALEM - Luke 19:28-24:53; Acts 1:1-8:1 - Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Spirit, Witness
C' - AWAY FROM JERUSALEM - Acts 8:1-13:3 - "Those who were scattered went about preaching the word" (Acts 8:4)
B' - SAMARIA - Acts 8:4-25 - "Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ" (8:5)
A' - CAESAR / ROMAN WORLD - Acts 25:10-12; 27:1; 28:16, 30-31 - "I appeal to Caesar" - Gospel arrives in Rome

Luke 1-2

Luke 1:1-4: Introduction to the Gospel

Luke 1:5-2: The Fulfillment is Here

Miracle Children - John the Baptist and Jesus compared:

John the Baptist:
- Gabriel announces birth - 1:5-25
- Elizabeth barren - 1:7, 13
- Named John by God - 1:13
- Will be great - 1:15
- Zechariah's song - 1:67
- Born, circumcised, named - 1:57-66
- Grows and becomes strong - 1:80

Jesus:
- Gabriel announces birth - 1:26-38
- Mary a virgin - 1:27, 34-35
- Named Jesus by God - 1:31
- Will be great, Son of the Most High - 1:32
- Mary's song - 1:46
- Born, circumcised, named - 2:1-21
- Grows and becomes strong - 2:40, 52

The Temple and Priest-King
- Zechariah the Levite/Priest from Aaron - Luke 1:5
- Zechariah goes into the temple to pray - Luke 1:8-10
- Joseph the Davidic/Kingly Line - Luke 2:4-5
- Jesus is circumcised and purified - Luke 2:22-24
- Jesus in His Temple home - Luke 2:41-50

The Holy Spirit and the Dawn of a New Age
- The Presence of God will no longer be confined to the temple - Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-29
- John the Baptist - Luke 1:14-15
- Elizabeth - Luke 1:41
- Zechariah - Luke 1:67
- Simeon - Luke 2:25
- Jesus - Luke 3 - The Holy Spirit descends upon Him - The Holy Spirit is not mentioned again concerning anyone else until the Book of Acts.

Teaching by Josh Clark 

Week 7: Serving in the Land (Ch 22-24)

Structure of Joshua:
Joshua 1-5 - Preparation for entry, "cross"
Joshua 6-12 - Entry into Canaan, "take"
Joshua 13-21 - Allocating Canaan, "divide"
Joshua 22-24 - Keeping Canaan/covenant, "serve"

Chapters 22-24 each start with Joshua summoning the people of Israel (22:1; 23:2; 24:1)

1. Potential Civil War (Ch 22)

V 1-9 Joshua's Charge to Eastern Tribes
- V 2-3 The people have obeyed Moses' and Joshua's commands
- V 4 "the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers" fulfills the condition of Joshua's command in Josh 1:15
- V 5 Joshua commands the people to continue in complete obedience. Gives them 7 things to do
  - "observe" the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you
  - "love" the Lord your God
  - "walk" in all his ways
  - "keep" his commandments
  - "cling" to the Lord
  - "serve" him with all your heart and with all your soul
- V 6-9 The 2 1/2 tribes are blessed and sent to their tents.

V 10-34 The Altar of Witness
- V 10-11 The conflict: the western tribes hear that the eastern tribes have set up an altar of imposing size on the west side of the Jordan river. (Deut 12:5)
- V 12-14 Western Tribes response: Prepare for war & send delegation
  - Delegation consisted of:
    - Phinehas, son of Eleazar the High Priest; see Num 25
    - 10 chiefs, each one the head of a tribe
  - V 15-20 Delegation's message to Eastern tribes:
    - Why are you rebelling?
    - Remember the sin at Baal Peor?
    - If dwelling on the East will cause you to rebel, claim an allotment of the West. Don't rebel or cause us to rebel.
    - Remember Achan?
- V 21-29 Eastern Tribes Response: We are being faithful and unifying the nation
  - V 22 "The Mighty One, God, The LORD!" They start their oath with an appeal to God in his supreme authority and incomparable power.
  - V 22-23 If they are lying and created the altar for unauthorized use, they ask that the Israelites or God put them to death.
  - Reason for building the altar:
    - That the descendants of the Western tribes wouldn't look at the descendants of the Eastern tribes and say they aren't a part of Israel
    - That their descendants don't hear that they have no portion in Israel and worship other gods (V 25)
- V 30-34 The Resolution
  - The Western tribes accept the oath, and worship the Lord because there was no sin.
  - They return home bringing good news and relief that there won't be a civil war because the Eastern tribes have remained faithful.
  - We hear that the Altar is named Witness by the Eastern tribes because it serves as a witness to the whole nation of Israel that there are no other gods but Yahweh.

2. Joshua's Charge to Israel (Ch 23)

V 1-5 God's Deeds for Israel
- Joshua reminds the people how they have been firsthand witnesses to the fulfillment of God's promises.

V 6-11 A Charge to Respond in Obedience
- V 6, 11 Obedience and love are inseparable.

V 12-16 Warning Against Future Disobedience

3. Covenant Renewal and Conclusion (Ch 24)

V 1-13 Retelling of God's Faithfulness Throughout the Generations
- V 1 Shechem - Joshua calls them back to the land where they had previously renewed the covenant in Josh 8:30-35.
  - Fitting that it starts with Abraham because this is where Abraham receives the promise of the land (Gen 12:6-7).
  - Shechem is also where Jacob's household buries their foreign gods (Gen 35:1-4).
- V 2-13 Notice the "I" statements from God.

V 14-28 The Final Charge
- "Serve" appears 20 times throughout chapters 22-24. 15 of those 20 times appear in these 15 verses.
- V 14-15 Joshua's final charge to the people: Put away the idols and serve Yahweh. Serve the true God or serve the gods of the people that Yahweh is driving out.
- V 16-18 The people's response: after all that we have seen Yahweh do we will also serve Yahweh.
- V 19-20 Joshua: You are not able to serve the LORD. He is holy. He is jealous and he doesn't take idolatry lightly.
- V 21 The people: No we will do it!
- V 22-23 Joshua: You are witnesses against yourself. They say we are.
  - Joshua: "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel."
  - Gen 35:2 "Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments."
- V 24 The people: We will serve and obey Yahweh.
- V 25-28 Joshua cuts a covenant with the people, writes the words of the covenant in the Book of the Law of God, and sets up a stone under a terebinth tree at Shechem as a witness against them if they don't keep their word.
  - Deut 23:21, also see Ecc 5:1-7

V 29-33 Three Burials
- V 29-30 Joshua
  - "servant of the Lord"
  - Died at 110 years of age which is the same age Joseph died at
- V 32 Joseph
  - Gen 50:25; Ex 13:19; Heb 12:22
  - Buried at Shechem
- V 33 Eleazar the High Priest

4. Christ Connection

- 2 Cor 1:20
- All of the promises of God find their fulfillment in Jesus.

Teaching by Drake Holderman