Jesus was tempted to sin just like we are. How He withstood gives us insight into how we too can overpower our temptations.

Jesus identifies with us in many ways in this passage. He is baptized to connect with us. He is approved by Father and in Christ we are approved by the Father as well. He enters the human world through a genealogy in order to identify with us.

After he writes of the birth of Jesus, Luke now begins to tell the story of these two cousins grown up, John and Jesus. What was the purpose of John and his ministry? How did his preaching affect the people of Israel leading up to the public entrance of Jesus?

As we begin the Gospel of Luke, Luke introduces us to the main character, Jesus, as well as why he wrote the book.

Is it all up to us? To be convincing and winsome enough that someone would make a decision to trust Christ? NO! The Holy Spirit is the one that empowers believers and awakens recipients to follow Christ.

So we want to share the Good News with our friends - so what do we say?

Jonah is regretting that he was part of Gods plan. Are there reasons we hesitate to join the mission?

When God calls, we need to trust and follow. Obey Him and leave the results to Him.

When God forgives and restores us, He does so in order to send us into someone elses life to help them.

There are times when we know what God wants us to do and we do not want to obey. Do we run away or do we follow Him despite the difficulty?