Expository Systematic Teachings of Christ According to Saint Luke

Lesson 1

Theme: Christ, the Only Message to the World

Text(s): Luke 1:1-4

Memory Verse:“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Anticipatory Set: What is the benefit of having firsthand knowledge of something?

Lesson Introduction: The central theme of Apostle Luke’s work is that Christ was the Word, and the Word was God (John 1:1-2). From the outset, Luke wanted to point Theophilus to the remarkable collection of facts that other people, who had followed Christ from the very beginning of His earthly ministry, had recorded (Luke 1:2). The information Luke was sharing with Theophilus was not just from his own experience. Other disciples and followers of Christ had taken their time to document all that they had seen, heard, and witnessed in their own encounters with Christ (Luke 1:1; 1 John 1:1). To convince Theophilus of the facts presented in his writing, Apostle Luke noted that others “have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1). In other words, other witnesses of Christ’s ministry on earth had gone on a mission to present the truth they knew in logical order. Also, in Luke 1:3, Apostle Luke, talking about himself, said “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.”

Breakdown of the Study:

1. The Commonality on the Word of God

2. The Continuation of the Word of God

3. The Certainty of the Word of God

The Commonality on the Word of God

Luke 1:1; Acts 1:1-3; John 20:31; 2 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Timothy 4:17

“It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true” (John 8:17). The benefit of having two or more people testifying in support of any subject under discussion cannot be overemphasized. Someone who needs information to make a decision that will serve him/her well will listen more readily when several people attest to its truth. The more witnesses who can provide their knowledge of the facts, the stronger the proof will be for people who need to make life decisions. In Luke 1:1, Apostle Luke began in his writing to Theophilus by seeking to convince him that many people were involved in documenting their encounters with Christ during His lifetime. “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1). The accounts provided by the people who had followed Christ were subject to scrutiny. Those who provided information about Christ did so with the good intention of telling the whole truth and of presenting an accurate account of Christ’s ministry.

The Continuation of the Word of God

Luke 1:1-2; Acts15:1-3, 6-14, 19-20; 8:5-8, 14-17; 9:26-29; Galatians 1:18

The continuation of Christ’s ministry on earth rested with the eleven faithful disciples He left in the world when He arose into heaven. Those Disciples had the prerogative to defend the gospel they had witnessed in their own lives. It is not surprising that Apostle Peter and other disciples were always reaching out and meeting with other communities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 15:1-3; 8:5-8, 14-17). Every disciple of Christ, starting with Peter, had the privilege of putting into writing what he had observed in Christ’s ministry (Luke 1:1-2). Since they had been with Christ from the very beginning, every one of the chosen Disciples of Christ was a minister of the gospel who could declare the Word of Christ with authority. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did” (Acts 8:5-6). Philip singlehandedly brought the people of Samaria together and preached the Word of God (Christ) to them.Likewise, the five hundred brethrenChrist appeared to following his resurrection were also Disciples of Christ who had the privilege of calling themselves ministers of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 15:6).

The Certainty of the Word of God

Luke 1:3-4; John 1:1, 14; 17:5; Revelation 19:13; Acts 10:39-41; 17:16-17

God has provided a means for bringing mankind back to Himself, since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. That goal was achieved by allowing His Only Begotten Son to pay the price by His death on the Cross of Cavalry. “And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). Both the Old Testament and the New Testament confirm Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14). In order to become the author of their salvation, the Word, Christ, became flesh and dwelt among men. In Luke 1:3-4, Apostle Luke’s assignment was to attest to the fact that Christ is the Word of God. Luke assures Theophilus that he and others who had close relationships with Christ have been diligent in documenting His ministry. Their knowledge and understanding of Christ made Luke and the other d[.1] [.2] isciples real crusaders for Christ (Acts 4:20; 5:32; 22:15).

Questions:

1. How can you authenticate alleged facts as being true?

2. How is Christ referred to in both the Old and New Testaments?

3. Why did the disciples document Christ’s undertakings in the world?

[.1]Lower case for the sake of consistency.

[.2]