Sermon Notes 8/28/16

The prelude was “Fill My Cup” with “There Is a Fountain” and “Tell Me the Old, Old Story”

Pastor welcomed us and gave the announcements: Sunday School for children starting.

Subject? “Chronological Bible” any age welcome! Ladies Bible study last day for signing up, starting Sept. 8th; Church picnic Sept. 17th (No potluck on Sunday the 18th) The church provides a maindish. If somebody has a grill, contact Susan Clatyon, bring side dishes and/or dessert. Place? Goldwater Lake. Time? 10 a.m. – 1.pm.

Denise needs chairs (for adults) for Sunday School. Jennifer needs help with moving.

Colin: Help with moving Pastor and his family, help with packing and cleaning etc.

Pastor led the prayer time: Brigitte: unspoken; Kim: prayer for her husband, health getting worse; prayer for daughter not feeling well; Brig: praise her bone marrow shows no leukemia; Jodi: prayer for family as her uncle Mariano moves in and he has dementia; Shirley: prayer for brother-in-law LeRoy health issues; Robert E. prayer for his brother-in- law, Jimmy, deployed to S. Korea; Willy’s start of school tomorrow; Payer for Natania, starting school in New Zealand; Jussynda prayer for our country: prayer according to 1. Tim. 2: 1-4 for those in authority over us, prayer for our country and candidates; Edd: prayer for his nephew’s family, he died suddenly; prayer for neighbor with cancer, for Edd to be His witness to him; prayer for brothers and sisters in the world as they today worshiped in their church, prayer for brothers ad sisters who were persecuted and the services interrupted for their belonging to Christ; Melissa: prayer for needs in the family, wisdom; prayer for Chase (Jennifer’s nephew) his 6th birthday and the party.

This was followed by the hymn “Once for All”

The Offertory was a piano solo: “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”

After the chorus: “Majesty” (Purple Book) and a valuable vista on the story of the chorus

by Cathy; pastor started a new series based on Luke.

“Introduction to Luke” Luke 1:1-4:

The story of “Majesty” reminded the writer of the royalty in England and the value with it as well as the responsibilities. Called to change the world around them. In Christ we are called to change the world. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so we could be a “Child of the King” Of the King of kings. We have been called to make a difference in the world. Called to do today? In raising kids we think ‘can I raise them in the manner to feel the honor to call’ We are reminded in 1. Tim. 2: 1-4. The authority of prayer. In that passage we read that God wants all people to be saved. V 4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” Do we understand who we are? A Child of God? Think about it! God desires everybody to be saved. Everybody! Make disciples!

This relates to the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. It is assumed Luke wrote it. We know that neither Peter nor James wrote it. Luke’s vs 1-4 are the prologue. Many of us when reading a book skip the introduction and prologue anxious to get to the story. We find many answers in the prologue to the 6 question words: who, what, where, when, why, how? This is important! The first question “Who” tells us a lot about issues. The first 4 verse in the Greek language are one sentence. Shows it was written by an educated person familiar with the classical Greek. In the classical Greek any good letter would have a prologue sentence giving answers to the 6 questions. They only needed on sentence. This was the way it was in the classical Greek writing. This writer was an educated scholar familiar with Greek writing. The other Gospel writers were fishermen, carpenters. Mostly uneducated. Matthew possibly was an exception. The prologue tells us something about the writer being well educated, familiar with the classical Greek setting. Yet familiar also with the Semitic setting having gone to school under Gamaliel. In the

opening paragraph the author uses Greek words other than the common words. More like an expert in law. Other translation use the word scribe. Clearly to the Hebrew this is a familiar word. We would use the word receptionist not expert in the law. The author uses more legal terms. He uses teacher (NIV) not rabbi or rabboni as in Mark and John.

He is more specific with the type of teacher. The author quotes the Septuagint not the

Hebrew writings as his audience is familiar with the Greek culture rather than the Jewish.

V 3 Theophilus. God lover (active form) Friend of God. There is some argument that this is not really specific person, possibly a pseudonym or generally. We can discuss this!!

“Most excellent Theophilus” this approach is also used by Paul in Acts 24:3 the way Paul addressed Felix. There is the suggestion that probably this was a high roman official in the time of persecution. Similar to our “your honor” respect. It could also be a pseudonym, seems most likely chosen by the Holy Spirit and the author. Whatever it is it is addressed to all of us. Lover of God! We also notice that Luke describes the places which leads us to believe he didn’t know Palestine that well. Several verses give us this: Luke 4:31; 8:26; 21: 37; 23: 51; 24: 13 Seems to show us that he doesn’t know the area well and so describes it as well to Theophilus. The book is written for gentiles.

We see in Acts 1: 1 that Luke is assumed author of both the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Theologians view these two as a 2 volume set. Same author, same style. It is the only 2 books written by a gentile to gentiles in the whole N.T. And this means us too. We are part of the gentiles! Why? V 4 has the answer. “want you to know” The Gospels of Mark and Matthew are more addressed to Jews. Luke’s Gospel is to Gentiles telling

them that the Gospel is really true. The Jesus film is based on the Gospel of Luke. It is a complete account for people who don’t know Palestine. “People who don’t know” 1. John 5:13 “so that you may know…” John 20:31 lists specifically why “But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name..” Certainty! To have certainty! Luke also mentions women. Luke 8:1-3 the only place. Luke made the emphasis on women and their role. He also mentions sinners. Luke 7:36-50. Why did he do this? Jesus said He came to heal the sick and save sinners. And the Gospel mentions the poor. Luke 21:1-4 the poor widow who gave everything. He thus emphasizes the minorities. Jesus teaching in Luke 17:11-17. 10 Lepers from a small village. Jesus telling them to go show themselves to the priest as Moses law told, tells us they were Jews. Except for the one! He was a Samaritan. A despised minority. 9 Jews and one despised foreigner. Luke pays special note. The Gospel is for all of us. The subject, theme, overall is? “That you may know” That you may know Jesus Christ.

What? V3 When and how is not mentioned here. In Luke 19: 41-44 and 21: 20-49 we read of Jesus’ words on the destruction of Jerusalem. Some argue that Luke wrote this after the destruction, around A.D. 70. But Luke does not mention this in his book.

Nero was still in power and it is possible that Theophilus was not using his real name because of persecution. Nero remember used humans as torches (Christians mostly) What is going on? Luke is emphatic in telling us that he is not an eyewitness to what happened that it was handed down to him by others. Luke did not personally witness what happened with Jesus. Example? Sherlock Holmes in his book talks how a P.I. sometimes has a more accurate description than an eye witness. He has the full picture. Luke is like a P.I. sees differently, puts it all together, analyzes it and understands. He can put it all together! Through the Holy Spirit guiding him so we can see how the life of Jesus was and life in Jesus.

This does answer all 6 questions for that book. It was written carefully and in orderly manner. So we may know with certainty what we believe . So we know where we are going! First believe then grow in faith to know with Certainty. This is the value of the prologue! Certainty!

Pastor then prayed.

After the hymn “O Happy Day” pastor dismissed us in prayer