Orientation

Orientation Orientation Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Certainty; Investigation / Luke 1:1-4 This prologue from Luke to dedicate his work to Theophilus gives us a lot of insight necessary for the study of Luke's gospel account. It is in this prologue of 4 verses that we gain the focus for reading what follows. We will be reading with expectation of seeing a compiled narrative of events that have occurred, and have been recorded before, Luke's Gospel is not new information but same information with a new perspective. Luke's careful and methodical investigation of everything organized orderly to give certainty of the things taught about Jesus' life death and ministry. Introduction - Gym/Workout/Trainer Orientation 1. Has anyone ever signed up for a new gym membership or tried out those free introductory invites? a. What usually happens after the trial or during the "FREE" invites or when you sign up and become a member? i. Well hopefully someone gives you an orientation of the gym ii. They should go over the gym rules and philosophy for working out 1. Their goals of how to help you achieve your goals a. Some places give free bagels and pizzas - "to help" 2. Their trainers or how you can connect with their trainers b. I usually wanted to skip the orientation - I used to not like meeting people or having to converse i. So I show up on my own to workout and before I was lost on what to do - I either did nothing or did something so randomly there was no way I would possibly build upon that to improve and grow stronger ii. After a proper orientation in the gym though you are ready to begin the process of changing yourself and allowing the gym's/trainers/workouts process to work in you 2. This is where we are as we open Luke's gospel - we are going to start a new series called CrossFit › SLIDE - Series Picture Its been 4 years since I have taught a Gospel - we went through the Gospel of John when we first planted the church And we have now covered 12 books of the bible in their entirety - you can find them online all the way back to the first one - so its been about 11 books since I was last in a Gospel and the Lord said its time a. this series is named because I believe that through the Luke's account we can apply the phrase CrossFit i. In Spiritual growth and maturity - we need to be CrossFit - fit for the cross - in the example of Jesus we are to bear our cross for His sake ii. In terms of eternal life - each one of us must realize Jesus Cross is what makes us fit for eternity - we cannot by our own strength make ourselves fit - but that Jesus cross makes us all fit no exclusions for those who come in the name of Jesus b. So I challenge you to stick out this orientation as Luke prepares us to be CrossFit through his Gospel writings › SLIDE Luke 1:1-2 CSB 1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. › SLIDE Luke 1:3-4 CSB 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. › SLIDE How Luke's Gospel Is Unique › SLIDE Luke 1:1 CSB 1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 1. Luke immediately starts out with the fact his Gospel is not new accounts or different information a. Luke did not come to present another gospel or a different gospel i. These accounts that Luke will present have all been observed as being fulfilled among them 2. Luke also is explicit - many have undertaken this same task a. Luke is simply stating he is undertaking this same task as others have done - he feels maybe he can add something to the work already been done b. Luke was a physician in the early church › SLIDE Colossians 4:14 CSB 14 Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demas send you greetings. i. Perhaps he believed his specific learning and perspective would be beneficial c. Luke was also a companion of Paul d. We dont know alot about him i. Eusebius and Jerome place his birth in Antioch ii. Tradition places him as the pastor in Philippi 3. Luke was the most prolific writer of the New Testament a. He wrote two books Luke and Acts i. Acts is part two of Luke - but together these two books comprise the majority of the New Testament b. Luke is the only Gentile author of the Bible 4. Luke includes more than any other Gospel writer a. Women b. Children c. prayer d. singing e. rejoicing f. poverty and wealth › SLIDE What is Luke's Method of Training › SLIDE Luke 1:2-3 CSB 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 1. Luke's method is what makes his Gospel - the largest and most complete account of Jesus' life, death and ministry a. Luke was not an eyewitness - so his account is not of that - his account is that of a researcher - who compiled all the accounts and researched them exhaustively i. Just because he was not an eye-witness does not discount his record ii. Recorded eye-witness accounts are considered admissible as evidence - he states here that he went directly to the eye-witness accounts and records 1. It is believed that Matthew and Mark were sources used by Luke as well as him adding in his own accounts as well. b. This gospel is part of the synoptic Gospels 2. Luke Gospel is presented as a historical account fully researched by Luke himself a. Sir William Ramsay believed the Bible was inaccurate b. He became a born-again Christian and apologist when he found that neither Luke nor Acts has a single historical inaccuracy. i. Luke wants his readers to understand that he has carefully researched and produced a biography that his readers can trust 1. There is nothing written in this account that didnt pan out as fact ii. However the standards are from first century rather than 21st century 1. For instance it does not follow the exact chronological order of events in Jesus life 2. Yes it says orderly sequence but Ancient historians were allowed to move events around in order to give an accurate portrayal but not a chronological one a. This would not be allowed by today's standards but was fine for 1st century ancient standards b. Luke says orderly - not chronological but literary 3. Luke writing style was part of his method too a. First off Luke is written not in Koine Greek (common Greek) but rather a difficult to read book in the Greek i. Exact Polished and classical style of Greek b. Next Luke wrote as a medical professional i. Luke as a doctor gives us the most detailed account of our Savior's birth ii. The miracles are described in medical terminology (only 6 of the recorded miracles are found in Luke) iii. As a doctor whose concern is people this concern comes across the pages of his writings › SLIDE What is Luke's Goal for Us › SLIDE Luke 1:4 CSB 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed. 1. Luke's goal is that we may know with certainty the things about which we have been instructed a. Theophilus is the person whom Luke writes i. Theo - God ii. Philus - friend iii. Friend of God or God's friend b. Theophils was a gentile christian - who was accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ; Messiah to the Jews i. Luke wanted him to be sure that he was accepting the Jewish Messiah but that Jesus was more than the Jewish Messiah - He was the Gentile Christ ii. The Savior for the Gentiles also 1. He wrote of Jesus as the Compassionate Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost › SLIDE - Key Verse Luke 19:10 CSB 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." 2. Luke even from the genealogy of Jesus goes back to Adam and the whole world is seen as the sphere of God's redemption 2. The things instructed - about Jesus a. Jesus life and ministry are accurately recorded and reported i. His teachings ii. His miracles iii. Even his death b. Luke is confirming Jesus as the promised Savior of the world 3. The Gospels and their purposes a. Matthew - written to Jews to show Jesus the Messiah b. Mark - written to Romans to show Jesus as the Suffering Servant c. John - written to show Jesus as the Son of God d. Luke written to the Greeks to show Jesus as the Son of Man i. Luke seeks to answer two questions 1. Did God intend to save Gentiles - with the Jewish Messiah 2. Why were the Jews rejecting the gospel so strongly Conclusion › SLIDE Luke's Gospel seeks to make us CrossFit; that we would discover the joy of salvation from God and take up our cross in discipleship with Jesus Luke takes painstaking efforts in his writing to address the Gentiles - because they were the ones coming to faith in great numbers and then being trained in the faith a. Trained in a faith that had its roots in Judaism - trained in a faith that was started by the rejection among the Jews b. This created problems for the Gentiles - is it true and could it be possible that the one who was supposed to be Messiah to the Jews and savior of the Jews would also be their Savior? i. Luke sought to answer this with certainty - for Theophilus and for us all who are Gentiles who would believe 1. that the same man who would be Messiah for the Jews is Christ for the Gentiles › SLIDE God sent His Son to be Savior of both Jews and Gentiles; of all nations, tribes and tongues This is why Luke's Gospel portrays Jesus as the Son of Man - meaning He came as the perfect man for all mankind - the Savior of the WHOLE world Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:14 PM June 29, 2019.