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Jesus works & heals on the sabbath, chooses his 12 apostles and begins their training. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 6

Jesus calls Peter, James, John, and Levi to follow Him, conflict with Pharisees begins.

The long awaited rescue has begun with the birth of Jesus. John has prepared the way among the people. Jesus has grown up and been baptized. God has declared His pleasure with Jesus as His beloved son.  Now Jesus will begin His ministry. He will reveal His authority over every realm: creation, diseases, tradition, religion, unseen spiritual forces, and mankind's thoughts and motivations. Through His actions and words we will uncover Jesus' own motivation and His mission. Prepare for the next 6 weeks of study by reading or listening to Jesus' temptation in Luke 4 through Luke 9:27; His explanation on the true cost of being a disciple.

John prepares the way and baptizes Jesus Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 3

The birth and childhood of Jesus Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 2

Mary visits Elizabeth, John is born, Mary & Zechariah Praise God. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 1:39-80

Luke gives us the most complete revelation of Jesus, stressing His compassion and humanity. Luke shows us the universality of the good news and it's application to all races; Jew, Samaritan, and Gentile; to all classes; poor and rich, and to all humans; men, women, and children, those respected and those on the outside of society, those in politics and the religious leaders. His purpose in writing is to provide certainty and security in the truth of Christianity. We begin our study in chapter 1 where Luke gives us the purpose of his gospel and Gabriel foretells the birth of John and Jesus. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 1:1-38

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." (Heb 11:1) At the end of his life, we come to the place where Jacob's faith is commended and recorded in the New Testament. Without reservation he blesses Joseph's younger son ahead of the firstborn and worships God. He makes arrangements for his body to be 'buried with my fathers' in the cave Abraham purchased in the land of Canaan. After Jacob's death Joseph reaassures his brothers of his complete forgiveness and reminds them of God's promises, presence, and protection. These men did not live perfect lives but nothing was beyond God's redemptive power. So many times God overruled and intervened on their behalf, giving grace upon grace!  Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 48-50

The long tense back and forth with these brothers finally comes to a good and satisfying end! Twice now Joseph has wept privately, but this time he weeps publically and declares to his brothers; "I am Joseph!" He invites them to move in closely and they embrace one another through tears. And then they talk! When Joseph was a teenager living at home his brothers hated him so much they couldn't even speak to him. (37:4) But now that they have been forgiven and reconciled, a new relationship is forming. There are five years of famine still to come, but this family will spend it together, protected and provided for through God's providential 'working all things for their good.' Joseph shows us what God can do with a life in the midst of hard circumstances and evil schemes.  Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 45-47

Through a series of tasks Joseph's brothers reveal who they are now, thirteen years later, and how far he can trust them. In order for true reconciliation in this family there must be sincere forgiveness on one side and repentance demonstrated by humble confession of sin and change in behaviour on the other side. All of which takes time as trust is built and wounds are healed. Judah's charactor seems to have come a long way since his sin with Tamar. He takes personal responsibility for his youngest brother, Jacob's new favored son, Benjamin. Before, Judah encouraged his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt and let Jacob believe he was dead. Now, Judah offers himself in Egypt as a slave in place of his brother, so Benjamin can return home to his father who treasures him. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 43-44

After being forgotten in prison for two years, Joseph finds himself standing before Pharoah, an extremely powerful man thought to be descended from the gods. And yet when Joseph stands before him he does not seek to advance his own interests or take any glory for himself. Instead he gives all glory to the true God and gives council for the help of others. God gives Joseph wisdom with a plan to preserve life during a great famine and gives wisdom for bringing about true reconciliation with his brothers. Joseph begins the reconciliation process with a series of tests that will reveal how his brothers have or have not changed. Joseph himself has experienced his relationship with God develop over time thru trying circumstances and will need God's help with this new trial of great power and seeing his brothers again. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 41-42

God's presence with Joseph in Egypt is having an impact on his conduct and charactor. He resists multiple advances from a powerful woman and suffers greatly for it. Somehow away from his family Joseph is able to break some unhealthy patterns of deciet and develop a true relationship with his God. In this pagan land of Egypt we are told repeatedly that God is with him there. At the same time Joseph is a slave and is imprisoned even though he is innocent of wrongdoing. How is it possible that God can be with a person yet allow him to suffer so much? And in the face of injustice how does one remain steadfast and not lose heart or lose faith? Endurance comes from the presence and comfort of Almighty God, the strength He supplies and His Grace all sufficient.  Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 39-40

Long ago Jacob deceived his father Isaac with a robe and food from a slaughtered goat. Now his sons deceive him with a coat and blood from a slaughtered goat. Jacob's family knows the true and living God, yet their sin patterns seem at times to be much stronger than their faith. Over the course of this story we will begin to recognize a contrast between two of the brothers. Young and immature Joseph has been spared hard work raised as the favored firstborn son of Rachel, the wife Jacob loves. Joseph starts out with dreams of power and a princely coat and ends up exiled from his family when he is sold into slavery. As a shepherd, Judah knows hard work and is the forth son of Leah, the wife Jacob rejects. He chooses to leave his family and settle among the Canaanites. Through it all the Lord's providential hand, strengthening presence, and unchanging Grace are at work. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 37-38

Jacob’s detour in Shechem costs his family dearly with the rape of his daughter and the retribution his sons enact. After Jacob’s remarkable encounter with God, we are told of one of the lowest points in his family and that his household has acquired many foreign gods. How can that be? We might prefer the narrator to leave out horrific and faithless moments in the lives of God’s people, but that would paint an incomplete picture of their need for God’s grace. When Jacob returns, God again changes his name and throughout the rest of his life we will see both natures at play - sometimes he is Jacob the deceiver, other times he is Israel, surrendered to God. So too with our own faith journey. Romans 7-8, Ephesians 4:20-32 and Galatians 5:16-26 speak of this battle between our old self and our new identity in Christ. Jacob’s wrestle with God marks the beginning of His new nature, not the full completion of it. As you read look honestly at the mixture of cowardice, failure, depravity, idolatry, return, repentance, and restoration. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 34-36

Jacob has prayed and sought God’s help. He has planned and sought to appease Esau with gifts. He has protected his family and separated himself from them. He’s done all he knows to do to deal with the problem at hand. And God’s response to Jacob? He wrestles with him all night long as tho they are equally matched, and then with a mere touch, God clobbers him!1 What in the world!?! God prepares Jacob to meet Esau by maiming him? Jacob will walk with a limp for the rest of his life from this encounter with the Living God, but that is not all that happens here. God asks Jacob some poignant questions that get to the core of his identity. Jacob may be meeting Esau with a limp yes, but he is also meeting Esau with a new understanding. God has begun the process of healing Jacob’s inner wounds and he begins to relate more honestly with his brother. He still falls short of full honesty with Esau and full obedience to God’s command to return to Bethel and his family will pay dearly for it. (Gen 34) But He is changing. As you read be watching for these indicators of transformation and what brings them about. Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 32:22-Genesis 33