Luke 7 & 8
This week we will read more miracles performed by Jesus. These miracles highlight that Jesus is true God and they highlight key examples of faith from a centurion, a prostitute, a synagogue ruler, and a chronically ill woman. Jesus is concerned about our physical health in this world BUT he is most concerned about our spiritual health! Take note how many times in these chapters Jesus affirms their faith! He tells the centurion,
I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel. Luke 7:9
When our faith is tested by the distractions and hardships of this world - don't doubt but trust! Our lives on this side of heaven will not be easy or comfortable by any means. And no matter how violent the storms get, Jesus has our hand and will lead us safely to heaven.
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:1-7
Below is a Bible study sheet that will serve as a guide for Luke 7 & 8. Click here or on the image below and print pages 10-11. Most notes will be written in the margins of the Luke text but there are some specific questions to be answered on the Bible study sheet as well.
Here‘s what else you need: - A Bible journal with wide margins OR you can print the whole book of Luke double spaced with 12 font. - An additional Bible translation to compare. NIV, NKJV, NASB, & ESV are some reliable ones. - An audio Bible, audio Bible app, or you can listen online here. - A trusted Bible commentary. I have the Luke People's Bible Commentary. - A regular pencil & some colored pencils. - A Holy Hen House annotation bookmark (below).
It may feel hard at first. Jen Wilkin in her book Women of the Word reassures us, "...Bible study becomes more intuitive the more you do it. It is the process for an orderly, long-term building project with cumulative benefits. Even if you are in a season of life that won't allow you to use ALL the tools of the process exhaustively, you can use them as far as your time does allow. Build slowly if you must, but by all means, build."
One important aspect that should not be overlooked during our time in God's Word is prayer. Before, during, and after. As Jen Wilkin says,
Prayer is what changes our study from the pursuit of knowledge to the pursuit of God himself.
Let's encourage one another throughout the week by sharing images of us studying the book of Luke on Instagram and Facebook using #HHHBibleStudy. It is an extra motivation to know we are reading God's Word together!
If you haven't already, don't forget to join our private online bible study Facebook group of 250+ women! That's where we will be discussing our questions, answers, and thoughts throughout the week.
