Thu Sep 3

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the words things and Theophilus.

Reading

Luke 1:1-4—So That You May Know

Optional Reading

Acts 1:1-3

Keys for kids

Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.

Luke researched and wrote this good news about Jesus.
Luke also wrote Acts—more work of Jesus through His disciples.
This careful account helps us know for sure about Jesus.

Questions

(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)

Why did Luke write his gospel account?
To whom did he dedicate it? And what does that one’s name mean?
Do you believe in Jesus? Why or why not?

Catechism

(1 Q&A each week (Th-W) related to the preaching text)

WSC #21

Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.

(1 Tim. 2:5-6; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Rom. 9:5; Luke 1:35; Col. 2:9; Heb. 7:24-25)

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

If the Lord is willing, we will be considering Luke, then Acts as the preaching content over the next year or so at SRC. Some talk about these two books as 1st and 2nd Luke. Both were, we believe, written by a Gentile physician (Col 4:14) named Luke. Both were dedicated to Theophilus, a name that means lover of God or loved by God. Most excellent is often used to speak of a high-ranking official (Acts 23:26; 24:2; 26:25).

Luke begins by telling Theophilus why he wrote this gospel account. Others had written as eyewitnesses of the events that had happened—things about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Even though Luke wasn’t an eyewitness, he set out to write an orderly account of these things. As Stivason notes, Luke investigated. He interviewed. He compared sources. He examined testimony.

And all of this had a purpose—that Theophilus (and all readers of this gospel account) would have certainty about the truth of this good news about Jesus. Christianity is based on objective truth. Truth about Jesus the Christ (the Messiah). The One who always was as God the Son, who became human, who lived an observable life on this earth some 2,000 years ago, who was cruelly and unjustly killed, and who was raised from the dead and taken up into heaven. This Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and everlasting life for all who believe in Him. Do you believe in Him?

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 2a, 119v

Prayer

Thank God for the carefully researched gospel of Luke.
Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Sunday.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.