Luke/Acts for Beginners
Jesus in Galilee
Public Ministry Begins - Part 1
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is the early public ministry of Jesus as found in Luke 4:1 – 6:16. Teachers and students should review the relevant materials before class.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Summarize the early public ministry of Jesus.
- Feel: Value the teachings of Jesus as he begins his ministry.
- Do: Apply the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke to help students grow spiritually.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as "right or wrong" responses.
Look for responses such as who He was, why He was there, and what was most important for others to learn. The intent of this question is to have students think about what Jesus was doing as He began His ministry. By doing so, they will gain insight into how to tell others about Jesus in a logical way.
We don't see much about the character of many of them, especially in the early days of Jesus' ministry. Many responses will single out the personality traits of Peter such as his leadership, passion, habit of speaking out quickly and taking quick action. Some of the apostles were even sworn enemies of each other (Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot). Except for Judas Iscariot, these men were brought together as an unstoppable force in spreading the gospel and Kingdom of God. It was not their power, but the power of God working through them.
That is why Jesus selected as His apostles, men that would be considered very ordinary, even despised in the community. They were not from any of the religious or community leaders.
Desired response: We don't know the content of the prayer, but it is likely that given the importance of the selection, Jesus would have prayed for wisdom and guidance for these 12 men. This is what He prayed for on other occasions (John 17). We can learn from this that we too must go to our Father in prayer as we deal with situations in this life. Our prayers should include prayers for wisdom and guidance as we make decisions.
Answers will vary but it is important to realize that the entire life and teachings of Jesus were not what was expected by the Jewish people. Most of the people misunderstood scriptures about the Messiah and the spiritual nature of God's Kingdom. As a result, most of the leaders rejected Jesus. The lesson for us is to understand who Jesus truly was and what was the nature of His Kingdom. We must also realize that the gospel is for everyone.
It is also important to know that all throughout man's relationship with God, it is the humble or those who learn humility that best serve God. Those not able to show or learn humility do not seek to serve God.
Complacency means to be satisfied with the status quo or how things are currently. This can lead to a sense of mental atrophy where we either don't recognize a need to grow and change, or we refuse to accept this as a need. As for spiritual complacency, it is a condition where a person does not recognize the need for salvation and therefore will not seek after it.
Desired response: These clearly point to the Deity of Jesus. In Luke 5:21-24 it shows His Deity by being able to forgive (remove) sins. In 6:6-11 it shows His Deity by His authority over the Law given by God to Moses and the customs brought about by the Jewish leaders. Jesus, as He did in the Sermon on the Mount gave clarity and insight into the will of God the Father. This proof of Deity and the lowering of the importance of customs over the Law would later be the basis for the Jewish leaders' desire to seek His death.
It is difficult to understand why someone would reject Jesus with such obvious proof of who He was. Perhaps it was because He did not fit the pattern of what they expected. Perhaps, as recorded in other gospels, they were jealous of Him or fearful of the loss of their own status.
A lesson for us is that even though we read about the life and teachings of Jesus, and see the change He makes in lives, many still reject Jesus and will until He returns. But those that believe and obey Jesus will continue to teach Him and show Him in their lives. This is the call to faithfulness that disciples of Jesus continue to answer.
Look for responses that indicate an acceptance of concepts taught in this presentation and other resources. Look for responses that show a commitment to learn more and grow spiritually. In the event students offer generalities, challenge them to make it more specific. For example, instead of saying "I'll read my Bible more often" or "I'll pray more" challenge them to start now and set a regular time for study and dedicated prayer. Also encourage them to begin telling the story of Jesus to others now. In doing this they will gain more knowledge of the Lord and confidence to fulfill their role as disciples.