In this blog, we'll focus on the working being done at Sligo Presbyterian Church, Sligo, Pennsylvania. We'll also look at what's happening in Sligo, Rimersburg, Clarion, and all the other communities served by our congregation.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
On the Road to Jerusalem: A Study of Luke (The Announcements - Luke 1:1-56)
Join us as we use the Gospel of Luke to discuss the journey made by Jesus Christ to the city of Jerusalem, from his birth to his ascension. During our time together, we’ll look at the following:
Session 1 - The Announcements (Luke 1:1-56)
Session 2 - The Births (Luke 1:57–2:21)
Session 3 - Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-52)
Session 4 - The Ministry of the Baptist (Luke 3:1-3:20)
Session 5 - Jesus is Prepared (Luke 3:22–4:13)
Session 6 - Off and Running (Luke 4:14–5:16)
Session 7 - Early Controversies (Luke 5:17–6:11)
Session 8 - Choosing and Preparing the 12 (Luke 6:12-6:49)
Session 9 - The Christ (Luke 7:1-50)
Session 10 - Hearing and Doing (Luke 8:1-21)
Session 11 - Revealing the Power of God (Luke 8:22-56)
Session 12 - You Are the Christ of God (Luke 9:1-27)
Session 13 - A Different Kind of Christ (Luke 9:28-50)
Session 14 - Beginning the Journey (Luke 9:51–10:24)
Session 15 - Love of God and Neighbor (Luke 10:25-42)
Session 16 - Prayer (Luke 11:1-13)
Session 17 - Conflicts and Controversies (Luke 11:14-11:54)
Session 23 - The Problem with Wealth (Luke 16:1-31)
Session 24 - Forgiveness and Faith (Luke 17:1-19)
Session 25 - The Kingdom Is Coming (Luke 17:20–18:8)
Session 26 - Rich and Poor (Luke 18:9-18:30)
Session 27 - Approaching the City (Luke 18:31–19:28)
Session 28 - The Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:29-48)
Session 29 - Jesus in the Temple Again (Luke 20:1–21:4)
Session 30 - The Coming End (Luke 21:5-38)
Session 31 - The Last Supper (Luke 22:1-20)
Session 32 - Parting Words (Luke 22:21-38)
Session 33 - Prayer, Arrest and Denials (Luke 22:39-62)
Session 34 - Trials (Luke 22:63–23:25)
Session 35 - Crucifixion and Death (Luke 23:26-56)
Session 36 - Empty Tomb and Emmaus Road (Luke 24:1-35)
Session 37 - The Blessing and Departure (Luke 24:36-53)
In our first session, we looked at Luke 1:1-56 and talked about the announcements made to Zechariah and Mary. The discussion and passage are below:
Luke 1:1-56 [New Revised Standard Version]
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
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