New Testament in a Year – Luke 6

Lord of the Sabbath - Luke 6:1-11

Understand It

• What were the disciples doing that irritated the Pharisees? (6:1-2)
• What were the disciples accused of doing when they picked the grain? (6:2)
• How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees’ accusation? (6:3-5)
• What historical example did Jesus use to justify what His disciples were doing on the Sabbath? (6:3-5)
• What claim did Jesus make about Himself? (6:5)
• What did Jesus’ identity as Lord of the Sabbath have to do with the disciples eating grain on the Sabbath? (6:5)
• In what setting did Jesus heal the man with a shriveled hand? (6:6-8)
• Why were the teachers of the law watching Jesus closely? (6:7)
• Why were the Pharisees and teachers angry at Jesus? (6:7, 11)
• What difference did it make that Jesus was being watched? (6:7-10)
• How did Jesus heal the man’s hand? (6:9-10)
• What did Jesus ask the crowd? (6:9-10) Why?
• How did the Pharisees and teachers respond to the miracle Jesus did? (6:11)

Apply It

• What could you do to make next Sunday a day of service to God?
• What spiritual disciplines (such as fasting, prayer, Bible study, or church activities) should you reexamine this week?

The Twelve Apostles - Luke 6:12-16

Understand It

• What did Jesus do before choosing the twelve apostles? (6:12)
• How much time did Jesus spend in prayer before He chose His apostles? (6:12)
• What details did Luke give us about Jesus’ prayer vigil? (6:12)
• From what larger group did Jesus name His twelve apostles? (6:13)
• For which apostles are we given more information than simply their names? (6:14-16)
• How many apostles shared the same first names? (6:14-16)
• What personal facts can you recall about some of the apostles? (6:14-16)
• What significance is there in the order of the apostles’ names? (6:14-16)
• How many of the apostles had already been introduced by Luke earlier in his Gospel? (6:14-16)
• What does the description of Judas Iscariot actually say about him? (6:16)

Apply It

• What do you want to keep in mind from this passage to help you in making choices in the future?
• When in the near future could you pray about God’s plan for your life?

Blessings and Woes - Luke 6:17-26

UNDERSTAND IT

• What different groups made up the crowd to which Jesus gave this sermon? (6:17)
• What effect did Jesus’ presence have on the crowd? (6:18-19)
• Why did the crowd gather? (6:18-19)
• Besides Jesus’ message, what else was going on that day? (6:18-19)
• To whom did Jesus specifically direct His message? (6:20)
• What four groups did Jesus single out for receiving a blessing? (6:20-22)
• How did the promised blessings vary to fit the character of each group? (6:20-22)
• What blessings did Jesus promise then and which ones did He promise for the future? (6:20-23)
• What response to hardship did Jesus encourage His disciples to have? (6:23)
• Who were the disciples to think of as examples during times of suffering? (6:23)
• What times and places did Jesus give for the blessings He promised? (6:23)
• What four groups did Jesus single out for woes? (6:24-26)
• How did the woes vary to fit each group? (6:24-26)

Apply It

• What is one way you can store up rewards in heaven this week?
• In what way can you nurture the qualities that Jesus described as blessed?
• Whom can you encourage with Jesus’ words this week?

Love for Enemies - Luke 6:27-36

Understand It

• How many positive responses to mistreatment did Jesus command? (6:27-31)
• What different kinds of mistreatment did Jesus refer to in His commands? (6:28-30)
• Which statement best summarizes what Jesus said about responding to enemies? (6:31)
• How did Jesus explain the difference between His followers and those He called "sinners"? (6:32-34)
• About what three positive actions did Jesus ask, "What credit is that to you?" (6:32-34)
• What was Jesus’ basic argument in backing up His command to love others unconditionally? (6:32-35)
• What results will those who practice loving their enemies obtain? (6:35)
• What title did Jesus give to those who love their enemies? (6:35)
• Who are we imitating when we love our enemies? (6:36)

Apply It

• To what enemy in your life can you show a gesture of love?
• How can you remember to do good to someone who is unkind to you this week?

Judging Others - Luke 6:37-42

Understand It

• What specific promises did Jesus make? (6:37-38)
• How much did Jesus want His disciples to give? Why? (6:38)
• What does God give to those who give? (6:38)
• How did Jesus summarize the importance of extending grace, mercy, and help to others? (6:38)
• What will God give to each person? (6:38)
• What reason did Jesus give for discouraging the blind from attempting to lead others who were also blind? (6:39)
• How do a student and his or her teacher relate? (6:40)
• What is the main point of the parable of the plank and the speck of sawdust? (6:41-42)
• What is a person who fails to see his or her own shortcomings? (6:42)
• What is required of a person before he or she can teach or instruct someone else? (6:42)

Apply It

• In what relationship in your life do you want to show more grace, mercy, and giving? How?
• In what ways can you be a more diligent student of your heavenly Teacher this week?

A Tree and Its Fruit - Luke 6:43-45

Understand It

• What determines the quality of a fruit? (6:43)
• What specific statements did Jesus make about fruit before applying the same truths to people? (6:43-44)
• In what different but related ways is the word "good" used in these verses? (6:43, 45)
• What do the tree and fruit symbolize in these words of Jesus? (6:43, 45)
• What did Jesus say about what people expected when collecting fruit? (6:44)
• What do "thornbushes" and "briers" represent? (6:44)
• What did Jesus describe as the source of good and evil things? (6:45)
• How did Jesus describe the role of the human heart? (6:45)
• How do people ultimately know about the state of our hearts? (6:45)
• What did Jesus mean by His final statement, "For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks"? (6:45)

Apply It

• How can you cultivate the love for God that is in your heart?
• What mature believer could you talk with this week to help you store up good things in your heart?

The Wise and Foolish Builders - Luke 6:46-49

Understand It

• What inconsistency did Jesus call to His followers’ attention? (6:46)
• What three things did Jesus say the wise person did that are similar to building well? (6:47)
• To whom does the wise person go? (6:47)
• What did Jesus say His two house building examples were meant to illustrate? (6:47, 49)
• How would you characterize the wise and foolish person’s relationship to Jesus? (6:47, 49)
• How many differences can you find between the two people Jesus described in His story? (6:47-49)
• What characteristics does the well-built house have? (6:48)
• What event did Jesus describe as happening to both houses? (6:48-49)
• How are the final results different for the wise and foolish builders? (6:48-49)
• What does the foolish person do right and wrong in relation to Christ’s words? (6:49)

Apply It

• What can you do to be ready for the next storm that hits your life?
• Which of Jesus’ words in this passage do you need to heed this week?