Imagine the rug has been pulled out from under you. Has that ever happened in your life? Your
dreams, your hopes, your aspirations for a new day, a new life have been obliterated. It’s over. But
a light has dawned. I love to cross-reference the gospels to get a feel for what happened after the
resurrection of Jesus. For fun read Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16, and John 20 with Luke 24.
Lesson 21
March 30, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 22—23
The shadow of darkness is rapidly overtaking Jesus and his trusted disciples. It is time to prepare for the Passover celebration. During this time in first century Jerusalem, the city would swell with Jewish pilgrims coming from throughout the known world. Jesus had arranged for this special Passover meal in advance because he knew it would be his last on earth.
Lesson 20
March 23, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 20—21
It’s the final week of the life of Jesus on earth. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law, the Jewish
religious leaders, were plotting a way to destroy Jesus. But they had a problem. The people believed
that he was a great prophet. They hung on his every word. To arrest and persecute this popular man
would mean losing control of the people. This would lead to their losing control of the lucrative
Temple sacrifices. Jesus knew their scheme, but he wasn’t hiding from them. A collision course is
looming for these two opponents. But Jesus is still trying to convince his Jewish brethren that he is the
long-awaited Messiah.
Lesson 19
March 9, 2023 • Luke 19
Last week we saw how we must all come to Jesus as little children. In Chapter 19, we see this same idea played out in an adult named Zacchaeus. Jericho is on the way to Jerusalem where a divine appointment is planned, but time is running out. The clock is ticking as Jesus approaches Jerusalem and the cross. All must make a choice.
Lesson 18
March 2, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 18
Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that we must all come to him as children. Do we believe like a little
child? Children ask and ask until they get an answer; they don’t give up until they get what they want.
Children are humble, and don’t see others as lesser or better. Material things aren’t important to little
children. They trust their parents to give them what they need. Children don’t have trouble asking for
the impossible.
Lesson 17
February 23, 2023 • Luke 17
As we journey through the teachings of Jesus that Luke records, it is important to determine who Jesus
is addressing. The time is short for Jesus and his focus is preparing his disciples to carry the torch of
faith after his death. In Luke 17:1-10 Jesus is addressing his disciples.
Lesson 16
February 16, 2023 • Luke 16
Scripture says, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10). Chapter 16 is about where
our focus is. How we spend our treasure shows where our heart is. Chapter 16 has two parables, the
Shrewd Servant and the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Notice that these two parables come right
after the Parable of the Prodigal Son. They all have something in common, money.
Lesson 15
February 9, 2023 • Luke 15
At the beginning of both Chapter 14 and Chapter 15, we see the Jewish religious leaders, the
Pharisees, trying to catch Jesus at violating the Law of Moses. They want to expose him to the people as an imposter. Again and again, Jesus exposes their ignorance while teaching us important truths about God and about himself. This chapter is all about the heart of God the Father for those who are lost. Chapter 15 contains one of the most endearing parables, The Prodigal Son. Rembrandt, Murillo, and other famous painters have captured this story on canvas. For fun, Google these paintings and see
if you can identify the prodigal son and the older brother.
Lesson 14
February 2, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 14
Being a disciple for Jesus means putting him first in your life: ahead of your family, ahead of your
agenda, ahead of the popular mores of any given society. There is no halfway to being a follower of
Jesus. You’re either all in or not at all.
Lesson 13
January 26, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 13
Jesus is continuing to display urgency about the need to make a choice for the kingdom of God. That
choice involves knowing Jesus and being in relationship with him. It also involves repenting. Only
through repentance do we realize the need we all have for a savior. In chapter 13, Jesus is urgently
trying to draw the Israelites to the knowledge that he is the Messiah. Soon it will be too late.
Lesson 12
January 19, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 12
Chapter 12 marks a turning point in the gospel of Luke. In the previous chapters, Jesus is going everywhere and teaching any and everyone. Now it is the last six months of his life. Jesus is making sure his disciples are equipped for what is ahead of them. As you read through this chapter, you will see a sense of urgency in its tone.
Lesson 11
January 12, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 11
As Jesus moves closer and closer to Jerusalem, his teachings get increasingly more urgent. His heart’s
desire is that all of Israel would come to the knowledge that he is the long-awaited Messiah, the
Anointed One called by God to set his people free. The issue was that the freedom Israel desired was
political freedom from the shackles of Rome. Jesus offered spiritual freedom from the shackles of sin
and death. Do they want that kind of freedom?
Lesson 10
January 5, 2023 • Meg Rice • Luke 10
The ministry of Jesus is growing. He sent out the 12 disciples to proclaim the “good news”; now
he sends out 72 into the world to grow the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not for
lukewarm Christians; it is for those who have a passion to be a part of it and for those whose lives are
transformed by the love of Jesus.
Lesson 9
November 17, 2022 • Meg Rice • Luke 9
Time is drawing closer for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and be crucified, and he knows it. As you read
chapter 9 he is very clear about this to his disciples, but they don’t get it. In this chapter, we see Jesus
sending out his disciples to perform the same miracles he has been performing. For a more detailed
account see Matthew 10.
Lesson 8
November 10, 2022 • Meg Rice • Luke 8
The Parable of the Seed is familiar to many of us. I get the sense that the farmer is generously
scattering seed everywhere, but some seed will bear fruit and others will not.
