The questions below are offered to promote thoughtful reading of The Essential Jesus (a publication of the Gospel of Luke in the Bible). While they guide the reader’s reflections, they will not come close to exhausting the meaning of any given section. More detailed reflection is encouraged!
Page numbers given here are from The Essential Jesus. Chapter and verse references (from other Bible translations) are also included in brackets though The Essential Jesus does not contain verse references.
Page 7 (Luke, chapter 1, verses 1-4) Is Luke claiming the events he is reporting actually happened? What difference does it make?
Pages 7-11 (Luke, chapter 1, verses 5-80) How does the significance of the two babies compare? What was God doing that merited such celebration? For whom is this good news?
Pages 11-12 (Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-20) How significant was the birth of Jesus from heaven’s point of view? Why was his birth so humble from an earthly perspective?
Pages 12-14 (Luke, chapter 2, verses 21-52) What was Jesus’ destiny? How did he grow towards it through childhood?
Pages 14-17 (Luke, chapter 3, verse 1-38) Why did people need to turn away from wrong-doing to be ready for Jesus’ coming? How does Jesus’ family line show his qualifications to be Saviour-King?
Pages 17-18 (Luke, chapter 4, verses 1-13) Why was conflict with the devil necessary for Jesus’ mission? What was the devil trying to achieve?
Pages 18-19 (Luke, chapter 4, verses 14-44) How big was the claim that Jesus was making about himself? Why did the people from his home town reject him? What purpose did his healings serve?
Pages 20-22 (Luke, chapter 5, verses 1-39) In what ways did Jesus astound people here? How did he want people to respond?
Pages 22-23 (Luke, chapter 6, verses 1-16) Where did Jesus stand in relation to the Old Testament laws? What did this mean for the Jews who followed the Old Testament?
Pages 23-25 (Luke, chapter 6, verses 17-49) How does Jesus’ kingdom redefine our idea of blessing? How revolutionary is Jesus’ teaching about how to treat others? How important is it to follow his teaching?
Pages 25-26 (Luke, chapter 7, verses 1-17) How do Jesus’ miracles back up the authority of his teaching? What response is called for?
Pages 26-27 (Luke, chapter 7, verses 18-35) What was great about John the Baptist? How are we better positioned than he was to witness who Jesus is?
Pages 27-28 (Luke, chapter 7, verses 36-50) What kind of person will appreciate Jesus the most?
Pages 28-29 (Luke, chapter 8, verses 1-21) What kind of response to the word about Jesus is required?
Pages 29-32 (Luke, chapter 8, verses 22-56) In what realms is the authority and power of Jesus demonstrated here?
Pages 32-35 (Luke, chapter 9, verses 1-62) What did Jesus’ disciples still need to learn about Jesus, his mission and what it takes to follow him?
Pages 36-37 (Luke, chapter 10, verses 1-24) How confident can Jesus’ messengers afford to be as they proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God? How important is this task?
Pages 37-38 (Luke, chapter 10, verses 25-42) How easy/hard is it to gain eternal life? What is required? What might distract a person?
Pages 38-39 (Luke, chapter 11, verses 1-13) How are followers of Jesus instructed to approach God?
Pages 39-42 (Luke, chapter 11, verses 14-54) What was the nature of the opposition that Jesus faced?
Pages 42-45 (Luke, chapter 12, verses 1-59) In what ways should the concerns of the followers of Jesus differ from those of other people?
Pages 45-47 (Luke, chapter 13, verses 1-35) Where is the world heading according to Jesus? What hope is there for people?
Pages 48-49 (Luke, chapter 14, verses 1-34) What kind of attitude is required to enter the kingdom of God?
Pages 50-51 (Luke, chapter 15, verses 1-32) What does God find exciting? What kind of person is out of step with God?
Pages 51-53 (Luke, chapter 16, verses 1-31) In the light of eternity, what should a person’s attitude to money be?
Page 54 (Luke, chapter 17, verses 1-19) What ought to motivate the person who follows Jesus?
Pages 55-56 (Luke, chapter 17, verse 20 to chapter 18, verse 8 ) What will the second coming of Jesus be like? What should the expectation mean to his followers?
Pages 56-57 (Luke, chapter 18, verses 9-30) What might hinder a person from depending upon Jesus properly?
Pages 57-58 (Luke, chapter 18, verse 31 to chapter 19, verse 10) Why might Jesus’ mission on earth have been hard to see? For whom is it good news?
Pages 58-60 (Luke, chapter 19, verses 11-48) For what reason to people reject Jesus? What reasons are there to welcome him?
Pages 61-63 (Luke, chapter 20, verses 1-47) Why couldn’t Jesus’ enemies trip him up?
Pages 63-65 (Luke, chapter 21, verses 1-38) What did Jesus foretell for Jerusalem? What did he foretell for the world? What should people do about this?
Pages 65-68 (Luke, chapter 22, verses 1-53) How much control did Jesus have over events leading up to his death? What was he aiming to achieve? What part would others play in his mission?
Pages 68-70 (Luke, chapter 22, verse 54 to chapter 23, verse 25) How strong was the case against Jesus? Why was Jesus so passive? Where were Jesus’ followers?
Pages 70-71 (Luke, chapter 23, verses 26-49) What clues are we given here as to the significance of Jesus’ death? What insights are we given into Jesus’ character?
Pages 72-74 (Luke, chapter 23, verse 50 to chapter 24, verse 53) What was the nature of Jesus’ resurrection from death? Why was (is) it such good news that Jesus rose from the dead? Where is Jesus now? What needs to happen now?
