Journey to Jerusalem
- Cornerstone Church
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
This week’s readings are primarily from the Gospel of Luke. This is an excellent opportunity to understand a little about Luke and how God used him. According to tradition, Luke was a gentile. That means he is the only gentile to have written a book in scripture. This turns out to be a significant portion of the New Testament between Luke’s Gospel and the book of Acts. Luke was called a ‘physician’ by trade and a close companion to the Apostle Paul. The emphasis from Chapter 10 on is on Jesus’ teachings and travel to Jerusalem as He is going to the cross, and that is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Reading Plan - Week 20
Daily Prayer Plan – Week 20
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the Gospels of Luke and John, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Luke 1:1-4. Read Acts 1:1-3. For what purpose did Luke write his Gospel? Where did Luke get the material for the book of Luke, according to Luke 1:2-3?
Read Luke 13:22. What is Jesus doing and where is he going? Read Luke 17:25. What did Jesus have to do before the Kingdom of God would come?
Read Luke 13:5, 23-28. What does this tell us about God’s justice?
Read Luke 14:12-14. What is true generosity that God rewards? What does this tell us about who God is and His generosity?
Read Luke 17:1-6. What are the radical demands Jesus is asking for from both the offender and the offended?
SHARE IT.
Read Acts 1:1. Reflect on God using Luke to write 2 lengthy books for a friend in need, and that would also be to the Church (you) across two thousand years. What good works has God called you to today (Ephesians 2:10)?
Read Luke 14:14. How is radical generosity hard? How do you practice generosity in your life?
Read Luke 15:14. How is radical generosity hard? How do you practice generosity in your life?
Read Luke 17:3. What is the hardest part of this command for you? How can Jesus help you (Matthew 6:12)?
What parable (Barren Fig Tree, Mustard Seed & Leaven, Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son, Dishonest Manager) this week impacted you the most and why?
FINAL THOUGHT
In Luke 13:34-35, Jesus laments that ‘Jerusalem,’ or the nation of Israel personified, was not willing to listen to the prophets God sent them. All the benefits of being God’s covenant people did not have a redeeming effect on them. Jesus warned them that they would be thrown out of the Kingdom of God instead of being with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, however, there would be others from all directions (non-Jews) that would come to the banquet in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28-30). Jesus made His way to Jerusalem to redeem a people, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16-17). He took the cross at Jerusalem, so that you could journey to the banquet at Jerusalem.
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