Luke 1

I am really enjoying our reading plan. I especially like that the plan has us reading a different Gospel every season. Winter was Mark's Gospel, Spring was the Gospel according to Matthew, Fall will be the Gospel of John and Summer (beginning today) is Luke.

The four Gospels are all biographies of the life of Jesus written in the first century either by eye witnesses (Matthew & John) or close associates of those eyewitnesses (Mark & Luke).  Luke's Gospel makes it very clear that he went to great lengths to insure that everything he wrote was "the gospel" truth. His introduction reads like history, because that is just what it is.

(Luke 1:1-4) 1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke wants his readers to have an accurate account of the story of Jesus. As you read his Gospel, note the detail and the numerous historical references that anchor this account firmly in actual history. Over the years, there have been countless skeptics of the historical accuracy of the Scriptures who have been convinced and converted by careful reading and research of Luke's writings (Luke & Acts).

Writing in the second century, a pastor and theologian named Irenaeus - who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John - explains why he believes we have four complimentary Gospel accounts

"There are four gospels and only four, neither more nor less: four like the points of the compass, four like the chief directions of the wind. The Church, spread all over the world, has in the gospels four pillars and four winds blowing wherever people live. These four gospels are in actual fact one single Gospel, a fourfold Gospel inspired by the one Spirit, a Gospel which has four aspects representing the work of the Son of God." (Irenaeus, Against Heresies)

As we read the Gospel of Luke together, lets take our cue in how to respond to its truth from the purpose John the Baptist's ministry. Luke 1:17 says that he came "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Father, prepare my heart to encounter your Son in the pages of this Gospel.  Help me come with reverence and submission to what He has said. I want to see Jesus and been changed by Him.

  BOBBY PRUITT  |  Lead Pastor

Bobby was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He is the youngest of 13 children and was the first believer in his family. He graduated from Columbia Bible College and served in churches in North & South Carolina before coming to Texas in 1994. Bobby and Amy have been married since November of 1990 and have 3 children (Riley, Beau, and Emma Grace).