Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• Why is it important to view the story of Jesus’ temptation, not primarily as an example for us to follow, but as a record of what Christ accomplished? Try to use the terms “law” and “gospel” to describe the two views. 
• Who from the Old Testament should we compare and contrast Jesus with as we consider the story of his temptation? Hint: There are two answers. Discuss the similarities and differences between Jesus and these. What is the meaning of the comparison?
• Discuss the three temptations one at a time. Did Satan know who Jesus was and what he came to do? What was the devil tempting Jesus to do? How did Jesus respond? 
• What did Jesus accomplish in the wilderness?
• Does Jesus also provide us with an example for how to resist temptation?

Discussion Questions For At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• What is sin? (You may go to Baptist Catechism 17 for help in answering this)
• Does every sin, no matter how big or small, make us guilty before God and deserving of his judgment?
• Are some sins worse than others, though? Discuss.
• What is meant in the phrase, “by reason of several aggravations” in Baptist Catechism 88? What factors make a sin more aggravating to God in one situation than another?
• If all are sinners, then why do we sometimes say he’s a good guy, or, she’s a good lady, when speaking of others? Are we wrong to talk in this way?
• What should this teaching about sin cause us to do?

Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• Why did Luke position the genealogy of Jesus after the story of his baptism and before the account of his temptation in the wilderness by Satan? What effect does this have on the narrative of the Gospel of Luke?
• Why did Luke order his genealogy so that it concludes with mention of “Adam, the Son of God”?
• How might we explain the differences between Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus and Luke’s, especially in the section from King David to Jesus? How can we explain the apparent discrepancies, and why do Matthew and Luke take these different approaches?
• Why does Luke take us all the way back to Adam (instead of to Abraham, as in Matthew’s gospel)?
• Why should Luke’s genealogy encourage you? How should it help you to better understand who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish?

Discussion Questions For At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• What is the tenth commandment?
• Covetousness is a heart sin, but it produces many sinful words and deeds. In fact, it leads people to violate commandments 1-9. Discuss. 
• What is the remedy to covetousness?
• Have you kept this law perfectly? What does that make you?
• What doth God require of us, that we may escape His wrath and curse, due to us for sin? (Baptist Catechism 90)

Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• What was the good news that John the Baptist preached? 
• Why did Luke quote Isaiah 40:3-5? Why is that text important? What connection does Luke want us to make?
• Luke did not only preach the gospel, he preached the law. Where do you see that in this text? Why is this important? How does God use the law and gospel to bring about true faith in his elect? 
• What is baptism? Who would John baptize? Who would he not baptize? What is the relationship between the baptism that John applied before the resurrection of Christ, and the baptism that Christ’s Apostles applied after Christ rose from the grave?
• How might this passage be applied by us today?

Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• What is the ninth commandment?
• It is obvious what the ninth commandment forbids. What does it require?
• Why is speaking the truth so important? What damage does speaking falsehood do to individual relationships, families, and society?
• Why is it especially important to speak the truth in witness bearing?
• Why is a good name (reputation) so valuable?
• Have you kept this law perfectly? What then should you do?

Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• In what way does this story about Jesus at the temple at the age of twelve mirror the story of Samuel as recorded in 1 Samuel 3? How does making this connection help us to properly interpret Luke 2:41-52?
• Though many applications can be drawn from Luke 2:41-52, what is the text really about? How do we know that this is what it is about?
• What do the first recorded words of Christ in Luke 2:49 reveal about how he viewed, 1) his person (his nature and special relation to God Father), and 2) his work, calling, or mission as the Lord’s Messiah? 
• Jesus is God the Son incarnate. We must also confess that Jesus is the son of Mary, that is to say,  truly human. What insights can we gain about the humanity of Christ from this story, and especially Luke 2:40 and 52?   
• What did it mean for Christ to be about his Father’s “business”? In other words, what was the work that God determined to do through Jesus Christ, the Son? Luke 2:49 does not say! How do we know?

Questions For Discussion At Home Or In Gospel Community Groups

• If you were to compare Luke 1-2 with 1 Samuel 1-2 you would find that they are very similar. What is the meaning of this?
• Luke was obviously concerned to communicate to us that Joseph and Mary obeyed the Law of Moses when they went up to the temple to present Jesus there. Why does this matter?
• How does the recognition of Jesus by Simeon and Anna help to strengthen your certainty that he is the Messiah? 
• Consider the words of Simeon in Luke 2:29-32. What Old Testament passages and themes does he point to?
• What does it mean that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature? What does this reveal to us concerning his nature?
• Why is it not enough to be convinced in the mind that Jesus is the Messiah? Why must we also believe in him in the heart and confess him as Lord?